The Idol: Gender Swap Stories

James woke up to the usual sound of shouting. The heat had been hard to adjust to at first, but he barely noticed it now. His throat felt blistered and dry as he swallowed. The taste of whiskey congealed like cotton in his mouth. He grabbed the canteen from the table beside his cot and chugged down several gulps of water before splashing some on his head and neck. The clean water pushed away some of the grime and sweat, making him long for a full shower. The small tent offered little in the arena of amenities. Two cots, two trunks, a cluttered desk, a pair of smaller tables, and a pair of chairs made up the entirety of the furnishing. All of it had the same level of grime and dust that pervaded the entire camp. James got to his feet and checked the time.

“Oh, you’re up,” said Elle as she entered. She carried a dry, sealed bag in one hand and a mug in the other.

“You let me sleep,” James mused as he pulled on his clothes.

Elle set the provisions down on the desk and went over to him. Her hands felt cool as they slid up his bare back. “You needed the rest. Lost civilizations aren’t found by sleepy explorers.” James chuckled. He turned around and gave her a light kiss. She smiled. “We had some exciting news just after dawn. Yvette’s crew found a group of ceramic jars. They’re working on getting it up, but she thinks it’s fairly likely at least one of them could have preserved material.”

“Really? That’d do a lot to get the bankers off our backs. We’re in the middle of nowhere, and I still get letters demanding results.” He made a wild gesture towards the desk. “When will she know?”

“Could be all day. It’s a pretty unstable area, and we’ve already had one collapse so they’re being cautious. You know these things take time.”

“Yeah, I do. Keep an eye on it. We can debrief at the end of the day. Not like my knowing will make it go any faster, I guess.” He went to the trunk and pulled out a backpack. “Who knows, maybe we’ll be the ones bringing back the exciting news tonight.”

The small flap of the tent opened again. A man’s head poked inside. “Hope I’m not intruding,” he said.

Elle waved him in. “Nonsense, Scott, come on in. I need to get back out there anyway.” She went over to James and kissed him on the cheek again, her hand affectionately rubbing up and down his back. Scott stood awkwardly at the door, trying to look away from the scene. James returned the kiss, but kept his eyes on the other man. As Elle walked out, she put her hand on Scott’s shoulder, “Make sure he eats something. And both of you double up on your water today.” The tent opened once more, and she stepped out into the blinding morning sun.

James dropped his pack on the cot and sat down to put on his boots. He turned each of them over first, always cautious about spiders and scorpions using his footwear as an opportune hiding spot, but other than dust and pebbles, nothing fell out. He looked over to Scott while he laced them up. “Are we ready to go?”

Finally having his purpose back Scott perked up, “Yes, boss. O’Malley is out today, though. Doc didn’t want him out in the sun after that limb whacked him in the head yesterday. So, the whole party will only be five.”

James grumbled at the news. Every day, he had fewer willing to go with him. “Maybe that’s for the best. Only three others we have to hear complain all day.”

“Yes, sir,’ Scott smirked.

“Alright then, I’ll meet you at the truck. Thirteenth sector today. Have a good feeling about this one.” Scott started to leave, but James waved him back. “One other thing I wanted to ask you about.”

Scott’s cool demeanor shook for a moment. He looked nervously back at the tent’s exit. “Sure, what is it?”

James pulled the laces tight and let them drop. “Last night, I don’t remember Elle coming to bed. I was a little out of it. Did you notice when she came in?”

Scott cleared his throat and shook his head. “I left the galley tent around the same time as you. She was still there, though. Talking with Doc, I think. To be frank, I think she was worried about you going out after a night…well, you know.”

James peered at the other man, his face a blank canvas. After a long, searching look, James gestured toward the door, “I’m right behind you.”

Scott said nothing more and left quickly. James eyed his wife’s undisturbed bed. His suspicions were not new. Bringing Scott to the expedition was Elle’s idea, not his. The two of them were thick as thieves at every opportunity. James wasn’t certain if it was physical yet. Perhaps the unpleasantness of the desert climate and the lack of consistent bathing was enough to keep that at bay. He knew his wife though, and could see her pending transgression in every touch, every nod, and every passing glance. At first, he had not blamed Scott, but their time in the field had actually made him revile the man even more. It’s all in your head. Nothing is going on. He tried to remind himself. He tried to find equivalencies in his own actions, but there were few women in the camp and not one as beautiful as his wife. Or talk to her about it. The idea turned his stomach. If he spoke about it to her, then it was real. Whether she was cheating or not, they would still have a fight.

James went to the desk and gathered up his maps and notes. Whatever was going on with Scott and Elle, at the least it couldn’t happen while Scott was in the field. If James pushed them hard enough, Scott might be too tired to pursue any romantic interests. With one last check of his gear, he headed out to find the car.

The jeep rattled as they crossed the wastes. While the campsite had its fair share of sand and dust constantly being whipped up from southern winds, only a few miles east the air was still. Everything was dead. Little vegetation dotted an otherwise cracked and desiccated landscape where few travelers bothered to roam. The locals had avoided the area for centuries, but once it had been a lush trade city founded by the early Romans. James tried to imagine the trade markets or the aqueducts that Elle told him about, but it was difficult to imagine anything surviving in such a hostile place. Elle thought that some sudden climate shift in the region had hastened the desertification of the area. James admired her confidence. He agreed something had been here once, however foolhardy it may seem.

Hot air rushed past them as they drove. Scott kept checking the GPS as he navigated through the rough. James sat beside him drinking from his canteen and counting the flag markers they had set out in previous trips. Behind them sat three others — Jeffrey, a fresh faced twenty year old whose persistent optimism irritated everyone else, Carlos, a grizzled middle aged biologist, and Valentina, a Russian woman who worked for Carlos. James appreciated Carlos and, by extension, Valentina. They helped provide validation for these excursions by documenting the desert life, what little of it could be found. Jeffery was nice to have along when things needed to be carried. The crew rode in silence as none had much to say and, even if they did, the noise of the jeep made it nigh impossible to hear one another.

Scott slowed as they passed they passed a red marker. In the distance, the landscape changed slightly. The flat wastes rose into small hills, yet to be worn away by the abrasive winds. More vegetation than usual dotted the sides of the hills, but nothing large enough to provide any shade. Scott stopped the jeep, and they piled out to go to work. Over the course of thirty minutes, they erected a small tent and set up most of their equipment.

“I’d like to take the boy with us,” Carlos said. “I believe the hills will be specimen rich. He can carry the jars.”

James nodded. “That’s fine. Same routine as usual. Scott and I will hike north. Take your sirens.” He handed the device over to white haired man.

“The hills might make it difficult to find anyone with these,” he mused.

“We still have our trackers and radios. Rely on those if it comes to it. I don’t want to risk starting a brush fire with a flare. We’ll be back before dusk. If you need us back sooner, radio.”

Nearby, Scott pulled on his pack, “Ready when you are boss.”

Carlos flicked his eyes between the two men. “You’re not going to kill him out there are you?”

James gave the older man a dark glare, “Why would I do that?”

Carlos shrugged, “I’ve seen you watch him. I know the look in your eyes. We’ve been too long in the sun, too long away from the world. Don’t let the thoughts of a man in the wild rule you. If all you have are suspicions, then you have no reason for wrath.” He patted James on the shoulder and turned away calling for Valentina and Jeffery.

James watched the three of them head west. What does he know? he thought. Does he think I’m a fool?

“You alright?” Scott asked.

James slammed the supplies crate shut. “Yep. Let’s go.”

They didn’t speak as they started into the hills. Though the first few minutes were spent brooding, James soon found some value in Carlos’s words. The day was hot, but not too oppressive. With the steady climb, James was soon drenched in sweat. Surprisingly, it made him feel better. He didn’t even bristle when Scott checked on his water intake. James dismissed his companion’s concerns by gulping down half of his canteen. He turned his thoughts to the mission. Even after everything, it still excited him that somewhere beneath the desert waited the lost temple of Zerin. “Hey, Scott, did I ever tell you why the priestesses settled out here?”

Scott was surprised at the sudden offer of conversation. “No. Why does anyone settle anywhere, I figured.”

“Well, a little more to it than that,” James answered. They reached a break in the hills, and he led the way between two larger knolls. “It was early days for the Romans. They knew about the Egyptians of course and the various tribes that lived along the Nile as well as those along the northern coast. But as they traveled further, away from the water sources, they ran into different nomads. It wasn’t uncommon for them to enslave people and send them back to Europe.” He stepped on a bit of rock that suddenly gave way, dropping several inches into the earth. He swore. “Watch your step, some of this ground is loose. Anyway, legend says that a Roman general was leading a slaver caravan through this area when he encountered a lone woman. Without horse or water, she waited in the middle of the desert as the general’s caravan approached. I guess he’d thought she’d gone mad or wandered away from her tribe to die. Hang on, let’s rest a minute. It’s kind of shady here.”

The sun wasn’t high enough to hit them between the two hills, and the slight shade provided a cool relief. Scott dropped to the hillside and started to refill his canteen with the water jug from his bag. “So what happened then?”

James rubbed his foot through his boot. He could feel a new blister forming. “The woman told the general that his people were not welcome in these lands. That beyond were the lands of Zerin. The general, of course, had never heard of Zerin. He didn’t know if it was a man, a demigod, or some kind of new beast. So he told the woman that all lands belonged to Rome. The woman laughed in his face, turned away, and walked into the desert.”

“I’m guessing the general didn’t take that well.”

James shook his head. “No. Being the mindful tactician. He did not believe that a slaver caravan would stand much chance against a desert tribe. He made a hasty retreat to the coastline where he rallied a contingent of his men. Prepared, as best they could for desert warfare, they returned to the spot where he’d met the woman and crossed into the land of Zerin. The host marched for several days until they came to a temple set into the side of a mountain. The general and his aides went inside, but only one of the aides returned. A division occurred as half of the host wanted to lay siege, while the other half, led by the general’s aide, wanted to retreat as quickly as they could. They believed the temple to be cursed, the asylum of a mad god.”

“So what’d they do?”

James realized he’d trailed off. “We don’t know. We know the aide returned to Rome with a ship full of slaves. A few stories got spread around, but none of them lined up. Some said a band of fierce warriors emerged from the temple and routed the whole of a Roman legion. Another said the temple opened up like the maw of hell and swallowed half their men. Others said the god of chaos walked among them, turning sand into water and men into monsters. One thing rang true through all of their stories. Something happened at the temple that scared them. Things went poorly for the soldiers who returned from the temple. New general arrived to take command and issued an order of decimation. Even as they killed their comrades, the soldiers refused to admit to the existence of a temple, let alone its location.”

Scott rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “So what do you think was in the temple? If it existed.”

James got to his feet. “It exists. And I think it houses the god of chaos.”

He helped Scott to his feet. Then he started to continue through the hill. After four steps, the ground cracked and James dropped from sight.

A buzzing pain shot through his bones. Debris rained down around him. James heard shouting coming from above him, but he didn’t care. His hand sunk into a wet moss, but beneath it he could feel a flat, smooth stone as it bent at a right angle. His eyes adjusted to the dark, and he could make out bricks lining the walls of the corridor. He ignored the pain and shuffled to his feet. “I’m alright!”

“Jesus,” Scott yelled back. “What the hell is down there?”

“Something big,” James muttered. He retrieved a flash light from his bag and clicked it on. He was standing on staircase which descended into the hill. In the direction that they’d come, the structure had succumbed to crumbling earth, but down below the path looked clear. Straining his ears, he could hear water flowing. “Find something to tie a rope to and get down here! I’ll wait!” James could barely hold his excitement. He did venture down a little further, but chose not to get too far from the opening. The roof had caved in where he’d fallen, but up ahead it seemed sound. Beyond the point he’d fallen, the structure looked remarkably well preserved. Dust and cobwebs, but no visible damage, however old it might be. He tried to temper his expectations. It could very well be an old outpost from the imperial era. But it could also be the find of the century.

After a few minutes, Scott lowered his bag down the hole. James put it to the side. As he placed it away from the opening, he noticed a scarf tied to the underside of one of the straps. He recognized it immediately as the same scarf Elle had been wearing the night before. James had no time to consider it before Scott rappelled down into the cavern. James made sure the other man landed safely. “What the hell is this place?” Scott asked.

“We’re going to go find out. Your bag’s over there.”

The sight of the scarf had soured his mood, but his excitement remained. Cautiously, he led the way down. With each step, the ground grew more stable, the walls looked more sound, and the air smelled sweeter. The descent lasted about ten minutes before they emerged in a large cavern. Several stones made a path across a stream of water that circled the room. At the far end of the domed room was another door. The dome itself held thousands of small images, each an intricate painting. It was impossible to get a decent look, but the nearest ones seemed to be of women. “Can you make any of them out?”

“Not really, I’d need more light.” James stepped closer to the edge of the room. He looked down at the water, wondering how deep it went.

“Hang on, I have an idea,” Scott said. He pulled a camera out of his bag. “Get your light as close as you can.” After a bit of positioning, Scott snapped some pictures. “Is that what I think?” He handed the camera over to James. What had appeared to be unique images was in fact one giant collage of women, all having sex.

“Well, it wasn’t uncommon to have such imagery at the time,” James said. Something about it disappointed him. “This may have been a bathhouse or something. Come on then.”

They passed through a door and entered another hallway. After a few feet, James realized that warm, yellow light was coming from up ahead. He stopped before rounding a corner when he noticed some lettering etched into the wall. “What does it say?” Scott asked.

James mumbled to himself as he parsed the phrase. “Look…um, look upon, ah fuck. Ok here we go. Behold, the gift of Zerin. If you are worthy, ascend. If you are unworthy, kneel.”

“Well, that’s a bit fucking ominous.”

“Don’t get superstitious now. We’ve probably already desecrated the graves of priestesses.”

James led on. The light grew brighter and brighter until they emerged in a rectangular room. “What the hell…” both of them whispered. The light came from several long, rectangular stones set into the walls. They glowed with bright yellow light, but emitted no heat. Around them, the walls glittered with gems of all sizes and colors. They glittered as the light reflected back and forth across the room. As astonishing as the dazzling lights could be, they failed to hold the two men’s attention for long. At the far end of the room, a pedestal held a golden statue. They walked towards it, never taking their eyes from the strange figure. It was the image of a woman, not unlike those they’d seen in the dome, but in full figure, as beautiful as any gem around them and glowing with the same inner luminescence as the stones. James was compelled to grab it. He could sense Scott had the same impulse as they looked at one another with greed in their eyes. Perhaps this was the home of madness. Grab it! Take it now before he has the chance! Bash in his head and keep it all for yourself!

Scott finally spoke, “This is worth….billions. Even as a historical find, you can make a fortune on it. How can this be here? How can it still be so perfect after thousands of years?” Scott’s eyes broke away from the statue as he scanned the room. He spoke to himself, “They won’t miss a few. How much can one be worth? How can you put a price on something so ancient and so beautiful?” A strange twinge infected the man’s voice, “Elle will leave him now. She won’t need his money any more. I can have her all to myself. We’ll laugh at him while my cock pushes into her ass.”

James felt a bitter taste in his mouth. He moved to grab the idol, but stopped as if he’d plunged his hand into molasses. A voice spoke in his head, “No!” James grabbed his temple and dropped to his knees as the thunderous voice echoed in his skull. The voice spoke again, a melodious feminine voice that trembled with power and age, “Two have come to my temple at long last. They buried me here so long ago and now they send such pathetic men to appease me. The other takes your mate while you play the drunkard. Yet in his heart, he longs only for wealth. His soul is poisoned by a lust for metal and coin, but yours…you long for greatness. You want to see the world buckle before you, to clench your fist and see the armies of your foes crumple. I can give you this. You must first see the other kneel before you, changed into a more, humble servant.”

James’s thoughts raced trying to understand what was happening. He didn’t care that he was losing his mind or that Scott had been fucking his wife. He only wanted the idol. He could take it and find a spot further in the catacombs to wither away in its warmth. The voice was loud and cruel, but the prospect of seeing Scott broken was enough to keep him interested. “What must I do?”

“The other must take the idol. You must allow it.”

The voice disappeared. Once again, James had his senses and Scott was busy trying to pry a diamond from the wall. “Scott! The idol…it’s worth more than anything. You should take it.”

Scott’s eyes widened. He’d forgotten the idol entirely. It was clearly the most valuable thing in the room. With it in hand, he could buy a whole country. James was a fool to let him have it so easily. His hand darted out and grabbed hold of the figurine. The second his fingers touched it, a bolt of energy rushed through his body, knocking him sprawling onto the floor.

The shock cleared Scott’s head. As he sat up, he saw James leering at him from beside the statue. The other man nodded along as if listening to something. Scott’s hand felt strange, not burned or numb, but warm and tingling. The feeling spread through his body quickly. “James? James! Something’s wrong…I don’t know what came over me for a minute there, but I think we should go for help.”

James turned his head, and Scott gasped. In place of his eyes were two golden orbs, the same glowing substance that illuminated the room. “You wanted to take her from me,” James said. “You wanted to steal my wife.”

Scott’s stomach turned, and he tried to slide back from his friend. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Stop lying!” James bellowed at him. Scott wanted to run, but his legs felt like jelly. He tried to speak, but his tongue was thick and heavy. “I know you’ve been sneaking around with Elle. Not five minutes ago, I heard you whispering about taking her away from me. Do not deny it!”

Scott’s skin was starting to crawl. He looked up at James defiantly, “Ok, fine. She’s wanted to leave you for years. All you do is drink and whine. I showed her what a real man was like.”

James’s mouth split open in a cruel grin. “A real man?” He laughed. “Look at the real man you are now, Scott.”

Scott felt his chest getting tight. His shirt bulged forward. Confused, he pulled it off. Gone was his sculpted, muscular chest. In its place, soft pillows of lily white flesh had started to grow. With a rapt fascination, he brought his hand up to feel the new flesh. His body shook with pleasure as his hands sunk into his new tits. “What the fuck are you doing to me?” he said through rasping breathes.

James leered down at him as he took off his own shirt. The blazing eyes danced with delight at the signs of his own body changing, morphing into a more virile man. “The idol, can’t you hear it? I understand now, what happened to that Roman general. He came to this place and found Zerin. The general was bent to the will a god and reshaped into a more pleasing image. Just like you.”

Scott doubled over as another wave of changes swept his body. His insides wriggled like a ball of snakes. Bones cracked and skin drew tight as his hips widened. He knew what was coming and struggled to free himself of the rest of his clothing. Invasive thoughts forced their way to the front of his mind. You won’t need clothes any more. You will serve as a Priestess of Zerin. Your body will become a temple for the cock of your god. Images flooded in after the words. He saw a beautiful dais with large pillows and mats covering it. Dozens of naked women writhed in carnal lust, their fingers and mouths slick with the juices of their sisterhood. In the center of it sat an immaculate man with golden eyes. In his lap, two women licked and sucked at the monstrous cock as if it were a holy relic unto itself. He recognized one of the women as Elle, but not as he knew her. Like his own new tits, hers had swollen to lewd proportions as if to suit the python like member she salivated for. The other woman was familiar as well. It did not take him long to realize who she was, and he gasped in horror.

As he wriggled out of his pants, Scott felt his ass swelling outward. As a man, he’d always loved a woman with a big, thick ass. It was one of Elle’s better features, but his new rump would put hers to shame. He was glad of it. With a thick ass, he was more likely to receive James’s attention — he shook his head, trying to keep it clear of such thoughts. I need to get out. Maybe if I run away from him, I can stop whatever’s happening to me. Scott rolled over to try to get to his feet. His new, fat breasts swung beneath him as he rose to all fours. Looking up, he saw James unzipping his pants. Scott’s mouth watered. Oh god…I need it.

“That’s right, Scott, you do,” James taunted. “Not only will you be a beautiful fuck toy, but you’ll crave cock until the end of your days. A whiff of it will drive you wild, soaking those supple thighs. Look at that, almost all of Scott is gone. You couldn’t fuck anything with that shrinking prick.”

Scott’s hand darted down between his thighs, and his heart sank. The familiar cock he’d used his whole life had shrunk to a nub no bigger than a pinky toe. His balls pulled inside of him. He could feel a tension in his groin, as if a wench was pulling something towards the center of his being. Pleasure coursed through his body as it grew tighter and tighter. It snapped and bliss washed over him. His fingers slid down between his legs to find a wet slit. Without hesitation, he plunged a finger into his new pussy and squirmed with delight.

James moved closer. While his shorts had dropped away, he still wore boxers that did nothing to hide the significant bulge within. Inches from Scott, the musk of manhood was thick and overpowering. James looked down at what had once been a rival man. The new woman looked up at him with pleading eyes. Plump lips opened slightly as she breathed. Her tits heaved up and down with each breath, and it was easy to see her round ass sticking out behind her while she pushed her fingers in and out of her snatch. “Scott’s all gone now isn’t he, baby? We’ll call you Scotty. Now, is there something you want to do?”

Scotty’s eyes batted as she looked at the bulge in front of her. With small, tentative hands she pulled down the band of his underwear until the thick rod bobbed out. She breathed deeply, inhaling his scent like a drug. Her mouth opened, and she took his cock in her mouth. Whatever was left of her male desires vanished instantly. The warm member pushed against the back of her throat as her tongue undulated beneath it. She loved the feeling. How had she gone so long without a cock stuffed in her mouth? James slid out slowly. Her puffy lips gripped the outside of his shaft as if they were designed specifically for cock sucking. He realized after a moment that they were. Kneeling before him was the perfect creation for sex, a gift from his new master to further their rule. Scotty’s hand went to his balls, tugging on them slightly. James grunted in approval.

Scotty slurped up and down the shaft. She pulled it free of her lips to rub it up and down the outside of her cheeks. She rose up on her knees so she could wedge it between her new breasts. She wanted to do whatever she could to provide the utmost pleasure for her new god. He watched her with amusement for a moment, but then spun her around and pushed her onto all fours. She raised her ass up hopefully, arching her back to present her fresh, bald pussy to him. She felt her reward as it pushed against her virgin lips. His cock wasn’t the magnificent tool it would become, not yet. But she would feel it grow each time he fucked her. Each time he came inside of her, his vigor would double. She would help him convert others. Dozens of women would share her new master’s cock. And she would love every minute of it. The thick rod pushed inside of her, and her pussy clamped down. Her body rippled with delight as she started to bounce back against his thrusts. She hoped he enjoyed the sight of her ass wobbling. She longed for him to touch her, but he seemed content to watch her bounce on his cock.

James let his head nod back. The sensation of Scotty’s pussy clenching around his cock was divine. His balls felt heavy, and he knew they would never be the same if he allowed himself to cum. Even on the precipice of ruin, he still had the chance to turn back. They could walk out of the chamber and forget everything that had happened. No, he thought as he remembered what Scott had said about his wife. His hands reached out and grabbed hold of his mate’s soft hips. He started to pound into her with purpose. The wet sounds of sex filled the air as Scotty became an incoherent mess of pleasure. James shoved himself in to the hilt with a roar as he felt his orgasm begin. One burst sprayed inside of her before he pulled back and let his cock slap between the thick cheeks of his new woman’s ass. More and more cum erupted from the tip of his enlarged cock, coating her ass and back as she wiggled in pleasure. Finally, he was spent. He let her slide down to the floor, covered in his cum and more beautiful than ever.

He went to their bags and retrieved the radio. It buzzed to life, “Carlos, come in.”

A few moments passed before the answer came, “Yeah, James, go ahead.”

“We’ve found something big. Come to our location.” He did not wait for a response, but tossed the radio back into the bags. “Don’t worry pet. We’ll head back to camp soon enough, but first we’ll recruit the other three. I’ve always thought Valentina would like a good ass fucking. I may even let you play with Jeffery before we turn him into another slut. And then…we’ll go visit Elle and the rest.”

Scotty smiled and rolled over to her back. She pulled her knees up to her chest and spread her legs wide. “Will you fuck me while we wait?”