"I still can't get over the idea that colleges have science fairs." Chad stood on the dais wearing his track uniform. "This reminds me of elementary school."
"Your elementary school science project was pathetic." Brad adjusted the settings on the device and continued to take readings of the plasma field it generated.
"I never said I was a scientist. I also can't believe I volunteered for your experiment. I watched you all over campus desperately looking for a volunteer and finally took pity on you. I hope you keep this in consideration that I'm doing you a huge favor."
"Indeed, I am bro. Your about the only person I could depend on. We're ready to begin. Please begin posing your right foot."
Chad placed his bare right foot on the pad and posed like a statue of Mercury.
"You don't need to do the whole pose yet. Just the right foot for now."
Chad put his left foot down and looked at his right foot. It still looked normal except for a slight whitening on the end of his big toe. "How long will this take."
"We want people to see the transformation in progress so since the fair is scheduled for twelve hours, it will take twelve hours to turn you into a statue."
"You'll change me back then, right?"
"That depends. If the judges like my experiment well enough, they may want you displayed at an intercollegiate fair or other venues. Why, are you uncomfortable?"
"No, not yet. I'm just nervous about being the first human statue. If I hadn't seen all the other animals that you've tested this on and how well they turned out, I wouldn't have volunteered. I'm tempted to back out on this deal but I promised and I don't break my promises."
The first hour passed quietly. There were a few early morning visitors but most of them were busy setting up their own displays. Chad's lower right leg had now turned a silvery marble color and the matching wings attached to the ankles blended in seamlessly. Chad's leg was even shiny like a mirror.
During the second hour, the crowds arrived and there were many questions for Chad.
"How do you feel?"
"I feel fine. My foot feels like it's slipped inside a comfy slipper."
Some of Chad's sports buddies razzed him about it.
"Yea but I'm going to get a lot of attention from the girls now showing off my handsome physique."
"Yea Chad, I think we should make your nickname Rock Hard from now on."
Although Chad's buddies thought he was crazy, they also admired his courage.
"Just make sure to return him to us before the next competition."
At the end of two hours, Brad got up on the dais and loosened Chad's running shorts. Chad grabbed his shorts. "What are you doing?"
"Do you want to look like a statue whose genitals are smushed against his belly?"
"No, but I can do that part."
"Okay, okay" Brad stepped off the dais. Chad loosened his track shorts and adjusted his genitals for the statufication. "I know I agreed that Mercury is naked but now at the moment of truth, it's hitting me that it's not Mercury. It's me. I'm about to be naked and stay naked for the next ten hours at least. I hope you appreciate this. The guys are never gonna let me live this down."
"Are you ready?"
"I guess so."
Chad let go of his track shorts and let Brad slide them down his legs. He folded the shorts without removing them completely because he didn't want to risk knocking Chad over. "Now raise your left leg into pose."
About an hour later, Brad looked Chad over. "You're rather well hung for Mercury."
"Thank you."
"You're also a little too hairy. It spoils the look."
"You said you wanted an authentic looking athlete and not the almost feminine look of Mercury."
"I know, I know, but you should still look aesthetically pleasing and not like some creature out of the woods. I think I can do something about that."
Brad grabbed some of Chad's pubic hair and a knife. He was able to cut some of the hairiness off.
"Hey, careful with that knife so close to the jewels."
"Don't worry. Even the hair is difficult to cut. You're so solid now that it would take a chainsaw to hurt you. Did you feel that?"
"I feel your hand on my jewels."
"But you didn't feel me cut your leg?"
"No, but get your hand off my jewels."
"I think you might be immune to pain and only able to feel pleasure. Sorry about my hand though. I have to touch you if I want to thin out this overgrown weed patch. I won't remove all of it."
Brad continued cutting between Chad's legs, across his ass and down his legs. Chad was left fairly smooth but with the hint of hairiness left noticeable.
An hour later, Chad's stomach growled. "I'm hungry. Will I need to use the toilet as a statue?"
"You're only hungry because your stomach hasn't transformed yet but your bladder has. Whatever part of your body has turned to statue will stay in a state of stasis so you won't need to use the toilet. I could give you something to eat but I would recommend eating light or you could just wait until your stomach changes and you no longer feel hungry."
The dais kept rotating slowly as the statufication crept up Chad's body. Although most visitors were only interested in asking questions, a few asked if they could touch Chad. At first, Chad refused but as the day went on, he allowed more and more touching. Most of this was touching his statue arms anyway, no big deal.
The judges awarded Brad a blue ribbon and invited him and Chad to the next intercollegiate science fair.
"Brad, I'm so happy for you. Yes, you can take me to that fair as well."
"The blue ribbon has a sticky side. Where should we put it?"
"On my hip here."
The crowds were thinning in the late hours as most people ate supper. Chad was all statue now except his head. Even then, the back of his head blended seamlessly to the silvery marble helmet he wore.
"Brad?"
"Yes, Chad.
"It's alright if you touch me."
"Huh? Are you feeling okay?"
"I feel fine. Physically, this feels wonderful. I don't know. Somehow I feel lonely as a statue. Maybe it's because I'm naked to the world. Would you hold me. You want to anyway."
Brad slowly climbed onto the dais and wrapped his arms around Chad. "Are you cold?"
"No, I'm warm."
"I'm not gay. If you think I did this so I could get into your pants, you're mistaken. However, this is nice hugging my friend Chad. I have wished we could be closer but we run in different circles. Now I am going to have to touch your ass sometimes to move you around but that's all it will be is necessary touching. Is that alright?"
Chad didn't make a sound. Brad looked and Chad's mouth was solid statue but his eyes, his last moveable features seemed to be saying, "It's alright."
Brad smiled and after Chad turned completely into a statue, Brad wrapped his arm around his ass and lifted him up of the dais in a bear hug. Chad was heavy but not any heavier than a normal twenty year old athlete who'd just been turned into a statue.