Robert (Alex's father) suddenly found himself standing in the living room. His son's puppy began wiggling wanting to be let down. As soon as he did so the puppy ran for the food bowl but got distracted by the gnawed up tennis ball.
The sentence was that the world is unaware that the dog once was human. In leaving the trial room, Robert remembers everything excluding the sentence. He knows that his wife is no longer in the picture, and that his son is making one of the biggest decisions of his life.
Robert begins pacing around worriedly. Did he make the wrong choice? Should he have stayed? What's taking Alex so long?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Back in the trial room Alex was a wash of emotions. His dad put all his faith in Alex by leaving (literally) it up to him. Alex toiled and paced as he tried to play out the merits of each scenario.
As much as Alex wanted to make himself 23 and begin making a life of his own he owed his dad. After all, he was the one who chose to allow the Chronivac to dole out a punishment. He chose not to simply make everyone forget and return back to their lives. Because of this, his father doesn't have a wife, where if he made everyone go back to normal, he would still have a nuclear family.
Alex took a deep breath while sitting at the Chronivac and he began typing.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Robert was beginning to panic from second guessing his choice to leave the extra-dimensional trial room. "What's keeping him?"
Robert felt a cool draft cross him and barely noticed, a few seconds later he realized that he felt it as though he wasn't wearing any clothes. After a few more seconds he put together that he was being targeted by the Chronivac. He walked over to the mirror to see what was happening.
At first he didn't notice anything but after a moment passed he realized that the salt was leaving his salt and pepper appearance. his deep laugh lines were less deep and he was regaining a youthful appearance. The slow and steady weight gain since his early thirties had gained momentum in his forties, but now it was disintegrating away. His transformation completed leaving a handsome, rugged looking 23 year old version of himself standing before him. Robert liked his youth being returned to him but was fearful knowing that mental changes would come next.
There was a loud ringing which came from nowhere, Robbie covered his ears but it didn't seem to help, somehow he knew his brother was behind this but also knew he shouldn't be angry with him about it. It had been a difficult time for them but they were getting through it, together. Their mother had passed years ago and their father was always away on business, until he died. The experimental AI flying the company jet to japan failed to respond when the cabin lost pressure, their father asphyxiated as he slept. The company jet landed and rather then celebrating the scientific breakthrough, the company offered Rob and Alex a substantial settlement on top of the existing life insurance. They offered company lawyers to help with the legalities of getting legal guardianship of Alex, taking care of all other consideration of the estate, and creating a will in case something happens to Rob before Alex is 18... Being an adult is tough!
Robbie shook his head, "Shit, what are we doing for dinner tonight? Alex will be home any time now." There was an odd feeling that something wasn't normal about today but Robbie couldn't put his finger on it.
Alex took a page out of Brad's book, not becoming older but appearing a little more mature. He could now easily pass for an 18 year old yet everyone will think his beard and more muscular physique, is normal. Alex programmed that his mental maturity wouldn't diminish but he knows both realities equally but the new one he is making comes to mind without effort and the old one must be concentrated on to be recalled.
He and Robbie are close and they both work together to keep things running smoothly. Summer is starting and they will both take jobs this summer to help make ends meet.