Steve tried to think about what he should do, he immediately thought of video games, his default relaxation activity which his dad never played. Steve then considered riding his bike but realized he doesn't have one, his son does. Feeling overwhelmed he wanted to call his friend, but his friend is 25 years younger than him now and wasn't told to expect this... so they are his son's friend now.
On the verge of a panic attack and feeling that his family's responses would be about how necessary his sacrifice was rather than helping him deal with the sacrifice he made, he turned to the only other people he could and called the facility he just left.
"Mr. Swanson, I wasn't expecting to hear from you so soon. Is everything alright?" Dr. Larry asked after the transfer finally connected.
"Well, yes and no. The experiment is successful and everything is how you expected things to be. I just, just... How do I live my dad's life? and how do I be okay with that?" Steve began sobbing.
"Oh, um.. well... Coping with the situation will come with time but as for integration, I can share some information with you. Our process forces the neural pathways in the brain to swap with those of the other body, effectively transferring your consciousness. In prior experiments we've noticed behaviors which may indicate that some pathways may indeed revert back as the body tries to heal from the re-pathing process. This makes some of the mental traits of the original consciousness push through. Affinity for certain pastimes, muscle memory, mannerisms, attraction, in some cases experiences. This is what we are studying after all, and given your age difference any reversion should be immediately obvious. I'd recommend you take note of your likes and dislikes in your new body, as well as your original preferences and abilities. Please notify us if you find yourself driving to a place you've never been, confidently completing your yearly tax returns, or reciting your bank account number before you've actually taken the time to memorize it. We are very curious how this will turn out for you To the point however, these things will make your transition easier."
Steve couldn't speak for a moment in shock and horror. "Wouldn't that mean that I, my personality... my self... is being replaced by chunks of my father?"
Dr. Larry paused, "Mr. Swanson, its much more productive to consider yourself being integrated with instead of replaced by... After all, people grow and change all the time. I'm not who I was a decade ago. Your process will just be much faster and you will have the benefit of your new bodies experiences to grow off of."
"So what you're saying is, I'm just a man who's been brain damaged into thinking that I'm my own son, and the same thing goes for my son but thinking he's me."
"Mr. Swanson, that's a very simple way to explain a very complex procedure..."
"But basically yes."
"Well, yes."
Steve, if he could think of himself as Steve anymore, hung up the phone... Is he a cheated teen or a brain damaged adult? Both? Neither? Who is he, who should he be, and what does this mean for trying to move forward?