"Whatever do you mean, mother? Does something seem different to you?" Meiko asked. Her tone was that of practiced innocence. Brenda had distinct memories of it from her days as Meiko's father.
"Nice try, but even you can't convince me that the changes I went through yesterday are perfectly normal." For a brief moment, Brenda caught a glimpse of the OG Tiffani behind the teenage sexpot she had become. In any incarnation, she was not to be fucked with. Brenda also noticed that Tiffani's eyes were locked firmly on the ground, an adaptation that apparently came from living with two supernatural beauties. "People don't just grow younger. I look like I'm your age, or even younger. And before yesterday, I never once thought about getting romantic with another woman, much less a step daughter. By the way, Brenda, I hope you can forgive me for seducing you like that."
Brenda choked in shock and embarrassment. "Um. No worries. Never happened."
"But I can't get it out of my mind. That's the problem. And just now you two were talking about ruling the world or some business. I'd have to be crazy not to see a connection."
Meiko and Brenda gave each other a long, solemn look. Each knew they had been caught up in realizing their fantasies that they hadn't fully considered the impact it would have on others, even someone like Tiffani, who by any measure saw an improvement in her life.
Brenda spoke first. "Tiffani, what do you remember about Mei and me? Have you noticed any changes in us?"
"We'll, you two were always very special, even as children. The most beautiful kids in the world, you were. Your father and I met at a pageant we had enrolled you two in, but I'm sure you e heard that story a hundred times. The money from your modelling jobs was nice, but we all agreed that the negative attention you received as a result outweighed it. I appreciate that you tolerated homeschooling, and I'm grateful that you agreed to put your Carrera on hold for the first few years of college. So you have both gone through changes, but nothing like this."
Meiko and Brenda shared another glance. There was a clear difference between changes resulting from the Chronivac and those set in motion by their virus. It would bear remembering. And in that same moment, they realized that they had to come clean with Tiffani.
"Mom, what we're going to tell you is going to sound crazy, but you've already figured out that something strange is going on. So please listen and try to believe. We won't blame you if you're angry at us when we're done." Meiko was more serious than Brenda had ever seen her. Tiffani still could not look up, but she was listening intently.
"Brenda and I have access to a device that can alter reality. We can make changes to anything, and history gets rewritten so that everyone but us thinks it has always been that way. We weren't always this beautiful. And Brenda was a guy two days ago. Your husband, in fact."
"My husband? That can't be! I was married to Brad for four years.."
"That's me. I was Brad before I gave myself this body and this life," Brenda said. This was clearly causing Tiffani pain and she wished they could be talking about anything else. "Actually, we had been married for eighteen years before we started messing with reality."
"But all of my memories…!"
"Everything you remember is true," Meiko said. "At least as far as this reality is concerned. But our reality is also true, which led to the way we are right now."
Tiffani's hands had balled into fists which she clenched at her temples. She was desperately trying to process everything.
"So you made me young…and a lesbian? Is there anything else you changed about me before creating my new life?"
"Those changes weren't us, not directly. They're from a virus you contracted which makes you gay. And young. And immortal. Did we mention that you're going to live forever?" Meiko asked hopefully.
"There were some other changes before that," Brenda said, guilt hanging heavy on her. "All me. Meiko had nothing to do with them. I'm really sorry I changed you without consent."
"What did you do to me?" That tone was back.
"I'll show you," Brenda said. She swiveled in her chair and typed Tiffani Weir remembers her life before her husband gained access to the Chronivac.
For a long moment, Tiffani sat there trembling. Than, the gates burst open and she started sobbing. She ran to her bedroom and locked the door behind her.
"I thought your commands were supposed to make me happier," Meiko said. "I feel like shit."