Erica had to try something. This was too weird not to test. But as her fingers hovered over the mouse, she hesitated. She originally wanted to try it on herself, but the fact that she was pregnant gave her pause.
"... and I raised you up from a baby to the college student you are today, so of course the first thing you do is go and get pregnant a year in, I'm not saying it's wrong but it's definitely not right, if you know what I mean, and that's the thanks I get for my years of hard work..."
Erica bit her lip. This had to be a prank of some kind, but maybe, just maybe... She clicked on her mother's icon. The Age was set to 49. Erica entered 18 instead, a year younger than her. There were additional buttons, Reality and Awareness. Erica was fairly certain what they meant, so she set reality to Yes and Awareness to Off. Clicking on herself, she made sure her Awareness was set to On. Then she hit enter.
Deborah shuddered involuntarily as the Chronivac started its magic. Erica, heart pounding, turned around to look at her mother.
"Oh, NOW you bother to give me the time of day", she said, crossing her arms. "Why are you staring at me like that?"
"N-nothing, I'm just listening to you Mom", said Erica.
"Maybe you should have listened to me when I told you to use protection, or better, wait until marriage", said Deborah. But as she spoke, Erica could see that she was changing. Her posture was improving. She was standing up straighter, talking in a clearer, less raspy voice. The lines around her eyes and mouth were fading as her skin improved. Her shirt, a loose plaid shirt, was shifting colors, blurring into one color.
"Right, I'm listening", said Erica, putting a hand on her stomach. This was really happening. It was working.
"About time too, you know I only want what's best for you, and really, I care about you and I don't want you to get hurt". As Deborah traveled backwards in time through her forties, her tone grew more friendly, more concerned than nagging. "I mean, I went through this too, so I could help you deal with it". She scratched her head as she talked. Her grey hair was darkening and starting to curl as it thickened. When she hit her thirties, Deborah seemed to deflate, the flab built up over the years melting away gradually as she firmed up. Her clothes loosened on her, then tightened again as they reshaped themselves into something more appropriate. Her loose mom jeans hugged her figure closely, and her frumpy shirt shrank on her, becoming sleeker as it turned a solid red color.
Erica sat up, spellbound. "Wow..." she mumbled.
"Wow is right", said Deborah, smiling for the first time that day. "You've got a tiny life growing inside you, it's a huge step for you and Jake". Deborah's hair darkened to a rich jet black, and continued getting curlier and curlier. From her old photos, Erica knew that her mother had very curly hair that she had been straightening ever since high school. Was she okay with it now? Deborah was soon leaving the thirties behind her as she continued to get fitter and more attractive, her big brown eyes and full lips now decorated with tasteful makeup. As she hit and passed 29, she lost the fat she had put on after having Erica. 27, 26, 25, 24... Her jeans became even tighter, and her shirt morphed into a tight tank top that showed off her curves. Her breasts had firmed and risen higher on her chest, and her arms were toned and tanned. She was practically glowing with energy and vigor.
"So you'll help me with the baby?" said Erica.
"As best as I can", said Deborah, looking a bit embarrassed. "I don't know anything about babies... never thought my little sister would be having one before me". Deborah's hair was like a frizzy halo around her head, almost an afro as she headed into the home stretch. She actually got a bit shorter as she passed 20, becoming more slender. Her tank top lightened to a coral pink and shortened fast, exposing a trim, flat midriff. A piercing appeared in her navel and a ring appeared in her nose.
"And when do you think you can help me get ready for the baby?" Erica was holding her breath, spellbound by the metamorphosis she had watched. It seemed to be over. Glancing at the Chronivac, it said that Deborah was now 18.
Deborah giggled. "Aw, come on Erica, I've got my own studies to worry about too! I followed my big sister into college to become a doctor, not to, you know, change diapers!" Then, seeing Erica's shocked look, she winked, shaking her curly hair. "That was a joke, of course I'll help! Just... not when I have tests, mkay?"
"Wow... alright, thanks Deborah", said Erica, slowly coming to grips with what had happened.
Her little sister snorted. "Please. Since when do you call me Deborah? I thought I was always Debbie unless I was in trouble".
"Right. Right".
"... are you okay? You seem kind of worried". Debbie rushed over to Erica and put a hand on her sister's stomach. "It's not the baby is it? Has it started kicking?"
"No, not yet".
"You'll let me know when it does, right? I never felt a baby move inside someone!"
"Sure, of course..."
Debbie pulled out her phone - one in a cute anime-themed case, a far cry from Deborah's cracked old phone. "Alright, well, I'm gonna see if Jakey needs any help down there".
"... do you really have to call him that?"
"Sure do! You really got yourself a cutie, ya know? I'm hoping it works out with me and that guy who's been messaging me, the one I told you about".
"I hope so too".
Debbie hugged Erica and skipped off out of the room, leaving Erica alone and overwhelmed. So this Chronivac thing really worked. And it had just turned her mother into her sister.
What else could it do? Erica felt excited and yet a bit scared as well. Perhaps this kind of power was not meant to be tampered with.