Jeff snapped his fingers and spoke aloud: "Hey, I've got an idea! Why don't I give you a body?"
'What? You can do that?' asked his father's mental voice within him.
"I mean, I don't know, but I'd say so. It seems to have packages and transformation settings for everything."
'You mean ... you don't want me as your mentor?'
"I didn't say THAT. I just maybe don't want you inside my head, that's all. It's been weird having mental conversations with an AI version of my dad. But you're right, the Chronivac created you to be an extra helper for me, so I should probably keep you around."
Mental-Mike psychically grinned a bit at that but still felt a bit nervous as his brain-mate rapidly skimmed the Chronivac device's numerous features and settings. There were options to alter reality, possibilities to influence other people's minds, and even time travel. A person could radically alter themselves and never even remember using the device. It could be used to bring fictional characters into reality or transport a person into a fantasy world, with an appropriate body or otherwise. It was really kind of fascinating... and also frankly terrifying. Having been created to give Jeff sound advice, and being based on a parental figure, the extra personality in Jeff's head was wondering what company in their right mind would send out these things for free beta testing to people of all ages seemingly at random. The fact that he'd already seen this gizmo get a glitch made him want to advise Jeff against using it. But at the same time... he also really kind of wanted his own body.
"Ah, here it is!" said Jeff, "The software-to-hardware package!"
Reading the on-screen instructions through Jeff's eyes, "Mike" was reasonably impressed. It allegedly could transform any software designed for human interaction into a physical entity capable of interacting with material things. Any extra functionality needed to move around and passably socialize would be added during the construction process. The default was to build the software into a robotic form, but organic bodies and even cyborg combos were also possible. The list of targets included a list of nearly every application on Jeff's computer, including the Chronivac itself. But Jeff clicked on his DuoMind mentor buddy, installed in his own nervous system, whose stats were immediately displayed:
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* Selected Software: Running DuoMind instance: "Mike"
** Current hardware environment: neuronal anatomy of user "Jeff"
** Current status: OK, currently in operation by user "Jeff"
** Type: Sapient, automatically generated assistant
*** Creator: Chronivac (R) DuoMind (TM) AI creator tool, Transdem Labs
*** Gender identity: male
*** Species identity: human
*** Mental development level: middle age
*** Personality routines: reconstructed from human non-user "Mike"
** Do you want to create a physical manifestation of this program?
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Jeff clicked "yes" and had to choose whether to create a mechanical, organic, or cybernetic form for "Mike". But the program in question was sadly having second thoughts. 'Jeff, are you sure you want to do this?' he asked... 'Let's face it, you already have a dad, and he already has the human body I thought I came from. What will happen to him, or how will he react, if you turn me into him? [sigh] Maybe I don't have a place outside your head after all.'
"Don't worry, dad. Or, uh, Mike? I'm not sure. But look, the Chronivac can give you more than just my real dad's body! I can turn you into anything. And if it's something I wouldn't be expected to have anyway, then I can just alter reality so you can be with me."
Mike's non-existent face lit up with gratitude. 'You'd do that, for me? You really want me around even outside your brain?'
"Of course," said Jeff, clicking some boxes and deciding which options to choose. Jeff could scarcely wait to have his mind to himself again, without having to destroy either version of his dad. The version of Mike within him could scarcely wait to have a body again (even though he has never technically had his own body in the first place).