Boris leaned over Jeff's desk, his eyes scanning the computer screen with curiosity. The Chronivac interface was open, displaying sliders and options that seemed too fantastical to be real. "Set age...," Boris muttered with a mischievous grin, sliding the bar up until it read 21, "Let's see what this does."
On the screen, a graphic of a young teen morphed into a more mature figure—a young adult. Boris chuckled, thinking it was all a cleverly made game or prank. He leaned back, shrugging off any credence to its reality.
Meanwhile, in the bathroom, Jeff finished up and caught his reflection. At first, it seemed like a trick of the light, but as he leaned in closer, he watched incredulously as the changes unfolded before his eyes. His freckles faded slightly as his skin matured, his features growing more defined and masculine. A light dusting of stubble sprouted over his chin, dark and coarse. His arms and shoulders broadened, muscles subtly expanding beneath his shirt, which stretched just a bit tighter.
"Wha...what the hell?" Jeff muttered, his voice dropping an octave, resonating with a surprising depth.
He hurriedly turned off the tap and wiped his hands, his heart pounding in his chest as a realization sparked in his mind—Boris must have found the Chronivac!
Bursting from the bathroom, Jeff sprinted up the stairs two at a time, each step landing heavier as his larger frame powered him forward. When he reached his bedroom, he pushed the door open with more force than intended.
"Boris!" Jeff barked, his new voice startling even himself as it filled the room with authority, "What did you do?"
Boris spun around in the chair, eyes widening at the sight of his transformed nephew. "Jeff?" he stammered, taking in Jeff's older appearance, "What...is this real?"
Jeff stepped forward, his now-mature hand gesturing toward the Chronivac. "You messed with it, didn't you?" he accused, though there was an undercurrent of disbelief as he glanced down at himself.
"It was an accident," Boris defended, raising his hands in a placating gesture, "I thought it was just a joke!"
"I'll show you what an accident looks like," Jeff replied, striding confidently to the computer. Boris took a step back, sensing it was only fair for Jeff to have a turn now that Boris had inadvertently altered him.
Curiosity piqued, Boris asked, "What are you planning to change?"
Jeff shot him a knowing glance but kept quiet. "You'll find out soon enough," he said, a hint of mischief in his tone as he shielded the screen from Boris's view, fingers deftly working the sliders and buttons of the Chronivac.