Isabelle, still glowing from the morning’s events, had rushed off to finish folding the laundry and get dinner started. In her hurry, she hadn’t noticed the Chronivac program still running quietly in the background on Jessica’s computer. The screen had dimmed but not gone to sleep completely, leaving a faint glow on the desk.
Later that afternoon, Mike wandered into the room looking for his phone charger. As he passed the desk, the movement jostled the mouse slightly, and the screen lit up. The open window caught his attention: Chronivac - Profiles Loaded.
Curious, he leaned in.
“Huh…”
Two profiles were listed: Michael Thompson and Isabelle Thompson.
He hesitated. Something about the layout looked strangely official—like medical records crossed with a video game character sheet. His eyes scanned the interface. There were stats for age, weight, muscle tone, libido, preferences, behavioral patterns, relationship roles, even parental instincts.
Mike blinked. “What in the world...?”
He clicked into his own profile and was immediately taken aback. It was detailed—too detailed. Not only did it list accurate data like his birthdate and blood type, but it also included notes like “preferred bonding activities: low,” “confidence: modest,” and “self-image: needs improvement.” All of these were now marked as “Updated” in green.
Even weirder, there were time-stamped logs showing changes. Someone—Isabelle, he assumed—had modified several traits earlier that day. Muscle tone, athleticism, libido levels, emotional confidence, recreational interests... the list went on. At the bottom, one setting stood out:
"Contagious Male Bonding Package: Active (Limited to sons and in-laws)"
Mike stared at it, then sat back in the desk chair.
"Is this... how I suddenly felt better today?"
He looked toward the hallway, a mix of curiosity and bewilderment settling in. Isabelle had clearly been trying to help—he had felt more energetic, more confident, even a bit more... himself. But it was surreal realizing it hadn’t all just been in his head. Someone had made it that way. Literally.
Then he spotted Isabelle’s profile and, after a moment of hesitation, clicked it open.
It was just as detailed.
Her stats were gentle but comprehensive—empathy maxed out, multitasking through the roof, and notes like “strong maternal instinct” and “increased emotional resilience under pressure.” There were settings about her memory of changes being restricted or intentionally fogged.
Mike frowned.
“Wait... does she even know how much she’s changed?”
He didn’t know what to make of it. Part of him was impressed. Another part was uneasy. Still, he couldn’t deny that things had felt more right lately, even if that ‘rightness’ came from a strange sci-fi interface.
He debated logging out, but then a blinking tab caught his eye:
“Preset Scenarios – Family Templates & Relationship Dynamics”
Hovering the cursor over it, a drop-down appeared with options like:
"Balanced Partnership"
"Traditional Roles"
"Role Reversal (Experimental)"
"Solo Parenting Mode"
"Mentorship Bonds"
"Sibling Dynamics: Emphasis Swap"
Mike leaned back, rubbing his chin.
“Jessica… what is this thing?”
He didn’t want to push anything without thinking it through. If it had the power to change physical and emotional realities, messing with it blindly seemed reckless. But he also couldn’t ignore that someone—maybe Isabelle—had already made changes for his benefit.
He smiled faintly, remembering Isabelle’s eyes lighting up earlier. Maybe this wasn’t something to be afraid of. Maybe it was something to explore together.
Mike clicked out of the profile browser and minimized the program—not shutting it off, just hiding it—and returned to the kitchen to check on the crockpot. As he passed Isabelle folding laundry on the couch, he wrapped his arms around her from behind and kissed her cheek.
"Thanks for today," he said.
She smiled, clearly enjoying the attention. "You deserve it."
Mike grinned, a new idea forming in the back of his mind. “So... I was thinking. Maybe next weekend, we do a camping trip. Just us.”
Isabelle raised an eyebrow, surprised. “You? Camping?”
He laughed. “What can I say? I’ve got a sudden craving for firewood, hiking boots, and maybe even a little grilled meat by the lake.”
She narrowed her eyes. “You’re up to something.”
“Maybe,” Mike said, giving her a wink. “But it’s all in the name of bonding.”