Once the machine had processed Pete's new stats a screen popped up that read, 'Subject not found, Retry or Cancel?'.
Jeff in a Homeresque moment said, "Doh!"
Knowing where Pete was he decided to go on over to his friend's house and activate the program once he got in range.
He went downstairs and out the back door and walked over to uncle Mike's place. He opened up the back door and announced his presence. He heard Pete and Simon killing zombies with heavy artillery in the living room.
"Hey Scooter! Come on in." He heard Pete from the living room.
Jeff set the Chronovac on the kitchen table and plugged in the AC adapter. He didn't want to take a chance that the batteries would fail. The machine displayed the 'Subject not found, Retry or Cancel?' message, so Jeff hit 'Retry' button.
The machine made a quick scan and then 'Processing' appeared on the screen. Then another message. Execute in 10 seconds.
Jeff casually walked into the living room where Pete and Simon were busily slaying the rotting undead. He sat in uncle Mike's recliner and watched.
The transformation was rapid, he watched as Pete inflated with muscle, his arms grew beefy, his chest barreled out, his legs became tree trunks and his belly bulged out just slightly. His legs lengthened and his spine extended, giving him the extra foot of height. A thick dark red beard bloomed on his face, his arms revealed by his muscle shirt became covered in thick body hair, hair grew out and over the neck hole both back and front and Pete's dense lengthening beard connected with it. Pete's powerful hands became covered in dark red hair all over the back and on the spaces between the knuckles on his fingers. Biker tattoos appeared on Pete's previously naked biceps and were barely visible beneath his red fur. Pete's clothes morphed; a black leather vest appeared and the black muscle shirt became faded grey with a Harley logo on the font. His previously spotless, new jeans became worn and greasy, his sneakers morphed into black engineer boots. An American flag bandana formed around his head, tied back to fit under a helmet and Pete's back pocket swelled with a worn leather wallet attached to a front belt buckle with a chain. Huge Harley grizzly bear belt buckle formed where the simple clasp had once been. His brown eyes paled and settled into beautiful a blue green like the sea. His pale freckly skin, what could be seen of it through the red hair all over his exposed skin, turned slightly tan, giving him a nice golden complexion. Pete was a much more handsome guy now and built like a brick shithouse. Any man or woman he set his heart on now, if they were willing, would be happy to have him. Pete, now of legal age put the game on pause and swigged on his third beer.
He grunted, burped loud and wetly and said in a much deeper voice than Jeff remembered, "Whutsamatter Scooter? I got grease on my face or somthin'?"
"Huh?" Jeff replied.
"Yer lookin' at me real intense. Saw ya outta the corner of my eye while I was fuckin' up those zombies. Somethin' wrong?"
"Nuh… No. Nothing at all." Jeff said. "I was just kinda amazed at how intense your face gets when you're concentrating. You were really into your game."
Pete laughed heartily, "Yeah, I git kinda wrapped up in it. Wud ya mind grabbin' me another cold one out of the fridge? You can take a couple of pulls off it if ya like, but don't tell anyone, K? Me and Sy here would get our asses served to us by Mike, let alone your dad, if they found out we let ya drink."
"What do you mean we? It's your beer and your uncle's house!" Simon said
"Yeah, but he's YER li'l bro."
"Sure, I'll go grab you a brew." Jeff said.
Jeff was amazed. Pete changed completely in seconds and didn't seem to feel or otherwise sense anything and Simon didn't even bat an eye.
He returned and handed Pete the beer.
"Hey Scooter, did I mention how fuckin' handsome you look with that five o'clock shadow? You know, if you were legal and interested, I'd knock boots with ya. Yeah, love to get me some of that fine ass of yours." Pete said, cracking open the beer and taking a big gulp.
He then extended his huge hairy paw and offered the beer to Jeff.
Jeff blushed deep red.
Jeff took a swig of the bitter brew and felt his ears burning as he handed it back.
"Pay up!" Simon said. "I told you he'd turn beet red."
"Well shit!" Pete said, "I was sure he'd go as white as a sheet."
Pete reached into his pocket, pulled out a ten and handed it to Simon.
"Listen Scooter, I was just teasin' aroun'. You're damned fine, but you're my friend too, so don't feel like I'm tryin' to get in your pants." Pete winked and took another pull of his beer.
"I gotta get back over next door, got homework." Jeff said.
"OK, take it easy bro." Pete said and returned to slaughtering the groaning masses with Simon.
Jeff grabbed the Chronovac and headed back to his room. He heard uncle Mike coming down the street and made it back into his house before Mike pulled into his driveway.
He looked at the chronovack as soon as he got back to the room. His stats and his brothers were now unfrozen and he could manipulate them.