Welcome to the Machine Part 2

By Louder

'But you jumped out of the machine before it started. How'd this happen?' Sara asked her now younger mother.

'What're you talking about? Sure I jumped out. You were gonna, like, zap me again or something! No way am I gonna be getting any younger until you figure that thing out!'

'But you ~are~ younger?' Sara replied.

'Quit foolin! As if!' Gloria answered with a sneer.

'You don't know? You look like a teenager. I thought you were one of my friends from school when I heard your voice!'

'~Please~ Knock it off and quit playin' around! I'm, like, back to normal...totally!'

'I don't think so.... Mom... Look in the mirror' Sara said as she pointed to a mirror on the wall.

Gloria walked toward the mirror and looked at her reflection. She brushed her hair back with her hand and seemed to admire her reflection. 'Yeah, so I looked... You got me. Ha ha. So'd you find anything in the papers?'

'You think you look ~normal~?' Sara asked incredulously.

'Get off it! I'm fine. Sheesh....'

'You really think you look like a 40 year old?'

Gloria looked again. This time her expression changed. 'I dunno....like.... you're not foolin with me? '

'No....You look like a teenager!'

Gloria looked harder. 'Wow. I guess I do look kinda young for my age...... but, like, you think I look younger than I did?'

'Mom! You look barely older then ME! Something's wrong. I gotta figure it out.'

'Well.... just be careful what ya figure out. If it ain't broke don't fix it!'

Sara watched her mother turn and leave. As she climbed the stairs Sara could see that her shoes were starting to slip. She also noticed how loose her clothing was. She hoped that she didn't get any younger.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Gloria looked at her reflection in the window. She wondered why she was wearing such frumpy clothing. Not only was it dull and boring but it was too big! She turned and made her way to her room. She picked out some clothing but none of it was really what she was looking for. It was all pretty boring and looked too big anyway. She finally had a thought.... a sly grin crossed her face and she headed toward Sara's room. After a few minutes she had picked out a short halter top, cut-offs, and sandals. They fit her perfectly. ~Much~ better she thought as she returned to the kitchen and again saw her reflection in the window.

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Sara skimmed over the notes that she had arranged chronologically. She could see that her father had been doing a lot of testing but didn't see anything at first but plant tests and computer self diagnostics. Finally, she found some notes on animal testing. At first the notes seemed to indicate high success rates but then she noticed their tone changed as her father noted some 'instability'. There was a few more references to the instability but nothing describing exactly what he was calling unstable. Worse, the notes were incomplete. The most recent dates were still a couple of months old. There had to be more notes somewhere! Sara glanced around the room. Filing cabinets, desk drawers, there were papers everywhere. The newer notes must be in there somewhere. Apparently, the older notes that she had found near the computer were older notes that her father had been referencing. She wished he could be there so she could just ask him what she wanted to know!

Sara decided it was time for a break. She figured she would break the news to her mother about the instability that her father had noted. She figured her mother would have questions about what that would mean but she just didn't know. She decided that her mother's recent regression must be part of the instability, but she didn't know what else to expect.

'Mom! You're wearing ~my~ stuff?' Sara said upon seeing her mother.

'You mind? You're stuff is so cool and all my stuff is kinda tacky like'

'Uhh No... I don't mind. It just surprised me....that's all. Anyway, I've looked over the notes that I've found. I think there's gotta be more somewhere, but the one's I've got talk about so instability in the process'

'Instability? Like how?'

'Well, I think like what's happened to you. I mean looking like a teenager and all....' Sara studied her mother closely. She wondered if she looked even younger than before. Sara had thought she looked taller downstairs but now they seemed the same height.

'What're you looking at?'

'I think you might be getting younger....'

'Nuh uh! Get real!'

'Mom... I don't know what Dad meant by instability for sure....but I think something like what is happening to you could be it! And if it continues..... I think I better call Grandma because we don't know what is going to happen.'

'What are you saying? That I'm gonna, like, be a baby ~again~. No way!'

'Mom, it's not just your looks.... it's your personality and everything. I think we have to, like, plan for the worst, ya know? I'll do what I can but it's gonna take time! I really think you've gotten even younger. Suzi's gonna be home soon too. I think grandma can help with her. She's gonna have a ton of questions.'

'~Whatever~ To tell you the truth even ~if~ I've gotten younger, it ain't much! I think you're just bein' way to much of a worry-wort. Call mom if you want.' the frustrated teen said as she sat down and crossed her legs in a huff.

Sara called her grandmother and asked her to come over. She didn't explain why just yet, figuring it was better to show her than to try and explain it. She then returned to her work downstairs, hoping to find some newer notes and some answers.

Gloria was pretty bored with it all. She hadn't liked being a baby but now that everything was back to normal she figured that Sara was just worrying to much and they should just leave everything alone. She even wondered if Sara was only going to try and turn her into a baby again just to be mean! Before her thoughts got too far afield, the door opened behind her.

'Sara. What's wrong? You've had me worried ever since you called!'

Gloria spun around 'Mom! You can't tell the difference in your daughter and your grand-daughter?'

The older woman's jaw dropped. 'Gloria? No..... You're a look alike. Sara's playing a joke. Where is she?'

'Joke? ~As if~ ~Right~ I haven't seen anything funny around here today. C'mon. She's, like, downstairs playing scientist or somethin''

She didn't know what to say. If the teen wasn't Gloria, she was a dead-ringer. She started to follow the girl but had to wait as the girl had to stop and tighten the straps on her suddenly looser sandals.

'Sara...mom's here. Ya satisfied everything's OK yet?'

'Sara what is going on?' her grandma asked

'It's this machine. It's something dad built. Mom accidentally got zapped by it and.....'

'And everything is OK now and everybody is, like, bein stupid or somethin! I'm goin' back upstairs. See ya later alligator!' An increasingly impatient Gloria said before turning and leaving.

'Grandma, it's really her. I swear!' Sara said.

'So you're telling me that she got zapped and turned into a teenager?'

'No.....not exactly. She got zapped and turned into a baby. I figured out how to reverse it and I thought everything was, like, back to normal.... and then a few hours later Miss Teen Personality appears. She doesn't even seem to notice how much younger she has gotten. And I think she's still getting younger. And I ~know~ her personality is getting younger. I'm hoping to figure it out....'

Her grandma listened to the story. The most convincing part was the personality. How would a look-alike know how to act out Gloria's teen persona? How would any of them even know how Gloria was a teen? And the girl was absolutely a dead-ringer!

'...So I was hoping you'd help with Suzi and maybe even mom if she gets like, you know, ~too~ young!'

'Isn't there anybody you can ask about this thing?'

'Mom is afraid dad might've stolen some of this technology. We might end up in trouble talking about it and besides, who could we ask? Dad was the only one and he's gone.'

'Well, I'll help however I can, honey. I'm here for you. Just tell me what to do'

'Well, first... why don't you get Miss Teen Personality back down here with me so you can catch Suzi and tell her what is going on. It's probably not a good idea for those two to meet without a little warning, you know?'

'You're probably right. I'll send her down here and wait for Suzi. You keep studying. Heavens, what a machine your father built!'

Sara nodded and went back to work. She found a huge pile of papers in the filing cabinet. Some of them looked related to the machine but none of them that she had checked were very recent.

'So, you want me down here with you, huh? Whatsa matter.... Miss Brain not smart enough to figure it out by herself?'

Sara looked up to see Gloria looking even younger. She obviously was younger than Sara now. Probably 15 at most Sara decided. 'Mom, can't you just be quiet and let me find the missing notes. I'm sure if I can find the notes I can figure out what we need to do'

'Do? Why do anything? You probably just wanna make me a baby or somethin' so you can be in charge! I'm fine. Everything's back to nomal so why are ya so pig-headed about it?' Gloria asked as she again had to tighten the straps on her sandals. She also had to adjust her halter top because it was growing progressively looser.

'~Please~ Just be quiet and let me look thru these papers.' Sara pleaded as she continued sorting notes.

'Sure ~whatever~' Gloria sarcastically replied and went about fidgeting were her ever loosening clothing.

Soon, Sara was able to divert all of her attention back to the notes as Gloria had finally quieted. After a while the silence made Sara curious. It was TOO quiet!

'Mom.... what are you doing?' she asked as she saw her even younger mother inside the machine. 'You better be careful messing around in there'

'I'm just checkin' it out! Sheesh! It's, like, boring down here. I know what I'm doin!'

'Yeah, well, we wouldn't be in this mess if that was true.'

'Yeah. Sure. Whatever.' Gloria replied as she stepped out of the machine. Her shorts were dangerously close to falling off. Her narrowing hips could barely keep them up. The halter top was growing flatter against her chest. Her shoes slipped worse than ever. She'd already tightened them as much as possible. This time the 14 year old just kicked them off as she moved closer to Sara. 'So, ya find whatever stuff you're lookin' for?'

Sara was surprised to hear how much higher her mother's voice had gotten. She reminded her of Suzi. 'Ummm I found some more info but I'm still missing some stuff.'

'Like more notes or stuff?'

'Yeah, Dad had notes everywhere.'

'What about those?' Gloria asked pointing to some papers in the machine lying on the laptop.

'Where'd those come from? I looked over there.' Sara asked.

'I dunno. I found 'em'

'Found them where?'

'Over there by the laptop somewhere'

'Well, would you bring them here please?'

'No. Get 'em yourself. You always want me to do stuff for ~you~!'

'~Mom!~ C'mon. Can't you just help me a little bit?' Sara asked as she got up and went to retrieve the papers.

As she entered the machine she heard a click. She turned around to see her teenaged mother grinning wickedly as she watched the machine come to life. 'Gotcha!'

Sara tried to speak but the machine seemed to paralyze her. She felt a chill as the light brightened. The room seemed to be growing. At first she was able to concentrate on what was happening but the longer she was in the light the harder it became.

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Upstairs:

Suzi had arrived home. Her Grandmother did her best trying to explain what had happened. She finally decided that she had prepared her as well as possible. Suzi looked a little disbelieving but trusted her grandmother. They headed for the stairs. They were curious about the glow from the basement. Upon entering the basement they saw Gloria behind the main terminal.

'Mom?' Suzi asked haltingly.

'Hi, Suzy!' She replied as she readjusted her halter top.

Suzi ran to get a better look at her mother. She looked the same age as her!

'Where's Sara?' their grandmother asked.

Gloria smiled wickedly and pointed toward the machine where a 2 year old was struggling to free herself from a pile of clothing.

'You made her little?' Suzi asked with a giggle.

'Yip, sure did. She was being too much of a pain so I fixed her good!'

'But she is the only one who knows anything about computers!' their grandmother replied sounding very worried.

'Nuh uh! I know a bunch about computers too!' Gloria argued.

'Sara, can you talk...do you remember me? I'm gramma'

Little Sara shook her head yes.

'Do you know what your mother did to you?'

'She make me wittle with the 'puter'

'At least you still have your mind. Maybe we can straighten this out still. How do I change you back?'

Little Sara's face screwed up and her 2 year old emotions took over. 'I..I...I...don't 'member how to work it' she bawled.

Gloria and Suzi didn't seem to share in her concern for her eldest grand-daughter.

'So can that machine make people older too?' Suzi asked.

'Yeah, I think so. ~I~ can make it do it' Gloria answered as she clicked thru the various windows.

Welcome To The Machine Part 3

By Louder

'You two quit messing with that and get upstairs' Grandma Jane sounding more than a little angry.

'Awwwwwww whatsa big deal? She'll be OK!' Gloria argued.

'Listen here young lady. You've caused enough problems. I have half a mind to swat your bottom and Heaven knows it's been a long time since I've considered that!'

'~Sorry~' Gloria answered half heartedly. 'C'mon Suzi, let's get outta here and leav mom with the ~baby~'

The two girls laughed and ran up the stairs. Gloria tugged on the loose waist band of her shorts to keep them from falling off as she climbed the stairs.

'This is really neat, mom! I mean you like getting younger and all' Suzi told her mother.

'Yeah, it was a surprise at first but I'm glad to be back to normal now and stuff' Gloria answered. 'I sure didn't like bein' a baby!'

Suzi was confused but shrugged it off. Her mother didn't seem to realize that she was younger. Actually, Suzi didn't mind because the two of them were hitting it off so well and she liked how her mother had finally put Sara in her place! She kind of enjoyed the idea of being the older sister.

'You wanna try on some of my clothes and then walk down to the mall?' Suzi asked.

'Your clothes? You think they'll fit?'

'Sure, those look kinda big and you're about my size'

Gloria seemed confused but decided Suzi must be right. 'OK, I'll bet you got some cool stuff, but we don't have to walk cuz I can drive us'

Suzi wasn't sure about THAT! 'Ummmm I'd rather walk, that way we can pass the basketball court and like check for cool guys'

'Oh. Cool! I never thought about that!' Gloria replied with a smile.

Once in Suzi's room she found a pair of shorts and a T-shirt for Gloria. 'Here ya go...these should fit better.'

Gloria took the items and Suzi found a pair of sneakers for her. She then helped her tie her hair back in a Pony-tail.

'Wow, you really look cute!' Suzi told her as she looked over her youthening mother.

Gloria blushed and then said 'Let's go before mom comes lookin' for us'

The two young teens quietly slipped out and were off to the mall by way of a detour thru the basketball court.

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Downstairs:

'Don't cry Sara gramma Jane will figure this out. I just need you to be a big girl and help me'

'B-B-B-ut I don't 'member how' Suzi cried.

'Shhhhhhhh We'll figure it out. It'll be OK' she told Little Sara as she picked her up and carried her to the computer table. 'Ok, now how do we work this big 'ol thing?'

'Mousey...' Sara said as she pointed her pudgy finger at the mouse.

'So THAT'S a mouse? I always wondered what those computer people were talking about. So how do I work it?'

Sara grabbed the mouse and moved it around the screen. 'This way grammy. Mousey go all around. Seeeeee?'

'But then what?'

'Ummmmm I dunno.... I don't 'member 'zactly!'

Sara tried to read the words but they all looked like squiggly lines. 'You read, grammy....pleasssssse'

Her grandmother started reading the words to her. When she read 'Reverse' Sara squealed ' Yay! That one. Show me'

Grandma Jane pointed to it and Sara clumsily placed the mouse over it. 'OK, now I go in machine and you press mousey...K?'

'Are you sure, honey? We don't need any mistakes!'

'Uh huh... you gotta do that'

She picked Sara up and sat her back in the machine 'OK, I hope this works' She then sat back down at the table and fumbled with the mouse until she figured out which button to use.

'OK, here you go' she said as she clicked the 'reverse' button.

The machine immediatelty came to life. Jane watched as the 2 year old began to age. 3-4-5-6.... It was an amazing transformation, seeing a child age so rapidly. 10-11-12... soon Sara was developing curves and heading toward womanhood....14-15-16. The machine shut down 'Reverse Successful'

'Grandma...this is embarrassing!' Sara said as she quickly dressed.

'So is everything OK?' Jane asked her grand-daughter.

'For a little while, probably. But I don't see any reason why I shouldn't start like getting younger the way mom did. And I don't have so many years to lose like she does!'

'Oh dear! So you both just keep getting younger?'

'Probably. I gotta hurry. You saw how mom's gotten. I mean like with her personality and stuff. I know she really wouldn't have done this to me if she was thinking right. I don't know how long I've got!'

'You get to work and I'll try and settle that young 'un....errrrr your mother down. This is crazy!'

Jane went upstairs to find Gloria while Sara went back to work.

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The basketball court:

'Wow, he's ~cute~' Gloria said while pointing at one of the boys who was obviously the best player on the court.

'Yeah, he was the leading scorer in Jr High. His name is mark. He got to start as a freshmen. Usually our coach doesn't let freshmen play on the varsity team for nothin''

'~Cool~' Gloria sighed as her eyes followed his every move.

Finally one of the players signaled for a break. The guys all came over and started talking with the girls that had gathered.

'Hi, Suzi' mark said politely 'Is this your little sister? You guys look so much alike and all!'

'Ummm yeah' Suzi answered as she looked over at Gloria who obviously wasn't happy being called the ~little~ sister. Gloria DID look youger than her now. Not a lot younger, but younger none the less.

'So you're gonna be starter like on the team and everything this year?' Gloria asked sounding like a teen meeting the members of Hanson in person.

'Ya, No big deal. It looks like they're gonna feature my offense more this coming year. Last year I passed off a lot. I had 25 points against Forest High though!'

'~Wow~ That's a lot!' Gloria cooed.

'So what's your name?'

'Me? Ummmm I'm Glo'

'Glo... that's cool' Mark replied.

Suzi wasn't sure about this turn of events. Although Mark seemed to be humoring 'Glo' more than anything, she still didn't like the competition. She looked at 'Glo' again and was sure that Mark couldn't be interested. After all, 'Glo' looked like barely a teenager and Mark was going to be a sophomore. Gloria was becoming completely flat-chested and skinny. The T-shirt was hiding the slow transformation but the retreat thru puberty was starting to get obvious.

'Ummm , Glo, we better take off' Suzi insisted.

'Take off? Already?' she whined in a slightly higher voice.

'Ya...we're late....' she said as she grabbed her shoulder in an effort to move her along. 'See ya 'round, Mark' Suzi said as they hurriedly left.

'What'd ya do that for? I was talkin' to Mark!' the 13 year old complained.

'Because, you're getting too young!'

'Nuh uh! You just didn't like me talkin' to Mark!'

'No.... People were gonna start noticing. That's all...'

'You're just as bad as dumb 'ol Sara!' Gloria argued as they continued walking. Her T-shirt was inching closer to the cuffs of her shorts. 'Waittttttt' she whined as she stopped to tighten her shoelaces.

'Mom...ummm Glo? ummmm You think that machine could make me older?'

'Yeah, prob'ly Why?'

'I dunno... just asking'

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Back at the house:

Jane was frantically searching the house for her youthening daughter and Suzi. This is not good she thought as she searched inside, outside, and all around the block.

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The basement:

A 14 year old Sara was starting to have trouble deciphering some of the math on one of her father's notes that she had thought looked like it might be important.

Welcome to the Machine Part 4

By Louder

Gloria continued to slowly grow younger. Probably no more than 12 now, freckles were appearing across the birdge of her nose. Her legs had grown skinnier and her clothes were looking larger.

'Maybe we shouldn't go to the mall?' Suzi offered.

'Why not?' Glo whined.

''Cause I was thinkin' maybe you could use the machine to make me older?'

'We can do that later!' Glo countered.

Suzi looked at her mother an realized that she might not be old enough to know how to do it later!

'I bet you just don't know how to do it!' Suzi replied, trying to use psychology.

'Sure I do! I'm just as smart as Sara!'

'I don't know. She's pretty smart with computers'

'Well, she's not as smart as me... 'sides she's just a 2 year old now!'

'Hmmm I bet she's figured out how to get back to normal by now' Suzi replied.

'You think so?'

'I wouldn't doubt it. She knows how to do it and Gramma could help her'

'Yeah... she's how I got fixed back to normal' Glo said as she thought about it.

'Maybe I should have her make me older since you might not be able to?'

'No! Ummmm I can do it. I'll show ya!'

Suzi smiled. She knew her mother's child-like persona had been no match for her more mature psychology. It had been too easy she thought!

Glo's T-shirt had now dropped even with the cuffs of her shorts. She constantly had to pull on the shorts to keep them from sliding off. Her sneakers were easily a size too big now. No amount of lace tightening was enough! Her age was approaching single digits and she was much shorter now!

'Maybe we better take a different path home...a shortcut?' Suzi said hoping to avoid having to try and explain to the guys how Glo had grown younger.

'A shortcut?'

'Yeah, it'll be faster'

'I told ya I coulda drove...then it woulda been a lot faster' Glo answered.

Suzi wanted to laugh at the thought of this child trying to drive but figured she had better not make her angry.

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Meanwhile:

Jane was still searching. She stopped and asked neighbors if they had seen the two girls. Some thought that they might've seen them but no one was for certain. Some sent her one way and others sent her the opposite way. It was getting very frustrating and she didn't know how much more time that she had! All she could do was keep looking!

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Back in the basement:

12 year old Sara was working harder than ever. Things didn't make as much sense as earlier. She realized it might be because of her regression but she wasn't really sure if it had started yet. She thought it might just be because her father had used bigger words and harder math on these last notes she was studying. It was all starting to get kind of boring to her.

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The park:

Suzi took the lead and urged Glo to hurry. Glo was having a hard time keeping up. First the shoes and then shorts fell off causing her to trip and skin her knee.

'Hey...waitttt... my stuff......' she cried but Suzi didn't care.

'Get up. Leave 'em. They didn't fit anyway and that T-shirt covers you fine!'

Glo put her hands on her hips and in her best angry voice told Suzi 'Next time I'm drivin!'

'Sure, mom.... next time you can drive' Suzi said trying not to burst out laughing at the 9 year old. 'Now we need to hurry. C'mon!' she said grabbing the girl's hand.

Once they got back to the house Suzi wanted to be careful. She didn't figure her grandmother would be approving of her plan. She wasn't sure about Sara...would she still be a 2 year old she wondered? Peeking in the window she saw no sign of her grandmother.

'Shhhhhh Follow me' she told the barefoot 8 year old who's T-shirt was encroaching on her knees.

They went around back and looked in through a basement window. Still no sign of her grandmother but she saw a girl setting at the computer. Sara?

'Look, Mom..... Sara's not a baby anymore!'

Glo looked in the window and saw the 10 year old Sara doodling on a piece of paper.

'C'mon... let's go make me older.' Suzi said as she grabbed Glo's hand.

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The basement:

Sara had been having more and more trouble with the notes. The words were getting harder to read and some of the math was using letters instead of numbers. She was quickly losing interest in the project even though she was afraid any minute she might start regressing herself. Still, she hadn't yet so she figured that maybe she'd be OK?

'Hi Sara' Suzi said as she entered the room. She didn't much fear any repercussions from a 10 year old. 'Me and mom were thinkin' maybe I should use the machine to get a little older. Just a couple of years. You don't mind do ya?'

'Ummmm I dunno. It might not be a good idea. Is that ~mom~?' Sara asked without finishing her sentence.

'Yes I'm your mommy and if Suzi wants to use the machine you hafta let her!'

'Why?' Sara asked

'Ummmmm Cuz!' Glo shot back not liking to have her authority questioned.

'Mom? Just a couple of years OK?' Suzi asked as she stepped into the machine.

'Gee, I dunno Suzi. This might not be a good idea. I mean I'm all normal and stuff after using it but mom's still gettin' littler!'

'Am not!' Glo yelled back.

'Are too!' Sara added.

'Girls....errrr Mom... Sara. Just make me a couple of years older an quit fighting'

Glo walked over and joined Sara in the seat. There was easily enough room for the two children in the seat.

'I wanna do it!' Glo argued.

'No I wanna do it!' Sara countered.

'Girls...errrr whatever! You two both can do it but you better hurry.' Suzi told them as she saw Sara's shoes fall off as her legs dangled over the edge of the chair. She figured both girls to be in single digits now!

'OK, I'll click this one and you do the next.... OK?' Sara offered.

'K!' A 7 year old Glo answered as she watched Sara click the mouse.

'Now you do that one' Sara said as she pointed at the monitor .

Glo took the mouse and positioned it over the button that Sara had pointed to and then clicked.

'Ok, now I'll choose 2 here' Sara explained as she selected 2 from the options. 'Now we both press this one at the same time' Sara added as she positioned the mouse on the 'Progression' button.

The machine fired to life.

'Hey, I didn't say push yet!' Sara complained.

'I'm mommy and so I don't hafta wait on ya!' Glo replied.

Suzi's clothing strained at its seams as she aged. Her height increased as did her feminine curves. Her hair lengthened and seemed to get fuller as it flowed loosely in soft curls. In a short time Suzi was a 16 year old in VERY tight clothing!

She stepped out of the machine carefully. Her clothing wasn't going to take any sudden movements. 'Well, little Sis, I'm gonna be borrowing some clothes. I believe I'm gonna watch some boys practice some basketball'

16 year old Suzi headed for Sara's room to find something to wear. She found a short dress and some pumps that seemed perfect. After modeling her look in the mirror for a few minutes, she left for the Park.

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In the basement:

'Should we go with her?' Sara asked.

'Nahhhh... There's just some dumb 'ol boys playin' basketball or somethin'. Maybe we can do somethin' else that'll be ~real~ fun!'

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Later:

Jane decided to return to the house hoping that maybe the girls had returned. She didn't see them upstairs but hoped maybe Sara had them downstairs. Upon entering the basement she saw two little girls wearing only huge T-shirts staring at the machine. One was maybe 5 and the other maybe 7...maybe!

'Mommy.... Suzi got in the machine and now all there is is a pile of clothes!' Glo said while pointing to a pile of Suzi's clothing.

Sara put her hand over her mouth in order to hide her snickering.

'What have you girls done!?! You did too much!' Jane cried out as she ran into the machine searching thru the clothing.

Welcome To The Machine Part 5

By Louder

Jane had a sick feeling as she heard the two girls giggle as soon as she dropped 'No...girlsssss.....' she said as she tried to stand but was paralyzed by the machine.

'How old is gramma?' Sara asked.

'Ummmmm she's ~old~' Glo said 'But this'll fix her up!'

Jane's hair darkened. The grey vanished replaced by a dull but dark mane of hair. Her skin tone changed. It became healthier in color and tightened. Her dark hair began to regain a youthful lustre, no longer dull and fine but rather full shiny! All the lines on her face were rapidly disappearing. By the time she had regressed to 25 she had regained the looks that she had prided herself on before having children. EVERYTHING tightened and lifted. 24-23-22-21-20. A young woman barely of age was left in shock at what had just happened.

She examined her young hands and traced her smooth and unlined face with her hands. 'My.... I'm young....' She could barely find the words for what had just happened to her.

'Is that 'nuff, Mommy?' Sara asked Glo as she looked over her rejuvenated grandmother.

'Boy. I dunno.... more?' Glo said.

'No...... stop!' Jane said as she crawled out of the machine before the girls could restart it.

She quickly scrambled to her feet. 'You girls. This is not a toy. I forbid either of you to mess with it without adult supervision' She tried to sound authoritative but her 20 year old voice oozed with sweetness.

'I'm 'dult!' Glo protested even though she looked like anything BUT and adult.

'Let's try this again. Don't mess with this unless I'm here and give permission! Otherwise I ~will~ spank both of you!'

Sara looked sheepish but Glo only sneered and looked away.

Considering how young Glo had gotten, Jane didn't see her being much of a problem for much longer. Sara wasn't far behind.

'So where's Suzi?' Jane asked.

'Awww she went to the dumb ol park!' Sara answered and then explained how Suzi had made herself older.

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The Park:

Suzi had planted herself in view of the players. She made sure that her dress had allowed a view of plenty of thigh. She also constantly 'arranged' her cleavage. It was a different experience actually having ~real~ cleavage. She knew she was having an affect on the game because turnovers and airballs were much more plentiful. Finally, Mark called for a break.

'Suzi? You look...different.' he told her.

'Oh... I just threw this dress on. It didn't have much else to wear.'

'What about what you had on earlier?'

'Oh...Ummmm... That stuff got dirty and nothings washed' she answered feeling good that she had dodged that question.

'Still, you look... ~older~?'

'Oh? Is that bad?'

'No.... You look great.... kinda sexy even!'

Suzi blushed at the compliment. She ~felt~ sexy and Mark's comment made her feel even better.

Mark sat down beside her on the bench and worked his way closer. Soon, his arm was around her and she wasn't offering any resistance. She was on cloud 9! ..... Until she heard another girl yelling for her. She nervously jumped up and spun around to see a very young mother pushing an antique stroller with one small child while another toddler held onto her leg.

'Suzi! What do you think you are doing? You come here right now young lady!'

Suzi wasn't sure who this young woman was but she could tell that she was mad! Mark quickly excused himself.

'I don't know who you are but you just ruined EVERYTHING!' Suzi whined.

'I'll tell you who we ~all~ are! This is your mother here in the stroller. This little tike holding on to my leg is your older sister and ~I'm~ your very angry grandmother. Now we are all going to go back to the house and you're going to show me EVERYTHING you can about computers. We're gonna straighten ALL this out before it's too late!'

'But....'

'NO BUTS!' Jane screamed in a youthful but angry voice.

Suddenly, Suzi didn't feel so sexy or mature anymore. She reluctantly followed.

On the way home home Suzi finally spoke. 'So how'd you get to be a teenager?'

'The two girls here did it when they were a little older. They tricked me. But I'm not a teenager. Pretty close though... assuming that machine works accuratley I'm, like, 20'

'I don't know. I wouldn't have guessed you were 20!' Suzi told her.

'Thanks... I ~think~. So why'd you want to be like 18 or whatever?' Jane asked while readjusting her blouse.

'Just 16 actually.' Suzi corrected her.

'16? You look older than 16 to me!'

'Maybe it's this dress?'

'Excatly! You ~fill~ that dress awfully well for a 16 year old!'

'Grams... you don't think we're both still changing do you?' Suzi asked.

'Oh... I think I could like tell. I'm the same as when I like got out of the machine'

'Yeah? Well, me too......' Suzi said as she reached down and picked up 2 year old Sara.

'But..... You know those two didn't seem notice ~their~ changes' Suzi added as they arrived back home.

'Well, the sooner we can like get started on that computer and all those notes the better!' Jane said before suddenly stopping in her tracks.

'What's wrong?' Suzi asked.

'I ~locked~ that door!' Jane replied pointing to the door swinging wide open.

Jane and Suzi stared at the door that was swinging in the breeze. Neither quite knew what to do next. Glo's regression had stopped leaving her a newborn. Sara was soon to join her. Jane removed Glo from the stroller and Suzi put Sara in her place.

'What now, Grams?' Suzi asked 'Do you think we should go in there?'

'I guess we gotta! Look at these two....' she said motioning to the two babies 'We can't leave them like this!'

'Why don't I check it out?' Suzi offered.

'No... I'm the oldest so I oughta do it' Jane told her as she handed Glo over to her. 'You wait here'

Jane never noticed it but Suzi was watching her curiously. She didn't look as old as she had at the park. Jane looked 17 at most. Suzi was glad that at least she wasn't affected!

Meanwhile, Jane thought Suzi was still getting older. She wasn't sure but thought Suzi looked more mature now...almost 20! She shrugged it off, glad that she wasn't getting any younger or older!

Inside the house, desk drawers had been opened and papers were everywhere. Young Jane grabbed a kitchen knife for protection as she passed the kitchen. She quietly descended to the basement where once again it looked like someone had been there. She carefully checked out th room. She didn't see anyone and was about ready to get the others when she heard a female voice.

'Hold it right there, sweetie!'

Jane spun around and saw a woman of about 35 pointing a gun at her. 'You must be Stan's wife?'

'Ummmm no.... mam.... I'm his mother in law...' Jane replied with a shaking voice.

'Mother-in-law?!?! Why the hell did you make yourself into a teeny-bopper?' she asked incredulously all the time keeping the gun pointed at Jane.

'Uhhhh..... I'm not a teen... Gee Whiz, I'm 20!'

'20 huh? So you don't know how to stabilize the process either?'

'I don't need to 'cuz I'm not affected but my daughter and grand-daughters are! Who are you?'

'Someone who wants to know how to stabilize the process. Stan said he had it figured out before he died. And for your information..... You look about 16 so obviously you aren't going to be much help!'

'16?!!! Nuh huh! No way!'

'Oh, yes, way! ....And I'll ask you to toss that knife over here before you hurt someone' the woman ordered emphasizing the point with the barrel of her gun.

Jane saw an even older Suzi enter the room. Suzi quickly gathered what was happening and stayed out of view.

'The knife, kid. Lose the knife....NOW!' the woman again ordered.

'Kid?' Jane answered as she reluctantly tossed the knife down.

The woman bent over to retrieve the knife and when she did Suzi nodded to Jane.

Jane saw the nod and instinctively ran at the woman and shoved her into the machine. Both of them tumbled to the ground and the gun fell free.

'Turn it on...quick!' Jane yelled.

'But...?' Suzi said as she ran to the computer terminal.

'Just do it!' Jane told her as she fought the older woman.

Suddenly, the two combatants froze. The machine paralyzed them as it went to work!

Jane's already youthened body quickly regressed even more. Her features softened and she appeared to shrink. The older woman also youthened. Her facial features softened and wrinkle vanished from her face.

Suzi stopped the machine. 'Gramma, run! Hurry!'

8 year old Jane staggered to her feet and tripped over her now large shoes and clothing. As she hit the floor, out of the machine, Suzi restarted the machine before its other occupant could get out.

Jane turned and watched the young woman turn into a teen... and then a young girl...and then a 3 year old.

Suzi shut down the machine and Jane started talking.

'Wow, I'm lucky I got out before I was affected!'

'Grammy, ummmm you better look at yourself!' Suzi told her young grandmother.

Jane looked down at a floor that was much closer to her eyes than it should be. She lifted her arms and looked at the much too long sleeves.

'Gosh! I ~am~ little!' she said as she futively tried to fit into her large shoes.

'And I'm afraid you'll only get younger until we can figure out how to stabilize this'

'Hey! Make me big! Make me big!' the 3 year old in the machine protested.

'Uh, I don't think we better 'til ya tell us some stuff!' Jane told the little girl.

'Gramma is right. You owe us some explaining!' Suzi added.

'You can still make me big.... It just won't stay 'cuz of the 'gression....ummmm in....ummm in-bil'ty!'

'Well, we figured that out already. But it doesn't last and I think we're better off with Sara and Gloria like they are for now. I guess because I made myself older that I don't have the problem of stability that the regressed ones are having. So why don't you start giving us some answers as to why you're here?' Suzi took charge while Jane went upstairs to get the her daughter and grand-daughter.

'I get wittler if you don't fix! Pleeeeeeease fix!'

'I need some answers! Start talking or I'll make you REALLY little in a hurry!'

'Ummm.... I wuz jus' tryin' to get in...inf...ummmm learn stuff 'bout the mash..ummmm .machine.'

'What kind of stuff?' Suzi asked as the little girl sat down on her butt and put her finger in her mouth.

'uhhhhhh..... you.... fix.... K?'

Suzi could tell the little girl was losing the battle with her fast regressing mind. She gave up questioning her when she heard Jane yelling from upstairs.

'Suzi! I need you to help me..OK?'

'What kind of help do you need Janie...errrr Jane?'

'I'm 'fraid to hold the girls 'cuz they're so tiny!'

Suzi went upstairs to see both Sara and Glo were tiny newborns. She sent Jane back downstairs to make a bed out of some blankets and then Suzi seperately took each infant down to the makeshift bed. She knew it wouldn't be long before Janie would be joining them!

By this time, the stranger had regressed to a point where she could join them. Once satisfied the babies were OK, Suzi asked Janie for some help. Janie was now only 6.

'Janie, I'm going to need you to be a big girl and help me. Can you do that?'

'Uh huh! I'll help!' she answered excitedly.

'First, do you remember how Sara figured out how to reverse this?'

'Uh huh'

'Well?'

'Ummmm she moved the mouse thingy and pushed the button'

'Is that all?'

'Uh huh' Janie added shaking her head.

Suzi methodically clicked through th screens, reading every bit of info. Finally, she found an options screen that had 'reverse' as an option.

'Is this the one?' Suzi asked the increasingly uninterested little girl.

'I dunno....'

'Think, honey! Please!'

'Ummmm Could be' she said as she started swinging her shrinking legs and looking at some notes on the table. 'Can you read this story to me?'

Suzi glanced at what she was holding 'That's not a story, sweetie.... that's.... That's something that Sara jotted down! Let me see that, please'

Suzi took the paper and began reading. It was directions on how Sara had reversed the process and what she had noted. Unfortunately, the writings turned to doodling. At least she had instructions for the temporary reversal she thought. She figured she would need to reverse one of the babies. She was afraid that if she reversed any more than that she could end up with trouble upon their returning regression. There was still the matter of the mystery woman..... and if she was working alone! The toughest part was deciding who to reverse. Janie's lack of computer knowledge wasn't a positive. Sara had knowledge of computers but Suzi still felt jealous of her and questioned whether she had the maturity to really be of help. She finally decided her mother's wisdom might be the most important factor.

As she weighed her options she stretched on the material of her dress. It was very tight across her hips. Her shoes were growing uncomfortable also. She got up from her chair and walked over to the babies. She bent over and picked up babu Glo. 'Ummph' she complained as she lifted the baby and her back didn't cooperate.

4 year old Janie was largely uninterested now. She looked to be getting sleepy after their long day.

Suzi put baby Glo in the machine and then returned to the computer. After some preparation she started the reversal.

Baby Glo began growing. Slowly at first. Suzi saw the baby grow into a toddler. Then the baby grew into a young girl....then a young teen. Janie watched in fascination as the baby had grown from a newborn into a teenager in only a few moments. 16-17-18-19-20....and then a young woman with features becoming more defined with every passing second. The well defined body then began to change as she passed into and though her 30's. Finally the process stopped with Glo now back to her normal 40 year old body. She was still lying silently on the floor of the machine

Suzi ran to the machine to take her a towel to wrap herself in. Much to her surprise, Gloria didn't grab for the towel but rather still acted the part of an infant. She continued staring blankly and reaching for nothing in particular. All the while, happily cooing.

'Mom?..... Mom?..... MOM!....' Suzi said with concern.

Finally, Gloria's eyes seemed to brighten and she began to speak. But the speech was only gibberish 'Ahh Ga...Mmmmm.... Mahhhhh Ma....'

'Mom? Come on!'

After a couple seconds of the gibberish Gloria began to gather herself and slowly realize what had happened. She grabbed for the towel but still had trouble getting to her feet or grasping the towel. The last few hours as a newborn had taken its toll on her memories and reflexes!

Finally she found her voice. 'Uhhhhhh......Who are you?'

by Louder

'Mother! It's me.... Suzi!'

Gloria stared at the woman standing in front of her. 'Suzi? That's you? How long have I been gone?' What happened?'

'Just a few hours, Mother. I was trying to figure out what to do before I risked putting you back in the machine. But I ended up with no choice!'

'But you're ~older~' Gloria said.

'Just 16. Only a couple of years. I wanted to be older to see what it felt like. I guess the machine doesn't have the same effect when you only use it to get older.... I haven't changed a bit while everyone else has turned into children and babies!'

'Suzi... Ummmmmm... You're about 16 twice over!' Gloria told her.

'No..... I'm fine!'

'Look at yourself! I mean really ~look~! Do you look like a 16 year old?'

Suzi looked down at her expanding hips and legs that threatened to sprout varicose veins at any time. She examined her dry hands. A quick glance in the mirror confirmed what Gloria had been telling her. The 35 year old puffy face staring back looked nothing like a teenager!

'Ohmigod!.... NO!' she cried out.

'Settle down.... we'll figure this out. We need each other!' Gloria said calmly.

'Ok....you're right. I'm sorry. We can do this together!'

'Ok, get me up to speed on things..... and WHO is THAT?!?' Gloria asked seeing a 2 year old struggling in oversized clothes.

'That's grandmother!'

'Mother? That's my mother? Her too... And that?' she asked pointing to another child.

Suzi began filling her in on the mystery woman and what they had done to her.

Gloria sighed and then spoke 'Why did you leave Sara and mother little?'

'Because... I was afraid of the trouble that little kids could cause! Look what happened when everyone starting getting too small the first time. That would only happen all over! I didn't know what to do or who to ask... except you. You always know what to do!'

'Well, thanks for the vote of confidence but I don't know much about computers. And this mystery woman knowing about this machine can't be good.'

Suzi picked up some papers Sara had made notes on 'Here, these are some notes Sara did about what Dad had discovered. Sara wrote that Dad found out the regression/progression was successful by causing the cells or genes to somehow be reprogrammed. She then said that he once they were reprogrammed they quickly tried to return to that state... even after a reversal. There's more but it starts getting a little off because she was getting to young to understand'

Gloria looked over the papers, quickly skipping past what Suzi had just told her. 'Who's Mark?' Gloria asked upon seeing that Sara had scribbled his name all over one of the pages.

'That's the boy we saw playing basketball.' Suzi replied.

'Hmmmm well that would explain this picture' Gloria said as she looked over a childish drawing of some stick-figures playing ball.

'Anyway, mother, our little mystery guest said Dad had found the solution and that is what she is looking for.'

'I think we're going to have to make her old enough to tell us what is going on' Gloria said as she placed the baby back in the machine.

'But how do you know she won't get away?' Suzi asked.

'I thought about that.' Gloria replied as she took the blanket away from the baby 'I don't think she'll likely be going anywhere in only her birthday suit!'

'Ohhhh... I hadn't thought of that!'Suzi said.

'Plus, you can regress her to diapers if she tries anything!' Gloria added.

They then started the machine and reversed the process. The naked baby soon became a naked 35 year old.

'What's wrong with her?' Gloria asked upon seeing the grown woman still acting like a newborn.

'I guess that's normal. Just talk to her and she should come out of it.....you did!' Suzi replied.

'~I~did????? This is sooooo embarrassing!' Gloria said as she began talking to the unresponsive adult. Finally the woman came around.

'Hey.....!'

'Don't move or Suzi will have you in diapers again. Stay right there! We have some questions for you.' Gloria stated icily.

'At least give me my clothes!' she pleaded as she used her hands to cover herself as best she could.

'~Sorry~ but we need answers!'

'I don't have to tell you ANYTHING!' the woman answered.

'You will or you'll be back in diapers!'

'Actually, YOU will too!'the mystery woman shot back 'You're already getting younger...and look at your daughter.... she'll be an old woman! And your mother has joined your other daughter in infancy.'

'So then why don't you help us? Then we can ALL be OK?' Gloria asked.

'Because I want this technology for myself! I don't want to share it with any of YOU! As far as the world will know, I invented it!' the woman said as she backed up and leaned against the back table.

The women argued. Gloria couldn't understand what the woman stood to gain by not helping. After all, she was going to be a baby again if she didn't help! They had already lost 10 years. Suzi was now 45. The varicose veins were prominent now. Her knees were knobby and her face sagged.

'We're getting nowhere!'

All of a sudden the woman made a move! Suzi clicked the mouse to restart the machine but nothing happened.

'You fools! I reset the machine from the laptop computer!' she yelled as she dived to the floor and retrieved her gun.

Suzi saw her go for the gun and quickly made a dash for the stairs while she had the chance. Gloria tried to beat her to the weapon but came up short! Suzi found out that her 45 year old body didn't move like her 14 year