Part 7 - Dee Up

With an automatic motion, Dee reached for his desk drawer and pulled out a thick book. Korri leaned over to look at it. It was black with big, golden handwritten script that read, “The Regulars.” With a drooping head, Dee paged through and came to rest on a particular page.

Then he blinked and asked, “Receipt?”

The man pulled a long, white receipt out of his jeans pocket. Korri took it and passed it to Dee. The customer’s name was given as Olivia Morgan. Korri brought a chair over so the customer could sit, fixed the blanket across his front for privacy, and asked him, “Could you tell us what happened?”

Olivia adjusted his pants and the blanket, trying to find a comfortable position, then began, “I was shopping in the area for some things to give as a gift to my niece. She’s heading off on her own next month. She told me she could really use a vacuum for her apartment. And I know she has some really bad girl troubles. And I knew what kind of things this place sells. I figured an escape from her gender and her body would be such a relief. If only for the time she was cleaning up.” Despite the rough quality of his voice, it had a light and gentle tone.

Dee’s tense expression eased. He paused on the page and looked up. He seemed ready to say something, but he just smiled and nodded. After a moment, he finally asked, “Can you tell me how you got stuck?”

Olivia took a breath and responded, “Well, see…when I bought the vacuum…I was looking around for the right variety and I saw this one in particular. It advertised great suction. It said ‘temporary transformation’ and, on the side of the box, it had several AMA recommendations.”

Dee nodded. He knew just the box.

Olivia continued, “But it was banged to heck and looked like someone had taken a little chainsaw to it.”

Korri’s eyes widened. “Oh my gosh! I remember you! And I remember that box. I got a new gift box from storage for you.” Dee raised an eyebrow at Korri as he made some notes on a blank page of paper.

Olivia looked at her. “Nice young man with…slender sunglasses on his head, blue eyes, smoothed-back dark hair, and a thin goatee?”

With a sideways grin, Korri nodded and remarked, “Usually. But I’ll be like this for the rest of my shift.”

Olivia folded his bulky hands. Softly, he said, “I see...so long as it’s not permanent. A bust like that must be hard on your back.”

Korri brushed the back of her hair. “A pain and a half…err…but please continue.”

Olivia cleared his throat. “Of course. Later, I went home and I decided to test out the vacuum to make sure it worked right. I read the directions, even the fine print, to make sure there was nothing unexpected. I set it up exactly as described. I tested the first couple of modes. Regular cleaning worked great. It's one of the nicest vacuums I’ve ever used. Then, I tried the gender modes. At first, it didn’t want to turn on. Then, suddenly, the nozzle flew up and grabbed hold of my groin.” He added a shy gesture, which ended with him pointing downward.

After that, he told them, he felt woozy and passed out. When he woke, his entire body had changed into a man’s. Even his clothes had been altered.

Dee made one last note while listening and then flipped through his book. He sighed and focused on two pages in particular. He announced softly, “I know the model number of this vacuum without even looking at the underside. This vacuum has been recalled several times. It should’ve been locked away in the warehouse.”

Dee turned his gaze to Korri, who frowned and avoided eye contact. With a sigh, Dee added, “However, sometimes people push things behind other stuff and it doesn’t get found till someone buys it.”

Korri shook her head and said softly, “It’s all my fault. The product sticker was so damaged we had to go by old system information. If I’d just been more careful maybe…”

Dee coughed and stated firmly, “What’s done is done.” He kept his eyes down as he said, “I have good news and bad news to give you, Olivia.”

Olivia smiled a faint smile. “I’ve been through a lot. Just go ahead and tell me.” He adjusted himself and the blanket.

Dee just looked up from his book and said, “The good news is I can free you from the vacuum. And you’ll return to being the woman you were in about a week. The bad news is you’ll be sterile and you’ll never have a period ever again. Assuming all goes well.”

With his shoulders relaxing, Olivia remarked, “Is that all now? And if it doesn’t go well?”

With his lips gently-pursed, Dee added, “Defective nanites are chaotic sometimes. But, no matter what, you’ll need to follow up with your regular doctor to make sure the nanites deactivate normally and there aren’t any latent problems which could cause medical issues. If your doctor isn’t familiar with symptoms relating to faulty nanotech, there is a number I can recommend.”

Korri shook her head and shut her eyes. She whimpered, “I’m so sorry…”

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Olivia gave a hearty laugh and remarked, “So long as I’m free of this sucker, I’ll be fine. I’ve been through worse, believe me. I’ll gladly be done with the red wave of doom. My critters are my kids anyway.” Korri kept a look of concern on Olivia, which didn’t waver despite the ‘red wave’ mention.

Dee stood up with the black book in his hands. He walked around the counter and crouched in front of Olivia. Korri watched him with a look of surprise. Dee kept his eyes on the vacuum.

Checking the notes, he examined the vacuum and matched up all the numbers to the ones in the book. He traced the procedure over and over. His hands went to the vacuum and above a few buttons. After a moment, he relaxed and warned, “This may not tickle…”

Before Olivia could respond, Dee swiftly input a number of button presses. He tapped them in a sequence that Korri could barely follow. It looked like he was playing the vacuum like a musical instrument. He paused. Then he gave another flourish of presses.

After that, he looked down at the book then back at the vacuum and said, “Okay, plug it in.”

Korri tugged the cord out and held it in a loop around her wrist. She pointed the prongs at the electrical wall socket. Dee gave a nod.

As soon as the plug went in, there was a surge like a dull roar. It almost sounded like the sizzling of nanites dying off. Then, it stopped. There followed a low sigh from the canister.

Just like that, the end of the hose dropped away from Olivia’s groin and clattered on the floor. Olivia scooted away from the machine. Dee gave another nod and Korri unplugged it.

With a laugh and his head dipped back, Olivia said flatly, “Well, that’s sure a relief.” Dee kept his eyes on Olivia’s face. Korri frowned and looked ready to say something when Dee asked the customer, “What is your name?”

The customer paused in a stretch and responded, “What?” Dee could tell the tone of Olivia’s voice was different.

Calmly, Dee asked, “Tell me your name again.”

The customer looked back with confusion and then carefully stated, “Oliver Morgan.”

Korri’s eyes widened and she took a small but perceptible step back. Dee took a step closer. He held the black book in one hand like a spellbook. He kept his eyes right on the customer. He said, “No. Your name is not Oliver Morgan. You are not a man. You are a woman named Olivia Morgan.”

The customer blinked but there was a moment of recognition in his eyes. He answered carefully, “Olivia Morgan…that’s my mother. She sent me to buy a vacuum for my cousin.”

Dee closed the black book with his hand and reiterated, “No. You are Olivia Morgan. Say the name.”

As soon as the name was spoken a second time, a loud sizzling filled the room. The customer shook his head. When the sizzling ended, he carefully looked up and noted, “That was strange…”

Dee leaned closer and asked again, “What is your name?”

This time, the customer just answered back, “Olivia Morgan…what happened?”

Finally, the tension separated from Dee. He smiled then gave the vacuum canister a kick across the room, away from anyone else. Korri flinched. The end of the cord wiggled like a snake and the hose trailed behind like the broken legs of a defeated beast. It collided into a box and was swallowed up by a carton of packing pieces. Dee smiled and clenched his fists.

After a quiet moment, Olivia laughed. Korri offered a smile and brushed back her hair.

Dee explained, “I hate these vacuums. I hate them soooo much. You see…the manufacturer is a small company but they used cut-rate nanotech, not from any of the Big Four creators of nanotech hardware and middleware. They then slapped their own software on it, not realizing the nanotech has built-in defaults that will routinely kick in. There are so many variants. You had one that triggered a mental change. Fortunately, I knew the reset command. The user has to say their new and original name twice in a pretty specific fashion. Like… enter old password, enter new password, new password confirm. To borrow a computer analogy.”

Olivia bowed his head and admitted, “I’m really glad Newid’s has someone like you working for them.”

Dee shrugged. “It’s my job. Now let’s get you all the information you need along with a good refund.”

From behind the counter, Dee put together all the paperwork. Korri settled into her seat. She avoided eye-contact with Olivia. Olivia noticed. He leaned against the counter gently and said, “I don’t blame you for what happened.”

Korri brought her face up and said, in a perfectly-practiced manner, “Thank you for your business. I’m sorry that your experience with Newid’s Wares wasn’t ideal. We hope that, despite your experience, we may have the honor of your business again sometime. Thank you.” Then, she tried to look interested in a stack of old inter-departmental memos.

Olivia bowed his head and offered them both thanks. With documents and refund in hand, he took just one look back at Korri and left.