X-568

Emily watched as X-568 pushed buttons on a retro device that looked like it ran on vacuum tubes.

“I find it hard to believe that this is the thing responsible for switching us into these bodies and teleporting us back in time. That looks older than dirt!” She complained from inside a man’s body.

“I assure you, the device always disguises itself to feel appropriate for the time and location it inhabits.” X-568 explained, “I have been doing this for a lot longer than you have. This is not my first time needing to locate the device, nor is it my first time as a woman.”

“I know, you told me you are from the future and you’ve been all these different people in all these different times. And I was brought along...why? Was it a mistake? Or were you just lonely?”

Falling Down

Sayuri watched as Jason fell on his butt and laughed about it yet again. It wasn’t just that he was failing so often, it was about his attitude. Did he not know how serious this was for her?

Yes, they had swapped bodies. That meant he would have to be the one competing in her gymnastics tournament tomorrow. He didn’t need to be win or be perfect; he just needed to be good enough to not threaten her scholarship. And, quite honestly, right now he was probably performing at a level that would get her kicked off the team. Yet he still somehow thought it was funny every time he fell on his butt?

She continued to coach him through the night, but it felt like she made absolutely no progress. She was sure that if they didn’t swap back, she was going to get kicked out of college, and then who knows what he would do with her body!?

Boring

The Great Shift turned a lot of people’s worlds upsidedown. But for me? Well, despite becoming a woman, things still felt relatively normal. Perhaps part of that was because I became a relatively normal woman. She lived in the same boring surburb; we knew mostly the same boring friends. Her fashion style was average, and I was quick to return to the same average routines.

There were periods and places of unrest, but that seemed so far removed from our little town. We all just kept going and moved on. For me, that meant that I was now a woman, but I tried not to feel any different about it. I tried not to live my life any different either. And so far that’d been working out just fine.

How It Works

Brad returned to the supply closet, reaching up the box where he and Judy had hidden the medallion the day prior. As he did so, he heard someone at the doorway. It was Stephen from IT; he had a big smirk on his face and was dangling the medallion in his hands.

“Looking for this?” He asked.

Brad thought about trying to snatch it back, but he didn’t want to risk a swap with Stephen. Being in Judy’s body was unpleasant right now, but Stephen’s body bordered on disgusting. The guy didn’t take care of himself at all. He was overweight, hairy, and people wondered if he even showered regularly.

Stephen continued speaking, “It won’t do you any good right now. I heard you and Judy talk this morning. You complained about starting her cycle.”

“That’s why I need it back,” Brad mumbled.

“You don't even know how it works! The thing doesn’t even work when a woman has her time of the month. You’re stuck in Judy’s body for the next few days, and -- if I were to do something to the medallion -- you might be stuck like that for a lot longer.”

Brad didn’t like where this was going...

Interview with the Shapeshifter