In the machine was what seemed to be a younger copy of Karyn. The younger Karyn seemed about to step out, but instead collapsed to the floor.
"It's you!" said Jon. "Only not as old."
"It's not me," said Karyn. "It's part of you! You turned into a tree, you dropped an acorn, and the transporter 'fixed' that separately. At least it didn't decide the acorn was a minute old and create a baby..."
"Are you okay?" said Jon, reaching out a hand to the duplicate third Karyn. The girl just looked back at Jon, with blank eyes, and didn't say anything, but drooled slightly.
"This isn't supposed to happen, is it?" asked Jon's mother.
"It's okay," said Karyn. "Jon can fix it. He has the rock... well, 'she' right now."
"I don't understand," said Jon's mother. "Rock?"
"It's a long story, Ms. Donaldson, but basically, we can handle it."
"I hope you're very sure about it," said Jon's mother, and walked out of the room.
"Can you speak?" said Jon to the younger Karyn. The girl just grunted in confusion. "What's going on here?" said Jon. "It's like she's just... wait, Karyn, I get it. I didn't come out of the transporter thinking I was you. I kept my own mind--the same mind I started with. A little piece of me never had a mind to start with. So it comes out mindless."
"Use the stone?" asked Karyn.
"Yup," replied Jon. "Use the stone. We can't have a mindless young you wandering around. I wish...."
