A bit more testing before she arrives.

I'm 99.9% sure everything's fully functional, but as I wait for Chloe's arrival, I start thinking of possible errors in how the machine works. Does it work while clothed? Does makeup affect the transition?

I rush back down into the basement to do the extra tests.

Subjects: Kaiba, Patrick, and Reginald, three rats picked out of eleven remaining. 7, 8, 7.5 inches respectively, 487, 490, 501 grams respectively.

Query: Does clothing and makeup affect the transition?

Method: Reassign the rats' sexes while they're outfitted in little custom-made rat-costumes I bought.

Answer: _____.

I start with Kaiba, outfitted in a cowboy outfit, with a metal belt-buckle and rubber boots.

Into the machine he goes. It doesn't need a refill of Alter-Estrogen quite yet. I activate the machine.

Like previously, it whirrs, fills with gasses, makes a stinging sound.

...

The gas clears.

I open the machine, carefully reaching Kaiba, possibly Kali now, and picking her up.

Immediately I notice that her rubber boots have melted into the floor of the machine, as the little rat feet slide out of them. Looking for other parts of the outfit that might have been affected, I also notice that the metal belt-buckle has also melted. Thankfully, the rest of the outfit protected her from getting burned, if it was at all hot.

And she is a her, I now notice. The transition hasn't been halted because of the melting substances.

Next test, Patrick, in simple rat pyjamas.

Whirr, gas, sting.

Patrick is now Patricia. Further examination reveals no effect on her clothing.

Lastly, Reginald, doused in a bit of makeup and hairdye. Carefully, so I don't poison the little rodent.

Whirr, gas, sting.

Transition successful, wiping off the makeup and hair-dye.

...

Huh, this seems to be stuck.

I take Reginald, now Regina, away for further examination, and as it turns out?

Regina now has parts of her body that are naturally colored pink and beige.

Wonder how that happ-

*DING DONG!*

Oh! Chloe!

I quickly scribble in my notes before rushing upstairs.

Answer: Rubber and Metal melt in the machine, wearing such material while transitioning is ill-advised. Makeup and hair dyes are made natural by the transition, might be good to inform transitioners of this.

I approach the front door- no, wait, I look like I haven't emerged from my basement in two years, which is half a year more than I've actually been here.

"Just a moment!" I call out, heading towards the bathroom to at least comb my hair a bit before she sees me. A few dabs of deodorant won't hurt either. After I finish making myself ever so slightly more presentable I grab a perfume from a cupboard.

I imagine my place smells rather unwashed too, so I spray as best as I can without letting the perfume get overwhelming.

After a few test sniffs, I'm ready to go.

I open the front door, and there she is, in all her glory.

Straight blondish brown hair that reaches her scapula, bluish green eyes like a peacock's feather, easy-going smile accentuated by expertly done makeup.

She was good at makeup even before she came out, though back then it was usually for Halloween. She's wearing dark skinny jeans and a beige blouse, and a silver necklace I remember her getting at some LGBT event she went to.

"Hey, Chloe! Good to see you!" I greet, stepping aside and letting her in.

"Those should be my words, you've been gone for ages! Is everything alright? You don't look like you've been taking care of yourself," She fusses as she steps in.

"Right now, I'm just one step away from perfect. Come in, come in! I've got something to show you, it's what I've been working on for so long." I usher her in, closing the door after her as I barely restrain myself from simply grabbing her and forcing her into my basement.

Erm, that came out wrong. Whatever, no one's hearing my inner monologue.

"One and a half years for one project? Must be quite the project then," She says, her smooth and pretty voice from her voice training containing a hint of curiosity. I simply smile in response.

"Let's not ruin the surprise~!"

Into the basement we go, and I use the darkness of the unlit room where I keep the machine to shake away the nerves without her seeing before I switch on the lights.

"Whoa," She says, seeing my creation for the first time. It's about the size of a coffin, except it's the shape of a large tampon. The front is see-through, although there's no point in it since the gas obscures everything inside. To the right is another similarly shaped pillar, this one about as tall as a mailbox, and thick as my thigh. This second pillar has two slots in the middle, and a control panel at the top.

Truly, it is a machine.

"What is this?" She asks, stepping closer to the machine for a better look.

"A project, one and a half years in the making," I reply, taking a seat on the couch I've been sleeping on while working on this project. I motion for Chloe to do the same.

Now, how do I spill the news of the machine to her?