D.A.R.Y.L. - Back Where He Belongs

by David C. Chipman

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the character's from the original Paramount Pictures film "D.A.R.Y.L." (or the novelization of an early draft script, adapted by N.H. Kleinbaum) . Any other characters I choose/need to add are mine.

Things Return to Normal

Dr. Lamb arrived at TASCOM the next morning, at nine o'clock sharp, as planned.

General Graycliffe was at the main door to meet her, "Good morning, doctor. Are you ready to get things under way?"

Dr. Lamb nodded, "Certainly, sir,"

General Graycliffe nodded, "That's good, doctor. So far, we haven't been shut down, and every one above us seems to be accepting that we can't pull the plug on the original prototype,"

"Well, of course we can't shut the original down!" Dr. Lamb exclaimed, surprised.

General Graycliffe nodded, "We realize that, but our superiors haven't seen our raw data yet, All they have to keep them from pulling the plug on him is our word for his becoming a sentient life-form,"

Dr. Lamb nodded, "I wonder how they will feel when they do see our raw data,"

General Graycliffe shrugged, turning his hands up in ignorance, "We'll just have to see. But you will have to explain it to them, in simple detail. I needed it described to me by one of the lab techs, along with having access to the original design document, when you wanted me to review your raw data,"

Dr. Lamb nodded, "Thank you for doing that,"

"Well, there wasn't much more I could do, after your husband left with Daryl in his car. He told my men that he was taking the body to the morgue!" General Graycliffe said, amazed at how Dr. Stewart had gotten Daryl's seeming lifeless body past the heightened TASCOM security.

"Sir," Dr. Lamb asked, coming to her office door, "How did you know that Daryl had escaped again?"

General Graycliffe stopped, "He printed on a terminal a hope that he and Dr. Stewart would get away with his repeat escape,"

Dr. Lamb frowned, "When did you see that?"

"When I was stopping the mainframe programs," General Graycliffe said.

Dr. Lamb sighed, and shook her head, "Foolish boy,"

General Graycliffe smiled, "Why was he foolish?"

"He was supposed to keep quiet about our plan," Dr. Lamb said, a frown on her face.

"Well, he didn't," General Graycliffe said.

"No wonder you went ape!" Dr. Lamb said, leaning against her office door, suddenly understanding.

General Graycliffe nodded, a small smile on his face.

Dr. Lamb shook her head, "I wonder how far they might have gotten this time?"

"We'll never know, doctor," General Graycliffe said.

Dr. Lamb nodded, frowning sadly, standing up straight, "Jeffrey might still be alive?"

It was General Graycliffe's turn to frown, "Now, doctor, there's no way to know that!"

Dr. Lamb nodded, her head bowed, "I know… That's what hurts, all of a sudden,"

General Graycliffe put a hand on her shoulder, "Doctor, you have to understand that I was sorry to hear about your husband's death. In hindsight, I am sorry to say it, but we were going after Daryl himself, to prevent him from returning to the Richardsons. There are powerful people who would have been very happy if he had simply disappeared, with the shutting down of the D.A.R.Y.L. Project. He wasn't supposed to develop sentience, and you know that,"

Dr. Lamb nodded, "I do," lifting General Graycliffe's hand from her shoulder, glaring at General Graycliffe, "Now, hand off,"

General Graycliffe retrieved his hand, "Of course," and straightened up.

"Thanks you," Dr. Lamb said, opening the door to her office, "Time to get to work,"

"Yes, doctor," General Graycliffe said, nodding politely.

Dr. Lamb entered her office, closed the door behind her, and sat down at her desk, the computer terminal on top waiting for her instructions.

LOAD ORGANIC SECTOR SOURCE CODE

The computer terminal displayed a list of files, then:

SOURCE CODE LOADED

Dr. Lamb entered into the terminal:

LOAD COMMLINK.LISP

A text editor opened on the terminal screen, with the contents of the "COMMLINK.LISP" file displayed, ready to be modified.

Dr. Lamb got down to the job of modifying the protocol Daryl used to communicate with the mainframe computer at TASCOM, from the mainframe's perspective. It took only a couple of hours of work to make the changes necessary. Dr. Lamb than initialized a new database, to be used by the new life form prototype, yet to be acquired.

Joyce was making Daryl breakfast, since he had figured out that this is what parents expected to do, she called, "Daryl! Breakfast!"

Daryl quickly came downstairs, "OK, thanks Mom,"

Joyce nodded, smiling warmly, "No problem,"

Daryl sat down at the breakfast table, where Joyce had set a place for him, "I'll make my lunch?"

Joyce nodded, "Sure, after your breakfast,"

Daryl nodded, and started eating, "I think I'll go back to school, with Turtle,"

Joyce raised an eyebrow momentarily, watching Daryl with a sudden serious expression on her face. Then she nodded, understanding, "Not that you really need school, though, do you? But if you didn't go people might start asking questions we don't want asked. Also, you should learn about wider society, and things. It might help you fit in better, something else that could help prevent people from asking uncomfortable questions,"

Daryl nodded, the smile disappearing from his face, "I know, mom,"

Joyce nodded, smiling again, "Well, finish up, brush your teeth, and get your lunch made. Then I'll drive you and Turtle to school,"

"Thanks, mom," Daryl nodded, then he quickly finished his breakfast and headed back upstairs.

Joyce just nodded again, suddenly the feelings of unease she hadn't felt since Daryl's return came back.

"Morning, Daryl!" Andy could be heard saying cheerfully, from upstairs.

"Morning, dad," Daryl could be heard replying.

Andy came downstairs, and got his breakfast ready, "So, Joyce, what's Daryl doing today? Has he told you?"

Joyce nodded, then gave Andy a peck on the cheek, "He's going to school, to fit in,"

Andy nodded, "Oh, good. I signed that permission slip for the class field-trip,"

Joyce nodded, "I just hope nothing goes wrong,"

"Well," Andy said, glancing at Joyce, "It doesn't have to be returned to the school for a couple of days. Maybe Daryl shouldn't return it until we hear whether Sherie-Lee can go with them?"

Joyce nodded, "She'll have to get her work for that day before she goes…,"

Andy sat back on his chair, and nodded in agreement, "Something for her and her parent's to sort out,"

"Yes," Joyce replied, "I'm glad they know about these things now,"

"Turtle probably got a grilling last night," Andy said, "'What did he see at TASCOM?', things like that,"

Joyce nodded, "As if he didn't after he went with us to visit Daryl there?"

Andy shrugged, finishing up his breakfast, "We weren't supposed to tell anybody anything unless Daryl hadn't shown up after a few days, if I recall. Which would have made things interesting for Turtle, not being able to explain to his parent's what he'd seen and done while visiting Daryl,"

Daryl quickly came down the stairs, then quickly made his lunch, "I'm ready to go to school,"

Someone was knocking on the back door, "Mrs. Richardson?" Turtle could be heard calling.

Joyce quickly got up and opened the back door, "Hello, Turtle. Ready to go to school?"

Turtle nodded, carrying his backpack over one shoulder, "Yes, Mrs. Richardson," he saw Daryl in the behind Joyce and waved, "Hi, Daryl. You coming to school today?"

Daryl nodded, "Yes, I am,"

Turtle grinned, "People are gonna be really surprised to see you! We all thought," he said, tilting his head in Joyce's direction, "that your parent's had picked you up and had taken you home. Which, I guess they did, kinda,"

"Yes," Daryl said as he nodded seriously, then he got his bag from the bottom of the stairs, "Ready to go, mom,"

Joyce nodded, coming out to the front hall, Turtle following behind, "Let's go, boys,"

Daryl nodded, following behind Turtle when he reached the bottom of the stairs.

Andy came out, having finished breakfast, "See you later, guys,"

"Bye, Dad," Daryl said.

"Bye, Mr. Richardson," Turtle said.

"I take it someone will be picking you up to take you to the development site?" Joyce asked.

Andy nodded, "Yeah, Ted will be stopping by,"

Joyce nodded, "OK, tell him I said hi,"

Andy nodded, "I will,"

Joyce beckoned, "Let's go boys! I have to get Daryl re-enrolled, now let's move!"

Daryl was right beside her, so he headed for the door, "Is your car open?"

Joyce shook her head, "No, Daryl,"

Daryl nodded, standing by the door, "Well, you asked us to move,"

Joyce nodded, "It's mostly Turtle here who needs to get going,"

"I'm coming!" Turtle protested.

Joyce opened the door, and the boys followed her out to her car. Joyce unlocked the doors, and got the passenger side doors open, "Get in,"

Daryl got into the back, and Turtle got into the front.

Joyce got into the driver's seat, and started the car, "Off we go,"

The drive, though it was across town, didn't take long.

Joyce got out, came around the front of the car, and opened the front and then the back doors on the passenger side.

"Mom, would you take me to get enrolled?" Daryl asked, getting out of the car, and standing on the grass next to Joyce.

Joyce raised an eyebrow, "Are you sure?"

Daryl nodded.

Turtle shrugged, "I'll tell people you're coming, Daryl,"

"OK," Daryl replied, turning to Turtle.

Turtle headed toward the school building, Daryl and Joyce followed behind.

Joyce opened the door, "Go in, boys,"

Turtle and Daryl entered the school.

"See you soon, Turtle," Daryl said, before following Joyce to the school's main office. Daryl ended-up leading Joyce to the main office himself, having been there previously with Turtle, the first time he enrolled.

"Hello, Miss-" the secretary said, seeing Joyce and Daryl enter the office.

"My name is Mrs. Richardson, and this is my adoptive son Daryl. I like to get him enrolled for school," Joyce said.

The secretary nodded, "Of course, Mrs. Richardson," she said, getting the forms out of her desk drawer, and handing them to Joyce, "You can fill them out,"

Joyce nodded, "I'll just fill this stuff out, Daryl,"

Daryl nodded, "Should I go to class?"

The secretary stood up from behind her desk, with a slip of paper in her hand, "Yes, young man. This, Daryl, is your admit-to-class slip. You give this to Mr. Nesbitt, and he'll give you a place in his class,"

Daryl nodded, taking the slip of paper, "Thank you,"

The secretary nodded, sitting down again, "You're welcome,"

Daryl turned to Joyce, "Mom, I'm going to class now,"

Joyce gave Daryl a quick hug, "Alright, you and Turtle will walk home, like you did before, right?"

Daryl nodded, "Yes, mom,"

Joyce released her embrace, then waved, as Daryl left the office, "See you this afternoon than,"

Daryl nodded, and quickly left the main office, admit slip in hand.

Turtle had kept a place for Daryl beside him in Mr. Nesbitt's classroom.

Daryl came into the classroom, "Hello, Mr. Nesbitt,"

"Ah!" Mr. Nesbitt exclaimed, eying Daryl entering the room, "Daryl Richardson, isn't it? Your friend told us you were coming. Now, go and sit down with him,"

Daryl nodded, "With Turtle? Yes, sir," then he quickly and quietly walked down the aisle, to where Turtle was sitting, and sat down beside him in the seat Turtle was saving for him.

Mr. Nesbitt nodded absent-mindedly, then returned to the lesson he had been teaching.

Daryl leaned close to Turtle, and whispered, "Doesn't he remember your name?"

Turtle shrugged, following what Mr. Nesbitt was writing down on the blackboard at the front of the class, in his binder.

Daryl felt he was being given a hint as to how to act, and started following what was being written up front.

Turtle hurriedly gave Daryl some of his paper, and a pen, whispering, "Take notes!"

Daryl nodded, mimicking what Turtle was doing, "But I don't need to, do I?"

"Everybody else does. I'll explain at lunch!" Turtle hissed, "Remind me??"

Daryl nodded, and started note-taking in earnest.

Soon the lesson was over.

"Hi, Daryl," Trudi said, with a worried expression crossing her face, "What are you doing back here? Didn't you mom and dad want you back?"

Turtle watched the interaction, suddenly becoming nervous. He knew that Daryl knew his background was a secret, but he didn't know how well Daryl could deflect that probing question.

Daryl shrugged, frowning, "I don't know, Trudi,"

Trudi and Andrea turned there noses up in disgust at the idea that someone's parents wouldn't want them back.

Turtle relaxed.

But that was the best response to Trudi's question Daryl could think of at the moment. Great in mathematics he undoubtedly was. Daryl, however, was still learning how to navigate social situations in ways he might be expected to, assuming he was a normal kid.

Andrea turned to Turtle, saying warmly, "Hi, Turtle," she giggled softly, "Did he tell you? Can you tell us?"

Turtle shook his head, blushing, because of the way Andrea asked her questions, "Uh, no, and no,"

Andrea frowned at Turtle, "Well of course you can't if he wouldn't tell you!"

Daryl nodded, "And maybe I won't. Is it his business?"

Turtle looked surprised at how Daryl was talking about him in front of his face, but he kept quiet about it, for the time being at least.

"Are you still neighbours?" Trudi asked. After all, there weren't many Junior high-schools in Barkenton.

Daryl and Turtle nodded.

"Alright, class, get your history textbooks out please," Mr. Nesbitt said, pointing toward the shelves under the classroom windows.

The class got up, en mass, and each child retrieved a textbook.

"What are we doing now?" Daryl asked Turtle quietly, following his friend back to their seats.

"We're studying the life of Ben Franklin," Turtle said.

Daryl nodded, and looked up Ben Franklin in the index at the back of the text book. Daryl started reading, flipping to the next page every second or so.

Turtle watched Daryl out of the corner of his eye, worried that others might notice how he read.

Daryl closed the textbook, "Interesting man," he said, turning to Turtle.

Turtle shrugged, "I guess," he said, not as interested.

Mr. Nesbitt raised an eyebrow in Daryl's direction, hearing him speaking to Turtle, "What was that Daryl? Maybe you could tell us about him…,"

General Graycliffe knocked on Dr. Lamb's office door.

"Come in!", she called.

General Graycliffe opened the door, and entered Dr. Lamb's office, looking grave, "Doctor, the lab technicians have discovered where your husband died. I am offering to have a group of my men go out and pick up his remains for you. Then you can have him buried,"

Dr. Lamb nodded slowly, looking directly at General Graycliffe. She was feeling caught off guard, but she slowly replied, "Thank you, sir. I would certainly appreciate it,"

General Graycliffe nodded, turning his gaze from her, understanding how difficult things must be for Dr. Lamb, "It will be done by the end of this afternoon, doctor,"

"Thank you sir," Dr. Lamb said, trying to regain control of her breathing.

General Graycliffe let himself out of Dr. Lamb's office in silence, closing the door behind himself.

Major Willows was waiting for General Graycliffe when he emerged, "Sir? What are we going to do?"

"Major, we are going to get the late Dr. Stewart's remains and return them to Dr. Lamb," General Graycliffe replied, with conviction, "There isn't much more I can do for her,"

Major Willows nodded, following beside General Graycliffe returning to his office, "Yes, sir. I will contact the base which the boy stole the plane from. They are the closest military installation, and should be able to pick up the body and have it returned here, with a minimum of mus or fuss"

General Graycliffe nodded, suddenly tired, though it was only late-morning, "Very good, Jack,"

Major Willows nodded, "Thank you, sir,"

Daryl was returning to his seat after his impromptu report about Ben Franklin. Mr. Nesbitt had asked him to give to the class, from up front.

"That was very good, Daryl," Mr Nesbitt said, almost beaming.

"Thank you, sir," Daryl replied, turning to sit on his chair.

Turtle was fighting the urge to sink down in his chair, since Daryl had not been careful about hiding his ability to gather information in a seemingly inhuman way.

Daryl had practically regurgitated the information he had read from the textbook, with little analysis of his own.

Mr. Nesbitt had also noticed the way Daryl had given his report, but didn't wanting to hurt his feelings, "The boy's trying. Maybe he needs more practise giving presentations," he thought, "They could all probably use some, actually,"

Graycliffe was on the phone, speaking with Senator Blackman and Representative Shaun Mailor, a Republican member of the House of Representatives, and the Chairman of the House Committee on Armed Services, "Gentlemen, we have a problem here, and I would like to deal with it in the most reasonable way possible,"

"Yes, General, we understand your position," they chorused.

"However," Representative Mailor said, "We are also worried about the possible security and secrecy issues involved in the prototype being outside the laboratory. We are also dismayed at the fact that one of the scientists invited outsiders into the facility you have down there in Florida,"

"Well, sir," Genral Graycliffe said, in response to Representative Mailor's concerns, "You can blame me, because of when I told the senior scientist that the project was being ended. I then gave him and his people a week-and-a-half to comply with those orders. That gave him time to invite them afte my announcement, and possibly hobble the project's secrecy requirements. These outsiders, as you call them, already knew Daryl, sir. They took Daryl in as foster parents after Dr. Mulligan released him the first time. In hindsight, about the whole thing, I probably should have shown up at TASCOM with the announcement as an ultimatum,"

"Yes, General," Representative Mailor agreed, "But now we have to deal with an escaped military prototype that you are now telling us is alive, of all things,"

"With all due respect, sir, I would ask you to meet it before finally deciding if it is a living being or not," General Graycliffe said.

"We have, General," Senator Blackman said, "including the point-of-view videos from when Daryl was initially outside the lab, interacting with others. Thank you for sending us those, along with the facility visit tapes. Put together, it was all quite instructive about what the scientists have accomplished,"

"Thank you, Sir," General Graycliffe said to Senator Blackman, "I can't help but notice that you are using the project acronym as if it was the initial prototype's given name, sir. Also, gentlemen, is there disagreement between the Senate and House Armed Services Committees about how to deal with things?"

Representative Mailor exhaled audibly, "General, the Joint Congressional Armed Services Committee, co-chaired by myself and Senator Blackman, hasn't come to a final decision. We will only do that after meeting with you, Dr. Lamb, the prototype and his adoptive family in person, here in Washington,"

General Graycliffe nodded, feeling relieved, "Thank you, sir," He didn't want to have to tell the Richardsons that Daryl was being taken back from them, for good. He now had a good idea of how close they had become to him, and how close Daryl was to them. General Graycliffe shook his head in wonderment, thinking, "Becoming close to what is supposed to have been a test-bed for military hardware…? I guess that's what can happen if you play God…,"

"Well, General," Representative Mailor said, "It has been good speaking with you. One of us will be calling back in a couple of days with a date, time and place where the joint committee will be meeting,"

"Thank you, gentlemen. I look forward to hearing from you then," General Graycliffe said, "Goodbye then,"

Senator Blackman and Representative Mailor each said their goodbyes to General Graycliffe.

General Graycliffe hung up from his end of the connection.