Supertoys While Mummy Drinks
By: S|K
Chapter 8: A new field of psychology

Monica woke up in the middle of the night. She usually would get up at about the same time every day to check on Martin, but this time for a different reason.

She slowly sat up and realised she was not in her room. "n~~~" She glanced over at David and saw him all drawn up in the corner of his bed, hugging and nuzzling Teddy, whispering "I can't go to sleep I tried. I tried really hard." Teddy patted him as he wept.

Monica still couldn't believe that David was able to cry. It scared her, yet in a way it was a miracle. One she figured she best not tell anyone about. She scooted across the bed over to the little mecha and sat down next to him, not knowing for sure what to do. David leaned up against her, resting his head on her arm.

She could feel his tears seeping through her sleeve. "Oh David" Monica sighed "don't grieve."

" I tried. I tried so hard." David said weakly.

Monica looked down at him " I know you did."

David remained silent for a while then said suddenly " I can't sleep 'cause I'm not real."

Monica blinked then pushed him off and grabbed his arms, forcing him to look into her eyes. "Don't you ever say that! You are real! Don't believe anyone who says you're not. You might not be a human, but you are still a real little boy."

"A real boy?" he repeated, a bit confused.

***

Monica opened her eyes to the morning light stretching over her. She raised a hand to her head as she sat up. "What a dream." She said wearily. She slowly got out of bed. To her surprise she hadn't changed her clothes since yesterday. She didn't give much thought to it and went into the nursery to check on the kids. But they weren't there. Martin's crib was in disarray, like it usually was. But David's bed was made. Monica didn't see Teddy around either so she went downstairs, where she found Teddy in the front parlour, setting on the back of the couch, looking out the window. "Teddy."

Teddy turned his head and faced her. "Hello, Mummy."

"Don't call me that."

"Sorry."

"Where is everybody?"

"Henry took Martin and David out this morning."

Monica noticed Teddy was acting very peculiar, maybe a bit worried. "What do you mean took? Tell me."

Teddy remained silent.

"Tell me!" Monica repeated much harsher than before.

"Henry came in last night he took you to bed then came back in and turned David off. He then took him over his shoulder and Martin out to the car I watched them leave."

Monica immediately knew what was going on. "The factory Oh, I'm going to kill that bastard when he gets back."

***

Professor Hobby was heading for a meeting with a few new clients. He decided to take a shortcut to the meeting room through one of the research areas. Along the way he was stopped by what he thought to be crying, more specifically a child. It didn't make sense though since no children were allowed in the research departments and the day-care facilities were in the other side of the plant. He decided to go investigate, since nobody else seemed to be around.

He walked into the room that he heard the crying coming from. He looked around the drab looking lab, he didn't see anyone, but he still heard sobs coming from somewhere in the room, very close. He walked around a bit, then pinpointed the crying coming from under a lab table. He crouched down and saw it was David, with his legs drawn up and hiding his face in his arms, that were crossed on top his knees.

David lifted his head a bit, which let Professor Hobby see the one thing Monica wanted no one to see, David's tears.

It was like seeing a ghost from the past. Professor Hobby couldn't believe what he was looking at. The sobbing child looked just like his own son, but it wasn't. He had to fight off his urges to care for this child like he cared for his own from so long ago. Without saying a word he stood up then went to the intercom and called up security. "Would you please send someone down here to the lab?"

"Yes, sir." A heavy male voice said over the speaker.

Within a few minutes a security officer met Mr. Hobby outside of the room.

"Make sure nobody enters or leaves this room." Mr. Hobby said, nodding over to the door.

The officer saluted him then took post by the door.

The professor then hurried off to cancel all of David's physical examinations and a session with a child psychologist, who was very interested in David's very unique case of child neglection and abuse. No one had ever studied mecha child abuse. In fact, there had never been a case of it before. The psychologist wanted to find out if there was a difference orga and mecha children by mental accounts. But he would have to wait for his chance, for Professor Hobby decided he would study David himself and try to explain David's new ability.

***

David slowly crawled out form under the lab table. He wanted to go home to Monica more than anything. He looked about, trying to figure out how to get away. He knew the door was locked, since he heard it click after Mr. Hobby left. So David went up to the window and looked out, looking for inspiration. He looked down and got it. There was a ledge running along the side of the building just below the window. He opened the window and climbed down onto the ledge. When he saw the ocean a few levels below , he had second thoughts. But he quickly got together and crept along towards the street side.