MAP OF THE PROBLEMATIQUE

Chapter 19: The Pinnochio Project

There was so much to do the next few days, and it was still painful: trying to figure out what happened to Lydia while she was gone, how badly Eddie had hurt her, what she'd eaten, where she'd slept and so on. I cried so much. The fact that Eddie Bevins would be spending life in prison (zero chance of parole) made me feel a hell of alot better.

Sallie and Joe never left my side. We had enough money to move out of our small little apartment and get one a little bigger; Sallie moved in with us and Joe set up permanent "residence" there. It was so comfortable, but the first thing I did was secure every door and every window in the place. Joe stopped me when I started to consider the air ducts. "Enough, love; we're on the third floor, for goodness sake!"

I was leaving the station one night, ready to head home after a long day of paperwork with the officers from the case. Sallie was at home watching Lydia, and Joe was out working his last night on the job. He had decided to retire to become my companion, which made me giggle every time I thought about it. Nearing the door, I heard Captain Hamilton call out to me.

"Hi, Captain," I smiled.

"Hey, Wendy. Hey-- you're looking good, the bruise is turning green now. It's healing as it should."
I laughed. "Yeah, well.... it still hurts from time to time."

"Oh, I can imagine," the captain smiled. "So, listen..... um, this is.... well, okay, how can I put this?"

"What..... what's on your mind?"

"Well see, the thing is-- a-and I thought of you and Joe the first I heard of this-- I have this cousin who works for that major Mecha corporation, and he says that tomorrow morning, they're going to be releasing news about the Pinnochio Project."

"The... Pinnochio--" I shook my head. "What is that, exactly?"

His face lit up with excitement. "An advanced procedure that will ultimately bridge the transition between Mecha.... and Orga."

"I... I still don't understand."

"Mecha will have the opprotunity to become Orga."

When I'd recovered, I scooped my jaw from the floor. "Wh-what are you saying, that they can actually do that?!"

"Well it's so advanced, noone outside the project understands exactly how its done, but basically, the Mecha in question goes in for a procedure, almost like surgery at the hospital, and then goes home that day. The 'owner,' if you will, of the Mecha will then read off a sheet of instructions a list of seven words-- much like what we all saw dealt with in regards to the Mecha children-- and there you have it, presto changeo! You have yourself an Orga, attached to the one that read it its instructions."

"Oh, my God, this-- this is insa-- wait, why are you telling me this?"

He handed me a manilla folder labeled with the name Pinnochio on the tab. "My cousin wanted me to try it on Regina-- the Mecha that helped me after my wife died-- but I didn't have the heart to tell him that she'd been destroyed a year ago after my house burned down. She was beyond repair. So I immediately thought of you. I told him I could get another Mecha in surgery."

"God, Captain, you mean--"

"Joe." He grinned.

The twenty minute ride home was spent thinking on what Captain Hamilton had said. My heart was skipping beats left and right. What would he say? How would he react? I was scared and nervous and excited, all balled up into one.
When I got home, the television was the only light source in use. Sal sat watching a program on Discovery and Lydia was passed out on the sofa. "Hey," she whispered, smiling, when she saw me. "Lydds passed out an hour ago. She's been pretty quiet tonight."

"Yeah, the shrink said it's going to be tough for her. But she's a good woman and I trust she knows what she's doing."

"Oh, for sure."
"Hey, where's Joe? He still out?"

"Uuh, yeah, but he called to say he'd be back soon--"

The lock on the door undid itself and swung open.

"Well, speak of the devil," I grinned, going over to kiss my friend.

"Hello, love. Sallie." Joe gave my sister a nod as he hugged me. "And how is our little Lydia?"

"Oh, she's great...." I smiled.

"I'm goin' to bed, kids," Sallie squeezed my arm. "You two have fun."

"Thanks, Sal."
"Goodnight."

"So.... hey, Joe, you think I could talk to you for a bit?"

"Of course, love. Where, in here?" He motioned for my room.

"Yeah, yeah, sure.... you go ahead, I'll put Lydia in her bed."
"Please, take your time, love."

Picking up my daughter, I cradled her in my arms and gently carried her back to her bed. Wrapping her in her favourite blanket, I clicked on the nightlight.

"Mommy?"

I turned to find her awake, but slightly groggy. "Hi, sweetie."

"Mom, was I really gone five months?"

"Yep..... five months."

She shook her head in disbelief. "Gah. That's a long time."

"Yes," I smiled, aching as the memory was recalled. "It certainly is."
"Were you scared?"

"Terrified.... I had no idea where you were, or..... It was pretty awful, baby."

"I know. It was pretty awful for me, too. But you know what?"

"What, sweetie?"

"I just kept thinking about you, Mommy. I always thought about you. You're the one thing that always makes me happy."

"Lydia....." My throat closed in on itself and I had to fight to choke back tears.

"I love you, Mommy."

"I love you, too, Lydia..... Lydia, oh Lydia, oh have you met Lydia? Lydia, my beautiful daughter...."

"Everything alright, love?"

"Oh, yes, it's... it's fine," I smiled, sniffling.

"You're sure?"
"Yes, she-- she just woke up for a moment and, well, you know. I'm thrilled to have her back."
Joe nodded, smiling kindly at me. "You had something you wanted to discuss....?"

"Oh-- yes, um...." Reaching over, I pulled out the manilla folder Hamilton had passed me at the station. "I'd like to talk to you about the Pinnochio Project, if that's alright with you....."