For the next week,Jeff was X-rayed, sonar scanned, tested, her every nature examined and evaluated by the scientists in the warehouse owned by her father. Samples of her felt 'skin' were removed to be analysed. Some of them were considering how best to get the equivalent of a 'bone' sample, but could not find a non-invasive way to do so. She was glad that they didn't want to hurt her. Her father said that the government would probably do worse to her and that she should be grateful that they were being so nice.
Jeff tried to talk sometimes to various engineers, but they were all more interested in her as a 'specimen' then someone to talk to. They insisted they were just here to work, but were apologetic about it. As a large child, she smiled a little to them, confused in her thinking but hoping her father knew what he was doing. He often said it was all for her own good. The body she inhabited felt... content to just wait it out. To be a 'good girl', and not cause any trouble to people who were trying to look out for her. She was not harmed in any way, and her father did provide some entertainment for her. There was a television she could watch for one, and sometimes she got to go out of the building- though when she saw the horrified looks of the little people, she meekly just wanted to hide away again.
She also had a 'teacher', that would come by each day. Something about her education being still required, but she couldn't go to a normal school any more. So this teacher would give her a few assignments, and she would do her best to complete them... often using a lot of the floor space
... but she missed being in a normal school. With other students.
That was a weird feeling. She didn't think she used to miss school. But all the time she wondered about them, and the other clockwork girls. Did they miss her? Did they think of her any more? Or were they glad she was no longer around? Maybe they had completely forgotten about her. It had been a long time in her mind, between charging and resting on minimal power.
Her father approached again, on that platform with the small steps. He smiled to her, and Jeff looked impassively back.
"Hey Jeff, how are you feeling today?" he asked staring into her large face.
How was she feeling? "I... I miss my mom," she said quietly with the vibrations of her voice. "Can we see her soon?"
"Yes of course, sorry it has taken so long. I've had to prepare her for you... I don't want her to be afraid like all the others," he said carefully. "You can be a little overwhelming at first."
All the other scientists and people had left now. Scattered about were their computers and X-ray machines... But it looked like they had learned as much as they could about the clockwork creatures from them. Now it was just Jeff, and her father.
Jeff looked down pitiably. Would her mother be so afraid? Then again, she was a monster.
Her father shook her head. "In any case, I have a way to introduce you carefully into the world. I am going to bring in some television cameras to do a few interviews with you. The trick is to give you a little fame without making you infamous."
"I- I don't wanna be famous. I jus' want to see my mom," said Jeff annoyed now. Why did they have to do this?
"Patience. This will all work out just fine. It is important though that you are happy. Are you not comfortable? Has not everything you needed come to you?"
Jeff had to admit... that her father did provide a lot to her. She didn't need food, but shelter and something to do 'was' nice. It has been a difficult week, just trying to sort out her memories, thoughts, and feelings. She didn't understand half the tasks the scientists did to her... but none of it was painful. Just sometimes a little annoying. "D-dad? Am I gonna grow up?" she asked quietly.
"That's one of the things I am trying to find out," he said. "If not, then obviously... you can never run the company. Though even if you did grow up... well, I doubt you could run it either way." He said with what appeared to be genuine sadness. "This really hasn't gone according to plan A, I am sorry."
"It's okay Dad- I- I actually never really wanted to do it." for some reason that was easier to say. It was like a weight was off her chest (Thought not -that- weight)
Jeff Senior looked angrily a moment but calmed down. "Well, perhaps it's for the best that you believe that," he said. To replace the boy he had invested in was not going to be easy. He had a plan but.. but it was not the same. it would not be his own flesh and blood... but it will still be his legacy. the man was seeing the end of his family line, in a big wind up doll good for nothing but being the play thing of children. He hated seeing it... absolutely loathed it. "Prepare yourself for the cameras. Remember, 'smile'. They should be here in about an hour. I'll be watching from my office."
"Y-you're not gonna be here with them?"
"I trust you. I'm sure you've been hoping to let the world see you too... in a nice way. I'll be watching from my office okay?"
Jeff couldn't believe it. This was... this was great! She actually felt excited to be able to show the world she wasn't any threat! She was big but she wasn't going to hurt anyone. Maybe she could even say hello to Ricky and Belle though the camera and say she wants to see them too? There were many possibilities!
Jeff Snr. Frowned a little as he took the service corridor away from the main room housing his son. There was a room here... one with very particular specifications.
He entered his code, as the metallic structure opened. he then put in second code. It was a shame but biometrics couldn't be relied upon these days, and Jeff Senior was not so stupid to not have a back way in, in case he did transform- unlikely as it was, given how meticulous he was. There was even an automatic opener for... certain circumstances he had programmed into it.
The inside of the vault was not what most would imagine. There was a television, a desk, a computer, even some refreshments. He turned on the television moving to the news channel. It was going to be Jeff's interview soon. He took out a large case in a false bottom under the desk, with another code to enter much like a large brief-case. Flipping it open and there, Inside the mould, was Jeff's large Master Key. It Hummed with it's curiously low pitched ticking.
He touched the key, still not sure what it represented but some of it's role was made clear. The test's were quite conclusive. He could 'control' Jeff with this key with some thoughts and specific word. He had only done so subtly, making her move in certain ways during a test, or forcing her to offer a particular hand when requested by the scientists...
Now though, he wondered if he could fully control what the creature said. There was too much at stake now for Jeff to complain to the world about any mistreatment... he was sure she was reasonably happy, but this was a safeguard.
He then opened another safe. A false wall even, as it rotated to show what it contained.
It was a grotesque being, that was clearly not even alive. Not a spark of anything in it. A mockery of a clockwork... half finished, but it wore the face of Jeff Senior. It was modelled after his own body, but inside they were still trying to recreate all the gears and motions that made a 'real' clockwork work.
Jeff senior placed his hand on the unfinished clockwork.
"Hello Son... I am going to make you live."
His truly mould able son...
