MAP OF THE PROBLEMATIQUE

Summary: Wendy's life has been shattered when her daughter is snatched from her room one night. As the search grows cold and Wendy's heart continues to break, an unlikely friendship with a Mecha "working boy" helps her find the courage she needs to conduct her own search that will ultimately lead her on an adventure beyond anything she could have ever imagined.

Author's note: Welcome to my AI: Artificial Intellegence story! I poured alot of heart and soul into this piece.... please tell me what you think!

****Preemptive warnings: I'm gonna be too tired to call out all the swearing, but there is indeed heavy language used in this story. It gets progressively worse as the story goes on; well, I say "worse"-- towards the end, it's pretty bad, but... :) Anyway. Just thought I'd give you a heads-up! :D Enjoy!

Chapter 1: Sky Blue

MAY, 2075

I found my daughter watching Animal Planet in the living room. "Come now, sweetie; dinner's ready. Switch off the set."

"Coming!" She did as she was told and bounded off to the kitchn to wash her hands.

"Mommy? What's Mecha?" We sat at the table moments later when she spoke up again.

I looked up from my plate of spaghetti at my five-year-old daughter sitting across from me. The piercing blue eyes she inherited from her mother gazed up at me, waiting patiently.

"Well.... um. Let's see." I thought for a moment on how best to present this to a child. "They're robots, sweetie. Robots who look exactly like people. Sometimes, you can't even tell them apart, unless you have a special light, and then you can see."

"Do we know any Mechas?"

"Bessie. Miss Bessie is Mecha. They have a few Mecha teachers at Liberty Heights."

My daughter's eyes went wide at the mention of one of her favorite teachers. "What?"

"Well-- honey, yes, she's..... she's Mecha. Your school doesn't discriminate between Orga and Mecha. But it doesn't mean you should love her any less--"
"Why would I do that?" Lydia grinned. "My teacher's a robot. That's freakin' awesome!"

"Hey, watch your mouth, kid," I laughed.

"What about my softball coaches?"

"You want to know if they're Mecha or Orga."

Lydia nodded.

"Oh, well, I have no idea," I shrugged, grinning. "I guess you'll just have to ask them yourselves tomorrow at practice."

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

My little girl giggled at my re-written version of 'Lydia the Tattooed Lady' as I breezed into her room that night, book in hand. The day I found out the baby growing inside me was to be a girl was the day I started singing to her, specifically that little tune, amongst others. I loved to sing, and she loved to hear it.

"Mommy? Don't forget my nightlight."

"Ah, haha. Of course." I laughed, heading over to the opposite wall to flick it on, then made my way back to sit at her side. I read her her book and then got ready to shut out her lamp.

"Sing to me, will you?"

"You really want me to, huh?" I grinned. "You sure do love hearing me sing, don't you?"

She nodded, grinning. Taking up her bear, she snuggled back into her pillows, rubbing her eyes.

"Well.... what do you want to hear?"

"Mmm... Windsong."

"Certainly," I giggled. "Always your favorite!"

"Yesss....." My little girl smiled and sang the Swahili lullaby with me.

"Imba wimbo wa upepo, wakati unajuwa na; imba wimbo wa upepo, wakati ndoto tamu; lala mpaka, usiku uishen; upepo wa usiku, wimbo wakona. Wimbo wangu, unaendelea; upepo wa usiku, wimbo wakona....."

My little girl's eyes became heavy, and as they closed, I leaned in to give her a kiss. "Goodnight, sweet angel," I whispered. As I stood at her door, I watched her sleep. How could you love someone this much? I felt as if my heart would explode.

"Dear nightlights that protect my sleeping daughter, burn clear and steadfast tonight."

"Alright, sweetie! Come, now, you wanna help me with bre--" After having gotten ready for the day myself, I breezed into my daughter's room to wake her, but instead, I found it empty. "Lydia?"

Maybe she woke up earlier and went to play. "Huh." Turning back, I headed for the playroom. Empty, as well. Bathroom, too.

Backyard? "Lydia! Honey! Come on, let's go!" I pushed my raven hair from my face as the wind began to pick up. I ran for the front door, my eyes searching the street.

"Lydia!"

"Wendy?"

I turned to find my neighbour out walking her dog. "Oh, Nancy, I can't find Lydia! I went in to wake her and she wasn't there! Have you seen her at all?"

"Wha-- no, I haven't! Oh, dear, honey, I'm sure she'll turn up! She's probably out on her bike with her friends, you know how she loves to race...."

"Yes, yes, I.... I'm sure that's it....." I nodded, shaking. "I'm getting my car. She's going to be late for school, you know......"

It was my third time around the neighbourhood and already, my mind was beginning to go. I was sobbing, and above me, menacing clouds threatened to unleash their fury. I pulled back into the driveway and dashed back into the house, hoping Lydia had shown up while I was out looking for her. I didn't believe in corporal punishement at all, but if she was there, she'd be getting the spanking of a lifetime. The apartment was empty and silent as I sprinted for her room.

"Lydia?! Goddammit, YOU ANSWER YOUR MOTHER!!" I screamed, crumbling to my knees and sobbing, and it was then I noticed something I'd not slowed down enough to notice before. Her window was open, the bottom of the wooden frame splintered, and there were slashes in the screen.

I'm not sure I can describe the waves of pain I felt then, when I started screaming. I would have preferred excruciating.

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Author's notes: I named Wendy's daughter after "my own"- I'm not a mom yet, but if I had a little girl, her name would be Lydia Josephine. I've had it picked out since the age of twelve and the reason I gave her daughter the name I picked out for my own is that I wanted to get the emotion down pat of how it must feel to have your child taken. It sounds absolutely terrible, I know..... because noone wishes that. But you understand. :D Haha

Music: Chapter named after song "Sky Blue" by Peter Gabriel. "Lost my time, lost my place in sky blue. Those two blue eyes light your face in sky blue. I know how to fly, I know how to drown in sky blue......"

Other songs referenced/used are "Windsong," composed by James Horner for the movie "Mighty Joe Young;" also referenced was the song "Lydia the Tattooed Lady." "Windsong" will be a recurring song in this story, as it is Lydia's favorite lullaby.