The Smiling Cat: CatNap

Prologue

Three scientists sat around a table in a dimly lit room, looking at the files of 12 children from the orphanage. They were here to select a candidate for their next Bigger Bodies experiment, Experiment 1188. They had been working for Playtime Co., the company behind the Bigger Bodies Initiative.

With the scientists is Harley Sawyer, the Head of the Bigger Bodies Initiative.

"Experiment 1188 aims to leverage prior successes in accordance with our golden path forward," One of the scientists said, "We believe we have the opportunity to create our most sophisticated and capable Bigger Body to date."

Dr. Sawyer nodded his head in approval. "Good. These experiments requires a high level of creativity and imagination, something that only a young mind can provide. Besides, these kids have no family, no future, no one who cares about them. We are doing them a favor, giving them a chance to be part of something bigger."

One of the other scientists nodded. "Exactly. And we have to be quick. These experiments can take months, and we can't let the government find out about this. In their eyes, what we're doing is completely unethical"

Deep down, they were all lying to themselves. They were not doing this for the children, they were doing this for the company, for the money, for the fame. They were playing with fire, tampering with forces they did not understand. They were trying to create a living breathing toy, a Bigger Body, out of a human being.

Dr. Sawyer looked at the files, which contained the names, ages, photos, and profiles of the children. They all looked innocent and happy, unaware of their fate. One of them caught his eye. It was a boy named Theodore Grambell, who was 7 years old. He had brown curly hair, chocolate brown eyes, and a half - smile on his face. He was often alone when the other children were playing, in his own world. His file also contained some of his sketches, which were full of colorful and cheerful characters. One of them looked disturbingly similar to Experiment 1006, The Prototype. It looked like the boy was laughing and enjoying its company in the drawings.

"Test these children in the Game Station tomorrow," said Dr. Sawyer, "We will see which of them is most capable."