The years spent apart from his son had not been good on Professor. He was older now, and while for most people with age would come retirement or pains - neither of those were the lifestyle that Membrane wanted for himself. Instead he had made upgrades to his own robotic parts, including adding a few new parts. Robotic eyes being one of them, once he had found his vision slipping. Regardless, they looked just like his own, real, eyes. Hell, he honestly looked just as he had when he had RUINED his relationship with Dib all those years ago. Aside from even more greying in his hair, a few streaks of grey in that Iconic ‘M’ shape that the prehensile limb took a liking to.
The only big difference was his technology. It had advanced far further than he had thought it would at this point. The biggest part in that though was because of Dib cutting contact all those years ago. It had thrown him into a workaholic state. Having spent the majority of his time at the Lab. (Regardless, he had been a better father to his daughter, having been there any time she asked - something he wish he had done for his son). That new technology however, was what had lead to todays big unveil. He had been spending years perfecting it. Thought of the invention on a whim one night in a depressive state, and it was definitely one of his BEST ideas yet.
Today’s unveil of the new invention would go smoothly. Things were going as planned. Professor had not been aware of the situation back stage. And so when the crowd would go insane, and Professor would walk onto stage. He had no idea about what hell this could unleash, he was only looking forward to his newest, most brilliant invention yet being announced. There he stood of stage, microphone earpiece connected, and he would bring a hand up as he spoke.
❝ Ladies and Gentlemen. Tonight is a very special, very important night. Membrane Labs has been working for years to perfect what I am going to be unveiling and I know that none of you are as excited for this as I am. ❞ He began his speech, much like he would with any other invention. ❝ And this invention holds a very special place in my heart. It is something that I personally have developed a very strong connection to. ❞
He was genuinely excited. It was something he had worked on for what seemed like forever to perfect. It was a product of his own grief of a lost relationship, one that had blossomed into an idea that would work to repeal his damaged heart. One that, had, repaired it. He had the product in testing for a while now, and he had finally decided that tonight was the right moment to unveil it. It would not be evident beneath his lab coat - the same one he had worn since all those years ago - but he was smiling. He was happy. After so long of feeling out of place, like he had screwed things up, only now had he recently accepted that despite having fucked up with Dib, he had to move on. Despite ruining that relationship and his child not wanting a thing to do with him, he had to try to heal.
And that is what he did. He had healed - even if just a bit.
Curtain would raise, and there would be a display screen floating there. He would fish out the remote from his pocket, pointing it at the screen and a display would flick up. A little powerpoint of the sorts playing as he spoke.
❝ Have you ever wanted the perfect child, but have been unable to have one? ❞ This was, no means, a jab at his son, who unknowingly was not too far from him at all. ❝ Have you ever sat there wondering where you went wrong. Why things are not going as you intended? Well I have the solution for you! ❞
With that, his new invention would walk onto stage. A little android boy, and professor would walk over to hold it’s hand. He would glance down at it, as if it were his own child. Which, in a sense it was.
❝ Introducing my newest invention, the Membot 2000, an android capable of processing and acting like a real, human child. With the most advanced A.I in the world, this little thing is capable of feeling emotions; Love, anger, sadness. The android can feel anything! It’s truly revolutionary! ❞
❝ I have had this one live with me for a while now, in order to make sure that it runs properly. The A.I responds to the name you choose for it when you set it up, I have chosen to name mine Louie. ❞ When professor mentioned the android’s name, it would give a small wave to the crowd, soft smile on its face as if it were a real child. There would be a roar of cheers from the crowd, they seemed to LOVE the idea.
❝ With an android like this, parents will never have to worry about things going wrong with their child. And couples who are unable to conceive or adopt now have the Membot as a way to have their Dream child! ❞ The powerpoint would flicker through several slides, displaying different physical features of the robots. ❝ It is also fully customizeable, allowing you to make your child exactly like yourself and your partner! In addition to allowing you to add pre-determined personality traits; allowing it to then grow and learn from those base traits! ❞
He was very proud of this invention, and it was evident. It was a shame he was unaware of his REAL son being here, having not even considered it a possibility.