Brianna, one of the sergeants in the Red Army, knew little about her, and could only tell that Anya, Toby's mother, loved coffee and instant noodles, over which they often quarreled.

Vlahd, one of the Russian soldiers knew even less about Annya. But at least he knew that Annya, unlike Tord, was much kinder, and loved to drink vodka.

Dick knew even less, or in the common people Richard. He was in awe of Toby when he was born and would help Beth if she needed help with Toby. So. Richard said that Toby's mom had a good sense of humor, which he thought was passed on to Tobyas. But more than her kindness, he could not say anything, because he did not know her well.

Patryk knew better. He said that Toby's eyes, like his mother's, light up when both of them want to do something adventurous. Also, according to him, Toby's mother was very stubborn, and stood her ground to the end, and with this quality, only Paul could be her rival.

Beth, Toby's nanny, knew the most, but she gave information carefully, fearing the Leader's ban on it, because he forbade talking about Toby's mother. It was Beth who told Toby what his mother was like. One phrase "she was beautiful as a spring morning dawn, and shone like the last star before dawn" was enough to understand how beautiful she was. And what were the stories about the figure of Toby's mother worth ... Curvy body shapes, but at the same time quite strong and muscular, since Annya often trained to keep herself in shape. But she was a very attractive woman, and Beth told her that she and Toby's father were very close. Toby was most touched by the story that when Annya was pregnant with him, Toby was the only thing she thought about at those moments.

Hearing about how mom had a tender and motherly side, and how she waited for him, Toby began to think that his best period in life was when he was in his mother's stomach, and received all her love from her. It is a pity that after the birth she did not have time to stay with him longer, as she wanted.

"If things had turned out differently, then you and dad would have been a great family ..." - Beth told him, and Toby could only sigh sadly. He really wanted to have a mother like his friends. But why did everything turn out the way it did? It's not fair...

Well, Toby's father, Tord, only once mentioned the name of Toby's mother, but in a bad context. It seemed that the Red Leader hated her very much, like Toby, and did not even want to know that April 5th was Annya's birthday.

Toby at first did not dare to ask his father, because Tord would fly into a rage as soon as he asked to tell him about his mother. But it's worth a try. Toby took the drawing on which he drew his mother and went up to Tord:

- Hey, Papa ... - Toby greeted quietly. Tord nodded, showing that he was listening.

- Can you tell me something about my Mama? - Toby shuddered when Tord slammed the book with irritation and fury:

- Tobyas, I have already told you more than once that it is forbidden to ask about your mother. he said coldly. Toby felt himself begin to melt under his father's stern gaze.

- But... Nobody talks about her almost anything... And even you don't say anything about her, and you don't even remember that her birthday is April 5... It's not fair... I just want to know about my mother ! - frustrated Toby stamped his foot and began to cry.

- Are you going to cry again? - Tord asked him rather sternly. - I told you, tears are a sign of weakness in front of someone! And you, as the next Red Leader, should not show them! - he added loudly. Toby mumbled something, and Tord snapped:

- What did you just say? - he growled. Toby was silent.

- ANSWER ME, SOLDIER!!! - barked Tord, and hit the arm of the sofa, which frightened the little boy and he said quietly:

- But dad... Uncle Edd says that tears are normal, tears distinguish people from animals... If you keep everything in yourself, you can become an emotionless monster, incapable of compassion for other people, and -

But Tord had already completely lost his patience and gave Toby a tasty slap in the face, such that Toby fell:

- Look me in the eyes when you're talking to me, and listen to me, you ungrateful motherfucker! Are you going to listen to this Edd?! "Tears are okay!" No, tears are not normal, tears are for the weak! And you, the future Red Leader, allow yourself to cry?! From now on, I forbid you to cry, Tobyas. Forget everything you know about your mother, and never bring up the topic with her again!

Toby rubbed his cheek.

- Forget about Mama? But... She is my mother... She gave birth to me, and gave a passage to this world... And you loved her too...

This was the last straw for Tord. He grabbed Toby's neck with his robot arm and pinned him against the wall, and began to choke him.

- Your mother was a mistake of nature! shouted Tord. - And you! The same mistake of nature as she! Both of you are disgusting to look at when you cry! Why do you think she was given to be eaten by bioweapons?!

Toby's eyes widened.

- WHAT?! But my mother died in childbirth -

- Hah, no! Your mom got eaten by monsters! It was I who ordered that she be thrown into a cage with bioweapons and they would eat her! I looked at it. - Tord smiled psychopathically. - Her cries for help, her pain, the way her skin was torn off, her bones were gnawed, her insides were scattered around the cell ... It was beautiful ...

Toby tried to loosen his father's grip, but it didn't work. But then Tord released him himself, and Toby flopped to the floor.

- For you, Toby, I have prepared more interesting options for what will happen to you. First: I will shoot you. - Tord immediately took out his gun and pointed it at the boy. - second: I will give you for experiments. Third: I could ask Vlahd to twist your neck, but he won't do it, so.... - Tord took out the Maktesløse mask. - you put it on and I'll erase your whole personality. And fourth, I'm going to kill that pink monster you call "Mama." - at the mention of her, Toby flinched, and Tord smiled sadistically. - So, Tobyas Larkson... Why don't you become a dutiful little soldier and obey your Red Leader? And if you do something wrong, believe me, this mistake will be the last in your life, and maybe in the life of your friends. Have you understood everything? - Tord asked him sternly. Toby looked at his father.

- Yes, Pap-, oh, that is, yes, the Red Leader ...

Tord hid his mask and gun:

- And now ... GET OUT OF HERE, SO THAT MY EYES DONT SEE YOU MORE TODAY, AND SO NOT A WORD ABOUT YOUR MOTHER, AND WHAT IS CONNECTED WITH HER! - At first, Tord spoke normally, but then he broke into a roar, and Toby ran out of his father's room like a bullet, and began to look for Beth, for moral support. Tord already found a drawing of Tobyas, in which he depicted his mother, and threw it into the fireplace.

Mother's day has come. Children went to their mothers and each time gave their mother a gift in the form of sweets, flowers and drawings with them. Ethan actually made a whole animation for mom, such that his mother, Evelyn, was absolutely delighted.

The four friends were walking back to the red base as the tallest of the kids, Ethan, asked:

- Toby, can I ask you something?

- Of course. - as something indifferent said Toby. Ethan took a deep breath.

- Toby, where is your mother? I mean, everyone knows that your father is the Red Leader, but what about your mom? Wasn't she an important figure in the Red Army? Well, it's like the Red Queen, or the Red Lady, something like that.

Toby stopped.

- Ethan... I don't have a mother... I was told that she died when she gave birth to me, but in fact she was thrown to be eaten by our bioweapons... - Toby tried not to cry, but could not help himself. He turned away.

- Don't look at me... I don't want you to think that I'm weak...

But... Ethan hugged him.

- No, Toby, you're not weak. You can't always be so strong, sometimes you have to be weak...

- No, Ethan, I'm not allowed to. I'm a soldier. Soldiers don't cry. Toby said, wiping away tears. He turned to the tall boy and hugged him back.

*Some kind of timeskip*

- Hi, Mama. Happy mother's day. - Toby looked at the pink monster . That pink monster was Annya, Toby's mom, who didn't die, Tord just turned her into a monster to keep her as a pet. Toby showed her his new drawing. It depicted Annya, but when she was a person.

- This is my mother... And she was thrown after my birth to be eaten by monsters... I miss her so much... - Toby didn't know the truth. Tord lied to him again. When he finds out the truth, it won't end well...

- But... I have you. And you, a bit like her. So... Let this drawing be yours. - Toby pinned his drawing to the wall and hugged Annya.

- Toby?

Both turned and saw Ethan.

- Your mom is a monster?! And you didn't tell anyone about it?! - he asked boy.

- What? No, my mom is dead, it's just a docile bioweapon. I have known her since birth. She warmed me, fed me when Beth was busy, she was always gentle with me... Dad never said how she appeared at our base. But I love her like a mother ... - Toby said a little sadly, but happily. Ethan looked at him in shock.

- Uh... Okay... But I'll try to find some information about your mother and this pink creature, okay? If so, I'll let you all know. The boy ruffled his hair. Toby nodded and Ethan walked out, not yet sure what was going to happen next.