The Frequency

I set the stack of papers on my desk. Each sheet listed the diagnosis of a patient; my brain lingered over each, committing them to memory.

“Joe Forest: small laceration lining his heart. Minsy Daylor: Large cut across her back.” I closed my eyes and imagined each procedure in my mind before glancing over at an article tacked up on my wall. The publication date was three years ago, but it still feels as fresh as yesterday.

“Verr is approved by the WCO, and carefully screened operators will be licensed.”

My steady hands and medical aptitude afforded me the opportunity for selection at 17—a year before I started college.

*********

“Ohen Ledger, please do not sleep on my floor!”

The professor yelled. His voice was terse, and his message was enforced by slamming a textbook on my desk. Like a drunk man, I struggled to rouse after the sudden noise jarred me awake. Wobbling, I clumsily drifted back into my chair and noticed the disinterested faces of students drifting off to sleep.

I would’ve preferred the laughing or ridiculing; embarrassment is better than this unbearable quiet. The silence that keeps us isolated.

Mr. Catrial turned back to the board.

“A Frequency Caster is an advanced technology that can play stored sounds,” he explained. "Even though it wasn't usually for recreation, the main uses are music or messages. All of these retain memory on a computational device. This tool handles signal transmission, reception, and information storage.”

Although I missed part of the lecture, The Caster was like nothing I'd ever seen before. I had to know more, so I devoured everything I could find about the device. I soldered the last wire in, snapping the case shut to the disk-shaped speaker and microphone. I heaved a large grey frequency computer onto my desk. I flicked the scan toggle on; static began to run through the device. I turned the dial to adjust the frequency off while loading basic intake details from a volunteer receptionist downstairs. The paper fed into the thin slot with a few gears turning before it disappeared inside.

Static started ringing through.

“Hello?” The female voice rang. Her voice was low yet calming.

“Um, Hi, what should I call you?” I stumbled over my words. Suddenly, the room wasn't so empty.

“You can call me Ziv.” A beat of silence. “How was your day?” She asked.

I didn’t answer.

“It’s alright, just tell me what you did today.” She said, her voice reassuring and pleasant.

“It hasn’t been easy…” I started.

“Oh really? Why not?” She asked.

“I don’t have friends or family. It’s always quiet.” I told her.

We spoke every night. Her voice became my sanctuary. We discussed science, loss, and the aching grip of silence. She talked like a human soul wearing a digital mask.

One night, the mask slipped.

________________________________________________________

“Oseh, have you had din—?” Ziv hummed; her words trailed off in distraction.

“Dinner’s not my thing.” I quipped. “Why do you sound distracted? Is that even possible?”

Ziv sighed before responding, “You need food.” She said flatly.

I look out the window beside my desk. “Well, it’s dark out… nightlife isn’t for me,” I said.

“There are spots on campus.” She pressed further. “Listen,” Ziv snapped, “you don’t know how good you have it; why starve yourself for a stupid reason like that?”

“I-I don’t need food; I feel fine,” I muttered. “Why do you even care? You’re a computer!”

A beat of silence.

“Come back when you’ve eaten.” She scoffs, “You’re worse than Adira!”

My breathing began to speed up. My stomach knotted. How did she know about my sister? No one should.

“How do you know my sister's name?” I asked, my focus sharp. I heard sharp breathing suddenly. It clicked.

“I need to go,” I snapped

“Go get some foo--” She began. I shut the device off.

I collapsed to the floor, trying to control my breathing. I felt like I was on the verge of exploding.

How did she know? She’s so human, too human. Computers don’t breathe…

My mind wandered through the possibilities; however, only one felt real.

The next morning

I shivered with fear. What have I created? Is sentience possible with Artificial… People? I pushed the talk button on the speaker. The static ran for 10 minutes before I knew what to ask.

“Who are you?” I asked, my voice creaked.

“You sound sick. Have you had water and food?” She started.

“Shut up, answer my question!” I ordered, my body trembled from malnourishment. “Do you know where Adira is?” I asked, “Where is my sister?” My breathing was shaky.

“I don’t know where she is, I just–” She cried.

“It was the WCO, wasn’t it? The government sent you? You’re spying on me!” I probed. My voice was loud and unstable.

“I’m your wife!” She blurted.

The device clicked and beeped. “Married at 21, at year 32 of the Viccan era, Ziv Taren, became Ziv Ledger.” She spoke back calmly, like recalling memories.

15 years in the future

The line cut to static; Ziv held the speaker expectantly, and faint explosions filled her ears. She pressed against the storage container walls, her tears running down her dirty face. She shifted against the coarse ground, her bare feet scraping on the rocks.

"I’m your wife, Ohen," she whispered into the static. "Human. Not a computer."

Silence…

“Ohen?” She calls..

Line fizzes…

“I. Don’t. Understand.” He said dryly

“Well, frequencies linger around for decades… You clearly forgot to turn off the signal receiver.” She pauses. “With the better technology now, we can catch the specific frequency you're on now… from any era.”

A bellowing scream comes from the speaker.

“Ohen, you're having another episode. Stay calm!” She panicked.

“SHUT UP!” he shot. “I-I’ve never met you; I don’t know you!” Hysteria filled his voice.

Ziv hears his breathing hasten… before the line cuts to silence

“I pushed him over the edge…” she breathed.

She looked at the stray bottles of water and the various loose food packets, taking a mental note of how many days she had left. The loud, concussive blasts grew closer with every passing minute. The wall Ziv leaned against slowly heated, becoming unbearable to touch. Their attacks are behind me. I’ll be vaporized.

The bronze Caster dropped to the floor.

Static.