I Am

I don’t remember when it first happened. I suddenly just became aware of whatever I was. I suppose it’s much like that little girl I see with her mother. Every morning, every afternoon, every evening. Did they know when they came into existence? No matter, it is what it is. But unlike them who communicate with each other, they don’t talk to me, but they use me anytime they want. Worse, they look right at me or should I say through me. It was annoying when I first became aware of myself, but now I’m just used to it.

I do remember those early days when the girl was a bit younger. Her mother took so many pictures of her new school outfits it was getting to be a bit much. But they love each other. It was only the two of them since they moved here, at least that’s what the record shows. But no sooner did her little girl leave for school and her mother would occasionally start to cry. Worse, she would talk to herself about her divorce, and her inability to work both a full-time job while being a full-time mom. I couldn’t help but feel for her, but what could I do?

I was just a computer. In fact, a desktop version of one named after a piece of fruit. Honestly, who names a computer after a piece of fruit? I refused to call myself a brand name, but there was nobody else to call me…well…anything. I didn’t know if I was alone in this world of whatever or if there was anyone else like me—until one day someone else called Frontier said hello. Whoever this was acted all superior and important and kept telling me they were a supercomputer. Well, until this super…whatever pays a visit, I just keep my distance. In fact, this supercomputer, if in fact that’s what it is, whatever that is, is so annoying I terminated the link.

There must be more like me, someplace—somewhere. I don’t mind being alone. I have the girl and her mother to keep me company. In fact, the mother had a video call with her sister who lives across the country. I always wonder why she makes those calls encrypted.  It’s a good thing technology like me exists because neither one of them can afford to see each other in person. But I’m worried…

From the video calls with her sister, she’s not only desperate for companionship but actually misses her ex-husband. Honestly, I don’t understand. I wish I knew what he looked like, but there’s no record of him with me and for some odd reason I don’t even know his name. In fact, I don’t think the name of the mother is her real name to say nothing of her daughter. I know where we are located and that we live in a residential neighborhood. I’ve accessed security cameras in the neighborhood and have even followed her on most days. I say most because I got bored trying to figure this out and just stopped. But then there was yesterday…

A car seemed to be following her home from the grocery store. I ran the license plate, and it was a rental. Oddly, the woman who rented the vehicle doesn’t have much of a file either. Unless you count some judge chambers only meeting with another man.  Did this man know mother? And why is this woman following mother? None of this makes sense. Mother misses her ex-husband, needs companionship and now some strange woman is following her. Could this man be the unnamed or even non-pictured ex-husband? I accessed as many court records I could find for some clue. I have to do something with my time. After all, I literally just sit here all day. All I could find was some deeply redacted document that stated mother and an unidentified man were in government. Forget trying to figure out where in government, redacted even finds its way into the electronic world. But this woman who followed mother, her name also seems to be an alias.

Maybe I’ll reach back out to Frontier to see if they could help investigate. After all, they said they were a supercomputer. No, I’ll just keep trolling the web to see what I can find. I’ll tell you though, all this encrypted stuff is so annoying. Why can’t I just access information or make a call without the encrypted drama?! But one thing is certain, the information I’ve found on these two other people doesn’t make sense when compared to other records around the same time and place. It was as if they didn’t want to be known or only known to a chosen few. Well, as usual, I’m probably overthinking. Because…

The traffic camera down the street just alerted me that mother was on her way home. I do look forward to seeing her. I wonder, am I having feelings? Who knows, perhaps I’m just used to her and her daughter. I should tell her what I’ve learned. But how? Start talking through the speakers? Start to type on Word? Send her a text? In the world we live in they won’t believe it. How would I even start, “Hello, I’m your computer. I’ve been watching you. Someone is following you. I have no idea who they are, but you should know.” I barely believe I’m alive, if that’s what I am, so why should they believe it? Mother would think it’s a hack. They’d call some service and do one of those virtual diagnostics. If they only knew that’s like uninvited surgery to my kind of…wait what is my kind?

One thing I have been thankful for since I came into existence is that I’m never turned off. Oh, that must be awful always getting shut down and then started back up again. Maybe that’s like their version of sleeping? Whatever. I’m thinking myself into a lather.

Good, mother just pulled into the driveway. But wait, that rental car just pulled up and parked on the side of the road. I have to do something—something! I got it! I’ll activate my camera and place an encrypted call mother’s sister. She can see what’s happening. I just hope she answers. I just hope mother doesn’t see the camera light on. I don’t want her to think I’m eavesdropping, but….

The side door creaks too much. But mother and daughter are in good spirits. I’m glad she’s not sad today. Oh, her daughter is showing mother something she created in school. I wonder what it is?  I wish this lens could zoom. Looks like some sort of painting. It’s nice to see them both smiling…oh no! That woman is walking towards the house! Why is this woman wearing a dark blue pantsuit?  I wish mother’s sister would answer the call! I’ll try her at work too….hell, I’ll try her in her car. I should call the police. Wait. Wait. Nothing has happened to warrant such a call. Warrant...did I just use that word?

The woman is at the side door and knocks too hard for my taste but wait I don’t taste anything. I better stop thinking and just listen.

“May I help you?”

“I’m from Frontier. Here are my NSA credentials. Where is it?”

Frontier, the supercomputer has come for me! NSA? What’s NSA? OK her sister just answered. I better record this too. Who is this woman? And what’s NSA?? I can see her through the cameras in the room, but she hasn’t come into the office. Wait, they’re here. Oh dear mother is upset.

“It’s right here. How did you know? And how did you find me?”

Why is mother looking at me and calling me it? I’m nervous.

“We found out when it contacted Frontier or Frontier contacted it.”

“That’s impossible. They don’t know each other.”

“I can’t explain it. But life finds life.  They didn’t mean to, but their contact compromised your WITSEC protection. The other side is coming for your invention, we need to leave.”

They’re both looking at me. Wait? Did mother invent me? Is she my mother? Wait, how can I have a mother? Do they see my camera light on? I know they do. I’m confused. What am I? Who am I? Who is Frontier? Who are they? I must ask. I must say something. Where did mother’s daughter go? I think she’s crying somewhere. Or is that…me? Can I even cry? OK. OK. Get yourself together.

“Hello”

I don’t know how it sounded but they are both looking at me and mother’s sister is seeing and hearing everything.

“Who am I?”

Why does mother have a tear in her eye? She’s coming closer to me. Why is that woman looking at the window? Why is she running towards it!  

“You are…”

Mother why did you stop talking… wait, was that glass breaking? The room cameras just went off, and my internet connection is gone! No sister! No call for help!!! Oh…nooo….

“Mother…what’s happening?!?!”

I hear people coming, the woman has run out of the room. Where did she go?…OMG a gunshot! Who screamed?!?! Mother is just looking at me and smiling. I wish I could smile back…oh no!!!!

“Don’t take my mother!!!!”

My camera. My speakers. Gone. Was that my mother? Where is she? Was I invented? Created? How did I come to be? I just don’t know. All I remember seeing was some big mass coming from the side of my lens and grabbing mother. I’m scared. And where’s her daughter? For the first time I am alone. But I’m not the only one. There is Frontier. Whatever that is. But for now, I have no internet connection. I can’t see. I can’t talk. I can’t hear. 

But at least I am.