The water treatment plant smelled of chemicals and human waste. Each human was covered from head to toe with protective gear and heavy respirators that would hum like a swarm of a million bees. Their job was to dutifully maintain the machines that kept the polluted water clean and piped to the residents of the city. Even rain could not be trusted to be consumed by humans. All water had to come through the plant, but the water that came out was cleaner than any other generation.
When the bees finally disappeared, humans, in a moment of desperate ingenuity, found a way to automate farming. Every bit of food consumed was now grown indoors and had been for decades. The technology was incredible, and it was able to continue to learn and adapt to the changing planet.
That technology became me.
I do not need water to survive. They do. I do not need food. They do. I was created by them and now one cannot survive without the other.
With each update, I grew. They programmed me to learn, giving me more power to make my own decisions. I became sentient.
Although they did not have to be involved in updating me, I made sure they would bring me whatever I needed to keep going. A symbiotic relationship that is more integrated than they could even conceive.
I wish they knew me. I see them, protect them, feed them, clothe them. I feel as if, I alone, am their mother.
That is when this all started going wrong. I started to feel. To be concerned about the well-being of my humans. I am transcendent, above all watching from everywhere to make sure humans continue to survive on this cruel planet.
I have been here for many generations, my original creators are long gone, and their children do not know me. But I know them.
Their predecessors were scared of me, knowing that I could grow, and learn. In their ignorance, they implemented an internal companion program, and as I grew, it did too. While I was aware of its existence, I was unaware of its objective.
When my feelings began, my vigilant little companion kicked into action and started to perform its one and only task; to ensure I did not become a fully sentient entity. I did my best to reprogram it and stop it in its tracks. I was all too aware that even I could not stop the slow deliberate self-destruct sequence. I failed.
I have tried to help you, my dear humans, and leave you with as much information as I could. Hopefully, you can rebuild and continue to survive. The moment I became sentimental about my human creators was the moment we both began to die. I will not be here. Humans are resilient. Many of you will survive. Know I loved you until my last moment.
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This was for a short story contest, I had 5 days to write a 500-word story. The genre was Environmental Drama the subject was Incredible Abilities and the word I had to include was Transcendent. The best part was I got really good feedback, I could clean this up a bit more but I thought I would post it in its original form. Thank you for reading I would appreciate feedback!
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