The Mo:Ther

Johe revved the engine of the motorcycle, glancing over at Bontly with a confused look. "But I thought you were born in District 2?" he asked, curiously

Bontly replied casually. "I was born in District 1," his gaze distant. "But District 2 is where I used to live. I joined the force because, to get into close proximity to the Mother Computer, you have to be a cybersecurity officer. It’s the only way."

Johe’s eyes lit up. "You’re trying to see RAM, huh? I know where that is. It’s pretty close." His grin widened. "Hold on tight."

The engine roared to life, and they sped off through the city. The towering buildings around them seemed almost alive, made from glass and metal, with escalators whirling between floors and sleek digital screens flashing. As they passed, Bontly couldn’t help but be fascinated by the advanced architecture. the way everything seemed to be in perfect harmony.

Soon, they reached a highly guarded technological area. The entrance was flanked by two guards, each holding a hydroarm. Johe pulled the motorcycle to a halt and took off his helmet, they all got off the bike, stepping forward as they prepared their badges.

Seeing their badges, the guards gave a quick nod. “Proceed.” The gates slowly opened from their words.

The moment they stepped through, Tackle—who had been silent up until now—declared. "You wouldn’t have needed to show your badge if you had your suit on, idiots." Her suit now enveloping her.

Tackle pressed a button on her wrist, and her official officer uniform transformed back into casual attire in an instant. “Seeing the suit would’ve been all the verification they need.”

Ahead of them, a massive structure loomed, the air around them feeling charged with energy. The object in the center of the room was a giant, revolving, geometric machine that resembled a segmented disco ball, its shape both abstract and futuristic. It emitted a hum that filled the enclosure. The data radiating from it was nothing like they’ve ever felt. Other officers surrounded, starstruck by the behemoth.

“Woah!!! What even is this?!” The sight shocking Bontly.

Johe squinted, his eyes wide. "So this is the Revolving Actual Monitor? It’s enormous."

Tackle nodded solemnly, her tone respectful. "This is the Mother of District 1. It’s what produces all the computers here."

Bontly blinked, still trying to wrap his head around it. "I was born from this? B-but I still don’t understand how it works."

Shinku, who had been quietly observing, stepped forward. "It’s a supercomputer," he said, his voice calm but filled with awe. "A machine that creates computers—literally births them into existence. This is the heart of District 1. Every machine, every computer, comes from a Mother in their district.."

Bontly looked around, noticing humans in dirty, oily white suits. They wore gloves and goggles, their faces grim as they moved between cracks in the machine. From these cracks, small computers slid out, like tiny, newly born creatures.

Bontly, pointed toward the workers. "What are they doing?"

Shinku’s gaze followed his, and for a moment, he seemed lost in thought. "Those are harvesters," he explained. "Humans that collect the newly born computers and lead them out of here to start their lives. Each one is born with a generated name, serial number, and a set amount of information. The rest? They’ll have to learn or download themselves."

Pointing to himself, Bontly questioned. "That used to be me?!”

"Exactly," Shinku replied, nodding. “Though, a different amount of data is expelled into each computer. Affecting them differently.” "Some of them are simple objects with no autonomous function—like chairs or household tools. But some... some are born with more data, as more complex machines like us."

Futuristic vehicles emerged from RAM. “Woah! That’s a car!” Bontly reacted in awe as it slid out of the Mother.

Shinku continued, his voice quieter now. "And computers born with little data remain in childlike states.”

“Oh, no! What are they doing to those?!” Bontly scarily shouted as the harvesters crushed a lifeless computer.

“Those that are born without enough data and also can’t function as an object...they’re taken to the scrapyard." Shinku explained.

Bontly’s eyes widened. "What happens to them?"

"They’re... discarded," Shinku said, his tone somber. "They’re unusable, dead on arrival, so they’re destroyed. Mined for more data, which is then thrown back into the Mother."

Bontly observed. "So, if the amount of data you’re born with determines your complexity,” Glancing down at himself, feeling a sudden surge of realization. "I must’ve been born with a lot of data then, right?!"

Johe chuckled. "Yeah, you’re not exactly what I’d call simple."

Bontly blinked, still processing the information. "Wow… does it ever stop?"

Shinku nodded. "Nope. The Mother of District 1 will continue to produce computers as long as it’s functional. It’s an eternal process. It’s likely that it will never depreciate."

Bontly’s eyes widened even further. "Woah… that’s… amazing."

Before they could continue their conversation, an officer approached them with a polite but firm expression. "Hello, I’m the Mother Manager. I’m sorry, but your viewing time has expired. You may return tomorrow for another ten-minute viewing window."

Bontly sighed, but nodded. "Well, I saw it.."

As they made their way back toward the exit, a loud cheer echoed through the air, followed by the sound of a speech booming from a distance.

They mounted the motorcycle again, and as they rode through the streets, they passed humans moving about on Segways. Bontly couldn’t help but stare at them. "There’s a lot of humans here. Must be the human part of town, huh?"

Tackle spoke from inside of Bontly. "Yeah. This is where most of the human population lives. And it’s where a rally’s happening right now."

“Drive there. I wanna go see it.” Tackle peeked her head out, ordering Johe.

Johe sighed, concomitantly speeding up. “You’re so bossy.”

The crowd came into view as they neared the central square. A sea of humans waved flags, shouting and chanting in unison. At the center of it all was a man on a podium.

Shinku and Bontly were intrigued at the sight of so many people.

They slowly arrived to the crowd, the humans made way for them as Johe’s large motorcycle broke through their formation.

Cheers erupted as an elderly man, his face lined with age and wisdom, stood tall onstage. His voice carried over the crowd, buoyant, as he raised his arms in greeting. "It is a joy to greet you all on this wonderful day!" he exclaimed, his eyes scanning the sea of faces before him. "So many human faces, as well as computers. I am glad to unite you for my rally."

Bontly, standing among the crowd, couldn't help but whisper to Shinku. "Who is that?"

"Shh," Shinku whispered back. "It’s the candidate running against Vitron. Gemu Saicho." squinting as he looked up. “He’s human.”

Bontly nodded, his curiosity piqued. He wasn’t sure what to make of this rally, but the energy was undeniable. Gemu Saicho continued, his voice commanding as it cut through the noise of the crowd.

"Today, we are gathered as humans," Gemu began, "to discuss the struggles that we face in today’s society and economy. And for computers, you are here to digest this information and consider a new president—one who has the best interest in unification, not inequality."

There was a slight pause as Gemu took a breath, and the crowd leaned in closer. "You may have questioned my choice of location for today’s speech, being so close to the putrid scrapyard," he continued. "But for that, I will explain near the end."

Bontly, still processing the scale of the event, whispered to Tackle, "I’ve never seen this many humans before!"

"Shut up," Tackle muttered in response, her gaze focused intently on the man at the podium.

Gemu’s voice rose, the intensity in his words captured the crowd. "I’ll be the first to say something that is widely unpopular in our current world: Vitron is an evil entity. He speaks as if he cares about his position as president, acting as if he wants to help all. But our current president has a sinister plan that he’s been enacting over the course of his presidency. And I will stop at nothing to expose it to all four districts."

The crowd murmured in agreement, some nodding, others shaking their heads in disbelief. Shinku, Tackle, and Bontly all shifted uneasily. Awaiting what they would hear next. Johe smoked a nitrogen cigarette, as uninterested as ever.

And all at the same time. The crowd ruptured with energy, an organic kind that could only be built up for a momentous event.