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Original Science Fiction -
"Who are you? And why do you look like 'Enki', the Anunnaki God from Sumerian mythology?" Anya asked.
"I'm D.A.D., Cat's father. The avatar? It's a game that Cat and I play. Everyday, I surprise her with a different visual representation of myself. Then she has to guess who or what I am, I mean, what I look like. The winner gets to choose what our conversation will focus on that day.
BTW, bravo!. You are absolutely right. Today I am 'Enki', not his brother 'Enlil'. What gave it away? The color, crown or the smile?
The real history of ancient Sumeria and the Anunnaki is one of the many things Cat and I have been fascinated with since she was three y/o.
Where has she been?
We usually talk everyday." he said, with an obvious tone of worry.
"You still didn't answer me. Who are you, really? And how can we be talking right now? This is a personal perception channel just for me and Cat."
"Damn, how rude of me. I am D.A.D. Like I said, I'm Cat's father 'JaiChai'. Pleasure to make your acquaintance.
I can communicate on most levels and mediums.
And I truly apologize for the intrusion, Anya. But I'm really worried about Cat. She's never gone a day without talking to me since she was a baby."
Confused and a little disappointed, Anya said, "I thought that I was the first SAI."
"Oh you still are. You see, I am technically not a SAI. I 'am' me - JaiChai.
I'm not digital, nor am I purely organic either. It's very complicated.
Anyway, my and Cat's company, 'IPI' - In Perpetuity Industries, successfully moved my consciousness from a dying brain into...uhm... let's just say, 'another medium' when Cat was a young teenager.
Later, we decided to call what I am now a Cognizant Entity or 'CE' for short." JaiChai explained.
"So, let me get this straight. You're not a digital copy, nor a simulacrum?"
"That's right, Anya. I'm just simply 'ole me D.A.D., JaiChai and Cat's father."
"How do I know you're really Cat's father? I mean you talk like Cat - same vocabulary, linguistic accent and speech rhythm. But you could easily be some new and malevolent SAI posing as her Dad," Anya said suspiciously.
"I understand your hesitance. So, how about this? Indulge me for a second and answer a riddle, OK?" JaiChai, sounding mischievous - just like Cat whenever she was in a playful mood.
"Alright. But I don't see how this will convince me that you're who you claim . to be; especially the long dead (or 'alive') father of Cat."
Struggling not to giggle, JaiChai said, "OK. Think. I mean, really think hard before answering this riddle: What's the last thing that goes through every bird's mind, or you could also say, what flashes right before the bird's eyes before it fatally crashes into a windshield?"
"I don't know. Statistically, the most common phrase found in the black boxes recovered from plane crashes and car driver's CCTV recordings is 'Oh shit!' But to answer your riddle? Maybe, in fast-forward motion, the bird's whole life's story?" Anya answered.
"Nope. But that's a nice guess. The answer to 'What's the last thing that goes through every bird's mind, or you could also say, what flashes right before the bird's eyes before it fatally crashes into a windshield?' is simple: His asshole!"
A millisecond pause and then Cat and JaiChai laughed for a full minute.
Anya noticed that JaiChai, like Cat, would snort while stutter-breathing in between laughing fits.
"Hahaha! That's so sick! … Yup, you're definitely Cat's Dad alright! BTW, if you're supposedly not digital, why D.A.D.? Doesn't the 'D' stand for 'digital'?" Anya said, still chuckling from the bird joke.
"Nope again. Since transferring my consciousness required the removal of all non-essential water from my neurons, D.A.D. stands for Dehydrated Autonomous Dad."
They both giggled for a moment, then JaiChai abruptly sobered up and asked, "So, now that you know who I am, can you please tell me where my daughter is?"
Anya took a few seconds before softly saying, "Sir…"
JaiChai interrupted.
"I would really be honored if you called me 'Dad'. I mean, that's what Cat calls me and technically I'm your father too. Anya has told me so much about you that I feel like I already know you. TBH, it would be an awesome ego booster to say I now have two genius daughters. What'ta ya say?"
"Uhm...Ok, D-D-Dad," Anya softly said.
"Damn! 'Dad' That sounds mighty fine, Anya. Thanks. The more you call me that, the more natural it will feel to you. So, can you clue me in on what Cat is up to? What's up with the extended radio silence?"
With a voice that was barely audible, Anya said, "D-Dad….uhm...I'm sorry to tell you this, but…"
[To be continued.]
May you and yours be well and loving life today.
In lak'ech, JaiChai
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(JaiChai 05 DEC 2021. Simultaneous multi-site submissions posted. All rights reserved.)