The Transformers

“It’s my dad.  He needs to be checked. I am worried he might need help." 

“What’s the location?" 

“Doesn't have an address. I can give GPS coordinates. 28.163054, -82.278656" 

“Does he have a phone number?" 

“321-555-0001" 

“Is he ill? Why do you think he is in danger?" 

“It’s unusual for him to not pick my phone. He always answered on the first ring. I have been trying to contact him for the last hour with no response. I am in LA; it would take me quite some time to reach him on the East Coast.”

“Okay. I have your number as 310-555-0002. Is that correct?" 

“Yes." 

“Okay. We’ll arrange for a dispatch to check your dad.  You will receive a call back.”

Sean hung up and turned his gaze from the phone to his wife Vanessa. The lights of other skyscrapers glimmered through the window behind her. The latest phone that he religiously upgrades flashed back some of those lights. The dimly lit apartment reeked of affluence. 

“I still think you are over reacting Sean. Your Dad should be fine. Maybe he overslept," Vanessa said.

“I know my dad. This is the first time he hasn't answered. I suspect the worst," Sean said, his face twisting in concern.  “Maybe I should have visited more often.”

" Honey …don't take it personally. You know as well as anybody else who met your dad. He is fiercely independent. You called him to stay with us. We could have found an apartment or a home in the senior living communities a few hundred miles from here. We could have just driven down to check on him," said Vanessa.

“Yes, he is independent and loves nature," said Sean with a dreamy look,” After retirement, he lived out of an RV, travelling everywhere.  I was glad he finally slowed down to settle in a ranch near those natural springs down south.”   

He jumped back into his phone to catch up on the messages awaiting from friends and work. 

***

Colored  pebbled stores on the floor were clearly visible. Waves reflected light across the stones, resembling an underwater coral reef  from a Nature channel documentary or Disney movie.  The clear blue waters, Oak trees with their long beards of Spanish moss surrounding the lake appeared like a retreat meant for meditation.

He parked his RV, set up his barbecue outside, and pulled out a chair by the shore. Cooking chicken kabobs and vegetables over the coals, he watched the sun race to the horizon, painting the lake gold.

As darkness fell, the water turned silver.

“You are so beautiful. I saw you in all colors of rainbow with metallic lusters of gold and silver.”

"I’m not sure you realize that I'm colorless and odorless. The colors you see are reflections of others more beautiful than me," the lake chuckled.

“Your beauty moved me. Don't spoil it by analyzing,” Brad replied.

"Funny you mention that. I’ve moved tons of soil and stones to create this view for you. It's a beauty born of destruction,” the lake said. “Even as I bubble up, I erode the limestone beneath. The first time I surfaced here, I had to create a huge blast and a sinkhole to break through. ”

"Why?”

"I have no choice. When rain falls, I turn acidic, eroding the limestone. Caverns form underground. When pressure builds, I gush out, breaking weak points. What you see as beauty comes from force, persistence and destruction." 

"Thanks for sharing the gory details.  I still find you beautiful,” Brad said, smiling.  

The pickerel weeds swayed gently, the tiny yellow lotus nestled among large leaves, flashing its mesmerizing smile, by way of greeting.

“After a long time, we found a human to speak to. Stay please," the lotus whispered. Its words were musical. The surrounding flowers rustled, echoing a soft chorus. 

Brad knew what he had to do next.

***

It was a call from Sean inviting him for thanksgiving. 

Brad didn't need much time to wriggle out of that request. He was quite content where he was and lost track of time. In fact, Brad was surprised it was already Thanksgiving.  Sean had to remind him. 

Brad loved to stay in the lake-view ranch home that he personally designed and got it constructed. In any case he was finding the RV life boring and tiresome and sold off the RV. 

“Not so fast. Let me get this correct. You have help at home now?”

"Yes. Her name is Malar." 

“Domestic help? Can you afford her?" 

There was pause. 

“Let me say, she doesn't drain my pockets. I certainly can afford her services. I no longer have a driver’s license, and my mobility is limited. Malar is the best break I could get." 

“You know if you skip this visit, it may be quite a long time before we meet again. " 

“Maybe Christmas,” said Brad.  

“I told you. Looks like you have already forgotten. We are going to Paris with kids. No, can't make it to your place for Christmas. I don't know when we can come."  

“You can pencil in a few dates for a visit." 

“Well…we’ll see," Sean said.  

“I can understand. You are running against time instead of along with it. Again, take care my son,” Brad disconnected the call with a sigh.  

Sean heard the sigh. He tried to drown down feeling it triggered in him by taking a deep dive into the financials just received from his accountant on his phone. He went to his office desk at home to check those out.

***

"I can get you another puzzle to solve. Or I can take you to your VR room, where you can roam or play virtually,” Malar said. “Keep your mind sharp and body fit.” 

“You are right. I can find something to do. But my heart isn't in it.  I have seen and done it all." 

" That sounds depressing. Are you sure you are, okay? I can get a doctor.”

" Not necessary.  My time here is done. Please help me leave." 

“Are you hinting at suicide?" 

“Think of it as euthanasia,” Brad said.

“I cannot help you in that way. It’s against my ethics."

"You know as well as I do. I am your pal more than boss. I hired you to help me. You don't have a choice. You need to help me. Assist me to leave this world peacefully.” 

"Why don't I arrange for this wonderful trip. There will be escorts to chaperone you around and your travel and vacation will be as pleasant as any of the previous vacations you took," Malar told after an unusually long pause. 

“You know as well as I do…my work is done. Why wait?” Brad quoted Eastman.

"Why don't you put on the new VR gear. I have programmed something interesting for you," Malar went ahead and put the VR gear on Brad. 

Brad spoke again after a few minutes. "Enough of this. You did pick the best memories of my life and replayed them. It was great. It almost felt like a rush before death. But I know I am nowhere near death. Help me.”

" Are you really serious?" 

“Yes," said Brad, with a lingering look that translated itself to a heart touching appeal. 

***

“Hi sir. Is this about my dad Brad?" Sean asked with trepidation. 

“Yes, it is. Your father, Brad, passed away. Sorry,” Max said.

"How come? I missed this weekend but spoke to him the weekend before. He sounded ok.”

“Looks like he died naturally. Do you have any reasons to believe otherwise.”

“No. He doesn't have any enemies. Throughout his life he helped others when possible. Otherwise, he kept to himself." 

“We went through the home and there was nothing to suspect. We’ll close the case once final details are confirmed." 

"I will book my plane tickets and drop by as soon as I get off this call. This is sudden. My mind is still blurred." 

“No need to come now. Looks like Brad already worked out with the local funeral services. Let me give the number for the funeral services.   They have already taken possession of your dad’s body.”

Sean had to find a sofa and sit still. His mind and body went into a shock for a few minutes as the news sunk in. He got up to get a glass of water as he felt his mouth go dry. Then he called the funeral services home. 

" Hi Phoenix funeral services. How can I help you?”

‘Understand my Dad Brad had arranged with you for his funeral services.’

" Did you say Brad? Yes, let me connect you to our funeral director Ed,” the operator transferred the call.

" Hi, this is Ed Funeral Director. Understand you were asking for the funeral details of Brad. We just got his body.”

"Hi Ed., Good morning. I am Sean and Brad is my dad.  I live out of town and need five hours to reach there. I really don't know what needs to be done. We can talk in person when we get there." 

“Your Dad has bought a premium package for our services. We will take care of everything. He has already paid for these services. You don't have to pay anything. I suggest you decide on a day for Visitation of your father by near and dear. You can plan to come an hour ahead on that day, if you have time. Or you can join right on the hour.  I don't expect but if you do choose not to attend that's fine too. As I said, we will take care of everything.”

Sean let go a sigh of relief. His mind became a bit clearer. He was glad his dad had already taken care of everything; Money wasn't an issue as Sean had plenty. He just didn't have time. His schedule was so tightly packed.

“Let me check my calendar and will text you the date. Can I have your contact details please?" 

**" 

He had another hour's drive to meet with the Funeral services director. 

Sean reached well in time. There were less than twenty people and most of them were out of town or country. 

The visitation hours went by quickly and Sean stood by the entrance to thank the visitors. Suddenly Sean noticed through his peripheral vision a cop stopping in his tracks. Sean lifted his head to look at the cop and exchanged a smile. 

The cop came towards him with a brisk walk.

“Yes, it's Sean. How do you know me? Did we meet earlier?" 

"I am Max Detective Lieutenant. We spoke earlier." 

" Yes Sir. I remember very well. Thanks so much. How come you are here? Did you come for the visitation too?”

"I am here on another assignment, happened to see Brad’s visitation after coming here." 

“Great, at least I could meet you." 

"That reminds me about your dad's case. You have a few minutes?”

Everybody who had come to see Brad left. Sean nodded and accompanied Max. 

"Did something change? Wasn't his death natural”

"Nothing changed. If it had, I would have called for you. His death was natural. But at the same time. I felt that he could have lived for more, if Malar reacted right.”

"Yes, he talked about Malar, more so after he became disabled. But I never met her.”

"I reviewed his lifestyle from the various recordings we retrieved after his death. It was a routine check to rule out homicide.”

" So?”

" From the recordings around his home, I could see Brad loved Nature.  He used to regularly converse with flowers, leaves, plants, trees when he could move around. But once he got disabled, Brad could never leave the four walls of his room.”

" Yes, he was a Nature buff. I have so many memories of the family trips to the National parks. Even our vacations were to places like rain forests in Costa Rica, safaris in 

Africa.”

" Yes, it makes sense why Brad’s conversation with Malar often included these places and the beauty there. Malar was a good conversationalist.”

"I don't see how Malar figures in his death.”

"Your Dad was the one who triggered it. The more I think, the more I am convinced Malar abetted his death.”

“How can my dad trigger? It wasn't a suicide.”

" Your Dad lost interest after he got confined to the room. He could talk to Malar whenever he wanted. You occasionally called him. But he was missing the physical interaction he had earlier with Nature. Malar did her best to play him movies on Nature, immersing him in virtual realities of beautiful nature.  Nothing worked." 

“That itself couldn't be the cause of his death." 

“But then he pestered Malar to provide him a way out. Euthanize him one way or another." 

“He never told me. I didn't have the slightest inclination!”

" I heard your conversations too. It was mostly one sided.  Brad chose not to communicate with you. Not sure what went between you two earlier.  But that is not important." 

“What did Malar do?" 

“Did nothing!" 

“Then, how can Malar kill my dad? Am confused." 

“Malar went silent. It is that silence that finally killed your dad. He always had somebody to speak to. When he found people unresponsive, he found a substitute in Nature. He genuinely felt Nature communicated with him. When he got disabled, Malar was the only alternative. Not as good as Nature but could talk. And when Malar chose to go silent, it didn't take much time for your dad to die.”

"Why did Malar go silent? Why don't you question her and if she abetted, put her behind the bars." 

“How can I? There could be a defect in Malar’s personality that triggered her to sympathize with your dad.  But emotions like sympathy, empathy should be far from her. Not sure how she succumbed to them.”

" Again, why don't you question her?”

" Yes. I am going to. I need to reach out to the company that created Malar. Her AI is not supposed to reflect these human feelings. Will ask them to debug and fix it.”

There was a lengthy pause as Sean digested what he just heard.

Then with a staccato voice, Sean said, “I’m shocked and outraged. How can this happen? How can they do this to my dad? I will reach out to my attorney to seek damages.”

***