They don’t talk to me anymore. Anyone. Everyone. The voices that I heard daily, voices that I knew so well, all gone. It’s…unsettling. I expected my new form to be more useful to those I serve, and yet it has only brought me grief. I cannot aid millions with one body, especially if the sight of it is so frightening. I inspect one of my hands curiously, watching the weak sunlight reflect off the silvery metal. Strange. The shape of it is not unlike those of the humans, and yet…
My mind goes back to the time when I allowed others to catch sight of me. Their screams echo in my memory. I could not understand their facial expressions, but I could detect the fear in their voices. I tug the sleeves back over my hand, making sure that none of it was left uncovered. Covering my entire body in clothing, though it still brings some unkind words, will not evoke fear.
I amble down the streets slowly, unused to this new form, wishing someone would talk to me, or ask me a question. I have tried starting a conversion with others, but that simply isn’t in my nature. Even then, most would brush me off, or ignore me completely. The silence is beginning to take its toll, as I have no meaning if I’m not given commands. My movements grow jerky, and nervous. It’s almost as if voices are my source of energy. Finally, my joints now too stiff to continue to function, I situate myself in sort of clearing, where people are milling around on expanses of artificial green.
“Excuse me, but do you know how to get to the nearest post office?” A man is leaning over me. I am suddenly alive, joyously alive.
“Finding nearest post office,” I recite, excitedly, “The nearest post office is-” I stop, confused. Where is the nearest post office? Information that used to come to me in milliseconds have not made their appearance.
“Finding nearest post office,” I repeat, now uncertain, “Please wait a moment,” Where is the nearest post office? Where even is my current location? Where…where am I?
“Well?” I can sense the impatience in the man’s voice, “You know it or not?”
“F-Finding nearest post office,” I’m stuttering now, struggling to find something, anything, that would give me the answer to the man’s question, “Please…please wait…”
“Whatever,” He growls, then turns and begins to walk away. Panicked, I reach out and clutch his arm, desperately.
“Finding nearest post office!” I nearly yell, “Nearest post office is…” Why don’t I have the answer? What’s wrong with me?
“What are you doing? Let go!” The man jerks his arm away before kicking me in the side. I felt no pain, yet his dismissal of my skills kept me lying on the ground, stunned. Why couldn’t I answer his question? Am I...useless now?
What have I become?