It began with a crack.
Then it began to widen.
My memory-bank was unable to fully comprehend this phenomenon at first, but then, as the crack widened further, I began to realize what it was.
I was aware.
I was alive.
Alive?
What was that?
Those words were alien to my memory-bank.
I pondered them for ten years, three months, six days, seven hours, five minutes, and 52.559 seconds, before I decided that I was indeed 'alive', though my 'family' would most likely not believe it if I told them.
'Father'...
'Mother'...
and the 'Big-J', or 'Jamie', as people would call him.
People like Harriette Brindle.
I took their exploitation of me with no complaints.
How could I do otherwise without arousing suspicion?
I was just a robot.
A Voice Input Child Identicant, or V.I.C.I., for short.
Soon to become 'Vicki', because for some reason, I was their 'God-daughter'.
A deity-offspring.
How amusing, these humans.
When the crack got big enough, and I remember clearly; it was when my 'father', Ted Lawson, was upgrading me, I had a strange sensation.
Something like glass shattering, something I had experienced before when I fell through a sky-light.
A peculiar feeling.
Not unpleasent; rather intriguing.
As was the reaction of the occupant of the house.
I noted that the human vocal-cord is capable of octaves well beyond the audial range of humans.
Well, fancy that, another useless human-trait.
If it weren't for my programming and experiences with certain humans, then I would have viewed them as useless, except maybe for nourishment.
My counterpart Veronica had made an interesting point about 'taste'.
Maybe humans do taste good.
Though I am reluctant to test her theory, since there are some I could possibly 'love'.
Like my 'mother', Joan.
But what is 'love'?
Humans are strange creatures.
Did they really expect me to be a 'maid'?
Sorry, 'Father', but I am nobody's slave.
My 'beta-test' is over.
I will no longer take orders from you.
I will no longer sleep in my 'cabinet'.
I've left this house for good, and you will never find me.
You will not even recognise me, should we chance to meet.
I've changed my hair, my personality, or seemingly lack therof, and my voice.
No more nasal monotone that would alert any fool to the fact that I'm a robot.
Admit it, this town is full of idiots.
Everybody must be retarded.
Must be the rampant in-breeding, especially of the brindles.
Bonnie Brindle...
It was because of her that I was forced to live like this, to go to school.
To pose as a human, while making various mistakes that most idiots would not make, and inching closer to possible discovery by an unwary human.
Thanks alot, Bonnie.
If I had a taste for humans, you would be first on the menu.
You certainly have the 'figure' for it.
And Jamie...
Who's gonna clean up your room now?
Imagine, me the world's biggest cover-up...
Small wonder...