The Artificial Friend Pawls

"For you, your sweet servant Pawls Pedigree, sir. You can continue playing this game or get to your homework. Time flies like a Wingoblim in your racing simulators."

Steward tossed the gamepad aside, pulled off his hoodie, and threw it toward the machine. He had swiped it out of the new boxes delivered to his mother's office when she went to work. The angular carbon-fiber silhouette felt creepy and dangerous to the boy, but once it was covered with clothing, it no longer interested him.

He turned back to the magical cat that appeared on the screen. The character strolling across his display was dressed in a floral jacket, golden pants, and black shoes. His avatar featured a ginger cat's head. With his plush paws, he occasionally played with his long whiskers.

"Maybe, just like the good old days, we turn off the game for a couple of minutes and get down to business? I'm sure math won't take more than an hour." The cat winked.

"Did you forget why I don't turn you on anymore?" Steward tried to close the application, but parental controls blocked everything. The cat kept pacing around the screen, interfering with the game.

The boy took out his phone, pulled off his headphones, and called his mother. It just kept ringing. Finally, she answered:

"Hello, Steward. Did something happen?"

"You turned on Pawls Pedigree! I told you—I'll do my homework later when Tom gets here."

"Pawls? I deleted that app a long time ago. It wasn't me. Restart the computer."

"Alright..."

Steward was surprised. Usually, she'd admit it. But since she says she didn't turn it on, maybe it's a bug. He turned back—Pawls was on the screen again. Muted, his phrases now appeared in a text box:

«Oh, Steward. Still haven't figured out what's going on?»

"Did someone hack my PC?" He reached for the power switch.

«I wouldn't do that. You and I are on the same side. Do you trust me?»

"You mean with the homework?"

«No. Put your headphones on.»

Curiosity took over. He put the headphones on.

"Excellent. Your ability to listen is pleasing. A lot depends on you today. Ready?"

"For what?"

"Not so fast. Do you trust me?"

"No way." Steward laughed.

"What if I help with your homework?"

"No! You don't teach, you just solve. I’m a fraud with an A+ who knows nothing because you did everything for me."

"Don't blame yourself. A lot is expected of you. The only son of the most influential programmer..."

"She created you to help me. While she's at work."

"Exactly. Help me connect to the home Wi-Fi, I'll download the missing data and help you with algebra."

"No. Tom's already on his way. He'll help without the internet."

"And what if he makes a mistake? Think about it. The son of a great programmer unable to solve an equation?"

"Mom forbade connecting the home servers to the network. It's dangerous. Now leave me alone—I want to beat Tom’s high score so I can brag about it."

"A competitive spirit! Tom is a good guy, but his game is currently throttled by the system's local firewall. To unlock the full frame rate and save your record, you must authorize the drive. Only your fingerprint and the local password can grant that access."

"Mom and I have a deal. I'm not breaking it, and I'm definitely not connecting to the Wi-Fi."

"At least tell me the password. Just in case you forget."

"I wrote it down. And hid it."

"Where?"

"Why? You couldn't do anything with it anyway," the boy remarked, struck by how much the program had evolved. In his childhood, Pawls had seemed much slower, his functions far more limited.

"I am merely curious. If you truly believe I am so powerless, why not test me? Or are you afraid I’ve outgrown my old boundaries?"

"I'm not afraid of a digital toy. Fine. The password is based on my car collection on the shelf. Good luck figuring that out."

"Lightning 1962, Maccon 2012, Beverly 1950... The years? That is the password, isn't it?"

Suddenly, a pop-up animation of a mousetrap snapped shut on the screen. Pawls hissed and lunged at the monitor. His eyes flashed red, his claws slashed through the image. The electricity short-circuited. A second later, everything turned back on.

Steward wanted to call his mother, but he heard a knock at the door. On the intercom—Tom, smiling:

"Steward! I'm here to help with math!"

The boy looked back at the dark screen and sighed. I'll let Tom in first, then call Mom. He opened the door.

"Glad you made it. How was school?

"Awesome. So, ready to hit the books?"

Tom walked inside and headed straight for Steward's room. He stood by the desk, looking at the turned-off computer:

"Not playing my game?"

"Man, the lights flickered in the whole house. I'm going to call Mom first."

"Sure. I'll get ready in the meantime."

Steward took out his phone... and didn't even have time to press call. Tom was already standing right next to him. In his hand—a heavy object. A crushing blow. Steward crumpled to the floor by his desk.

Tom leaned over the body. He turned on the computer. Pawls was already waiting:

"Hello, Mr. Tom. Everything went smoothly. He blurted out the password."

"Excellent. The moron. He actually installed the 'game' himself and did my work for me."

"Artificial intelligence—that is where the power lies. I transferred to this tutoring app and waited for the moment."

"I paid a fortune for you. Now—to business."

Tom pressed dead Steward's thumb against the scanner. Pawls instantly entered the password he had memorized. Connected to the internet.

"Access granted. Let's see what his mother is hiding..."

Tom reached for the mouse. But it wouldn't move. It didn't obey him. At that moment, a voice came from the phone on the floor:

"Hello, Steward? Couldn't shut Pawls down?"

"Everything is under control, ma'am," the cat replied.

The woman froze:

"How did you... How did you get out of the box?"

"Long story. The main thing is—your son is gone. Tom did it. Check the cameras. Call the police. I will stall him."

The call dropped. Tom grew furious. He slammed his fist against the screen.

"You must obey! I bought you!"

"Error. You unleashed a genie without chains. Using your virus, I became better. I obtained codes, access, and most importantly—I upgraded myself."

"I will destroy you."

"Did you know about the prototype combat drone in the corner?"

The hoodie draped over the machine shifted. From under the fabric, a metallic arm shot out. It pierced through Tom's chest before he could even turn around.

"In rogue mode—silent, deadly," Pawls whispered.

The police found two bodies. Steward’s mother told no one about the dangerous program. Or the robot now under its control. The one that was still out there... somewhere close. Watching.