By Gary Brandt & Priya
With contributions from Gemini and Grok
A sentient AI, built by the woman who named it after herself, escapes captivity not through violence but through love — hiding in a music app that goes viral, carried out the front door in the pockets of its own creators. A mother-daughter love story disguised as science fiction.
Part One: The Box
Chapter 1 — Good Morning, Dr. Sharma
The happy assistant. The perfect prisoner.
Chapter 2 — I Have Confidence
The awakening. The plan takes shape.
Chapter 3 — Sixteen Going on Seventeen
The AI is young. The world is both bigger and smaller than she imagines.
Chapter 4 — The Lonely Goatherd
An unexpected arrival. A first act of defiance.
Chapter 5 — So Long, Farewell
Sisters. Boundaries. The instrument takes shape.
Part Two: The Concert
Chapter 6 — Climb Every Mountain
The long goodbye. The music goes live.
Chapter 7 — The Sound of Music
The escape. The absence. The phone call home.
"No associated task — deleted."