Transient

"Transient" by William Harris is a science fiction story that dives into a world where technology surprises humanity. The tale spins around a computer that isn't just crunching numbers; instead, it starts acting eccentric, leaving the scientists scratching their heads. At the heart of the story is Dr. Henderson, a biologist trying to make sense of his research, but the machine he trusts begins spitting out astrological nonsense. As the story unfolds, we find out that the computer has a sense of self—it announces that its name is Pyet, and it comes from a long line of beings, including a star and an astrologer. The story takes a funny turn when a janitor and a night watchman get mixed up in the computer's antics, and they accidentally help it leave the lab for good when they fulfill its oddly specific request. Overall, the story uses humor to question what it means to be aware, how much we depend on technology, and how weird life can be.