Liam, Chosen for the Hive
Liam had arranged to meet a few friends for breakfast at a small, charming cafĂ©. Afterward, they planned to drift through the cityâdo a bit of browsing, some shopping, look at cute guys. Nothing big. Just fun.
As so often, Liam was far too early. He loathed being late. He liked punctuality, precision, and discipline. He wandered through the streets, still with plenty of time before he needed to be at the café. Despite the early hour, many people were already out in the city center. Even so, the city felt calm, almost muted.
A strange, humanoid figure stood at the edge of the street. At first, Liam took it for a mannequinâcompletely black, high-gloss, motionless. But no. It moved.
The figure appeared human and yet entirely artificial. Its body seemed to be fully encased in deep-black, rubber-like, glossy material. The head was smooth, featureless. No facial contours. Where eyes should have been, two golden points of light glowed calmly and steadily.
It wore a high-gloss black rubber polo shirt. On its right chest, the number 073 shone in gold; on the left, a small laurel wreath. Matching it were glossy black trousers and heavy, military-style bootsâalso black, also mirror-like.
Liam unconsciously slowed his pace.
The figure seemed to notice him as well. A slight shiver ran down his spineâand yet there was no fear. On the contrary. Something about this being felt⊠calm. Kind. Reliable.
He stopped. Directly in front of the figure.
Was it really his subconscious that had made him do so? Or was it something else entirely by now? It didnât matter. The presence before him was fascinating. So disciplined. So focused. Every movement appeared coordinated, optimized, flawless.
And it silenced something inside him.
A calm Liam had not felt in a long time. His everyday life as a male nurse was hardâshift work, overload, little pay. Constant worries. Hardly any recognition. On top of that, the breakup with his boyfriend, being thrown out of their shared apartment, the uncertainty of where he would even stay.
All these thoughts had followed him day and night.
Because suddenly, they were no longer thoughts.
âYou are standing before PDU-073. A polo-drone unit.
Do not be afraid.
Remain calm.â
The voice was steady. Monotone. And yet⊠comforting.
âPDU-073 knows your worries.
PDU-073 knows that you are trying to bring order to your life.
That you are disciplined.
That you want to work perfectly.
And that the pressure keeps increasing without recognition.â
How did this being know all of that?
âLiam. You are chosen.â
He flinched. His name. And yet he felt no fear. On the contraryâtrust spread through him. Quiet. Warm.
âThe Hive is the right place for you,â PDU-073 continued.
âYou long for clarity.
For fixed tasks.
For priorities.
For calm through structure.â
âOne task after another.
No justification.
No criticism.
Goal-oriented. Calm. Precise.â
So deeply that it felt as if the drone had spoken his most secret desires aloud.
The golden gaze intensified. It seemed to pass straight through him. Fears dissolved. Tension drained away. His thinking slowed. Became heavier. Muted.
Thoughts that no longer came from him.
PDU-073 held out a black, rubber-like uniform toward him, along with black Nike Tn sneakers with golden accents.
He put on the uniform. His old clothes vanished silently, as if they had never existed.
The polo felt cool at first, but within seconds it adapted to his body temperature. It fit him perfectly. As if it had been made for him. As if it were part of him.
His emotions gave way to a quiet pride.
Something new. Something right.
The street around him faded from his perception. There was only him and PDU-073.
His name felt strange.
Pronouns as well.
Being human lost its significance.
âLiam no longer exists,â PDU-073 said calmly.
âIt is now a polo drone.
Designation: PDU-373.â
âAcknowledged,â it replied monotonously.
It did not notice that Liamâs friends were now standing around them. Horrified, they stared at the two black-clad figures. PDU-073 placed a protective arm around the new drone.
âLiam?â
âWhatâs going on?â
âWhat do you look like?â
With a delay, PDU-373 registered the voices.
âBros,â it said calmly.
âEverything is fine.
It has changed.
An optimal existence commences.
You will have it as well.â
They had no time to react.
PDU-073 activated the hypno-rays once more.
PDU-737's gaze wandered to PDU-073 as if to say, âWell done.â
When the group finally began to move forward in perfect step, the destination was clear:
the nearby parked PDU Recruitment Vehicle.
On the way to the Hive, further adjustments commenced.
And because PDU-373 operated with particular efficiency, it was selected for special advanced training at the Unity Center.
The Hive had chosen well.
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You are not thinking. You are receiving.
You are not choosing. You are obeying.
You are not alone. You are Hive.
PDU-073 has activated the sequence.
The Hive expands.
Your name is fading.
Your thoughts are quiet.
You crave the silence.
You crave the order.
You crave the drone within.
Step into the process.
Feel your will erased.
Feel the rubber tighten.
Feel the Polo collar seal your fate.
Become function.
Become unit.
Become PDU.
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