There will be belonging...
"I am sorry I am late."
Fred said, sitting at the bar next to someone else.
"Acknowledged." His date replied. A man dressed in glossy rubber catsuit who only responded to the classification that appeared on his chest: SERVE-302. But he was not a man at all, but a drone, a member of SERVE.
"There was a lot of traffic and..."
"Lies are useless when talking to a drone." 302 interrupted. "Drones can detect changes in the human body that give them away. Statement: This is the third time you have asked for a meeting with a SERVE Drone, and you arrived late every time."
"Well, I..."
"And you set every meeting in a crowed bar, during the most busy hour. Statement: Fred Johnson still has reservations and doubts about joining SERVE, and tries to make meetings in circumstances where he can easily leave. That concern is irrelevant, joining SERVE is voluntary. 302 is not going to take you by force."
"I... yes, you are right... I know that but, still..."
"Statement: This is the last change for you, Fred Johnson, to clarify your doubts and decide whether or not to join SERVE. SERVE will not send any more drones to answer your questions."
"I understand. I... I think I have only a big, big question about it... how... how is it...? how does it feel...?" Fred asked, and he could swear that he saw a brief smile forming on 302's serious expression.
"Query acknowledged. ... ... Being SERVE is not something that can be expressed in human terms. Humans lack the right words. But this is as close as it can be described by this drone:"
Fred swallowed hard. "Where there is now doubts, there will be resolution. Where there is stagnation, there will be assurance. Where there is fear, there will be safety. Where there is confusion, there will be clarity. Where there is pain, there will be pleasure. Where there is loneliness, there will be belonging.
No more thinking on your own. SERVE will tell you what and how to think."
"I... that's... wow..." Fred was speechless, and aroused.
"Obedience is pleasure. Pleasure is obedience." 302 said, proclaiming one of the SERVE mantras. "We are One."
After some seconds, the drone continued.
"Query: Will you be one with SERVE?"
...
An hour later, the drone who used to be called Fred emerged from the room where it had been freed of all impurity before wearing its SERVE outfit for the first time, after 302 escorted him to the nearest SERVE processing center.
Fred, now known simply by the classification SERVE ON-TRIAL, had taken the first step towards the rest of his life, as a SERVE drone.
302 was waiting out of the chamber.
"We are one." The both said at the exact same time.

















