Animals in a Zoo
'Save the world, you know…the usual.'
The trinity stand side by side in the restaurant, aware that the last two weeks of their human lives have been an illusion.
'Let us go' Hal demands.
Hatch's drones stare idly back at them.
'Let. Us. Go' Hal repeats, emphasizing each word.
Silence…then a female voice speaks.
'I'm sorry, Hatch can't come to the phone right now. Please leave your name and message, and he'll get back to you as soon as he can.'
They turn to face the speaker, a smartly dressed blond drone to Alex's left – her eyes cold and vacant.
Alex walks towards her, waving a hand across her face.
'Excuse me?'
Silence once again, and then…
'I'm sorry, Hatch can't come to the phone right now. Please leave your name and message, and he'll get back to you as soon as he can.'
This time the voice originates from a man to Tom's right.
'This is starting to freak me out' Tom says, bracing himself for whatever may come next.
'I'm sorry, Hatch can't come to the phone right now. Please leave your name and message, and he'll get back to you as soon as he can.'
The pair are both speaking now.
'What's going on? What are they doing?' Alex asks, visibly tensing as she stands closer to Hal.
'I'm sorry, Hatch can't come to the phone right now. Please leave your name and message, and he'll get back to you as soon as he can.'
They repeat the mantra, more of the crowd joining in each time until they are all speaking in perfect unison. Hal scans the people surrounding them, his eyes betraying a fear he attempts to hide.
'Come on, let's get out of here' he finally says, making to leave the restaurant as his two companions follow.
On the way out they pass a waiter, Alex knocking the plates out of his hands in her haste.
'Sorry' she apologizes instinctively.
The waiter looks at her with the same blank expression as the rest of the restaurants patrons.
'I'm sorry, Hatch can't come to the phone right now. Please leave your name and message, and he'll get back to you as soon as he can.'
'This is too fucking weird.'