With the windows down and cruising at a comfortable 70 miles an hour, Mel was sailing down the highway to his next ride. His radio crackled, “They ate my dog! They ate my dog! Is anyone listening? They ate my dog!”
Mel’s navigation display traced the transmission and he floored the pedal. Slick hair and slicker shades, he looked the part and played the role. Chauffeur, street cleaner, a representation of good class. He flicked on his microphone to pleasantly say, “Three minutes.”
The radio replied ,” Sure. Take your time while they gnaw my pets to pieces. Don’t expect a tip if they’re all dead.”
Upon arriving to the bloody scene, Mel stepped out of his Town Car and detached his fire axe from the side of the Town Car. There were only the scattered remains of what seemed like domesticated animals in a circle around a pile of scrap. “My pets! Ohhh… my precious pets. My entire zoo, ruined. Just ruined. You sure took your time getting here.” Hummed the piled of scrap.
Mel laughed and relaxed. “A zoo. What are you, anyways?”
“I’m just a guy. A cybernetic guy. Not even a guy, actually. Just a computer chip with sound output. Just one of the guys!” Crackled the pile of scrap.
“Ohh… shit. Computers can be crazy too, eh?” Said Mel.
“Not crazy. No, not crazy. Just imaginative. I can’t go anywhere like you can. This is all I have.” Crackled the chip.
“Shut up, Chip.” Mel sorted through the scrap and found the crackling circuit board that was making all the racket and had sent out the transmission. He picked it up and muffled it in his handkerchief and pocketed it and set back to his Town Car, slicking his hair with a black comb as he walked.
Mirage Insight 