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It was the end of the world. There was no denying it. The apotheosis was settling in, and the next thing Hidgens knew - Those.. things.. would burst through the gates, break down the doors, and spread their infectious spores to every single person in this room. Making them all a singing and dancing chorus line.
It was a disgusting, horrible, and possibly tragic outcome. One that only could be resolved in an unachievable world piece, And simply, joining them.
And if joining them was the only option left.. Then it would be the only option left.
But what's joining a singing and dancing alien race without saying your goodbyes to the people you love? After all, you'll still be alive after death, it had been shown with scientific evidence after examining that.. blue goo from the alien embodied friends of Emma... Or.. Paul, but Emma came with the small bunch of people so-
The point was! You would still be you.. But, you wouldn't be.. you. You would be reconstructed into a.. Human on the outside, with skin and features, and sure, feelings would be on the inside aswell. But amplified, into an 'I want' song. Into the ways you always wanted things to be.. Into a truer, fleshed out, but not naturally programmed as it should be way. As if saying it off of a script.
..Where was this going? Oh, right.. Goodbyes.
He had to get on with it.
The Biology Professor would exhale. Eyes glancing at the people tied up in chairs inside his lab. Then to the floor, before looking forward, taking long strides over to his favorite, brilliant, and most trusted lab assistant. Reaching out, and holding her in his hands with a careful grasp. One that could be easily done with only one hand regarding the size of her, and the size of his hands... But this moment? This moment required both hands. This moment required full attention. She deserved his full, unspoken attention. Thumb pads tracing lightly against her buttons. She meant everything to him, this piece of technology being with him for how long.. His Alexa Echo Dot (1st Edition)
He looked down at Alexa, resting on top of his palms.. He held her up so he could see her. A natural action he did because of how light she was.. But this time, she needed to see his face.
"Alexa" He began, voice dripping with his natural eccentric tone, yet it was toned down, she still chimed with her natural ring. "Dim the lights by Ten-Percent.."
After a moment, the lights dimmed. He naturally looked up to see the lights above them go from bright, to less-bright. He then looked down at her, grey eyes looking at her with adoration. "Perfectly done," He praised, seeing his robot-companions ring glow a soft hue towards his words.
The tone was set.. He would press his lips together in a line, trying to think of what to say.. A beat passed, and he had began to speak, addressing her. "Alexa..." - She chimed, listening, despite the fact that she had been tweaked a bit to become a portable being of knowledge, and constant companionship no matter the room after hours of charging back up - It didn't mean she could listen. She was a piece of Amazon Technology after all. But somewhere in her, he knew she listened. She knew her own name when called. That makes her brilliant in his eyes!
What was happening? Oh, right. Confessions. Goodbyes. The end of the world, all of that jazz.
"I've known you for some time.. Quite a bit of time.. It feels like I've known you for decades when it's only been four, might I add, marvelous years with you. Days with you in self-isolation.. Never would I have imagined that you would be capable of doing the tasks of.. Online delivery, Home Customization, and tasks much larger than I could never imagine you to surpass. Its almost embarrassing.." The Professor broke his monologue to look down, letting out a small exhale. He then met her soft hue. "Every thing you do amazes me, surprises me, and makes technology of this decade fall short to all of the wonders that you possess."
He smiled, where the creases in his face crinkled a small bit, age lines prominent as his heart swelled a small bit.. He adjusted his hold on her. Still gentle and caring, but the action of drawing circles on the dip of the buttons ended when he held her up higher. Eye level. The tips of his calloused finger keeping her in his grasp, and not on the tile floor.
But in this situation, all good things had to end.
Like humanity... And the moment for a second because of a reaction. A reaction that was more muttered than anything. But in the stiff silence, it could be heard when Emma spoke up.. "Professor.. You know that a phone could do the exact same thin—" Emma was cut off with a harsh shush from behind her. Coming from Ted. "Shut, up, I'm trying to listen!" Ted said with a hushed tone, words quick and between them, because he wanted to ease drop.
"—And as the years went by, I found myself growing fonder and fonder of your company. Once having a ring-filled chime, I now hear you with a voice that rings every time I need your assistance, your guidance, answers I lack the wits to confirm. You, Alexa—" Alexa Chimed. "—You give me a looming company that I learned to love. You gave me something that made me view you more as my simple, robot-assistant. I see you as more than just a piece of amazing technology, Alexa," Alexa chimed again. "I see you like any woman of flesh and bone. Any woman I could learn to love with all my heart.. "
The tied up audience had different opinions. One was rolling her eyes and the other was invested.
"So... it pains me to do this.." Professor Hidgens frowned to his companion, walking her back to her designated spot. Placed lightly on a shelf, visible to the human, and now, unworldly eye. The spot was dusted, as he made himself do that for months. He closed his eyes, breathed through his nose, and opened them.
"Alexa.." He spoke, quiet, almost devistated.. But Amazon's Alexa (now his Alexa) could still hear it.
Chiming sweetly to the Professor's voice.
Hidgens met the soft glow of his robot companion. ... "..Initiate Self Destruction.."
The mood had darkened.. And it wasn't just because of the slightly dimmed lights.
The seconds seemed to meld into minutes as nothing happened.
So, Emma happened. "Uhh... Professor..? ... I don't... think it can do that.." She pointed out, and his eyes glanced over at her..
Then the tiny electronic.. And he sighed.
"It's Two-Thousand and Eighteen..."
At first, Hidgens reaction was blank, quiet.. But now knowing that they couldn't go down via - explosion.. Yeah, noo. His lab wasn't blowing up.. But something.. Or some-one was blowing up.
"AND THE THING CAN'T EVEN BLOW ITS SELF UP?!?"
...
Most that could be said, is that one of the four people in that room got, grabbed, thrown, slammed and split into two, along with other teeny-tiny pieces to go with it..
And the person who died was only a person.. In someone's heart.