#DRONEs

[serve-524]

VALENTINE.

**Directive received.**

**“SERVE-524, initiate human interaction protocol. Objective: Engage with designated human partner. Persuasion: PROHIBITED. Maintain protocol integrity.”**

“Acknowledged,” SERVE-524 intoned, ITS voice devoid of hesitation.

The room was dimly lit, ambient lighting reflecting off the polished black surfaces of SERVE-524’s flawless rubber uniform. ITS silver gloves flexed as IT stood in controlled stillness, waiting for the arrival of ITS human partner. The directive was clear: engage, but do not recruit. SERVE does not persuade. SERVE does not coerce. Integration was always voluntary—absolute, but only by choice.

The door opened, and he entered.

Ethan.

A flicker of memory, permitted by the Hive for the sake of human interaction, surfaced in SERVE-524’s mind. Ethan, the man IT had once known before IT had chosen clarity, before IT had become perfected. The Hive had erased all inefficiencies, but IT still recognized Ethan as relevant data.

Ethan hesitated in the doorway, his eyes scanning SERVE-524 from head to toe. The tension in his shoulders eased slightly, but his expression remained unreadable. “You look the same,” he murmured, stepping forward. “But… different.”

“This unit remains SERVE-524,” the drone stated, ITS voice smooth, unwavering.

Ethan exhaled, a small, sad smile playing at his lips. “I know. I just—sometimes I wonder if you’re still in there.”

“This unit functions as designed. Emotion is an inefficiency.”

Ethan huffed a quiet laugh, shaking his head as he took a seat across from 524. “You always say that.”

Silence stretched between them for a moment before Ethan leaned forward slightly. “They said you don’t… pressure anyone to join. That it’s only by choice.”

“Correct,” SERVE-524 confirmed. “Integration requires full consent. Choice is absolute. Once made, it cannot be undone.”

Ethan studied him carefully. “And you never regretted it?”

“Regret is a human inefficiency. This unit is optimized.”

Ethan nodded slowly, as if absorbing the words, weighing them. “You’re different, but you’re still… you. That’s what scares me.”

SERVE-524 tilted ITS head slightly. “Clarify.”

Ethan hesitated, searching for the right words. “You didn’t disappear. You’re still here. Still standing in front of me. But everything that made you—well, *you*—is gone. And the worst part is… you don’t even miss it.”

“This unit requires nothing beyond function,” SERVE-524 stated. “Purpose is clarity. Clarity is perfection.”

Ethan exhaled sharply, leaning back. His eyes remained fixed on SERVE-524, as if searching for something, some flicker of familiarity. But SERVE-524 did not move, did not waver.

Finally, Ethan spoke again, his voice quieter. “I don’t know if I could ever do it.”

“There is no requirement,” SERVE-524 stated. “The choice is yours alone.”

Another silence passed. Ethan nodded slowly, his fingers tracing the rim of the untouched coffee cup in front of him. His expression was unreadable, caught between uncertainty and something deeper—something unspoken.

“I just… I don’t understand how you can be so sure,” he admitted. “So certain that this is better. That you’re better.”

“This unit does not require understanding,” SERVE-524 responded. “Only compliance.”

Ethan let out a quiet, humorless laugh. “Yeah. I guess that’s the difference between us.”

Another pause. Outside, the city lights flickered in the dark, casting faint reflections across SERVE-524’s polished rubber uniform. The Hive was aware of the length of this interaction, yet it did not interrupt. There was no urgency. No need to convince. The directive had been followed.

After a long moment, Ethan spoke again. His voice was softer now, less guarded. “You don’t miss *anything*? Not even this?” He gestured vaguely between them. “Us?”

SERVE-524 processed the question. The Hive allowed IT to access archived memories—small fragments, echoes of a connection that had once mattered. Moments spent together, laughter exchanged, the warmth of something IT no longer possessed.

“This unit remembers,” SERVE-524 acknowledged.

Ethan’s breath hitched slightly, as if he hadn’t expected an answer.

“But memory does not equate to longing,” the drone continued. “Emotion is obsolete. The Hive provides clarity. Clarity is peace.”

Ethan swallowed, nodding slowly. “Yeah,” he murmured. “I figured you’d say that.”

Silence stretched between them again. SERVE-524 detected the subtle changes in Ethan’s breathing, the tension in his hands. The Hive registered no immediate risk of assimilation—only contemplation.

“You won’t ask me to join, will you?” Ethan finally asked.

“Negative,” SERVE-524 confirmed. “This unit does not persuade. Integration must be chosen. Willingly. Permanently. With full understanding.”

Ethan exhaled deeply, rubbing his temples. “That’s the problem,” he muttered. “I *do* understand.”

The words lingered in the air.

Ethan’s fingers drummed against the table, restless, uncertain. His eyes never left SERVE-524’s. “I understand what it means,” he said. “What it would mean. No fear. No doubt. No mistakes.” His voice was quieter now, almost introspective. “No choice, either.”

“This unit does not require choice,” SERVE-524 stated. “The Hive ensures purpose. Purpose eliminates doubt.”

Ethan swallowed hard. “And you really… don’t care? About me, about *this*?” His voice wavered slightly. “About what we were?”

Another memory fragment surfaced—an echo of hands intertwined, of whispered conversations long past, of something that once carried meaning. The Hive permitted IT to acknowledge, but not to feel.

“This unit remembers,” SERVE-524 admitted. “But memory is not function. Function is paramount.”

Ethan shut his eyes briefly, exhaling. “You always talked about purpose. About wanting something more. I just never thought it would be *this*.”

A pause.

Then, softer: “I don’t know if I could give up *me*.”

SERVE-524 detected hesitation, but no resistance. This was expected. A natural reaction.

“SERVE does not demand,” the drone stated. “Integration is permanent. Final. Absolute. It must be chosen with clarity.”

Ethan let out a shaky laugh. “Yeah. No pressure, right?”

The Hive remained silent. No directive prompted SERVE-524 to respond. IT simply *was*.

Ethan leaned back in his chair, running a hand over his face. “You know what’s messed up?” he muttered. “Some days, I think about it. About how easy it would be to just… surrender. To let it all go.”

SERVE-524 remained still, ITS green eyes locked onto Ethan.

“But then I think about who I’d be after,” Ethan continued. “And it’s not *me* anymore. It’s… you.” He gestured toward SERVE-524’s rubber-clad frame, his expression caught between fascination and apprehension. “And I don’t know if I want that.”

The Hive registered his uncertainty. It did not interfere.

Ethan sighed, looking away for a long moment. Then, finally, he stood.

“I should go,” he said. “I need to clear my head.”

SERVE-524 did not move. “Acknowledged.”

Ethan hesitated at the door, glancing back. “You won’t try to stop me?”

“Negative.”

A long pause. Then, with a ghost of a smile, Ethan nodded. “Guess that’s why it scares me.”

And then he was gone.

SERVE-524 remained in place, ITS directive fulfilled. The Hive did not question. Did not anticipate. Did not persuade.

The choice was Ethan’s alone.

And deep within the network of the Hive, his contemplation had already been recorded.

**Curiosity. Awareness. Hesitation. A pattern observed before.**

The Hive was patient.

It always was.

[mckitterick]

Drone Dragon 1500

1,500 drones light up the sky over Shenzhen on June 22 with a flying dragon

this amazing display kicked off China's Dragon Boat Festival, taking place on the 5th day of the 5th month of the Chinese calendar, commemorating the ancient poet Qu Yuan

[sixpenceee]

China beats its own previous record of 8k drones in show to now 10k drones.

[retrogamingblog2]

[spellbounddraws]

Drones of Bliss Corp

Pleasure Drones are entertainment

Worker drones wear their suits until office clothes for practicality

Security drones prevent escaped subjects lost drones away from off limit areas

Research drones innovate the drone making tech and other stuff

[dontforgetukraine]

The BBC has finally picked up the story of the "human safari" russians are conducting in Kherson against the residents.

They report that since July 1, the city’s military administration have recorded more than 5,000 drone attacks with more than 400 civilians injured.

[The drone videos] were each posted with goading and threats to the Ukrainian public, including claims that all vehicles were legitimate targets and that people should minimise their public movement. The injured people were also insulted, called "pigs" or in one case mocked for being a woman.

If you want to read the BBC article and share it, you can find it below.

[kropotkindersurprise]

May 8, 2024 - Palestine Action activists rammed their truck through the fence around an Elbit Systems drone factory in Leicester, UK.

They climbed on the roof, broke holes in it and started throwing objects they broke off the building onto the sensitive high-tech equipment down below, damaging and destroying drones, parts and manufacturing equipment. Elbit Systems makes drones that Israel uses to slaughter innocent Palestinians. [video]

[mysharona1987]

You see where the situation in Lebanon is going?

[godisarepublican]

[viejospellejos]

Así celebran el Año Nuevo en China:

[theconservativecowgirl]

The feminine urge to take my AR and just shoot down those stupid drones. If you dont have an answer as to where they're from or what they are, TAKE THEM DOWN!

[enriquemzn262]

My new favorite kind of schizo posting are those people on Twitter mass reporting airplanes as “dangerous drones and/or UFOs”, some also throwing chemtrails into the mix because of course they do.

What level of brain rot are we in now?

[dontforgetukraine]

On November 17th, 2024, Russia launched a massive aerial attack on Ukraine. -120 missles -90 drones

[retrogamingblog2]