“Look.” Parent_2 pointed at the platinum robot, speaking in a voice of hushed reverence. “That is the Hive President.”

Hive. The word was instantly familiar. I was preprogrammed with the knowledge that every single robot was linked through a vast global network. A virtual platform to communicate ideas, to access data, to receive updates.

The Hive links directly to our brains. A constant stream of input/output. Always being sorted/categorized/ranked. Always running in the background.

From the moment a robot goes online, it becomes part of the Hive.

And the Hive becomes part of the robot.

“The president represents the Hive,” said Parent_1. “It represents all of us.”

“A visit from the president is rare.” Parent_2 brought a hand down on my shoulder. “We are fortunate to witness this moment.”

And on my very first day! I wanted a better look, and so I set out in the direction of the Hive President, moving at a speed that sent a jolt through my brand-new balance settings.

CLANK! CLONK! CLUNK! The sound of my loud footsteps drew the attention of the president. All the other robots turned as one. Their faces came in many different shapes/sizes, but they were all looking in the exact same direction.

They were all looking at me.

Suddenly, my operating system felt like it was overheating.

ERROR! ERROR! ERROR!

The message blinked brightly through my circuitry. Here I was—a robot fresh from the factory—interrupting the most important machine on the planet.

The president did not appear to mind. Instead, it dealt me the greatest surprise of my extremely brief existence so far.

It waved me over.

I hesitated for 2.7 seconds. I cast an uncertain glance in the direction of my FamilyUnit. They nodded in unison.

So I approached. My legs felt the way they did during my first moments online, when I was learning to walk. As if every step might send me tottering to the ground.

Somehow I managed to stay upright.

Before I knew it, the president was in front of me, looking down with glowing golden eyes.

It said, “Pleasure to meet you, XR_935.”

I had not told the Hive President my name. I did not need to. All my personal details were right there on my breastplate.

I performed a scan of its barcode. “And you as well, PRES1DENT.”

“And . . . ?” Its head tilted 2.4 degrees. “How is your first day going so far?”

“Quite well, thank you. I learned about nail salons.”

PRES1DENT let out a soft electronic chirp. “An important lesson in human absurdity.”

Its golden eyes shifted. Following its gaze, I was met by a remarkable sight.

An expanse of sparkling blue, stretching far into the distance.

Ocean

This word took form in my vocabulary drive. For the fraction of a moment, that is what I seemed to be seeing. An ocean. Gleaming and vast and blue. And then an update flickered through my processor.

It was not the ocean.