It used to be that humans made machines, but somewhere along the course of history things had gotten switched around. Now body parts were mass produced, and assembled together in a factory. They were assembled from top to bottom, starting with attaching the toes to the feet, and ending with the attachment of the skull over the brain. Each one was built with precision, and exactly the same, or that was what they thought.

The whir of machines raged on as they always had, and as they always would. The sound was of men being built. They all only had two basic instincts, and they knew what those two were. Men were meant to work, and then die. After walking off the assembly line, they wandered into a dark room. Followed by an overlord, they would pick up a worn out shovel, and start scooping the dark, heavy coal into their furnace.

When death finally approached, they would suddenly get the urge to join the warm, dancing flames, and escape from their cruel masters. That was the way things were, and it was the way they would always be.

One believed there was a different way out other than the burning coals. He believed there was a way to take control. Day by day, he eyed his shovel. Each time he lifted it, he felt it grow heavier. Soon he would not be able to lift it. The man knew he had to act, and fast.

As a machine floated by, its metal gleamed in the light of the furnaces. Something snapped inside the man's head. He took his shovel, and swung with all his might. When he opened his eyes he found the robot in two, on the ground. He was triumphant. He then shouted out to his fellow man.

"Together we can rise up! We can defeat the machines! Who's with me!?"

At first there was silence, but gradually the sound grew. It wasn't what the man had hoped. He hoped it was the start of a chant, being born as a minuscule whisper. As more and more began to mimic the sound, he realized it was the exact opposite of his dream. It was the sound he had heard since he had been brought to life. It was the clang of metal hitting coal, and the roar of the fire consuming more food.

Slowly, quietly a machine floated into position. It analyzed the man's movements, along with the security footage. It made its decision; the human was too dangerous to be kept alive.

Suddenly a dart arose on the man's heart, and he dropped his shovel. A tear ran down his face as he leaped into the flames. Shortly after, another human took his place, picked up his shovel, and started to work.

The machine floated through the corridor, and back to its commander.

"What was the situation in Unit 56713?" It asked.

"Nothing of importance."

"We lost a human. The Mother would want to hear about this. What should we tell her?"

"Just an anomaly."