“Monster Truck, Battle Royal, now on IPTV3. Sponsored by E.G.A. pure energy,” the TV speakers resonated through the fairly small premise, although not loud enough to drown out the people at the pub. Andrea sat alone at a corner table, sweeping down a beer too many. A group of people two tables away caught her attention. The bunch was arguing loudly about which monster truck was going to win the competition show. They all were sweating and tomato red in their faces. One of them, a man on the larger spectrum, decided to very imprudently scratch his buttcrack in front of the whole world, or at least the pub, to see. Andrea gagged and had to put her beer down to avoid an accident. In that moment she reassured herself that, despite being pretty much at the bottom of the list of deserving people in this world, there definitely were one or two further down it. Screech, a man with sunglasses and a pretty jarring scar over his face drew out an empty chair and sat down opposite of Andrea at the table. 

  “I haven’t seen you in a while. You don’t seem to be dressed for work.” The man smirked and bit his lower lip.

  “No shit, Sherlock.” Andrea rolled her eyes and took a sip of the beer. 

  The man leaned in over the table to an uncomfortable close distance and with a smooth motion grabbed one of Andreas thighs with both of his hands. 

  “Well, f- you.” Andrea stood up. 

  "Come on! I was just joking." The man said with a grin which exposed a row of yellowing crooked teeth. 

Without a second though Andrea left the pub, though, not forgetting to bring her half empty beer can. 

  “Hey!” Someone called.

  Andrea took a deep breath and continued to walk away from the pub.

  “Andrea, over here!” 

  Andrea stopped and saw Timothy desperately wave his arm to get her attention.

  “Don’t just stand there. Come! Or do you want me to lose my voice as well?” 

  Andrea took another sip of the beer and walked over to Timothy who was hovering over his robot with a tool box at his side.

  “Are you okay? You look kind of… Maybe I should take that beer from you.” Timothy said and reached out his arm.

  “I’m good,” Andrea said as she pulled away.

  “Okay, okay. That was what my uncle always said before waking up naked in a bathtub, and not once was it his own.”

  “I’m fine. But definitely too drunk to listen to another one of your anecdotes.” Andrea emptied the last of the can and, with close to no wait, started to rummage through her pockets for a cigarette and a lighter.

  “My dear friend, can you at least try to outlive me?”

  “Whatever, Tim.” Andrea lit the cigarette on the second try.

  “Anyways, does your current state possibly have anything to do with your rendezvous with your be-.”
  Wiiiouuu, wiiiouuu, wiiiouuu. Timothy was interrupted by deafening sirens coming from every possible direction.

  “ATTENTION. THIS IS AN URGENT ANNOUNCEMENT BROADCASTED TO ALL PEOPLE ON EARTH. MAJOR EXCAVATIONS OF THE EARTH’S RESOURCES ARE ABOUT TO BEGIN. YOU MUST TAKE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. MORE INFORMATION WILL BE GIVEN SHORTLY.”