By: Michelle Balogh.

“Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. We’ve reached our cruising altitude of 35,000 feet and expect clear skies and a smooth flight. Sit back, relax, and thank you for joining us on flight 238.”

The seatbelt sign flashed off with a soft bing.

A robot clicked out of its seatbelt and stood. It stumbled, then popped, sizzled, and powered down with a whoosh, crashing to the floor.

A flight attendant hurried over and ran her hand over the robot’s body, checking for life.

She looked up, yelling in a panicked voice, “Is there a tech bro on board?!”

© 2026. Michelle Balogh

Michelle Balogh’s fiction work has been published in or is forthcoming with Santa Fe Writers Project, Tales From the Crosstimbers, Cosmic Double, Root Smoke, and others. Michelle is also a regular contributor of nonfiction to the ABQ Mom website. You can connect with her on Instagram @michellebaloghauthor.