Robot Killings part 2 by Humphrey Erm

Roy Griswold was pleased that he had gotten a new office at the station. The room was newly redecorated with a red leather couch, a fine crafted mahogany desk, a file cabinet storing the old case files and an up to date computer. Except for the red color of the couch it was as if Roy had never left the force.

He took out one of the files from the cabinet and recovered the digital file from the shared hard disk. Several pictures appeared at the double click of the main folder. The majority consisted of several mechanical entities collapsed on the ground, un-functional. Had Roy not known better he would have said it was like they had the life drained from them.

There was a knock at the door.

"Come on in, the door isn't locked,"

Inside came the policewoman from the day before, same red hair and same uniform. He noticed that only a select few of the officers wore them. The others wore roughly the same uniforms that he wore when he was still a rookie cop. Not wanting to ask this immediately he asked her what her business was entering his office.

"I have been assigned as your assistant for this case as well as personal chauffeur. I was told to come here to inform you of that as well as await further instruction from you," she responded promptly.

Roy was speechless at this. A young female rookie cop was never this polite or concise when he was part of the force. He wondered what the new disciplinary measures of the police station were.

"Well, I have been curious about the different uniforms you and your colleagues wear. Whats the difference between the red and blue uniforms? Are they different ranks, divisions...?" Roy asked swirling his hands while saying it as if he was physically arranging his words to be told.
"The different uniforms are there to differentiate between the human officers and the robotic ones, blue being human and red being robot," the robot responded.

Roy looked at the newly discovered robot. He wasn't shocked about the idea of robots working alongside humans due to the fact they have done it now for 30 years. He was shocked about the fact that he didn't notice she was one.

"Really now? I never would have guessed...you sure are nicer made than the ones during my time," Roy stated trying to pass it of as a compliment.
"Recent studies have shown that human respond more positive towards sentient beings with human appearance. Thus the majority of service applicable jobs using robots have opted to use a new line of us with a new silicon based skin and facial animatronics. The fact that you couldn't tell that I was one shows the effectiveness of the new design"
"Wow, well," Roy stammered, he's never had such a long and distinct conversation with a machine before. Then again, he never really bothered to get to know one. "But whats the point making you wear different uniforms then? If people see you are wearing red uniforms don't they know you are robots?"
"This has never been addressed as a problem in my 10 years of service, whether with myself or others"
"Never?"
"The company where we derive from have hypothesized that you as humans don't really pay attention as long as we are made attractive enough for your eyes"

Roy's eyes immediately rose from looking at her chest to her 'eyes' at this remark. The robot continued.

"The uniforms are more for use amongst the police, so we can tell apart from each others in order to avoid confusion"
"Well, I suppose thats good to know," Roy chuckled nervously to himself. "Now I wont ask you if I can get you anything to eat"
"Good sir, I'm glad. That would have been a serious waste of food if you would have purchased some for my use"
"Umm, yeah, exactly..."
"But I do appreciate the offer sir!" and then she did something Roy had never seen a robot do before: 'she' smiled.
"Well, if you're going to work with me now I'll need to know your name,"
"My serial number is 044, but I have been given the name 'Ida' sir,"
"Well then Ida, I assume you know the nature of the last case I worked on"
"No sir. Those files were written in a now defunct program and have not yet been copied into our current one due to the initial idea of it being solved"
"Oh, and you haven't read the paper files either because they were just now brought here from the safe?"
"That is correct sir"
"Well, I'll bring you up to speed then"

To be Continued

Robot Killings part 1 by Humphrey Erm

Roy Griswold took a puff from his cigarette and blew a smoke ring. Sitting in the backseat of the car he thought what he was doing out and about at his age. He had retired from the force with full pension and no regrets, or so he keeps on telling himself.

He knelt forward to get a look at the driver. It was a young woman, a rookie by the looks of it, adorned with short red hair and a police cap. The police uniform had changed since Roy was in the force, now consisting of a red and black buttoned shirt and a similar looking jacket. The pants however were purely black except for one long red strip on the side. The belts were far more ingenious than his ever was, now adorned with special compartments for all matter of electronic devices not to mention the new stun gun.

"Were here Mr Griswold," the police officer said as the car came to a stop.

Roy was startled by the sudden stop as well as the fact that he noticed he was staring a bit too much at the woman. Saying nothing he opened the door and stepped out.

He shielded his eyes from the bright sunlight, adjusting them until he could see that he was by the St. Boniface river in the outskirts of the city. Amongst the bank there were several police officers that were observing some object that had washed up. The entire area was surrounded by police tape and several police vehicles were parked all around. The old man that was Roy started walking down from the road down the slanted ground towards the river, his legs aching all the way. When he was about halfway there another officer ran up to him.

"Excuse me, do you have permission to be here sir?"
"I would hope so, seeing that I was called here from my house" Roy replied with a snap.
"Oh, you are Detective Griswold are you?" the young policeman said with a shine to his eyes.
"So I have been told occasionally"
"Please sir, go right ahead, I'm sure you will be able to shed some light on the matter"

Roy walked past the young man and pushed himself through the crowd of police and pathologists. He took a look at what all the commotion was about.

There lay a un-functional robot.

Roy Griswold just stared at the hunk of metal and plastic. This brought back memories.

"I'm sorry for dragging you out here like this Griswold. I'm Detective Curry, and I'm in charge of this investigation" said a tall middle aged man amongst the crowd, walking around the robot to Roy, his hand held out to him.
"If you're so sorry for dragging me out here then why did you Mr Curry? You should know that I have been happily retired for 15 years now," Roy responded as coldly as he thought possible, ignoring Curry's hand.
"Yes I know Griswold," Curry said taking back his hand,"You don't remember me, but I used to work with you when you were still in the force"
"Were you now?"
"Yes, and I marveled at your amazing analytical skills and detective work. Most notably the last case you worked on before your retirement Griswold..."
The former detective turned silent after hearing that. He looked away from Curry and traced his old weary eyes over the tangled mess of a robot.

"You see Griswold, I don't think that case is truly over. If you observe the body you should notice something that you are all to familiar with" Curry continued, looking at his former mentor the same way he looked at him 15 years ago.

Roy bent down in front of the deceased, looking at the joints and wires of the individual, and then without warning kicked it so it turned around.

Protests were made and pictures were taken at this moment, but Curry tried to silence them "Calm down, its not what it looks like, he's just examining the body. Trust me, this man is a professional."

Roy pulled up the sleeve of his right arm with his left hand and plunged his hand into the center of the robot. After some struggling he pulled out what appeared to be a bullet, and on closer inspection it was specified to be a EMP projectile capsule. The photographers present immediately started taking more pictures.

"I was right wasn't I?" asked Curry, a genuine look of sorrow graced his face.
"Sadly you were, Detective Curry..."
"Would you please consider working with the investigation team once more, to try to close the case indefinitely?"

Roy Griswold took a long hard look at the capsule. He later closed his eyes for a few seconds and gave the evidence to the nearest pathologist who immediately placed it in an evidence folder.

"I will need access to all information regarding this case, as well as the old files from the ones I worked on, a car with chauffer, a new office," Roy took out a pack of cigarettes and pulled one out with his teeth,"and a light"
"Good to have you back Detective Griswold," Curry said with an exceptional smile and took out a lighter and ignited Roy's cigarette.

To Be Continued