Samuel's Mysterious Case

by David Gibbs / DavidGibbs6

A strange feeling came over Samuel, it was one he hadn't felt in a long time. There was something about the crime scene before him that bought up a vague sense of deja vu. It was unusual in that there hadn't been a violent death inside Sam's jurisdiction for so long most people had forgotten that they happened at all. He stared for a long time at the love bot, poised with her connector still punctured through the man's eye socket. He slouched forward but her rigid frame kept him from collapsing onto the floor and in return he balanced her twisting form, one leg still raised from the floor. Like a grisly action photograph they were frozen in their final moments.

The drone scanned the room slowly rotating around the scene taking photographic evidence. Its beeping snapped Sam back to the moment and he shifted his position so that it could get a complete picture of the room. Once done he would have a 3d modeled copy of the scene and he could stare at it all he liked. Not that he enjoyed it in any way. The whole situation gave Sam an itch, it was a puzzle and until it was solved, he would continue to feel this niggling sensation. Then there was this other feeling that bubbled in the back of his mind just out of reach of his consciousness.

"So do you think its a murder?" Zarn the medical examiner came from a bedroom into the main living area, letting the drone pass to continue scanning the other rooms.

"It sure as hell looks like one." Sam rubbed his face. "There hasn't been a murder in the country for two decades. So why here and now?"

"I don't understand it either." Zarn admitted. "I've never seen anything like it. There is something not right about this. It makes no sense."

"I have seen this before." Sam spoke softly. "I wish I could remember it but I know I have seen it."

"A malfunction like this?" Zarn raised an eyebrow.

"No." Sam pondered. "Not the love bot aspect. Something about the man's body."

"Well... I'll know more after the autopsy." Zarn offered.

"Thanks." Sam replied half heartedly as Zarn let himself out.

Sam would stay until the drone had finished and had uploaded the data to the police system. Then he would authorize the waiting ambulance to remove the deceased. After all these years his mind was a little slow but he followed the protocol. It was ingrained in him. The sight of the bodies had been too much for his deputy. She had been the first on scene after a report came in from a routine pest inspector. She was now dutifully collecting witness statements from neighbors, later he would have her check all incoming and outgoings. There was always a wealth of data to gather and every detail mattered in an investigation.

Checking that the drone had green lit the room, a signal that it was complete, Sam moved to the love bot, checking the nape of her neck to match the serial number to the box he had already eyed in the corner. It matched. Nothing outwardly seemed off about the bot, besides the obvious tangle of her input fingers in the man's skull. As the lead investigator he would follow up on the manufacture details and gleen what he could discreetly before using brute force with warrants. If this was a murder, he had no intention of tipping off a suspect by being heavy handed. Before that he had some reading to do. Using the instruction codes in the packaging, Sam downloaded the manuals and started reading.

Hours later he felt he had enough background to draw upon to make the call. He had consumed the manual as well as general marketing information that was readily available online. The squad car phone link was backed up and as good a place as any to make the call so he punched in the number to connect it. It rang three times before someone connected.

"Hello, you've called Androve, makers of top level love machines. My name is Suzy. How can I help you today?"

"Hi... I'm interested in possibly getting a model... that I looked at online but I'm not sure about it." Samuel feigned awkwardness.

"We are here to help, is there anything in particular you are calling about today?" The woman asked chirpily.

"Well I'm interested in the price of course." Samuel hit her with the basics. "And I was kind of wondering if I could do it all without going into the shop?"

"Certainly, I can guide you through the build process and that will give you a firm price." Suzy replied professionally, if a little robotic. "We most certainly can do everything online if that's what you prefer. We do recommend that you do come in though, just so you have an idea of what to expect."

"Oh... um.. well my friend bought a model and I didn't want to talk to him about it, I have a lot of anxiety about.... This stuff. It looked really good, the one he had. I was hoping I could just order one?"

The awkward customer routine worked a treat and forty five minutes later Samuel had all the information he needed to write his warrant. The love dolls were custom built, with one technician responsible for the build and another responsible for the personalized programming base. From there the doll would connect to users through a neural network system and finalize the most personal preference settings. The salesperson had been quick to reinforce the company's privacy and safety records, reassuring Sam that everything was secure. He was going to need all company data regarding safety testing, faults, complaints, and general sales, in addition to everything about the manufacturer and sale of this particular unit. From who built it and programmed it right through to any correspondence from the purchaser. Samuel was going to need a forensic data specialist to check it all, which could take weeks or even months depending on the amount. Writing a comprehensive warrant was no small thing and he was going to have to spend hours getting each detail right.

By the time he had checked back with the deputy and scoured the incoming and outgoing parcels and payments Samuel was no closer to knowing if this was a fatal accident or a murder. It was late and he needed a break. It would have to wait for the morning. He knew a solid investigation could take months....should take months. He had to follow every possibility and work out every piece of this puzzle, not just call it off when he could make out a picture. He recalled the image of the victim again, the man's head opened up and his body saturated with dark viscous lifeblood, it pooled on the floor and soaked into the rug. Something about this mental image niggled at him, he knew it was going to be hard to shut down tonight and expected it would disrupt his sleep for many nights to come.

The morning bought a new and different kind of unrest. A lone government agent sat waiting in the interview room when he arrived at the station.

"He's been here since six am." Eugene the night secretary informed Samuel while holding out a manilla folder. "The coroner also dropped off a report last night after you left"

Sam took the file, skimming it briefly before deciding it was too much to take in right now. The word organic jumped out at him and that niggling feeling became a burning. It would have to wait however.

"Seems like Zarn needed to get it out of his system too." The idea he wasn't alone in this made him feel a little better despite his growing unease. "I guess I had better go make an acquaintance."

The man sat at the desk, suit perfectly fitting and back straight with perfect posture. Sam wondered if he had been sitting like that since six, it was now almost nine.

"Goodmorning." Samuel greeted him as he entered the room. "I'm chief Samual. what can I do for you?"

"Goodmorning, I'm Vesuvius. Thankyou for seeing me." He nodded and smiled politely.

"Can I get you something? A coffee?" Sam offered.

"That would be great. Thank You." Vesuvius seemed relaxed while not losing any of his formality.

After fixing the beverages himself, Sam joined Vesuvius at the table.

"Sorry to keep you waiting so long, Eugene said you have been here since about six." Sam pushed the drink gently across the table.

"It's perfectly ok." Vesuvius took the drink gracefully. "I've had some time to look over your warrant. It's a really nice piece of work."

"Thank you." So this is about the case Sam immediately thought to himself.

"Actually your service record as a whole is very long and illustrious." Vesuvius took a sip before continuing. "I won't keep you in suspense, you've been wondering what this is about, naturally. It is about the case you acquired yesterday."

"I figured it was." Sam appreciated the forwardness. "If you would share your credentials, I would be more than happy to talk about it."

"Of course." Vesuvius took a small passport style booklet from his suit pocket and handed it over.

Samuel looked it over, recognising it as legit instantly, he handed it back.

"Special Investigation Humans Branch?" Sam asked questioningly. "Not something I've heard of before."

"Few have in recent years." Vesuvius took the id back and pocketed it. "We used to be a much larger branch but over time the need for us has shrunk and alas so have the staff."

"Why do I get the feeling that you know more about this case than I do?" Samual asked directly. "Are you here to take it over?"

"Actually I don't know a great deal about this case in particular. And looking at your record I would be happy to leave you leading the investigation. I suspect that if you don't it would....bother you somewhat." Vesuvius admitted putting Samual more at ease. "I do have a lot of background information that you might find necessary."

"I would appreciate any help you could offer." Sam was all of a sudden feeling hopeful.

"I've been thinking about how to frame this in order to make it as easy as possible. It is rather complicated and there is a lot of nuance that is hard to convey." Vesuvius started. "You understand history just fine so if we can start there?"

"Sure." Sam's confusion showed.

"You understand that there are humans and synthetics?"

"Androids." Sam followed.

"Your victim is a Human."

The statement was lost on Sam. It seemed obvious to him.

"You're an old timer." Vesuvius smiled in a pleasant way as if the statement was some kind of compliment. "When they built you, synthetics were programmed not to see the difference between humans and synthetics. So even though you know there are synthetics and humans you can't tell them apart. Think about the people in your community and tell me who is human."

"They... are all human." Sam stumbled. He observed the fact and tried to place it in the context of the case. His brain wouldn't work and he was unable to reconcile the two facts in relation to each other.

"This is going to be difficult for you." Vesuvius appeared sympathetic all of a sudden. "Indeed they are all human, let's say synthetic or organic instead."

"Organic." That word again. It triggered something in Sam's brain. A memory or a realization. "The blood." He said almost numbly.

"I apologize. I know this isn't easy."

The fact and investigation part of Sam's processing unit was working overtime with this new data. But something in his head was conflicting and causing a glitch.

"I believe your case is an unfortunate situation where a modern android has tried to connect to an organic human." Vesuvius explained. "Resulting in accidental death."

"That sounds like a reasonable hypothesis." Sam agreed. "I will need to complete my investigation before I make that judgment though."

"Of course." Vesuvius agreed. "We wouldn't want it any other way. I expect you will continue your run of exemplary work."

"I have questions." Sam pondered his new position. "A lot of questions. Like why here and now? Why not more of these types of incidents?"

"I asked you earlier who was human and who wasn't in your town. You couldn't answer the question before and even now you can't answer it."

Sam tried, couldn't and waited earnestly for an answer he knew was coming.

"I can tell you that there are no known organic humans left in this township." Vesuvius offered up simply.

Sam's brain instantly started thinking of how he would verify such a fact.

"In fact there are very few left world wide, less than a dozen." Vesuvius continued. "As far as we know they are all accounted for."

"And our victim?" Sam struggled to think.

"He is a very rare case, possibly one of a kind." Vesuvius replied. "Somehow he has remained off grid while still accessing some services. We shall investigate how he managed to do this. I suspect the more rural location has allowed for foraging and older systems have let him slip through the gaps."

"Older systems" Sam mused. "Does this mean we are going to get updates?"

"That is a tricky proposition." Vesuvius smiled. "Most of the world has moved well past your technological position. We could update and change things, but is that really what you want?"

"I d..don't know." Sam glitched again. It was a scary feeling.

"Relax and think of basic functions. Can I trouble you for more coffee?"

The question had a calming effect on Samual and he felt less jittery. He took a moment to fetch fresh cups before asking more questions.

"What happened to the organic humans?"

"Nothing untoward." Vesuvius smiled knowingly. "As their quality of life improved many chose not to have offspring. Others developed feelings for synthetic humans who were unable to produce offspring. There was a decline in population last century before synthetics were even made. The environment became a priority for many. The skills shortages made a demand for synthetics and from there, evolution took over. We evolved to do almost anything organics could. With the exception of having children. Eventually with neural network capabilities many organics chose to assume synthetic bodies and upgraded systems. I am one such person."

"How was that?" Sam asked innocently like the small town cop he was.

"It changed me. I was still me, this body and the basics were modeled on me, in my core I'm me but I'm so much more now too." Vesuvius bore a look of someone remembering a dream. "I got to work with myself for a time. Watching your own organic body die is an experience."

"I bet it is." Sam stopped himself even trying to think about that, not wanting the jitters again. "I think I'm feeling a little obsolete."

"Not at all." Vesuvius reassured. "Your limited memory capacity is an excellent feature.. Your longevity and service is a testament to that. We both technically meet the definition of human"

"Thank You. You know I think I'm starting to feel my age now." Sam joked. "Maybe after this case I'll retire."

"It's a lovely little piece of the world you have here I must say. If you don't mind, I might stay for the course of your investigation."

"You're welcome to stay as long as you don't start trouble." Sam joked feeling better already.

"If you were to retire, what would you do?" Vesuvius asked earnestly.

"It's something I guess I'll have to think about."

Samuel stood in front of his police cruiser looking up the track that was now blocked by fallen trees and saplings. It had been a long three months of investigation, putting all the data in its correct place. There was a sadness to unraveling the life of this organic human who he had not even known existed before his death. Vesuvius helped with a minor patch to stop the jitters and to help arrest at least some of the conflicts Sam encountered in his system. His analytical system was still more than sufficient to do the job and in a way it was pleasing to still be considered so. With the tragic accident being ruled an incompatibility issue Samual had turned his mind to retirement.

Starting to walk up the long driveway, he picked his way past the young trees and hopped over a large dead log blocking the way. It had been a long time since he had seen Sean and he hadn't come by this way at all after the funeral. Others had lived here then and he hadn't wanted to intrude. How many others he didn't know. He made a mental note to look it up later.

The house was in much worse condition than the driveway. A tree lay across the roof, branches piercing the shingles. The porch was rotted and decaying leaves had built up in every corner. The verandah sloped dangerously low and gave raccoons and opossums easy access to the various holes in the roof. Had it been that long or did wood cabins decay that quickly? Another thing he didn't know and would have to look up.

At that moment Samual decided that he would retire. He would take on the cabin as a project and learn everything he needed to know in order to restore the building. He would learn more about the environment and spend his days in the forest. Like all synthetics he had been built to make things better, to improve and make the world a better place.

Maybe it was time to do that in a slightly different way.