It's another breezy early morning in New Haven. Media press surrounds the Metx robotics facility. A location that itself from outside has a much more high-end design.

With the skyscraper tower looking sleeker with its windows having a deep blue tent with a sharp narrow tip at the top. Down to the entrance on the ground near a

water fountain that displays the image of giant bronze stone fists of a droid and human. Yet, despite the occurrence, Steve uses the warmth of a fresh cigar within his

car as waiting for the agents to appear.

“You guys lost in the city?” He asked Ally through the call.

She responds “Due to us being in a truck. I’ve had to offer the driver to take some alternative freeway routes. Should be closing in.”

“If you guys need a ride.” Steve tries to hold in his chuckles to not spoil the joke. “The back seats are always open.”

“Due to the delays, maybe I should take James’s spot from yesterday.” Ally lightly laughs.

The sight and sound of the white truck caught Steve’s eye. "that's you guys in white vehicle?” he asks.

“Our driver, Derick, says we should be coming on the lot now.” Ally informs.

Steve got out of his car and quickly stomped on the cigarette. Making his way towards the right parked truck. The detective sees that the back door remains closed so currently sets his attention to going into the driver’s side.

“Hey, brother!” shouted the shockingly enthusiastic driver with a trim haircut and suit hopping out of the truck. “Name’s Derick Urgo. Nigerian immigrant turned U.S soldier and citizen.”

“Hell of a guy.” The detective laid out his hand as the two shakes. “Nuts enough to be a cop but to go into the front lines between the past few decades.

Take some balls.”.

Derick laughs with great pride. “From my home country. It's all the same for me, brother!” The smile faded swiftly as his voice tone. “Folks wanted a

better life for me when they saw my hobby of fixing old cars in my teen years. “A bright head that's better for the world than a dead one.” my grandmother would say.

Took a few years within my twenties but saved as much as I could working multiple low paying jobs and avoiding all the trouble.”

Steve, feeling nervous to ask such a question, said “You don’t have to answer this but what kind of trouble?”.

“Any kind of crime you can think of.” The trucker said so bluntly. “Politicians in my country are hungry for power more than its citizens. My folks and I at the time were living as far from the cities as we could. We manage to run a farm to stay afloat. Even if the weather would, despite how damaged the climate has been from decades of nuclear warfare. The army taught me that and why now there's another huge ban on nuclear tech.”

“Well, thanks for your service.” Steve tips his hat.

Noise from the back door of the truck is heard as Derick notices. “Must be Ally and James finishing

with prepping their gear, detective.” Derick said.

The two are once again sealed wearing jackets with their typical business attire underneath.

Ally notices the interaction between the two men. “Hope we aren’t interrupting.” She jokes.

“Nah” Steve shakes his head slightly. “Just killing time. The media is crawling all over this place. Even more

than Eden.”

James says, “Been looking at news, been swarming all over this location for days since the smoke shop incident has been viral.”

Steve, looking slightly worried towards the blond agent, says. "You stormed fairly early last night. Understand the thought about putting your life on the line while having people thinking of you at home.”

James was silent before the realization kicked in. “oh, I bet Ally told you I had a family.”

“It should've been none of my business.” Ally sounding apologetic.

“Don’t be!” The slightly cheerful blond pats her shoulder. “Told everyone in the squad about them. No shame in telling Steve too.”

“Look at that, trying to put my rundown ass on a pedestal.” Steve jokes while putting his hands in his pocket from the cold.

James' displays a cheerful expression and speaks. “I talked to my son last night. Just a quick follow up on how he's doing. My wife is thankfully well despite having anxious thoughts of working evenings while he is home alone.”

Ally looked rather sad. “Quite an unfortunate circumstance they both must deal with.” she said.

James nodded and spoke. “The boy’s ten so he knows now to not answer the door. Just ride the bus home. But enough of my pettiness. What's the game plan?”

“I’ll check in on Celi and the supply pods.” Derick mentions. “Do good for yourself, Detective!”

Steve tips his police cap. “You too, sir!”. Once again, the three are left with one another. Steve, crosses his arms, voices an idea. "We’ll have to make our

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

way through the crowd. Getting an inspection of that specific robot model that shot Brian Tyler is the priority.”

The group begins to walk towards a small media group camping around the entrance of the building.

“Bloody hell.” Ally taken back by the crowd. “Seems like the guards are sentry bots. My guess is they aren’t letting them

in due to people being fearful of them or Metx wants to keep them out.”.

“Like hell we're staying here.” Steve replied as the three walked through groups of news reporters.

“Mam!” a newscaster asked. “What is your association with the police department on the case?”

“Classified!” She replied, ignoring the cameras.

“Officer!” one caster came running up from behind. “If you have the time...”

“No!” Steve responds with spite. The trio walked towards the guarded glass doors.

“Sentry bots.” James noticed. “Hopefully, we won't be marked as suspects with our weapons.”

“You two are packing some heat?” Steve asked nervously.

“We both got tranquilizer pistols striped and hidden away in our outfits.” James explained.

“Halt!” one of the armed robot guards went. “Scanning for safety measurements.” unintelligible noises are made. “One weapon was spotted, a silver eagle revolver. Body scanned for, arm blades augments, badge scan detected! Welcome Officer!”

“Must have scanned my id through my jacket.” Steve thought as he walked into the building. The second bot scans Ally. “Scanning. Detected multiple displays of medical darts, Body scanned. Medical blade augmentations. Non-threatening.”

“Well, I'll be damned.” Steve looked back at the two. “Truly clean!”.

“Told you.” James said smugly.

“Wait! They can go through, but we can’t!” a reporter shouted.

“Media press badge detected.” one of the robots spouted. “You are unauthorized to enter. It is wise you obey

the command.”

The sighs and moans of the crowd are quickly silent behind the sound sealed front doors. The area of entrance is even more alluring than Eden.

Almost taken to the appearance of a fancy five-star museum. The trio moved towards the desk counter where a woman dressed black and red dress. Typing away on

the company's laptop

“Oh, I'm sorry we are not taking any more interviews.” A red-haired lady with orange lid eyes said.

“Don’t worry.” Steve mentions. “Work for the New Haven police force. My friends here work for the United Nations apparently.”

“Oh dear!” the red head blushed. “I’m Jenny Walker and I'll inform my boss you are

all here.”

Ally introduced herself, “We are agents of the Global base of operations for peace. We’re here to help with the city’s police to investigate the functional

quality of your company’s robots.”

“Noted.” Jenny nods as she makes a lens call. “Sir, we have government people that want to speak to you right away.” She nods. “Ok, I'll send them up. Bye. Kyle Allaire is open to talk so just follow me to the elevator.”

“Thanks mam!” Steve said as the three followed Jenny.

“Place looks so fancy.” James commented. “Like I'm walking through an art gallery with some of these paintings and fountains.”

“Mr. Allaire is a man that treats human and robotic engineering as an art in and upon itself". Jenny mentioned as she pressed the button to the elevator. “Let us make our way up!”

The three get in the elevator and begin to make their way to the top floor.

“Take a look at that view.” James commented on the slights of large, towering skyscrapers. Buildings so high they look as if they're at the edge of the planet’s atmosphere. “You can see the east side of the city.”

“Everything is nicer when it is far away. Not so up close.” Steve intervened.

“The vista is still breathtaking.” Ally comments. “Going this high makes us feel like we’re on cloud nine. So many streets with stories to tell I bet.”

Steve slightly smiles. “Got one if you're interested.”

“Lay it on us!” she looked optimistically to the right side of the elevator towards him.

Steve spoke his mind. “You lot picked a hell of a location to work at currently. This city at some point was known as New York. But due to prior decades of crime and economic downturn. The former mayor of the city, Frank Owens, and current city governor, Charles Dawn, made a historic move in the century by convincing the capital to legally change the name of the state and city to New Haven.”

James collects his thoughts looking out at the small medical hovercrafts flying around between the giant city pillars. “Heard about this in my twenties on the news. I am from Texas so sorry for making stereotypes. but always thought of the city being like a giant rebranding considering the city still has that east urban lifestyle so globally known at this point.”.

“Yeah” Steve shakes his head. “Well, at the very least to me.”. “Having worked as a cop since my mid-twenties. Got a chance

to have small talk with a few people on the topic. tons of the city's people felt they had no say on the name. The old term meant a lot to some folks who have family ties here for decades. You can say it's nostalgia, but many others saw it as the state’s officials brushing away years' worth of problems. It's like painting over gold on a tard. It may look nice, but it still stinks.”

The elevator stops as the doors open from behind.

“The office is straight ahead.” Jenny pointed. “Have a nice visit!”

The three exits as Jenny takes a ride back down.

“Place feels like a throne for a king.” Ally says. “Knight armor holding swords and long red and gold pattern rugs. Truly rivals the

royalty you’ll see back in the UK.”

“Sure, does beat living in a pod on a truck so far.” James remarked.

“I've gotten used to it.” Celi calling in through James's lens. “It's not like there isn't a place open for me besides jail.”

“That was a long time ago, Celi.” Ally weighs in. “The amount of time you’ve spent with us. Has been a total

benefit.”

“sure.” Celi sighs.

“Hey, cut the chatter!” Steve commands. “Got to meet with the boss.”

The three make it to the door and open themselves into a huge room. The west and east side of the city are caught in vista. A giant glass table displayed with Graphical Interfaces. “

You scanned all of the models for that squad!” A man with a fearsome growl shout. “Ok, now ship it off! I don't need no more cops cutting off my deals for a...” The white button shirt and golden necklace wearing man looks at the three. “Speaking of the law. I'll call back in a few.” two robot guards standing aside each edge of the desk. “Model eighty and seventy. Stand down, they're fine.”

“Yes, sir.” The robots responded.

“Allow me to welcome you all." the suited man lays his hands on his chest. "I’m that you can call my own sense of royalty. I’m Kyle Allaire.”