PD-31, the robot police dog, was jogging down twelfth street, effortlessly weaving through the few pedestrians lining the sidewalk. Quickly-blinking red and blue lights on its slender frame commanded respect. The humans looked with interest, wondering why the robots were in such a hurry. PD-31 took a hard turn at twelfth and Bentley after making sure the path was clear. The destination, a sky-high apartment complex, waited just ahead. Fellow unit PD-79 rounded the other side of the building.
PD-31 arrived first and the big automatic glass doors slid to the side. But instead of going through, it waited patiently for its partner. A young woman about to walk out the door stepped aside to let the police dog through until she realized that the robot had no intention of doing so. Quickly, she exited and hurried out of the way. She walked past the police dog, observing it with wide eyes. Then she noticed the other two robots jogging up to the door. What was going on here? Was there something wrong in her own apartment building?
When PD-79 caught up, PD-31 finally went through the door, the other two following close behind.
The young woman thought about following the duo for a brief moment. She paused, tilting her head as her gaze followed the units, but blew a strand of hair out of her face and went on her way.
As the two robots moved to the elevators, a sensor detected their presence and sent them a free cabin.
It opened up without a ding so as not to attract any human attention. The two robot dogs went inside, arranging themselves in close proximity without touching. Once the doors closed and the robots were alone, they turned off their blinking lights for the ride.
The elevator stopped at the 14th floor and opened its doors. The dogs shuffled out and turned to their left. Turning their lights back on they walked this time, but with military stride and precision.
Suddenly, just when PD-79 had passed apartment number 1423, both units stopped and turned towards the door. PD-31 signaled their arrival to the apartment sensor. They waited 30 seconds. Then PD-31 sent a wellness check signal. Another 30 seconds passed. Nothing. A little compartment on PD-31’s side opened up and a plasma cutter emerged. A little pump started pressurizing nitrogen in a chamber inside the plasma cutter.
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PD-31 positioned the nozzle of the plasma cutter at the door just above the handle. Suddenly, with a little bang, a bright light appeared at the nozzle and spewed sparks everywhere.
PD-31 drew a big, glowing half-circle around the door handle before turning off the gas pump. The last sparks dropped to the floor. PD-31 returned the plasma cutter to its little compartment and used the claw at the end of the arm that one could describe as its head to push against the cut section of the door. The cutout began to inch backwards and then, with a loud bang, it dropped to the floor inside the apartment.
The bot opened its claw, interlocking it with the door, and started to pull while moving backwards.
The door opened and PD-31 announced, “This is the police, please do not be scared, we are just answering to a wellness check. We are unarmed and we come in peace. Please come forward if someone is home.”
PD-31 stepped inside. The red and blue strobe lights from PD-31’s tinted shoulder pads easily overpowered the dim light on the ceiling. Both robots turned on the industrial flood lights mounted on their single arms.
They looked around, scanning the room for doors.
“This is the police, please do not be scared, we are just answering to a welfare check,” repeated PD-31. Based on the standard floor plan, the Neuropod would usually be located in the room opposite the main door. PD-31 approached and used its claw to knock three times.
“This is the police, please do not be scared, we are just answering to a welfare check.”
PD-31 waited for a moment while PD-79 turned around to check the hallway. It was empty.
The robot extended its claw forward and grasped the door handle, turning it and beginning to push. The door gave way and the robot’s olfactory sensors immediately picked up the faint presence of putrescine in the air.
PD-31 immediately notified headquarters about what it had just detected--and then it saw the body.
The robot almost jumped forward, trying in vain to detect the slightest sign of life.
Finding nothing, it sent three short sentences to HQ.
“Welfare check completed. Person of interest deceased. Human backup requested.”