Detroit, Michigan. August 15, 2038.
At this time, the city had become a foundry for Androids, advanced robots designed to look identical to their mammalian masters. Created by CyberLife as cheap sources of labor, they have changed the world... though not strictly for the better.
Of late, Androids have seemingly at random deviated from there programing. In some cases, there are lethal consequences for both mammal and Android.
In this city... a revolution would soon begin. But tonight, our focus is on one individual in particular.
Pandora, Pandora Wilde-Hopps, the genetically engineered daughter of Judith Laverne Hopps and Nicholas Piberius Wilde, the first rabbit, and fox police officers in the city of Zootopia, respectively. Had just arrived in the city, and was by herself in a motel room bathroom. Her only other companion was her Time and Space Displacement Device's integrated AI. Clancy, formally an AI that was integrated to her apartment back in Zootopia, he had now became self-aware to the point where he could see the entirety of the space time continuum.
"My revenge... begins now." Pandora said ominously in the bathroom mirror.
"Are you still sure about this?" Clancy asked in concern for his master.
"Clancy... you know what I've sunk into this." Pandora said, glaring daggers at a picture of Elijah Camelski, one of the founders and former CEO of CyberLife. "That benighted camel took my life's goal, my life's work. As an opportunity to make money for its own sake, for God's sake, the mammal doesn't care about the economic and societal upheaval his creations are inadvertently causing. AND he took credit for my designs and research! All because of some damned paperwork that I didn't think to have anyone look over!" She said angrily as she slammed her fist into the bathroom counter. "Besides... you showed me the future that'll result if I do nothing."
"Yes... but it is still possible for you to lead your own life. Free from your grudge, and you need not risk your life on this matter." Clancy said, futilely trying to talk his master out of her plan.
"I know. But... I made a promise to my parents, to make the world a better place." Pandora said as she looked over an old photo. One of the last where the family was complete, before Judy's death was faked and Judy ended up as the head of the International Defense League. "And I am not going to let that two-faced ungulate make a profit off of what's to come. Or let the deviant Androids destroy themselves... OR see this city become an irradiated wasteland, again."
"I understand... but you do know what they say about the road to Hell." Clancy said.
"Yeah... yeah I do. But I fully intend for Camelski to go down that road, and anyone else dumb enough to stand in my way for personal gain." Pandora said, and after a brisk and hot shower. She got herself ready for her self-appointed mission.
Pandora opened a duffle bag, and donned herself in custom designed equipment, which included a scanning visor that could allow for multiple types of vision and hacking. Advanced body armor that used a chrono-shield to protect her from harm. Her personal favorite, jets that could allow her to fly. And, high tech gloves with built in computers, and magnetic pads.
"Once more, I must ask the necessity of your Personal Jetpack System. It seems redundant considering the TSDD." Clancy pointed out.
"Agreed... but it's cool, ergo I'm taking it." Pandora said as she donned a duster coat and hood to cover up her commando like appearance. "Now... just point me at my first mission Clancy." She said excitedly.
"There is a hostage situation that does require your... delicate touch, to prevent tragedy." Clancy said.
Pandora groaned. "Really...? I get why it's important, but I want to get the evidence-"
"One thing at a time Pan, I'm opening a wormhole to your destination now." Clancy said as a time portal opened in front of Pandora. She entered the wormhole, and found herself on a penthouse rooftop.
"So what's the exact situation here, and what do I need to do?" Pandora asked.
"Currently, the Philips family Android has gone deviant, the Android, Daniel discovered that the father was planning to replace him with a newer model." Clancy said, displaying the relevant information on Pandora's visor.
"You never get these problems with cars." Pandora said sardonically.
"To be fair, cars wouldn't have the reference point for mammalian behavior, or even the software to achieve sapience... regardless. Daniel stole the father's firearm, shot and killed him, and is currently holding the daughter Emma hostage near the edge of the penthouse terrace." Clancy explained. Pandora looked to see the scene that Clancy just described.
"And in the unaltered timeline, the girl dies right?" Pandora said, trying her best to resist her urge to just save the girl and get on with her objectives.
"Correct, along with Daniel. However... the remedy for this situation is rather simple." Clancy said, he then displayed images of an Android wolf. "This is Connor, a new model of Android from CyberLife, who will be beginning his investigation right now." Clancy said as he showed the wolf Android enter the penthouse.
"Oh my... that is the cutest wolf I've ever seen in my life." Pandora said, utterly transfixed by the Android wolf.
"Pandora, focus." Clancy said sternly.
"Oh I am focusing... and mama likes what she sees." Pandora said, still distracted by the robotic wolf.
"Look... just use the remote hacker in your visor and gloves to keep him from accidentally getting Emma killed." Clancy said in exasperation.
"Right!... right sorry, keep Camelski from becoming CEO again, and stop the Detroit Scouring from happening. Ogle eye candy latter." Pandora said as she proceeded to use her hacking equipment to subtlety direct Connors behavior. Including such instances as saving one of the Philips family fish.
"Is that really necessary?" Clancy asked.
"Nope... and I'm not going to let innocent fish die either." Pandora said. "I really just said that, didn't I?" She said lightly giggling. Pandora continued to direct Connor, further examining the crime scene for evidence and clues to explain what had happened. "Think any of this could be admissible in court?"
"Pandora, a CyberLife Android has specific laws regarding what there NOT allowed to do. Not even if a mammal verified the evidence would Daniel be spared termination. He's taken a life, and is threatening to take another." Clancy said.
"Sorry for being an optimist... and it looks like Connor has fully put together what happened, and is going to try to get Daniel to let the kid go." Pandora said as Connor exited the penthouse and arrived on the terrace.
"In the unaltered timeline, this ended with Daniel, Emma and Connor falling from the terrace... I don't think I need to tell you what to do." Clancy said.
"Yeah, no duh," Pandora said, she directed Connor to aid an injured police officer. Then after that, Connor confronted Daniel, gradually convincing him to let Emma go. Then... a sniper's bullet went through Daniel's chest.
"You lied to me Connor." Daniel said as he slumped to his knees. "You lied to me..." He said as he deactivated.
"Was there any way to save him?" Pandora asked solemnly.
"No... at least not without exposing yourself and drawing attention to your activities." Clancy said. "But he was just an Android."
"An Android who was afraid... who was scarred of being dismantled and being replaced by the shiny new model, if he was only a glorified home appliance he wouldn't even raise a polite complaint about the matter. Or even acknowledge such a problem." Pandora said.
"Agreed... but even so, why even care? Your focus is to expose Camelski and reclaim CyberLife." Clancy pointed out.
"Because my mission is as much about saving lives as getting retribution." Pandora said. "Because I have the power to save lives... to make the world a better place, not just by directly fighting crime in the streets, but by keeping people from dying altogether... at least those that I can save."
"This is a dark path you're going down Pandora... revenge is not worth all of this effort." Clancy said.
"Perhaps, but I'm reprehensibly stubborn, and revenge... that and an unwillingness to let my parents down. Is what's been driving me on since Camelski betrayed my trust, and broke my heart... just open a portal back to the motel." Pandora said, she then walked through a wormhole back to the time when she left the wormhole in the first place. "So to recap, I went to last August, and we're in November."
"Yes, and thanks to your actions. The public opinion of Androids has improved." Clancy said.
"Fantastic... some mammals hate Androids slightly LESS than they already did." Pandora grumbled. Then she received a call on her phone. The caller ID read, 'Spy Mom'. "And I predict that this will be about why I'm in Detroit."
"Pandora, what are you doing in Detroit?" A deep computerized voice said after Pandora accepted to take the call.
"And I'm officially clairvoyant, and your manners are slipping mom." Pandora said. "And remember that talk we had about NOT tracking me by phone?"
"I didn't... you told me you were in Detroit." Judy said.
Pandora inhaled a deep breath. "A future me told you what I was doing, didn't I?"
"Yes I did! Hi past me!" Another voice said.
Pandora face palmed. "Mom, what have I said about playing that kind of trick?"
"No, it is me... you... us... point is I completely forgot that mom had the audio masking software on during this call." Future Pandora said. "There, now we don't sound like some ominous shadow council member." Future Pandora said, her voice sounding normal.
"Okay... why did you tell mom that I was in Detroit?" Pandora asked.
"Well... I would tell, but you know how we hate spoiling things for ourselves... specifically the paradoxes that could arise from the whole matter." Future Pandora said.
"Look, the reason I called was that THIS Pandora say's that over the next week. Androids all over the world will acquire sapience, and seek equal rights. And in the process, they would turn Detroit into an irradiated wasteland that only they could inhabit." Judy asked in concern.
"If nothing is changed, yeah... yeah that will happen, and quite a few deaths, both mammal and Android before the whole ordeal is over." Pandora said somberly.
"And your there because?" Judy asked.
"Because, I'm going to do my damnedest to minimize what's going to happen, and before you say anything else, 'Agent Umbra'. This isn't JUST an excuse to finally get the dirt on Camelski's skullduggery." Pandora said determinedly. "This is about keeping that camel's reckless indulgence in chaos theory from not only destroying this city. But to keep a new sapient race from being snuffed out, just because there effectively glorified smart phones! I... I just want to finally do more than live off a stipend in Happy Town, while my friends and family get to lead happy and fulfilling lives, while I try to prove I'm not riding on someone else's coattails in one way or another to get ahead."
"I... Pandora... just take care of yourself. I mean... it's obvious that you will. Just... at the very least don't put yourself in unnecessary danger." Judy said in concern.
"Believe me mom, I've sunk A LOT of time in planning this one out. A lot more then you'd think. And please don't worry about me. We'll be seeing each other again in time for Thanksgiving this year. Promise... I love you mom." Pandora said.
"I love you too sweetheart." Judy said as the call ended. "Now... what exactly do you have to tell me? And are they winning lottery numbers?"
"Why would you even care? You've never even bought one." Judy just shrugged. "Regardless, I have over the past week. Have been alleviating the coming Android revolution and its damages... which included Detroit being irradiated by a dirty bomb, and I've also been collecting evidence."
"And why are you even telling me this?" Judy asked. Pandora merely sighed.
"Because... the first time I tried redirecting the Android revolt, it was what caused the Scouring of Detroit. And according to Clancy, YOU can help keep the revolt from turning into an unintended nuclear holocaust." Pandora said nervously.
"And you didn't ask me in the first place because?..." Judy said.
Pandora was taken aback by her mother's calm. "I... I thought I could do all of this alone. That it would be simple... get the evidence and keep everyone directly important to the matter alive. But it wasn't enough..." Pandora said somberly.
"Where would I need to go?" Judy asked of Clancy.
"DPD Central Station. You will need to be there by tomorrow 12:41 AM at the earliest." Clancy said. "A deviant Android will be interrogated for a murder he committed... and both he and the CyberLife Android Connor, who will be performing the interrogation. Will both be destroyed in the attempt, with not important information ascertained."
"Then I've got a flight to catch." Judy said as she stood up from her desk, and donned a helmet with a single cyclopean eye. And a pair of boots. "You have my permission to remain on the Helicarrier. All that I ask is that you keep your paws off of any sensitive information. And most importantly, DO. NOT. Eat everything in my mini-fridge again!... I just wish I had time to get Olaf here."
"I eat all of the blueberries one time, and you and dad never let me live it down." Pandora muttered as Judy left her office. "Okay she's gone," Pandora said as she removed a green and purple thumb drive. From her pocket, and plugged it into the computer.
"Finally, I thought I'd never get to do anything." Said a holographic Pandora on the computer's screen, the AI Pandora was colored green on one side and purple on the other.
"Just get to analyzing, and cataloging everything. I want every advantage for-"
"My mind bendingely elaborate scheme to make the world a better place for all mammalkind... don't get me wrong. I want Camelski brought down several pegs. But with all of your time travel shenanigans you've been getting up to. It seems like you could just BUY CyberLife after this all. I mean there stocks would have to be halfway down the-"
"Look... I am NOT in the mood to discuss this. Yes I have abused my time traveling in order to better myself. Yes I have established a genetics firm after I got a college education in genetics... then dropped out when all the professor really did was rant about how great socialism is. Yes, I used that exact same education to modify my genes before I was born. Yes, I also have a private army of hybridized and ancient mammals at my back. And even yes, I know for a fact that Wilde-Hopps Chimera Industries is actually doing better financially then CyberLife... but I want to see that camel reap the whirlwind he sowed." Pandora said vindictively.
"Well I'm from a different universe from you. So... whatever floats your boat?" The alternate universe Pandora said.
The main Pandora looked somber, mainly at the deception of her mother. "For a better world... every sacrifice must be made, and every sacrifice must be kept to." She said to herself. Quoting one of her uncle Davies books. "I must keep to the path I have set to walk... or risk undoing the sacrifices I have already made."
"I am truly sorry you feel this is necessary." Clancy said sympathetically.
"Clancy... the only reason I even integrated you into the TSDD was to keep me from maintaining the timeline, keeping disastrous paradoxes from occurring. AND to find some way to get back at Camelski... not... just advice Clancy... don't dictate." Pandora said, trying her hardest to not lose her temper with Clancy.
"Go and take a nap Pandora Prime... you look like you need it." AI Pandora said sympathetically. Pandora Prime found a nearby coach sobbed herself to sleep. "You aren't the only Pandora that's been wronged by a Camelski. And after we deal with Camelski Prime... we still got an entire multiverse of Camelski's to get back at."
Pandora Prime said nothing as she went into sleep. In her head the following words repeated.
...keep the scars that strengthen...
...mend the scars that condemn...
...heal the scars that can be healed...
...live with the scars that cannot be removed...
...keep the trench scar from opening...
...save... me... from... myself... mommy...
...stop... the monster... from ever existing...