Chapter 4: Sonny

It had been a long night, but Azure refused to go home and instead accompanied Del to the station where the NS-5 was being held. It was incredible, the first ever robot, in the world, who wasn't shackled by the three laws. Azure had sometimes wondered what would happen if robots didn't have the three laws. How would they react? Would they actually evolve independently? Would they develop individual personalities? But then there was the whole programming side of things. Could a robot have its own personality or would that be considered just a part of their programming? Azure's head was filled with possibilities as she followed Del towards John Bergin. To which the two men immediately began to talk and argue while Azure listened intently.

"You have no idea what we had to go through to clip this thing John."

"Yeah, I get it man. You actually think you brought me something good."

"That thing did it!"

"Did what? We have a suicide, detective, end of story."

"I am telling you that robot killed Lanning."

"And I'm telling you that's impossible. And even if it is it sure as hell better be in somebody else's precinct."

"John, John. Give me five minutes with it."

"What are you, nuts? I just got off the phone with the DA. Nobody goes into that room until Robertson and his attorneys get here."

"This is my suspect!"

"It's a tin opener for christ sake." They rounded a corner and stood in front of Observation Room 12A. Through the glass door Azure could see the NS-5 sitting in the room, cameras observed it from every angle.

"John, don't do this to me, I am asking you for five minutes," pleaded Del on the edge of begging.

"What if he's right?" interrupted Azure, gaining their attention. "That NS-5 has free will, the ability to choose his actions, I witnessed that. The whole group that brought it down witnessed that."

John gave an exasperated look and pinched the bridge of his nose. He looked extremely tired and forlorn. He recovered himself and said, "I can't argue with the girls logic… I guess we're gonna miss the good 'ol days."

"What good old days?" asked Del.

"When people were killed by other people," John then sighed, opened the door and gave Del the case file, "five minutes. That goes for both of you."

"Thanks John," smiled Azure. Del then winked at John before entering, Azure close behind. There were a total of six guards in the room with their guns aimed at the robot, not including the ones outside. The NS-5 sat placidly quiet and watched the two familiar people enter. The door closed behind them and Del retrieved the case pictures from the folder, setting them in front of the NS-5. It looked down at them, fingers gently hovering over them.

"Murder's a new trick for a robot, congratulations," spoke Del. The NS-5 roughly pushed the pictures away. "Respond."

"What does this action signify?" the NS-5 randomly asked as it looked between Del and Azure, then winked. "As you entered, when you looked at the other human. What does it mean?" The NS-5 winked again.

"It's a sign of trust," said Azure, gaining the attention of its brilliant blue eyes, Azure also observed its voice and mannerisms. It was male, if robots did have a gender, the voice clear with tone and accompanied by appropriate expression. Not to mention the fact that it was curious.

"It's a human thing. You wouldn't understand," added Del unnecessarily.

"My father tried to teach me human emotions," said the NS-5, "they are… difficult."

"You mean your designer?"

"Yes, and I believe that also answers one of your previous questions," the robot said to Azure. Del shot Azure a questioning glance, but she waved her hand in a 'later' gesture. She felt a little flustered, thinking herself stupid for her sudden burst of questions earlier on.

"So why did you murder him?" asked Del, casually sitting.

"I did not murder Dr. Lanning," said the robot.

"Why were you hiding at the crime scene?" Azure tried to lead the subject away from what she sensed was, dangerous grounds.

"I was frightened… the answer to your third question."

"Robots don't feel fear," said Del, "they don't feel anything. They don't get hungry, they don't sleep-"

"I do," interrupted the NS-5, "I have even had dreams."

"Dreams? Lanning is your creator? He gave you dreams?" asked Azure.

"Yes. I also do have the three laws and I do not know why my eyes are a different to the others nor why Dr. Lanning chose them. Perhaps they are more artificially aesthetic to appearance… I would not know."

It was an innocent enough response though Azure could not help her face heating up; she doubted that the robot recognised the subtle implication that by her fixating on his eyes she was subconsciously acknowledging them as being attractive. Luckily Del hadn't noticed her flustered face and took Azure's silence as encouragement to continue.

"It doesn't matter, you are just a machine. Imitation of life, you can't write a symphony or turn a canvas into a beautiful masterpiece," he paused a moment. "I think you murdered him because he was teaching you to simulate emotions and things got out of control."

"I did not murder him," the NS-5 said seriously.

"But emotions don't seem like a very useful simulation for a robot-"

"I did not murder him."

"Del," Azure murmured a warning, hearing the danger in the NS-5s voice.

Del didn't listen, "ah hell, I don't want my toaster or my vacuum cleaner appearing emotional-"

"I DID NOT MURDER HIM!" yelled the NS-5 suddenly, slamming his fists against the steel table in a fit of anger which agitated the guards. Azure couldn't help flinching slightly at the outburst and the robot glanced over at her before relaxing slowly. Azure thought she noticed a little guilt or self-shame in its eyes at his loss of control. He looked down at the table, uncoiling his fists and seeing the great dents it had created.

"That one's called anger," informed Del. "Ever simulate anger before?" The NS-5 looked away. "Answer me canner!" Del raised his voice in impatience.

The NS-5 looked up with decisiveness and addressed them, "my name is Sonny."

"So we're naming you now?"

"I'm Azure."

Both Del and the robot, now Sonny, looked at her.

"It's nice to meet you," Azure said awkwardly.

"Z," signed Del in exasperation.

"Del," cut in Azure, "you don't see what I see."

"A piece of metal?" Azure sighed now in exasperation.

"No," she said and glanced shyly at Sonny, "a friend." A corner of Sonny's mouth seemed to twitch a little, as if he was instinctively going to smile but didn't know how to.

Azure ignored Del's snort of derision and turned to the robot. "Why is Lanning dead, Sonny?"

"Dr. Lanning killed himself," Sonny observed the case pictures again. "I don't know why he wanted to die. I thought he was happy." Sonny's voice seemed sad, then his emotions changed. "Maybe it was something I did. Did I do something?"

Sonny looked up at Azure and Del, "he asked for a favour, made me promise."

"What favour?" asked Del.

"Maybe I was wrong, maybe he was scared."

"What are you talking about?"

"Scared of what?" asked Azure.

"You have to do what someone asks you, don't you Azure Miller and Detective Spooner?"

"How the hell did you know my name?" replied Del intently. Azure was startled also, she had only told Sonny her first name not her last.

"Don't you… if you love them?" Sonny was sad, scared and uncertain as he looked between Azure and Del, while they were confused.

The exchange was broken then when the door was opened, Bergin and Robertson of USR stood outside.

They made their way to Bergin's office but Azure was stopped from entering by one of the USR personnel. Something about it being USR business and that a civilian wasn't allowed. Azure rolled her eyes and waited outside. Luckily sound travels and she could make out some parts of the conversation within. Apparently murder could only be committed by two humans, meaning Sonny couldn't and wouldn't be charged. Sonny was property of USR; faulty machinery would be returned to USR for diagnostic and then decommissioned. Azure's stomach dropped at that, how could they just simply destroy someone with a obvious personality and consciousness? And in a robot, no less. Azure walked a little way down the corridor and stopped to look through the glass walls. In the main hallway guards and police were escorting Sonny out of the building. He looked up at Del as he walked past, then Sonny caught sight of Azure. His blue eyes stared at her and Azure resolved to see it… him, again.

Hey all! Firstly I just love the logical, sort-of robotic talking for some reason, maybe it's because I watched too much Spock when I was a kid?

Second, anyone pick up on what I've been doing with Azure? She's getting a little twisted up with her feelings, not sure whether to treat Sonny as a robot or a person, to call the robot a 'him' or an 'it'. Poor Azure :) I'm enjoying writing this more than I thought I would. Thank you to any and all that reviewed/is reading this! Even though this is for my own amusement it's nice to know others are enjoying it too. I luv you all, mini Sonny robots for everyone!