Robocop

Something tugged at Murphy deep inside. He heard and saw brief snatches of everything that Yeshua described. It was bittersweet, knowing that they were real, but they were as fleeting as wisps of smoke. His lips pursed, and he was quiet for a time.

“I have had my programming tampered with before,” he said at last. “Are you some sort of illusion or glitch? Did the Company put you in my head?”

“You shouldn’t be in this part of town,” stated the tall cyborg. He didn’t seem to pay any mind to her being a Toon. “This is Street Vulture territory, and even I can only do so much here.”

From his leg, he drew his Auto-9. His directive flashed in front of his eyes: PROTECT THE INNOCENT. With no warning that it was about to happen, he fired at one, causing his head to explode. As the other two realized what was happening, he fired again, and the other collapsed to the ground. He grabbed the last one by the throat with a metal fist and told the kid to run, which he did. After reading the last thug his rights, he dragged him back to his nearby cruiser and placed him inside before walking back to Penny.

“You have defaced corporate and police property. Please come qui—”

He stopped, then all of a sudden, a car that had been parked in the lot revved to life and slammed into him. With a groan, the cyborg was knocked to the ground, a minor dent in his torso.

“Hah! How’d ya like that, Tin Man?!” yelled one of the men in the car, evidently more thugs like the trio. They seemed to possess similar hairstyles and piercings as well. Another truck pulled in where Penny was trying to escape, and from both cars emerged eight men carrying assault rifles, shotguns, and submachine guns. Some aimed at Penny while others aimed at the downed officer. Unfazed, he rose to his feet, wiping the still-wet paint from his visor.

“That was for lettin’ our mule get away!”

With a mechanical whirring and after taking a moment to scan the rebel and the graffiti, Murphy took a few clanking steps over to her. Addressing her in a calm but stern manner, he said, “You are committing a misdemeanor by Detroit law. I would ask you to desist.”

From his leg, he drew his Auto-9. His directive flashed in front of his eyes: PROTECT THE INNOCENT. With no warning that it was about to happen, he fired at one, causing his head to explode. As the other two realized what was happening, he fired again, and the other collapsed to the ground. He grabbed the last one by the throat with a metal fist and told the kid to run, which he did. After reading the last thug his rights, he dragged him back to his nearby cruiser and placed him inside before walking back to Penny.