It was so unfair! The decapitated android screamed murder. But androids were appliances, not people. The only crime here was dumping garbage in a public place. Eight weeks on this case, and all they had was an empty bottle and a severed head.
When Sergeant Anderson detailed Paul and his partner to get the Al-Azms, it seemed a pathway to promotion. They were going to bring down the last Mozzies in the precinct. Garbage! Still, Paul remembered, they got Capone on tax evasion.
“Take some pictures, Paul,” Paul told his partner. “I need to go plug in for a recharge.”
Friday fictioneers is a weekly challenge set by Rochelle Wisoff Fields to write a 100-word story in response to a photo prompt. You can find other stories here.
Fancy sharpening your skill with writing exercises? The Scrivener’s Forge offers a new exercise every month to hone one aspect of your craft. Take a look at this month’s exercise here
The age old story of greed and power – even the androids aren’t immune. Nice one.
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Sorry. I tried so hard not to write an android story
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I’m sure it won’t be the only one this week. Nothing wrong with it at all, so long as the writing is good, which it is here.
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I like a good android story!
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Thanks, Louise
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Where there’s a will, eh, Neil?
Excellent story.
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Thanks so much
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And they’re all called Paul? Why not! Nice story 🙂
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All law enforcement droids are the Paul model
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This photo is throwing up some truly weird stories – well done!
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Thanks, Liz
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Could be the premise for something much bigger. Imagine being a ‘Paul’, being sentient and knowing that the destruction of your kind isn’t even counted as real crime, just a littering offence. How angry those androids would be …
Great tale Neil
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Thanks Lynn
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My absolute pleasure 🙂
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Dear Neil,
Hi, I’m Paul and this my brother, Paul and my other brother Paul. 😉 That last sentence made me laugh out loud. Well done!
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks, Rochelle
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Androids always work for me. Great story!
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Thanks so much
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The Dickian quandary of sentient machines. Of course, I am a guy who names his cars, so what do I know? Nicely told.
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Thanks. What’s your car called?
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Salaryman. サラリーマン He’s a Japanese commuter car. He even has a little graphic on his window.
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Oh well! Androids are not much smarter than us then! What a relief! What a new fresh take on the prompt!
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Thanks. I doubt mine will be the only android story
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Great take! I never thought of an android 🙂
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Thanks
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This prompt was shouting out for an android story. It’s not your fault. I really enjoyed this. I particularly loved the first couple of lines…”It was so unfair! The decapitated android screamed murder. But androids were appliances, not people.”
You could feel his pain!
Hope you have a great week.
xx Rowena
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Thanks for humouring me, Rowena
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I liked the Capone angle.
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Thanks, James
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The devil is in the details. Often it’s the little things that matter and not the obvious. Great story. You always leave me wanting more (to read).
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Thanks so much
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If you’re going to go android, it’s as well to do it first. Well done on both counts.
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Thanks, Sandra
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Ok. The screaming android head was creepy! Talk about your scary dolls. You threw me a twist when the cop went to recharge. I wanted to read the rest of the story. Nicely done.
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Thanks, Kecia
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Interesting… very interesting. 🙂
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Thanks so much
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I really enjoyed this story. Androids and murder, how interesting. Brilliant take on the prompt. I was also going to write about garbage and littering. I’m glad I didn’t, as compared to this it would have been utter rubbish! 🙂
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Glad you enjoyed
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Now, Mr. Smith… let us take care of us…
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now that takes my thinking into completely new territory
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I like that!
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So, will Paul become and Anderson when promoted? Nice story.
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Thanks, Trent
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such nice suspense and the ending “plug in” brought me right here into our modern techy day – nice!
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Thanks so much
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I enjoyed how this came full circle – android to android.
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Thanks, Alicia
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LOVE a good sci-fi story!!
The last line was the best!!
– Lisa
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Thanks so much, Lisa
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Hey, man, write all the android stories you want as long as you can make them as good as this. Perfect for the prompt.
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That’s reassuring William, thanks
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Oh my gosh… its like the next part of my story!! Great minds Neil. Its line your cops found my robot’s head. I wonder what happens next.
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The memes came from de voodvork out
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Haha!
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Not surprising an android cop sees an android head and thinks it should be classed as “murder”. Reminds me of that C4/E4 series “Humans”. Should sentient robots have rights?
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Well that’s the question we’re about to have to confront
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I feel the androids one day will take revenge… wonder if we have to cut down the power plant and live in the woods
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We still have time, before we’re able to build conscious machines, to figure out how to make a society that includes them
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Clever take and it does raise the question, when obsolete or finished, should an android go in the recycling bin or the general waste one.
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Or the cemetery? Thanks Michael
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Fun … I agree with all who have came before me. Commenting late can make it difficult to come
up with a comment that no one has said. Super interpretation and story, Neil.
Isadora 😎
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Thanks so much, Isadora
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these androids better be programmed right lest they take over the world.
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Interesting world you’re creating here. I’m definitely curious and intrigued by Paul (Pauls?)
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Thanks, Emily
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I like the mixing of past with future and the noire feel to this, Neil. Nice job!
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Thanks, Dawn
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Now I’m glad I didn’t go with the Android. Your one is much better.
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Thanks, Tamal
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I toyed with an android tale and couldn’t get it to work. You, on the other hand, have done a fine job. It’s a shame the sergeant doesn’t have much sympathy for his staff or the victim – andriods are people too!
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Thanks so much
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This was fun, especially the reveal in the end. Poor Paul. And Paul. And…
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Thanks so much
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I love a little mystery.
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Thanks, Dawn
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Does not compute! Like the way you distanced your viewpoint character from emotions, as your android would be.
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