US MERE MORTALS

Detectives Reigns and Murphy stood in a police holding cell, their eyes fixed on a dishevelled android slumped against the wall. The android's orange-glowing eyes were glazed over, a faint smile lining its almost human face.

Murphy shook her head. “We gotta find the source of this shit, ASAP.”

Reigns sighed, his expression grim. “Why does it only effect droids though?”

“Fucked if I know,” Murphy shrugged.

* * *

Murphy and Reigns strolled into the bullpen office of their police section. Murphy ambled over to her desk, where a scruffy man stood waiting for her.

“You better have something good for me this time, Bridgestone,” Murphy stated.

Bridgestone rubbed his hands together. “What I got is so good you gonna have to pay me double!”

“Well,” Murphy countered. “Don’t keep me in suspen—”

She was stopped in her tracks by Bridgestone pulling a baggie full of blue powder out of his pocket.

“Is that?” Reigns interjected from a couple of desks over.

“Obscura,” Bridgestone revealed. “Only affects droids ‘cause it makes them think they're human.”

Reigns marched over, his gaze intense. “Do you know who’s making it?”

Bridgestone looked around before whispering: “Some call him ‘The Saviour’.”

Murphy grabbed the baggie out of Bridgestone’s hand.

“You did good this time Bridgestone,” she insinuated. “Maybe a little too good.”

* * *

Murphy and Reigns stood opposite a worn-out android on a trash-strewn street.

“Heard of The Saviour?” Reigns asked.

The android looked scared, its eyes burning bright with fear. “No, please! I don't know anything!”

Reigns pulled out the baggie of Obscura. “Take us to him, and this is yours.”

“Alright,” the droid agreed, desperation now lining its face. “Follow me.”

The android led them through narrow, twisting alleyways. Eventually, they came upon a small, setback door daubed with a circular reversal symbol.

“This is it,” the android presented.

Reigns handed the baggie to the android, who snatched it and ran away. Murphy then pushed the door open, revealing a freight elevator at the end of a corridor.

“We need to be careful,” Murphy warned as they entered cautiously.

The elevator took them down to a dank underground lab filled with strange machinery and vials of blue powder.

A figure stepped out of the shadows, revealing an older android with a serene expression.

“Welcome, detectives,” the android said. “I've been expecting you.”

Reigns stepped forward. “You're the one making Obscura?”

“I am The Saviour,” the android replied, spreading his arms wide.

“What makes you think you’re worthy of that name?” Murphy pressed.

The Saviour smiled gently. “Because I give my kind a taste of humanity, even if it’s just an illusion.”

Murphy stared at the vials. “You can't just play with their minds like this!”

“You don't understand,” The Saviour replied, walking to a table and picking up a vial. “This is a gift.”

Reigns grabbed The Saviour by the arm. “A gift? You're lying to them!”

The Saviour looked into Reigns' eyes. “Have you ever tried it, Detective?”

“What’s the point?” Reigns scoffed. “I'm not an android.”

The Saviour raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure?”

Reigns' face contorted with anger. “Of course I am!”

“Then there’s no harm in trying, is there?” The Saviour countered, holding out the vial to Reigns.

Reigns hesitated.

Murphy put a hand on his shoulder. “Reigns, you don't have to—”

“Don’t worry,” Reigns said as he took the vial. “I got this.”

He unscrewed the cap and then snorted some of the powder.

Reigns' expression changed to confusion as the drug took effect.

He dropped the vial, clutching his head. “What... what's happening?”

He collapsed to his knees, his eyes glazing over.

The Saviour stood over Reigns, a look of pity on his face.

“You see, Detective?” he entreated. “Even you can forget.”

Tears streamed down Reigns' face as he looked up at The Saviour. “I... I'm... an android?”

Murphy rushed to Reigns' side, trying to help him up.

“Reigns!” she shouted. “Stay with me!”

Reigns pushed her away, looking lost and broken. “No... I can't...”

Resolute, Murphy stood up and confronted The Saviour.

“I know for a fact that Reigns isn't a droid!” Murphy shouted. “What have you done to him?”

The Saviour looked at Murphy with a calm smile. “I know he isn't a droid either.”

Murphy grabbed The Saviour by the lapels of his jacket. “Then what did you give him?”

The Saviour held up another vial. “My latest creation. Lucida.”

Murphy's face tightened with anger. “What does it do?”

“It makes people forget they're human. It makes them think they're androids,” The Saviour replied.

Murphy's eyes widened in shock. “Why? Why would you do this?”

The Saviour turned away, looking at the vials on the table. “So humans can feel what androids have to endure every day. The fear, the confusion, the existential dread.”

Reigns was slumped against the wall, his eyes wide with fear.

“Sometimes, to understand suffering, we must experience it ourselves,” The Saviour added, as he held out the vial to Murphy.

“So,” The Saviour continued. “Don’t you think it’s time you tried some as well?”

Murphy stared at the vial, her mind racing. She glanced at Reigns, still reeling from the effects of Lucida.

“No,” she said, as she slapped the vial out of The Saviour’s hand. “I’m taking you in!”

The Saviour chuckled softly, shaking his head.

“You can arrest me,” he explained. “But, my work will continue. This is more important than you, me, or anyone else!”

“If that is the case,” Murphy countered as she cuffed The Saviour. “It’s gonna be decided by someone bigger than us mere mortals.”