We land on the roof of the Neon Lotus. The building pulsates with light - pink and blue neon lights dance across the facade, holographic silhouettes of androids tempt passersby below.

We take the elevator down to the main level. The doors open to a lobby flooded with neon light - pink and purple, reflected in the shiny floor. Behind the large panes of glass androids dance: perfect bodies, skin as if alive, fluid, provocative movements. Bass music vibrates in the air. There are plenty of customers - businessmen in suits, tourists, gangsters. All staring at the show.

At the reception desk, an android greets us - scantily clad in transparent latex, her hair neon pink, her smile programmed for maximum seduction.

„Welcome to Neon Lotus, dear guests. How can I help you? Service for two? Or separately? We have specialties for every fantasy - delicate, spicy, exotic...” - she purrs sweetly, scanning us with a glance.

I interrupted sharply: „Police. We want the manager. Immediately.”

The bot’s smile froze for a split second - like a glitch in its programming. „Of course, please wait a moment.”

After a minute, the manager appears - Mr. Hao, a corpulent, bald man in an elegant purple suit. He leads us into the office, passing corridors with private rooms - muffled groans, flickering lights.

„This is a destruction of our property,” Hao begins in a trembling voice. „The customer, councilor Vincent Bo, was drunk. He claims that Luna went crazy and attacked with a knife. But it's impossible - our androids have aggression blockers. You can't see much on the footage from the lobby - we respect privacy here. The room itself was soundproofed, with no cameras.”

Kai asks calmly: „Where is the customer?”

„In the back, waiting. Flurried. And Luna... in room number 5. We didn't move her.”

The next step is up to us. We need to gather evidence.

„Please describe the whole situation from the beginning,” I say calmly.

Hao is calm, professional. „The reservation for Luna was made two weeks ago. Paid anonymously. Vincent Bo came in half an hour late. He looked screwed, but that's the norm for some guests. We respect privacy here.”

„Luna is our latest model,” he continues, as if to boast. „Exclusive, the most expensive services. It speaks more than a thousand languages, can do... amazing things. It perfectly simulates emotions, adapts to every fantasy.”

I cut in sharply: „To the point, Mr. Hao. What happened in the room?”

He frowned. „I don't know exactly. The room was soundproofed, no cameras. The client came out ahead of time with a bloody hand, screaming. Luna did not move. It's a loss for the company - he has to pay for the damage. But... please be discreet. If the media found out, that the councilor... you know, the reputation of the premises would suffer...”

Kai asks calmly: „Show us the video feed from the lobby.”

Hao turned on the holographic screen. It showed closed door of room number 5. Suddenly it opened - Vincent Bo came out wobbly, hand bloody, shouting something.

„Go back,” I say.

Hao turns back time. „Zoom in on the hand,” I add.

The image grows larger. Blood drips from Vincent's hand, leaving a clear mark on the floor just inside the door - as if the cut was fresh, made at the last minute.

Something is not right here. My heart is racing.

Manager Hao leads us to a small back room - cramped, with neon light seeping through the blinds. The customer, Vincent Bo, sits in a chair, face red from alcohol and nerves. An expensive suit, with neon inserts. Fresh bandage on his right hand.

I sit down opposite. Kai stands next to me, arms crossed. Professional. Calm.

„Mr. Bo, have you been to Neon Lotus before?” - I start neutrally.

He snorts. „No, the first time. Colleagues made me a surprise for my birthday. A gift - this Luna.”

„Were you drunk?”

„A little bit. A party, you know. But not so much. Just enough to have fun.” He smiles crookedly, as if it were a joke.

“Please tell us what happened,” I say.

Vincent raises his voice, gestures. „We went into the room. She asked how we were going to have fun. She insisted on something rough - she was eager, you know, these bots are programmed that way. I agreed. Suddenly she reached for a knife and brandished it threateningly. I grabbed the blade - she cut me! I had to defend myself. Fortunately, these bots are not strong. Because that's not what they are for, right?”

He laughs loudly, contemptuously. „I defended myself. I had to neutralize her, because she would have killed me. This android is certainly defective! I should be compensated for the risk to my life!”

He screams louder and louder, face red. An android is just a commodity for him - a defective trash. He speaks with contempt, angry emotions. He wants to leave as soon as possible, glances at the door.

„Please show your hand.”

He pushes the bandage away reluctantly. The wound on the inside of his hand - deep, but clean. As from the grip of the blade.

Kai interjects quietly: „Politicians lie professionally, don't they?”

Vincent falls silent for a moment, then snorts. „What do you suggest?”

It is difficult to judge whether he is making things up. He speaks incoherently, but convinced of the rightness. We stay professional - extracting facts, not feelings.

Before entering room number 5, I stop the manager Hao. „Are you sure you haven't moved anything?” - I ask.

„Absolutely nothing.” - he replies quickly, his voice slightly trembling. „We were waiting for the police. This is... the first time something like this has happened.”

The door opens with a quiet hiss. Kai and I slowly enter, careful not to disturb the evidence. The room is dimly lit by red neon lights, with minimalist but sensual decor - black walls with subtle holographic patterns rippling like mist, a huge bed with LED backlighting, mirrors on the ceiling reflecting every movement.

The android is lying on the bed on her back - a sexy brunette, almost naked, the position as if frozen in half motion. We begin the inspection.

The android’s torso and arms are slashed. Her chest has been torn open - synthetic tissue damaged, cables and fragments of metal skeleton sticking out from under it. Right eye damaged. Lots of cuts - precise, repetitive. The client worked a lot to disable her.

Kai kneels closer, scanning the details. „This looks like a lot more than self-defense,” he says quietly, professionally.

We look around the room. We find a bloody knife on the floor. Traces of blood start by the door - drops lead outside. I take a sample for analysis later. I hide the knife carefully in the evidence bag.

„Where could she have got the knife from?” - I ask manager Hao, standing in the doorway.

He denies it strongly. „That's impossible. The girls do not own anything. They do not leave the premises, everything is provided by us. It's not our knife.”

I write down facts. Dryly, professionally. The manager is shocked – to him, Luna is just a robot that keeps the business running, not a person. But this is the first time he's seen such destruction.

We leave the room for the lobby to gather facts and analyze the situation.

„According to the customer, the android was defective,” I say quietly. „She attacked him with a knife, he was just defending himself. He has a wound on his hand, it fits.”

Kai nods. „But it doesn't all add up. Luna's damage is far more than necessary for self-defense. In my experience, it doesn’t look like the aftermath of a fight — more like deliberate mutilation and murder. The positioning of the body, the precision of the cuts...”

„The manager says she couldn't have a knife,” I add. „Androids don't own anything. And the blood marks start at the door, not inside the room. It's as if the cut was fresh, made at the end.”

„If only we could hear her side of the story...” - I sigh.

Kai smiles slightly. „But we can! We'll connect to her memory. It should work.”

Back in the room 5 Kai pulls a small tablet from his pocket, kneels down beside Luna and carefully plugs the cable into the socket hidden on the side of her head - a standard diagnostic port.

I watch as he types commands, analyzing data stream. The screen flashes with blue lines of code.

„It worked,” he finally says and hands me the tablet. „The memory is partially corrupted, the android may have trouble finding her way around. But we should get the truth out of her.”

I take the tablet. My heart beats faster. It's time to interrogate Luna.

„Everything is clear, Kai,” - I say quietly, closing the door of room 5. „Our esteemed district councilor Vincent Bo is lying in plain sight. This was not self-defense. He planned it in advance.”

Kai nods. „Let me do the talking.”

Back in the back room. Vincent Bo sits sweating, manager Hao next to him. Both anxious. Kai gets closer, his voice calm but firm:

„Mr. Bo, the facts speak for themselves. We know that the knife was yours - you brought it with you. We also know that you injured your hand yourself, after having already destroyed the android. What you did goes beyond simply property damage. We are dealing with lethal deactivation of the humanoid unit - a crime punishable by up to ten years in prison.”

Vincent blanches, then suddenly his expression changes - from arrogance to pleading. „Please... it was just for fun. You know, friends on my birthday, they got me drunk.” He thinks for a moment.

„I will give you fifty thousand - a contribution in recognition of your work. Bury the case” - he proposes.

Manager Hao interjects nervously: „Fifty grand? That's less than the cost of Luna!”

Vincent hardens: „I have influence. You don't want problems, do you? You'll lose your badges.”

„Should we add bribery attempt to the list of offenses?” - I ask ironically.

I take Kai aside, we go out into the corridor.

„Kai, I don't know what to do” I say confused. „What he did ... it's terrible. To me, it's premeditated murder. There is too much violence against androids. People feel impunity.”

Kai sighs. „You know how people are. He's a politician - he'll take revenge, he has connections. Maybe it's better to take the fifty grand, bury the case. The place earns a fortune, but we could really use it. Think of the seaside vacation you've been dreaming of.”

„Maybe a compromise solution?” - I wonder. „I don't want to get my hands dirty with a bribe - it's dishonorable. We'll acknowledge property damage and compensation for the premises. Without court proceedings, no escalation.”

Kai looks at me. „What are we going to do?”

The decision is up to us.

I reluctantly admit that Kai is right. I've always been the impulsive one - I joined the police because I wanted to kill all the criminals, to take revenge for my brother's death in a triad street shooting. Justice burned me from the inside out.

But Kai... he is different. He's smart, perceptive. He knows that Vincent Bo is not just a drunk - he is a councilor with influence. We arrest him, and he'll squirm away, run connections, and harm us. We'll lose our badges, maybe worse. No sense in risking the future for one cause and our sense of justice.

We'll deal with Hao's manager easily - Neon Lotus earns a fortune.

We return to the back room. This time I'm in charge - they will not discuss with a woman.

„Gentlemen” I say with a smile, as charming as possible, although fatigue is dragging me down. „It's late, and I don't want to drag Mr. Bo to the police station at this hour. After all, it is your birthday. You should go to bed, sober up and sleep off this crazy night.”

„We'll do it this way: you'll pay us the fifty grand - a contribution to the police for their hard work. We'll put the property damage in the protocol and close the case. And you promise, it won't happen again.”

„In addition - ten thousand for Mr. Hao, privately, compensation for stress. The business is doing well, the damage will be covered by your insurer, I expect it won't be a problem. Agreed?” - I ask still smiling.

A moment of silence. Vincent Bo looks at me, then at Hao. The manager nods first.

Two quick money transfers between electronic wallets. The case is closed. I feel relief, but also bitterness in my throat. The world remains the same.

We leave Neon Lotus - the rain is still falling, neon lights reflected in puddles.

I reject bribery in general. That's not why I joined the police to take money from such bastards. What does he think? That everyone has a price?

I have always been impulsive - I wanted to kill all criminals, to take revenge for my brother killed in a triad shootout. Justice means everything to me. But I know that full justice sometimes costs too much. Kai is right - compromise.

We return to the back room. This time I'm leading the conversation.

„Mr. Bo, we should arrest you,” I say firmly. „You showed unacceptable aggression, lied in plain sight and tried to bribe us. We are the Hong Kong police - we have our honor.”

Vincent blanches, Hao remains silent.

„However, given the late hour and that today is your birthday, we propose a compromise solution. We will write a property damage protocol. You will cover full compensation for Neon Lotus. And you promise, this will never happen again. We will note the event in the police files - next time the punishment will be much more severe.”

A moment of silence. Vincent Bo nods, clearly relieved.

We write down the protocol, there is a quick transfer of compensation. Case is closed.

We leave Neon Lotus - the rain is still falling, neon lights reflected in puddles.

I have always been impulsive - I joined the police because I wanted to kill all criminals, to take revenge for my brother killed in the Triad shootings. Justice means everything to me.

I know from reports: the wave of violence against androids is growing exponentially. Humans treat them like slaves who can be used with impunity in all ways - beaten, modified, destroyed. Laws on the protection of androids remain dead - rarely applied. Police is bribed, cases swept under the rug.

But we have a chance to make a change. To make Vincent Bo an example. Especially since he is a well-known figure in politics. We'll go public to the media - let them see that someone has finally said enough.

„No, Kai. I won't relent this time,” I say sharply.

Kai looks at me for a long time, then nods. He knows I'm right.

We return to the back room. I stand up straight, my voice hard as steel.

„Mr. Bo, we are arresting you for killing an android, giving false testimony and attempting to bribe officers. We have it all recorded,” I point to a mini camera hidden in my uniform.

Vincent Bo is shocked, his face pale. „You can't... I have influence! I will destroy you!” - he threatens, but his voice trembles.

I pull out the handcuffs, hand them to Kai. „Cuff him.”

Kai puts bracelets on him - click.

Manager Hao inquires nervously: „What about the compensation?”

„Everything will be taken care of,” I reassured him. „The court will order full cover of damages.”

We leave the premises - the rain is falling harder. We fly PAV to the station, leaving Vincent in custody. Let him cool off in the stinking cell. As for us - we need rest. Tomorrow we will take care of the rest.

2065-08-16, 02:40 UTC+8

Finally home. The long shift drained all my strength - I can feel it in my bones, in my heavy eyelids.

I had a light dinner: rice with vegetables, nothing special, but warm.

We are sitting with Kai on the balcony of the thirty-fifth floor. The city below is a forest of skyscrapers - neon lights pulsate lazily, the rain has stopped, the air is clear after the storm. Millions of lights, and here we are, high up, as if above it all.

I pour myself red wine - red, synthetic, but good.

„Thank you for today,” I say, leaning my head on his shoulder. „I hope we made a good decision.”

Kai looks at me with those calm eyes. „Always together, Mei Ling. Whatever we choose.”

We talk about little things - about how long it's been since we've had time off, about beaches in Malaysia where we could go.

„Imagine: sea, silence and no calls in the middle of the night,” I laugh.

He nods. „Sounds perfect.”

I go to sleep - I fall on the bed. Kai stays for a while, then I hear a familiar sound. He sets himself in the corner of the room on the charger.

He's a great partner. I love him. Even though he's an android.