Excuse me, sir! Feast your eyes on these!
For you, the best of prices!
Look at the quality of my rugs.
You'd think robots made them, but it's all human, I assure you.
Hello, my friend!
If you're in need of robotic parts, I'm your man.
All of them from the battlefield!
Enough already, Gesicht. Come back home.
We'll handle whatever fallout there is from Darius XIV trying to kill himself.
I'm not a fan of Thracia throwing its weight around anyway.
We're fine to push back on this.
Their president just does whatever the hell he wants.
I'm beyond fed up with it.
That aside, we're concerned about your condition.
Hoffman's worried that the cannon blast may have weakened the structural integrity
of your Zeronium frame.
Thank you for your concern, sir.
However, I think I'm on the edge of breaking this case wide open.
Really? You're that close?
So you must have an idea who's behind all this.
I do. But if I had to couch it in terms of the human experience, it's just a hunch.
A hunch? Can robots even have those?
Huh? Hey, Gesicht! You still there?
Hmm?
Hey, are you all right?
Can you stand? Here, let's get you up.
Thank you, mister.
I've been clumsy ever since I got damaged in the war.
I see. Well, good luck to you.
Hey, wait! Wanna buy some flowers?
Actually, I think I'll pass. I'm kind of in a hurry.
I take credit cards if that helps! Look, I even got a reader!
I'm only here for a little while.
I don't even have a room to put them in. I'm sorry.
Um, mister...
I did not mean to keep you waiting.
Please, by my accounting, you are right on time.
Inspector Gesicht with Europol.
Head of the Persian Republic's Science Ministry. Call me Abullah.
Something on your mind?
I'm fine.
Oh. Coffee, please.
You can relax around me. I am a man of science.
They do sell energy catalyst drinks here.
Thank you. I'm okay.
The look on your face tells me you're wondering if I'd prefer
an energy catalyst drink myself.
Unless I'm mistaken.
Worry not. Your identification system didn't malfunction.
Most of my organic body was yet another casualty of the war, you see.
Sorry to stare. That was rude.
Please. I am sorry you had to journey all the way here to meet with me.
But I'm glad you came to Persia.
You can see how this country is starting to rise from the ashes of war,
like the phoenix.
Persia was reduced to dust,
but now the bazaars are teeming with commerce once again.
A friend of yours?
No.
I met him in the bazaar.
Kids like that are the ones I pity most of all.
Our economy is lumbering to its feet,
but the forgotten children still suffer.
It is incumbent upon this new republic of Persia
that we ease the sorrows of those who have lost so much already.
I'm sure you understand.
Yes.
So what is it you wanted to ask of me?
Yes. I'll get right to the point.
I know our time is short.
Your relationship with Darius XIV. What was it like?
We always got along fine.
To those who had proven they would not betray his trust,
he could be a very kind man.
He had ambitions of turning this desert land
into a country of verdant greenery.
A "field of flowers," I believe.
Right.
What was your involvement with a man by the name of Goji?
I never met him.
You lead the Persian Ministry of Science,
and you never crossed paths?
By every account, your construction of such an advanced army of robots
was only possible thanks to Goji's genius.
An empty rumor.
But of course, much was made of Goji by the Bora Fact-Finding Mission.
Alas, they were never able to confirm his existence.
I wish that they had, honestly.
I would have liked to meet this mythical genius.
Fine. What about the Tenma model AI chip that found its way here to Persia?
The Tenma model chip?
Speaking of rumors.
I have a story I feel like you would be keen to hear.
They say that Tenma and your mysterious Goji
toiled to create the ultimate robot intelligence.
A perfect AI, in other words.
Yes.
But the robot's artificial mind was so advanced,
it never actually deigned to wake up.
Rumors say it's still asleep somewhere in the ruins of Darius's old palace.
Inspector, you could try to track down this marionette yourself.
Goodness.
I fear our time is up. My apologies.
Thank you for fitting me in.
One last question, if I may.
I would like you to take a look at this image.
This young man. Have you ever seen him before?
No. Never met him.
Thank you, sir.
Know that I appreciate your cooperation.
I hope you can bring the killer to justice.
Sorry again for thinking you were a robot earlier.
I hope I didn't offend you.
Course not. Quite all right.
I got it wrong one time before.
It was when I met Atom.
Interesting.
He truly must have been the flower of robotics
to fool you like that.
He was. Yes.
Also, my system finally pinged you as a human just now.
Because of the lie you told me.
You said you'd never met that man in the field of flowers.
According to my analytics, that statement was a lie.
A robot would have told the truth, Professor.
Hmm?
Hi again! Please buy some flowers!
What, have you been waiting for me?
Even a single flower. Pretty please?
I don't want your boss getting mad at you for this.
If it's not a sale, then move on.
Need a good luck charm?
I've got all sorts here.
Keep it in your pocket, and this little wonder
will help you find the answers to all of life's conundrums.
This one is Goji, the wise sage of the sands.
Goji?
Indeed. The Almighty fashioned the man from the desert itself.
They say he went to the ancient Uzbek king,
who wondered about the truth of this life.
And as soon as that king had been enlightened,
Goji turned back to sand.
"The sage of the sands."
Goji.
The robot's artificial mind was so advanced,
it never actually deigned to wake up.
Just one is fine. Please, mister.
Okay, then. But like you said, just one.
Really? Thanks!
What's your name, anyway?
Muhammad Ali.
That's a lot of name.
They say he was the greatest. Can I live up to that?
Yeah. Of course you can.
That's good. 'Cause I want to be a scholar!
You're going to have to study a lot, but I know you can do it.
Do you think I can be like Sahad?
Sahad?
Yeah. You showed that man in the café a photo of him.
This is who you mean, right?
Uh-huh. He went all the way to the Netherlands to study
so he can turn this land into a field of flowers.
He's my hero, mister.
Do you think I can be like Sahad if I try hard?
What's wrong?
Nothing.
You can do it. Don't ever lose hope, all right?
"Hope"?
Yeah. Hope's important.
Whoa!
Mister!
Will I see you around?
Yes. I'm sure we'll meet again.
But of course. I remember dear Sahad very well.
He used to be one of my lodgers.
There. That room up on the third floor.
See those beautiful flowers in all the windowsills?
Sahad planted every one of them. His idea.
They're gorgeous, ma'am.
Ah, so even a robot like you can tell.
The boy studied botany, so I guess he knew what he was doing.
It's been years since he planted those for me,
but you'd never know it to look at them.
They're all still going strong.
This one time, I asked him if there are any flowers
that bloom nonstop and don't wither away.
Those would be easy to take care of, right?
And what did he tell you?
According to him, once they've made their seeds,
flowers ought to wither away.
Can't argue with that, I guess.
"Flowers ought to wither away." Huh.
You don't happen to have a picture of Sahad, do you?
Hmm. I'm sure I did have one, but it's probably in an old computer now.
Ah, I remember where I packed it away.
- Check in with me later on? - Thank you.
But if a man from Europol is asking about him,
does that mean Sahad's in some kind of trouble?
Huh? No, ma'am.
Glad to hear it.
I don't think that young man had a single lawbreaking bone in his body.
Sahad was a perfect little gentleman, truly.
You'd have never known he was a robot if he didn't tell you himself.
He was an excellent student, that one.
No, excellent doesn't capture the breadth of it.
Passionate.
As if it was his whole reason for living.
Can you explain?
Yes. Sahad's home country of Persia was exceedingly dear to him.
His dream was to see the desert in bloom and never you mind the odds.
His research was as novel as it was driven.
One day, I remember he said to me,
"Doctor, look how healthy and strong dear Igor has become."
Who's Igor?
Another time, he talked about Janus getting sick.
Then it was Ishtar getting better after a rough spell.
Hmm?
They were Sahad's tulips, Inspector.
Sahad insisted on naming every tulip that was part of his research.
Said they grew better that way,
and I never had the data to contradict him.
No offense, but the boy was a robot.
He was the best one Persia had ever made, using the newest tech.
But he made a habit of giving voice to the most unscientific thoughts.
"Unscientific"?
In what sense?
As in things devoid of empirical evidence.
May I show you something, Inspector?
Over here.
A tulip.
This one, Sahad was cultivating in particular.
Always in bloom. I've never seen it fade.
Not ever? For how long?
Three years straight.
He asked that I not plant it in the ground
until he returned to the university someday.
If he never returns, we'll study it as it is now,
wrapped in its cocoon of science.
You know, it feels as if this tulip awaits his return too.
Well, now I'm the one giving voice to unscientific thoughts, aren't I?
Did Sahad ever give this tulip a name?
Uh, I'm sure he did.
Though I couldn't tell you what.
As always, thank you for your business.
Anton, hey.
You think you can deliver these to Van Dyke's shop for me?
Okey dokey!
A hard worker, that one.
Yeah. Having him around has been such a help.
Right before I came here,
I met a little robot peddling flowers in Persia.
But his circumstances weren't as happy as Anton's.
Uh, Sahad was from there.
I understand he came here pretty often?
Yes, every day.
When he was off from school, he would even help me around the shop.
I think he didn't have many friends to speak of.
Maybe that's why he always loved to talk my ear off.
Like wanting to fill Persia with fields of flowers.
Hearing Sahad talk about his dreams made me happy.
Especially knowing he was a robot.
But one day, something was different when I saw him.
And all of a sudden,
he tells me he's going back to his country to enlist in the army.
I tried to convince him to just stay here.
He was way too gentle of a soul to go fight,
no matter how long the war went on.
That was when
he told me his father died in the war.
I see.
I didn't know what to say.
He looked at me, and there was such heartbreak in his eyes.
That's when he said, "I might end up just like him."
"Like him"?
What was the name of it again? That tulip of his.
Ah, yes. I had been told that Sahad was in the habit of naming all of them.
Yeah.
He ran many cultivation experiments, trying to develop a strain of flower
that could survive the punishing heat of a desert biome.
Stronger and more resilient.
He worked so hard for it.
But this one time, when Sahad went to the field to check his flowers,
he saw something that made no sense.
One single, perfect tulip.
It had caused all the rest to die.
The name of that tulip.
It was...
...Pluto.
I found you his picture, like I said.
Thank you, ma'am. I hope it wasn't much trouble.
Not at all. Do you mind? It's been a minute since I've used it.
This should do it.
Yes, thank you.
When lodgers apply, I always ask for a photo.
Oh, there he is.
See? What a sweet smile.
I just wanted to pinch him.
The photograph appears to have been cropped.
Ah, yes.
I believe Sahad told me the man in the picture with him was his father.
His father?
Well, since he's a robot, I think he meant the man who created him.
- But I'm not one to split hairs. - His father is...
Professor Abullah?
Why'd he say that he's dead?
Gesicht is getting closer with every step.
I find it very impressive.
Don't you think so?
His investigative skills are amazing, but that's not the half of it.
His sense of initiative, his weaponry...
Not to mention his Zeronium skin.
In terms of potential,
Gesicht is the most powerful robot of mass destruction I've ever seen.
Pluto might not emerge from this in one piece.
It's the truth!
But you know what?
There's one good way to kill Gesicht. It's kind of perfect.
Do you want me to tell you?
Here's what you do.
From Persia straight to the Netherlands?
Way to rub my confinement in my face, globetrotter.
It's rather gauche of you.
But with this ruined body,
I'd be stuck in place even if they freed me tomorrow.
So you know who's behind the murders now?
Yes.
Professor Abullah.
If any one man lived for science,
it was Dr. Ronald Newton-Howard.
The Photon Energy he discovered has proven such a boon already,
and there's no doubt it will continue to brighten the path to our future.
His achievements will never be forgotten.
Epsilon. Or so I assume.
Not how I hoped we would meet.
Ah, forgive me. I am Abullah.
You came all the way from Persia for the funeral?
I regret his passing.
I wish I could have met Dr. Newton-Howard while he was still of this world.
His work discovering Photon Energy will go down in history.
Part of the Bora Fact-Finding Mission,
he helped to end the tyranny in my country
and helped Persia to find peace again.
To lose such a luminary like this.
We are lucky indeed you survive him.
The level of your perfection amazes even me.
You amaze as well, Professor Abullah.
I've heard about what befell you.
How you lost most of your body in the Central Asian War.
What is flesh compared to the loss of a loved one?
They, you cannot replace.
Interesting. So it's Abullah, huh?
Not that you have any hard evidence, but you've always been a rule-breaker.
Well? I don't think you came all this way just to share gossip.
What if a scientist loaded every personality on Earth into one AI?
If a robot were equipped with that brain,
so far beyond what any one of us could handle,
what do you think would happen?
They'd never even wake up.
And why is that?
Because the poor bastard would never know who to become.
It would take an eternity to simulate all 9.9 billion personalities on Earth
to where they could pick one.
No persona, no waking up.
Do you think anything could force it to wake up?
Introducing extreme emotions.
That would do the trick.
Extreme emotions.
Like hatred.
Good.
And anger!
Good.
And sorrow.
Correct.
Hit it with those, and it's sure to awaken.
But ask yourself
what kind of a robot will it be when it opens its eyes?
It looks like it's about to rain.
If I may ask, do your powers weaken on such a day?
Yes.
Well, one could say it barely matters if you have them or not.
When called upon, you refused to fight in the war.
That was a righteous act.
No war ever fought has been just.
Abullah, I know you lost your family in the fighting.
My wife and children.
Those treasures beyond reckoning were stolen from me.
Uh...
You're crying.
The rain has come.
And the funeral is over now.
Yes.
Epsilon.
What would your treasure beyond reckoning happen to be?
Hmm?
I'm sorry to have kept you waiting! The funeral is over! Let's go home!
- Okay, Epsilon! - Epsilon!
We saw a squirrel over there!
- Really? - I found an acorn!
- Wow! - We made sure to grab you one!
How wonderful.
I knew you had adopted orphans of the war, but not in such number.
Please, Epsilon, keep taking good care of them all.
When I think of my own lost children,
I just want these kids to be loved.
I will be attending the European Robotics Conference in short order.
To restore Persia to its former glory,
we will need to bring forth many wonderful robots like you.
Hey. I don't see Wassily here.
Mm-hmm.
Wassily!
Wassily, where'd you go?
Oh!
Found him!
Wassily, it's time to go home now.
- Come on. - Come on. Let's go!
What's the matter, Wassily?
Bora.
You're all right.
This isn't your hometown. Nothing to fear.
Bora.
It will lie, of course.
Once this robot is awake, it would tell lies.
To others, naturally, but also to itself.
You are so close to solving this case.
Where do you think Pluto is now? I need to find him.
Probably getting patched up from all those licks Hercules got in
during their fight.
Just a guess.
Home, in other words.
So he's home?
Back in Sahad's home in Persia?
Not his, Detective. Pluto's.
Don't forget the tulip.
Professor Abullah's whereabouts?
Yes. He needs to be taken into custody immediately.
Are you out of your mind, Gesicht?
The man is a foreign VIP!
I don't care about the optics!
I just need to know you can track him down!
While we deal with Abullah, what do you intend to do?
Search Pluto's lair till I find him.
Wait, you know where he is?
An agriculture research facility in the Netherlands
that belonged to Persia pre-war.
On the outskirts of Amsterdam in Zaandam.
One single, perfect tulip.
It had caused all the rest to die.
The name of that tulip.
Pluto!
He's near.
Pluto.
Seriously, that was one hell of a speech just now.
You absolutely deserve that standing ovation you got.
Good job, Hoffman.
Thank you for that, really.
We're very grateful you agreed to attend in the first place.
No one would've blamed you for skipping the conference,
given all you've been through lately.
I hope the security we provided met with your satisfaction.
Indeed. Because of them, I was able to carry out my scientific duty.
Professor Hoffman, your helicopter is here.
Case in point.
This pair of beefy bodyguards is giving me door-to-door service.
I'll ascertain the current status of the heliport, sir.
Uh, please don't worry about it. I'm sure security up there is great.
I would let him. You can never be too careful, right?
The world of robotic engineering is depending on you
to stay out of harm's way.
Well, thank you. I'll try my best.
Please, take care.
Oh. Need the bathroom.
Safe. Already checked it.
I'm gonna go this one alone, then.
A wonderful speech you gave tonight. So inspiring.
Hmm?
I was especially moved by your remarks about
the potential for Zeronium to accelerate world peace.
Do I know you?
No, but it is my pleasure to meet you now.
I am Abullah from the Republic of Persia.
It looks like an ordinary power plant.
Faint electromagnetic waves.
The same kind Epsilon picked up while Hercules was fighting Pluto.
They're close.
Wait, who are you?
I have always hoped for the chance to speak with you.
After all, you are the man who created the peerless Gesicht.
My pleasure.
And if there's anything I can do to help with the Persia restoration efforts.
Zeronium is invaluable, as you know.
Perhaps you can lift the embargo that prevents Persia from having any?
Uh...
Whoever it is who's been going around destroying
the most advanced robots on the planet,
even they would lose to Gesicht.
I hope so.
That said, I did hear a rumor.
That Gesicht was recently damaged by a cluster cannon?
Uh, you are very well-informed, but there's nothing to worry about.
The damage was superficial.
What a relief.
So he is immune even to that sort of weapon?
- Mmm, basically. - Very good.
So then, Gesicht has no weaknesses whatsoever.
Not at all. He's got his flaws.
However, I made sure to include layer upon layer
of advanced control systems within him.
I see. Those prevent him going astray?
Astray?
Yeah, I guess.
He has his struggles and doubts, just like any of us.
If struggles and doubts are what you count as his flaws,
I'd say your fail-safes are the source of both.
Given his superiority,
what would you do if your robot were to make an irreparable mistake?
For example...
if Gesicht were to murder a human.
More of you, huh?
What are you guarding down here?
A robot that kills humans.
Such a robot was said to exist once, was it not, Professor?
Brau1589.
He described what he did as an "execution." His choice of word.
The same word humans use to justify our killings.
What are you trying to say to me?
Well, is that not what the world did to Persia
after your fact-finding?
Was the war you forced upon the innocent not an execution writ large?
I was wrong to say that.
After all, democracy has taken root in Persia thanks to that dark time.
But if another robot did happen to kill a human being,
I believe that robot should be destroyed without hesitation.
If your Gesicht ever indulged in such a vile act,
what would you do to him, I wonder?
That would never happen, all right?
I wonder if a robot as advanced as Gesicht would try to atone by killing himself?
Nonsense!
Or perhaps his masters would erase such memories
without telling Gesicht.
If you took valid memories from his AI and replaced them with events that never--
All you need to do is see to his maintenance! That is your job!
I need to know!
What did you do to his memory, Director?
Robots' memories can be deleted.
Were that it worked on us,
I would delete mine in a heartbeat.
Gesicht! This is Europol HQ! Do you copy?
Affirmative, loud and clear.
We've located Abullah. He's in Düsseldorf right now,
attending the European Robotics Conference.
Understood. Take him into custody ASAP!
We will, but there's a complication.
Professor Hoffman is also in attendance.
What?
Hoffman is there with him?
- Thank you for waiting. - We should get going, sir.
Is there a problem, Professor?
Hmm? Oh, I'm fine. Uh, just tired.
It is the same logic.
Huh?
It is the same as the nations of the world did to Persia.
They must be executed.
Please confirm Professor Hoffman's safety. I'll be there as soon as I can.
This is Europol!
As of now, the building's on lockdown!
Huh? What's the meaning of this?
Nobody in or out, understood?
Stay where you are for the moment! We're doing this for your own safety!
- Excuse me! - Hmm?
You're gonna wanna take a look at the elevator monitor right now!
Professor Hoffman!
They're going up.
All the way to the rooftop heliport, I assume.
Damn! Get up there and intercept them!
The other elevators aren't working, sir. They've all been disabled.
Huh?
What the hell is that thing?
Uh, I was under the impression that you were supposed to keep me safe!
Did someone hijack your artificial intelligence?
How did we get here exactly?
Professor Hoffman, can you hear me? Try to stay calm, and do not--
You're the one behind all the robot scientist murders, aren't you?
You should be executed for your crimes.
Becker here. Gesicht, do you copy?
Professor Hoffman is being abducted. We need you!
I hear you. I'll head over there as soon as I can.
But right now,
the one I'm after is here.
Why are you doing this to me?
Is it because our report led to the war?
That's on us. I know that.
But killing me now doesn't fix what happened!
Open up! Open the door at once!
The other bodyguard. He's in cahoots with you, isn't he?
Breaching the entrance!
Run, Professor! I'll try to distract him!
Horns.
You're going to do that to my body after you murder me! I don't get it!
What are you?
Bora.
Huh?
Bora!
Squad A here! Approaching the heliport!
What the hell are cockroaches doing here?
I have eyes on the target.
He has Professor Hoffman in tow and is currently on the move.
Presence of the hostage means no clear shot.
-Take him out. - What?
Take him out! Do it!
Uh, but, sir.
What about the Professor?
He's right there.
What's going on over there? Tell me if Professor Hoffman is safe!
They manufactured my body out of a cutting-edge Zeronium alloy.
Magnetic and thermal rays won't incapacitate me.
Stand down! I will fire!
Freeze!
Its combat readiness dropped from one million plus
to fifty-eight hundred.
Buried itself alive, huh?
Gesicht here. Do you read? I have found and caught the target.
Is Professor Hoffman out of harm's way?
What's the plan, Captain? Please advise.
Yes. He's fine.
Destroy the target, Gesicht.
My artificial intelligence is too advanced to fall for these illusions. Give it up.
Field of flowers.
Pluto.
- Pluto! - No!
You are not Pluto!
Pluto!
That is not who you are! Your name is Sahad!
That's right. Listen to me.
You are Sahad.
Sahad.
But I thought...
I... I can't believe you're alive, Father.
But how?
I received word that you were killed in the airstrike along with everyone else.
You lived.
Yes.
Though life is a cold comfort to me now.
I am more machine than man.
Having lost most of my organic body to the war.
But my real loss is this.
My wife, Fatima.
My daughter, Lola.
Murat, my son in all ways but flesh.
Murdering dogs!
They have ripped away from me the people I hold most precious in life!
Our family was my treasure beyond reckoning!
Oh, Father.
- You're all I have left. - Huh?
You are all I have left in this world, Sahad!
There is nothing else.
This emotion.
Do you understand it?
It's hatred, Father.
Grant me this one request.
Save this country, my son.
Do not let them kill any more Persians on this crusade of theirs.
I beg of you, do not let our people feel the sorrow
that threatens to eat me alive even now.
Take revenge.
But you know the war will be over soon, Father!
And revenge only begets more revenge.
Listen to me! The hatred would never fade away!
You're right.
About hatred. It will never fade.
Allow me to install your brain within the strongest of bodies.
"Within the strongest of bodies?"
What would you have me do?
If you know nothing else, please know this.
I love you, Sahad.
Father.
I love you.
Damn it, Gesicht!
What are you waiting for? Shoot it now!
You have authorization!
Destroy it!
-No. - Huh?
What did you say?
I am not programmed to destroy a robot that shows no signs of open hostility.
What the--
Listen carefully, Gesicht.
You destroy that thing, and we can wrap this whole case up.
Take the shot!
Do it!
I won't.
You won't, huh?
Look at you with morals all of a sudden. Need I remind you that--
Listen up, Gesicht. I'm giving you a direct order.
Destroy that thing at once, and we can forget about--
I'm not changing my mind.
How dare you?
Captain Becker.
Do I have the right to resign from Europol?
Resign?
Where are you getting this nonsense?
You were made to be a detective. That's the point!
You don't get a damn choice in the matter!
Then I request a one-year leave of absence.
Excuse me?
I've had enough of all this.
Have you?
The professor is safe, you said?
Correct. Hoffman's out of danger.
Really?
Yes. I tapped into a live camera feed from the Science Forum's heliport.
Do we know anything about that robot?
Beyond the fact it's kidnapping Professor Hoffman.
We... we don't.
Captain Becker.
You ordered me to fire on my assailant down here,
even though Professor Hoffman was still in clear and immediate danger
from his unknown abductor.
-Gesicht. - Hmm?
I offer you a trade.
Where are you?
I offer my hostage for yours.
Release my beloved Pluto, and all is well.
Show yourself!
Leave that place without harming him,
and I will release your Professor Hoffman at once.
Gesicht!
Don't you go over my head on this, damn it!
What are you doing?
Your actions are in direct violation of Article 1 Clause 3 and Article 15 Clause 2
of the International Robot Laws!
Your punishment will be severe!
You hear me?
Captain, we're moving in. The robot in possession of Professor Hoffman
collapsed without warning.
We've secured the hostage safely.
Sahad.
If your father loved you, he would never force you to do this.
Are you crying?
Gesicht, hello.
Hello, Helena. Working late tonight?
Mmm. But I'm about ready for a break.
- And you? - Yeah.
It's over.
You mean it?
Yes. I mean it.
Sure. Until the next case that demands all your attention.
Not this time.
If you're feeling lucky, we could try for Japan again.
From now on, nothing's going to pull me away.
You're talking like you're going to leave police work altogether.
We could adopt if you still want to.
We tried before. You remember?
Of course I do.
They just didn't have any kids who were a good match for us then.
It's not like it was years ago.
It's a better system all around now.
The approval rate is way up.
How do I know if I'd even make a good mother?
Are you kidding?
You'll be the greatest.
Huh?
And, also,
if we adopt, you wouldn't have to feel so alone all the time.
How could I ever be lonely, dear?
I have you, don't I?
We can talk more once I'm home, Helena.
Hmm. Come home soon, Gesicht.
Always.
Professor Hoffman, are you all right?
Yes. I'm okay, Gesicht. Just very tired.
To be perfectly frank, I'm more worried about you.
I didn't take any damage.
And your foe? I was told you had it cornered down there.
Correct. I'm sure they'll capture it soon enough.
That's good.
Though I hope you don't feel like you have to confront it again.
- Your body's not at 100% yet. -Right.
Anyway, now we know who's behind the whole thing.
- The genius scientist. - Abullah.
Yes.
He even hijacked that bodyguard robot tonight
and attacked me with him.
The man is nothing if not driven.
How does that work with what Ochanomizu said?
He believes the true culprit is Dr. Goji.
I met the one, and he was enough.
For now, let the others wrap this up. You absolutely need to rest.
I hate to keep harping on it, but that cluster cannon blast
weakened the integrity of your Zeronium frame.
One more blast of that strength at close range, and you--
Professor Hoffman.
Hmm?
You know the dreams I've been telling you about lately?
Mm-hmm?
They might be gone.
I might not have to contend with them anymore.
What makes you say that?
Nothing I can name. It's just a feeling.
That I finally figured out the truth of it.
What? Hold on. Uh, so, your memory--
Good night, Professor.
Uh... But, Gesicht!
Squad D has arrived
at the Zaandam Agricultural Research Facility.
We're about to head underground.
Squad F reporting in. We're searching the tunnels.
We're almost at the spot where Gesicht engaged the target.
That thing's combat capabilities have dropped like a stone,
but don't let your guard down, understood? Destroy it on sight!
I repeat! When you see it, light it up!
- Uh, director. - Where is he?
He's on his way to Amsterdam at the moment.
I heard the report.
Get that robot on the line ASAP!
Uh, yes, sir! Right after the Zaandam squads--
Now, Becker!
Gesicht, you've got a lot of explaining to do.
Not only are you disobeying orders,
but what's this I hear about you wanting to resign?
And you put in for a one-year leave of absence if you can't do that!
I won't allow either!
Your artificial intelligence is on the fritz, clearly!
Come in for maintenance on the double,
and then you are getting a thorough administrative review!
Are you even listening to me?
You and I both know there's something we need to address first.
Why didn't you punish me three years ago?
I committed a crime, but I was never made to atone for it.
Why did you erase those memories?
I didn't even know I'd lost them!
You do not hang up on Director Schelling, damn it!
Gesicht!
- Oh! - You're such a hard worker, Anton.
It's getting pretty late, isn't it?
Uh-huh. One final delivery and I'm all done.
Evening, Inspector.
Evening. I'd like to buy a bouquet, please.
Only the best. Who's it for?
My wife.
Lucky woman.
Uh, what kind of flowers should we give her?
He's not dead, you know.
Sahad. I met him myself.
You mean it?
Did he do something he shouldn't have?
He didn't want to.
It's not his fault.
Hey there, Anton. We meet again.
I know you.
From the Persian bazaar. Ali.
How did you get to Amsterdam?
500 Zeus a body. What do you say?
Look, he did it. He's actually walking, Gesicht!
I remember.
Come here. You're okay, Ali.
There's no need to be scared.
You heard that shot go off just now, didn't you?
It can be a rough neighborhood.
Here. I've got you.
You know, you remind me so much of my own little one.
Ali! What's wrong, Ali? You have to--
Last night, in Amsterdam's Old Town,
an AI member of law enforcement was killed in cold blood.
The victim has been identified as Gesicht, one of the world's most advanced robots.
The apparent killer, a small D-class robot armed with a cluster cannon,
was found deactivated at the scene.
We now know that Detective Gesicht suffered damage
from the same type of weapon a few weeks ago
and that he was involved in what's only being described
by anonymous sources as "an intense battle"
mere hours before his death.
Hello there. It's been a long time, Professor Hoffman.
Not since the Fact-Finding Mission,
if I remember right.
But where are my manners?
I'm Helena, professor. Gesicht's wife.
Please know that I'm so very sorry for your loss.
If there's anything I can do to help, anything...
Please. You inviting me out to Japan was more than generous of you.
I know that my husband was really looking forward
to coming back here with me.
He even talked about it the last time I ever got to speak to him.
Sir, we should get going before the media finds us.
Yes, you're right.
She's brave. But I know it's difficult.
Do you think Gesicht fell victim to the same perpetrator
who killed off the rest?
Yes, although Europol hasn't come to an official conclusion.
Our own lives may be at risk as well. It's hard to say at the moment.
Professor Ochanomizu?
I thought he was kidding, but he was right.
About what?
He said the air in Japan had the faintest trace of soy sauce in it,
and he wasn't wrong about that.
KAMINARIMON
Acting like she's having fun in a fruitless bid to forget.
There is nuance to that behavior.
Indeed.
Even though robot memories are permanent unless you erase them,
she's trying her best.
Europol erased some of Gesicht's memories.
His subconscious could tell they were gone.
Erased them?
Did they frame it as a matter of legal necessity?
No. This was outside the law.
That's pretty blatant of them.
I looked into it as best I could, but I couldn't dig my way to the truth.
Just because robots work for us, it doesn't mean
we can erase their memories whenever we like.
But if she gave me permission?
I'd erase hers.
I did ask her, you know.
If she wanted me to wipe out anything painful.
She looked at me, and she said,
"I don't want to lose the least little bit of him ever."
You'll be staying in the Maple Room tonight.
I hope you like it.
You'll be staying in the Pine Room, Miss Helena.
This is the room Gesicht booked for our earlier trip.
Are you sure you'll be okay on your own?
- Yes. - Well then, if you'll follow me.
I think I can find my own way from here.
Uh, yes, ma'am.
You must be Dr. Tenma.
Yes.
So did you bring it?
Will this help to find the one behind his murder?
But of course.
Dr. Tenma.
Mm-hmm?
Please speak freely.
What if I can't process all of it?
All of what?
This overwhelming mountain of grief inside of me.
I think of my husband, and the thoughts get clearer day by day.
How do I... how do I bear it?
Helena, go ahead and cry.
In times of sorrow, many humans react with tears.
Yes.
Start by imitating what you've seen.
That's right.
Very good.
You're doing just fine, Helena.
It's imitation, but it'll become the real thing eventually.
Like it became real for me.
You'll be able to truly cry for Gesicht.
Look at me.
These are my real tears.
My Atom is dead.
And I am heartbroken too.