The emergency operator's call came in during Isaac's lunchbreak as he wound down at the pool.
"Got a major robot malfunction 8 blocks away - Automatron Waitress 2000 - 6 callers. One hysterical kid saying it blew its own head off. All reporting a gun short though."
"I'm on my lunch Gina"
"Well you told me to pass on the interesting ones"
"True, but I was buzzed and feeling optimistic that day. Fine, I'll be there in 30"
Isaac hastily copied down the laws before leaving the station. He knew them by heart but it helped to reconnect with their nuanced logic. Plus, it was never fun to be caught out by a member of the public with too much time to spare. Everyone still remembered Deputy Quinn's fuck up from 2016. That video hadn't failed to make the Christmas newsletter since.
He finished scribbling down the 3rd law and murmured them to himself as he left.
A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
A robot must obey the orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.[1]
He arrived at Jim's Diner and passed a constable guarding the entrance. The body had already been moved onto the counter.
A man in his forties came through the backdoor as the bell clicked.
"Jim?"
"Jared - Jim's catchier, I've got papers for that gun round the back you know"
"We already scanned it. I'm simply here to gather information on the nature of this model's breakdown. We had quite a few distressed calls from your customers you know."
"I was grabbing a glass under the counter. Next thing my Colt goes off. Screaming everywhere. Not another soul in the place after less than a minute but me. First thing I did was run to my safe upstairs to make sure it was my gun... bastard can't even climb stairs let alone work a safe. Well insurance are going to pay for that thing and then some - amount of trade I've lost.
Jim went back to sweeping up glass.
Jared's gaze switched between his notebook and metal strewn across the floor. It had once been the robot's head. He twice underlined the third law and crumpled up his face.