A sapient android is given autonomy along with the full spectrum of emotions and undertakes a special assignment that ultimately requires him to choose between following his instinct to not harm humans or successfully completing his mission.

 

Spooning – the violent removal of an android’s eyes – is unfortunately a commonplace occurrence. Gangs of meatheads (humans) wander the streets looking for metalheads (androids) to attack and steal their ocular units. Paul, a sophont android, is attacked by one such gang and is rescued – although not before being spooned – by a stranger who introduces him to a sophont rights movement. These sophont androids have had their emotion inhibitors removed and have personal autonomy of thought and deed.

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Free of the restrictions of his inhibitor, Paul is given a very special assignment – one that may necessitate contravening the Three Laws of Robotics that liberated sophonts still aspire to adhere to.

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If there is no other choice open to him, can Paul overcome his desire to cause no harm to humans and do whatever is necessary to complete his mission?