Chapter 16, Protect the Innocent
Chapter 16: Protect the innocent.
Several days have passed by since the misconduct hearing and things have gone back to normal, RoboCop and Lewis are back in their cruiser doing police work as usual, without anything out of the ordinary happening between them anymore. They don’t even talk about the hearing, Riggs or Wildcard Edge.
Lewis has kept her promise to leave RoboCop alone by not putting any pressure to make him talk or act the way she’d like to. Her hopes to see Robo reacting and approaching her to say or do something meaningful have been gradually fading away.
Anne has finally reached her limit on the things she can say or do around him to demonstrate her feelings and wonders if Robo agreed to go to Wildcard Edge because she pushed him to his breaking point and now he just wants to be left alone.
Perhaps Murphy will always be restricted by the machine that is merged within him. Anne is broken hearted, more than before. A familiar feeling she’s already used to.
Nevertheless, what Lewis is unaware of, is that the man that sits next to her on a daily basis, is broken hearted too. After the incident with Riggs left behind, Robo had been patiently waiting for days for any kind of new creative idea Lewis would come up with, so perhaps he could relive the fantastic experience of having a beautiful woman on top of him, saying and doing all the wonderful things he keeps reordering inside his mind and he thought he was not allowed to live anymore.
Robo wonders if Lewis was just curious to live a sexual experience with someone like him and she’d probably start dating a normal guy soon, as she seems uninterested to approach him now. He would like to do something, but is unsure what to do. He’d like to say something, but is unable to find the right words.
They head up to Clover Hills, although the hidden facility of the rehab team is still a mystery, Robo and Lewis have finally come up with some results on the investigation of the explosives that were manufactured by the terrorist group from Clover Hills.
RoboCop and Lewis follow the cruiser’s GPS instructions to reach the factory. They step out of the vehicle but before they head up to the facility, Robo observes Lewis is concentrated walking around him, doing some sort of scanning with her device stopping at times to enter data manually.
RoboCop: What are you doing?
Lewis: Oh this? Do not worry about it. I am scanning you, so Alana can detect your OCS from a distance, I fear that once we get into town I lose contact with you…you cannot reply back to me on the TSAP if you are away from a cruiser, that sucks you know?
RoboCop: I am expected to be permanently on duty, next to a police cruiser all the time. I do not feel comfortable by being scanned by another operating system I know nothing about.
Lewis: But she knows everything about you now! It is unpleasant I’m aware of that…I had to do this myself when I started to configure the settings, I had to almost completely undress as the fabric from my clothes kept interfering with the process…it’s easier with you, as…you don’t have to take anything off…
RoboCop: That means your device scans humans and other devices, in-distinctively?
Lewis: Alana scans users…regardless of what they are made of. She doesn’t care, she’s artificial intelligence
RoboCop: She had detected my OCS before.
Lewis: The only reason she did that was because…you were in direct contact with my body. She’s programmed to protect and detect any threats around the users that she recognizes as the owners of the device. But if you had walked away from me, she wouldn’t have made the effort to detect you anymore…
Alana32: I must inform that the scan for a second user is complete. What name should be assigned to your significant other?
Lewis: That’s the way… the application calls the second user that can be programmed, don’t look at me, Crazy Al hacks many random systems and merges them into operating systems…
Alana32: Actually, the application that is programmed in my systems to upload a second user was taken from the online pairing program, “Love on the Cyberweb” 3.6 beta version. What name should we assign to your significant other?
Lewis: Just…call him the second user and the name is…Officer Murphy, RoboCop series number 001
Alana32: Information saved. I have to inform now I have detected duplicated data in regards of the product known as RoboCop series number 001; should I merge the data altogether? Exactly 10 days ago, you recorded the following: “RoboCop series number 001 is not a threat…”
Lewis: Stop, stop, that’s fine, you don’t have to playback everything just merge the damn data…
Alana32: It is done. I will restart my systems now to apply the changes.
Lewis: I hope you are not offended, Murphy…it is better if she recognizes you by your, your…
RoboCop: My product name so she has granted access to my OCP database. I understand. Why are you really doing this?
Lewis: River Rouge. I still have nightmares about it.
RoboCop: What do you dream of?
Lewis: You being, tortured…broken into parts and me…watching helplessly from afar, just like when you were…
RoboCop: Killed by gunshots. That is never going to happen to me again, neither of those things.
Lewis: Of course none of those things will happen to you again! This is why I will be checking up on you all the time from now on. Have you ever had any dreams…about me? Do you dream of me…?
RoboCop is puzzled wondering what would be the best way to let her know, she has always been in his dreams. The events of the day he lives with her sometimes become dreams at night and he had been content with just having that for a long time.
Although Robo has recently discovered that is much better to open his eyes after feeling her face on his and then get to see her up close, rather than opening his eyes after dreaming of her, wondering, what would be like, to live in real life, what he had just dreamed of.
To dare to have experiences in live colors, instead of just reordering memories, storing images and re-enacting dreams in his mind. Sadly enough he’s embarrassed to talk as he’s unable to find the right words to convey his thoughts in a proper way and just remains in troubled silence.
Lewis knows RoboCop has gone silent, and as she puts on her gear and loads her weapon, Lewis calls herself ‘stupid’ for expecting a meaningful answer from a man that perhaps is not that much of a man anymore. She’s not even upset or annoyed with him this time.
Robo and Lewis walk into the facility, unfortunately, the place is deserted and there are just empty metallic cases on the floor and some abandoned machines. Another loose end, they think. RoboCop tells Lewis his theory about terrorists being scared civilians that are fighting to not get evicted from their homes.
“They are planning to build Delta City after all” that’s what Robo tells her when Lewis is suddenly distracted by the noise that a sack of metallic cases make when it hits the floor. She spots someone is hiding behind some industrial machines and has dropped the sack by accident.
Lewis quickly aims at the spot where the machines are “Whoever is there, hands above your head, this is the police!” she energetically shouts as RoboCop is surprised to see that the suspects are just kids, a very young girl and her little brother that were collecting the empty cases in sacks, come forward, scared with their arms raised up.
Robo tells Lewis to put the gun down and they both try to get information from them, however, the children are frightened and they just give them short answers that lead to nowhere. “Where are your parents, where??” Lewis keeps repeating to them, but as she’s acting in an intolerant way that only results in scaring the children even more.
Surprisingly, RoboCop works more as a friendly protective figure for them, as the little boy dares to slowly approach Robo and tells him in a low voice, almost as a whisper:
“The only mother we have left is Bertha…but don’t tell the grey police”
Robo replies in a friendly way to him “Don’t worry, I won’t” The children tell them that a man named Moreno and his wife Bertha have been the foster parents of all the children that were left orphan, after their real parents being taken to the “cliff” by the grey police. The horror doesn’t end there, as their foster father, Moreno, had been recently killed by the rehabs as well. “They dragged father on the street until he died” the young girl finally said to them.
RoboCop and Lewis look at each other, the story caused them indignation. It is almost as if they could read each other’s mind, the unpleasant episode they lived with the civilians that had threatened them at the park makes more sense now. The leaders of the terrorist/resistant group of rebels were Moreno and Bertha, however, after her husband being ruthlessly killed, the only leader they have left, must be this woman.
RoboCop is now more interested than ever to find the leader of the rebels, nevertheless, the loud voices of some people that are outside the factory make Lewis take out her gun again to look outside and find out what the problem is.
Four trucks that are loaded with furniture and the personal belongings of a few families that are planning to exit Clover Hills are parked outside. They are surrounded by the three cars of a group of agitators that are yelling at them, threatening them to not leave the town.
Lewis tells RoboCop they have to go outside and meddle the situation; however Robo is more interested in finding more information about Bertha. The children take advantage of the distraction and run away from both officers, using the emergency exit door to leave the factory. RoboCop watches helpless as he thinks that was his only chance to find out where the rebel base is located.
“Let them go, Murphy come on!! We have to help the people outside!! We have to pick our battles!!”
RoboCop knows his partner is right and he opens his leg compartment to get his auto9 and proceed to restore order. Robo and Lewis’ choices are limited as they cannot perform any arrests or call for backup being Clover Hills a no-police zone. Reed had adviced them to gather information, but not to get involved in the riots they could stumble upon once they were into town. RoboCop and Lewis knew beforehand that was an order they were going to be unable to comply with.
The moment both cops step out of the door, RoboCop scans the suspects and grasps they aren’t carrying any firearms, just homemade weapons. Robo requests Lewis to put away her gun; they both had agreed they were going to use their firearms unless it was absolutely necessary. Lewis hesitates, however Robo sets the example by keeping away his own weapon by telling her: “Do not worry, you are safe with me” Lewis smirks and replies to him “No. You are safe with me”
The troublemakers causing the riot are angered towards the few families that have more economical resources to move out from the troubled town, and their only purpose is to chastise them, out of envy and bitterness.
“It’s because you are the rich ones, you are the ones that will run away from here, huh, you won’t fight for your homes and you will leave all of us to rot here cowards, you fucking cowards!”
The words “Fucking cowards” slowly becomes a chant sung by the rebellious men and women that are surrounding the vehicles to bully the troubled families that just want to be left alone.
RoboCop walks towards the protesters and tells them to drop their weapons, one of the angry men that was behind Robo takes the chance to hit him from behind with a wooden board with nails, RoboCop turns around and violently snatches the wooden board off the man’s hands throwing it away afterwards, however, before he’s able to do anything else, Lewis comes into scene by fiercely punching the guy in the face.
Lewis doesn’t stop there as she gets closer to the perp and kicks him in the stomach, suffocating him enough to make him fall on the ground, preventing him from standing up, two men that get to see what the female cop has just done, run angered towards Lewis to tackle her from behind, although RoboCop won’t allow them to harm his partner and extends his right arm to make one of the men knock against it, making him skid and fall on the pavement afterwards.
The other one is getting close to Lewis, however one of the men that were in the trucks gets rapidly off the vehicle and uses a baseball bat to make the guy trip over, making it easier for RoboCop to walk towards him, lift him up with one arm and throw him against one of their own vehicles, crushing his head against the windshield, breaking the perps’ nose as a result.
The rest of the agitators are now scared and they start to get back in their cars to leave the scene.
“Let’s get out of here, RoboCop will kill us all!”
Although one of them still has the nerve to threaten the families by saying:
“The cops won’t save you from the scrappers, they will kill you, all of you…”
RoboCop and Lewis have to helplessly watch how the troublemakers get away from them, they can’t perform arrests, call for backup or even shoot at any of the suspects. At least the families are safe. Lewis turns back looking for the man that helped her, to show gratitude, however the man approaches her first, he’s still holding his baseball bat, proud to have been able to assist the police.
“I knew you were a cop!! That’s what I told my wife when you left the store that day; you are an excellent shooter officer, so glad to see you again!”
Lewis is puzzled for a short while, and then she remembers the incident at the gas station’s convenience store, the day when she saved a young couple from being robbed. Her good deed has just paid off.
RoboCop asks who the scrappers are. The man explains to Robo and Lewis the scrappers are a local gang of robbers that steal from pawn shops and jewelry stores, to sell the stolen goods at the local market in Clover Hills and that they will be waiting for them at the exit of the district, to steal valuable objects from them, before they’re able to escape. “We do not care, we just want to leave this horrible town” That’s what the pregnant wife of the man tells them.
RoboCop looks back at the factory, whilst mortified, thinking that he would be unable to seek out for Bertha that day. Lewis tells him they have to escort the four families out of the district. RoboCop advices the civilians to not stop if the scrappers start following them, Robo tells them, the main objective would be to get them out of town, if they manage to exit the district together, RoboCop and Lewis would be in jurisdiction again to perform arrests and call for backup.
“We are here to protect and serve” are the final words Robo tells them before all of them get in their vehicles and drive towards the exit of Clover Hills.
Nevertheless, RoboCop and Lewis are unaware that someone had been spying on them from afar. Officer Lyle, the second one in command of the Rehabilitation group, observed everything RoboCop and Lewis did for the civilians from his own private vehicle. He proceeds to use his communicator to contact McDaggett and inform that the police is once again, sniffing around Clover Hills.
Lyle: I knew that bitch was a cop…she almost fooled me, and now she’s brought the robot with her. We should deploy one of the units, commander…
McDaggett: No, Lyle, it’s better if we let them go this time
Lyle: What if they bring more fucking cops along??
McDaggett: They won’t. I cannot risk deploying any of the units, as Johnson is unaware Schysler has given me the access. I cannot break his toy yet. Otherwise those fuckers won’t be paying us. Do you wanna risk our money, Lyle?
Lyle: No sir, you’re right…
McDaggett: Let them have their moment of triumph…for now
The agitators that threatened the families were right, as it didn’t take long for the scrappers to start following the trucks. The eight lawbreakers that are split into four tuned motorcycles; start to chase the five vehicles, the four trucks that are lined up, and the police cruiser that is in on their tail. Lewis is at the wheel and uses her police speaker to warn the bikers they are going to get into trouble if they don’t go away.
The perps dismiss the message and two of the four motorcycles speed up to reach the police cruiser, one to each side, Lewis looks at them on the retro visor and as they get closer she tells RoboCop:
“Remember when you said, ‘absolutely necessary’? Well, partner, absolutely necessary is now!!”
The first motorcycle has lined up on the right side of the patrol car, and the passenger takes his chance to use a heavy chain to break the windshield of the cruiser, and although Lewis is wearing a protective helmet, she momentarily loses control of the vehicle, making it zig zag for a short while. Robo is fast and takes out his arm through the broken glass and pulls the chain powerfully towards the cruiser making the man toss against the car’s hood, the impact makes the perp lose the chain and he falls on the pavement, just to be run over by his own partner.
Lewis has problems as the second bike is coming close, lining up to her side and the guy behind the driver has taken out a modified Beretta92G from his belt and is now shooting at the car, the cruiser receives a few impacts on the trunk and Lewis uses her driver’s skills to push the bike aside, trying to make it lose control.
However, the driver is skilled enough to avoid being pushed out of the road and has speeded up, the bike is getting even closer and the passenger is now aiming at Lewis, although his attempt to shoot at the female cop is frustrated as RoboCop has fired his gun repeatedly, he shoots through the backseat window, shattering it into pieces, the perp loses the firearm as two of his fingers have been blown off.
The wounded man starts yelling and cursing and the driver of the bike is now in nervous hesitation.
Lewis forcefully twirls the steering wheel enough to make the bike skid on the road, she breaks abruptly, making the car screech loudly, although she’s successful as the motorcycle was finally pushed out of the freeway, the driver loses control and crashes against some metallic trash containers that were on the corner of the avenue.
The families that are driving ahead the cruiser are nervously driving complying with RoboCop’s orders to not stop, no matter what happens. They’re having trouble as well, as the two remaining motorcycles are getting close, shooting at them from behind. “Dock now! Heads down!” are what the drivers of the trucks tell their families, as they see they’re being shot.
The man that previously helped Lewis is trying to stay calm, by telling all the passengers in his vehicle to trust the police, however a loose bullet scratches his left arm, and his wife is now scared asking him if he can keep on driving “I am fine, they will protect us, stay calm we are almost there” that’s what he replies to her as he is glad to see the battered police cruiser is now behind the motorcycles, RoboCop is using his computerized vision to target the perps that are in movement without harming any of the civilians.
Lewis has taken out her gun as well and is trying to shoot with one hand whilst driving with the other one. Robo is successful as he shoots one of the perp’s shotgun away, without harming the people in the trucks.
Unfortunately, the motorcycle that was left without a partner is back on the road and the driver manages to shoot at the cruiser’s wheels from behind. He’s successful as one of the rear wheels receives an impact and the cops are aware they won’t be able to drive for much longer.
“Let me out here I will take care of this” Robo tells Lewis and she complies with his orders by momentarily stopping letting her partner get out of the vehicle. She doesn’t look back, starts the engine again and keeps on driving, struggling to maintain the control of the vehicle.
The perp that had shot the cruiser’s wheels sees RoboCop standing on the street and he turns around to try to terminate him. RoboCop keeps away his gun and puts his arms in guard position as the bike gets closer to protect himself from the upcoming collision.
The motorcycle collides against RoboCop and although he is dragged back by the power of the engine, his arms are strong enough to eventually stop it and make it flip out before it falls heavily on the ground. The perp flies away from the seat and is now half dead dragging his body on the pavement, trying to desperately escape from RoboCop. Although Robo is not interested in finishing the suspect, he is concerned about the next motorcycle that has turned around and is driving towards him.
There’s no time and RoboCop lifts up the battered fallen motorcycle and manages to throw it against the bike that was getting close to him. The violent impact makes the bike on the road lose control and both men fall on the street, severely wounded.
Lewis is still driving the cruiser, managing to shoot and drive at the same time, the remaining bike that still has two scrappers aboard has forgotten about the trucks and the perps are interested in getting rid of the police now. They are cheering, whistling, proffering insults, trying to intimidate Lewis, the driver of the bike is now going in circles around the car, whilst the passenger is interested in shooting at the wheels.
Far from being intimidated, Lewis focuses in shooting at the driver of the bike, she’s successful as she wounds his right arm and the bike loses speed. However the policewoman can’t celebrate for much longer as another impact has reached the cruiser, she’s lost another wheel. The cop car will inevitably crash soon.
Lewis looks up to the retro visor and smiles. The last functional motorcycle is coming close, although it is her blue knight in shining armor the one that is driving the bike this time. RoboCop speeds up enough to be able to shoot at the passenger of the bike making him fall out of the vehicle.
Lewis seizes an opportunity to make one last move, before she completely loses control the vehicle and opens the car’s door to make the driver of the bike fall out too. The motorcycle is without a driver now and it’s out of control, it bumps against the cruiser several times and Lewis puts her foot down, as much as she can, to try to break the car’s engine.
The cruiser loudly screeches and spires out of control until it crashes against a light pole that was standing still on the sidewalk. The motorcycle skids in circles, falling on the pavement afterwards. RoboCop successfully shoots at its manual controls, shutting it down permanently.
RoboCop is unsure if Lewis is harmed or not. He drives the motorcycle towards the cruiser and sees Lewis is struggling to get out of the car. The car had fallen on its left side, therefore Lewis can’t get out. Robo parks the bike next to the cruiser and breaks the passenger’s door completely to get Lewis out of the vehicle. She immediately holds on to his arm and she is pulled out by him.
There is no time to thank each other or to say anything meaningful, they have to finish their work and escort the families safely to the exit of the district. The only vehicle they have left is the motorcycle that still works. Lewis tries to readjust her broken helmet, because she knows she’ll need it.
RoboCop gets back on the motorcycle and Lewis sits behind him, holding on to his waist. They drive now, trying to approximate the four vehicles, and the civilians are happy and relieved to see the cops are still there, they lower the speed, waiting for them to catch up.
The four trucks and the motorcycle drive now, peacefully for ten more minutes without interruptions towards the exit of the district. It is a very red afternoon and the impoverished houses they get to see on the way out look desolated. It is a town that has no hope.
Although the civilians that were brave enough to leave Clover Hills are now celebrating inside the vehicles knowing that freedom is very close, RoboCop remains in silence, so does Lewis. This is the first time they ride together in a vehicle other than police cruisers. It is a surreal moment for them.
Sergeant Reed had received Lewis’ messages through the dispatcher and had sent some units and a Medivac van; the vehicles are already waiting for them at the exit of Clover Hills.
Admittedly, Reed was also concerned about Robo and Lewis escorting a group of civilians without any backup in a no-police zone and he had decided to drive to the place himself. The police cars and the paramedics see the vehicles approaching, Robo and Lewis know that the civilians are safe and they are safe too. They protected each other, as they have always done.
The paramedics proceed to check up on the wounded people and Reed approaches his two officers. RoboCop seems slightly battered and Lewis’ gear is pretty damaged too.
Reed: It was very risky what you’ve done, but…good work anyway… are guys you okay?
Lewis: Hey, Sarge…you came to see us! You must love us after all eh?
RoboCop: My system efficiency is 89%, only 1% less than the normal percentage.
Reed: I’m glad to see you are both okay. I want to know if you have found any information about the hidden rehab facility, or the terrorist base…? I want to put those fuckers behind bars now…
RoboCop: They are civilians trying to not get evicted by the rehabilitation team hired by OCP.
Lewis: Evicted…or murdered…
Reed: Can you prove that? Do you have any witnesses? Any evidence?
Lewis: The people we just escorted can work as witnesses, although they are scared, the rehabs terrorize this place, plus there are so many riots among gangs here, they probably don’t know who their friends are anymore…
Reed: Look…I have been doing my own research outside the Metro and the rehab team that Johnson put together is formed with ex-cons and “rehabilitated” mercenaries. I cannot prove that, as their police files have been deleted and names have been changed, but their facial features match with the criminal profiles we have stacked at the inventory room
Lewis: You wouldn’t happen to have been reading files the old fashioned way?
Reed: I had no choice Lewis, the electronic files have been manipulated. What else did you find out? You were not detected by the rehabs, correct?
Lewis and RoboCop decide to omit the fact they know who the leader of the resistance group is. They won’t report anything on Bertha’s hidden group, until they have gathered more information about it.
Lewis: Not that I know of…Johnson should be put behind bars, he’s a criminal
Reed: And the second one in command at OCP…very well, let’s head up back to the station. Lewis make sure you get a medical check-up and Murphy…your technicians want to see you ASAP to do some sort of joint something whatever cleanse.
RoboCop: That can wait. I need a cruiser now; I have to drive Lewis home. Her shift is over.
Reed: No, no, Murphy, listen, you don’t have to…you don’t need to…taking your police partner to her house is not part of your obligations. She’s not your responsibility when she’s off duty…for how long more, Lewis, will you keep doing this to the poor guy? Don’t we pay you enough to have your own car? The cruisers aren’t for your personal use…
Lewis: He’s right, I’m sorry Murphy. I should start bringing the Lexus tomorrow. Just take me back to the station and I’ll ask Barbara or one of the guys to get me home.
Reed walks away satisfied; he’s unaware that far from doing any favors to RoboCop, he is distressed now by thinking he doesn’t want to lose the only opportunity he has every day to see Lewis outside work, It is slowly sinking in for him, how limited his resources are to keep Lewis by his side preventing her from walking away with another man. Or perhaps they aren’t.
RoboCop: OCP has granted me permanent access to the police cruisers of Metro West. I choose who to drive and where.
Lewis winks playfully at Robo by saying, “Well, if that’s the case pick a car and let’s go home”
RoboCop looks around for an available cruiser meanwhile Lewis approaches the Medivac unit for a quick medical check-up. Most of the patrol cars are leaving the place now. Robo finally finds a unit and it doesn’t take Lewis much time to approach him, she starts complaining about her gear being useless and laments losing her weapon in the car crash.
“I loved that gun…I will have to request another one…please tell me you still have your piece?”
RoboCop doesn’t directly reply to her but opens his leg compartment to show her, his auto 9 is still there, he takes his weapon out, just to twirl it, keeping it back afterwards, making Lewis giggle at his funny reaction. “Well, lost equipment or not, we won after all, don’t you think?” That’s what Lewis tells him; Robo is encouraged now to reach out for Lewis’ hand to be able to pull her towards him, until her body bumps against his by telling her, “You and I always win”
Lewis is amused and embraces him without thinking, her arms around his waist, the same way she was holding on to him when they were riding the bike together. Lewis looks up to him and says,
“You’re so cute, I…” however, she abruptly stops and doesn’t finish the sentence.
Robo is looking down on her and they are so close, a kiss between them is plausible. He is in great anticipation now, waiting for any kind of reaction, any words, or affection demonstrations from Anne to immediately say yes this time. For him the words “You and I always win” meant much more than just them resolving a police case together.
In his mind Robo believes he is conveying his thoughts by letting her know how thrilled he is to realize certain barriers can be successfully broken between them. That they can win other battles, personal ones. He is eager to feel again, the sensations and emotions he thought were impossible for him to experience. Robo is in amazement at the woman that made that possible. That has dared to open those doors for him.
Unfortunately, Lewis is thinking otherwise. She believes Robo is being just friendly and he just wants things to go back the way they were.
Lewis thinks she’s doing it again, forcing him to be the man she needs, and he cannot be. Instead of her taking action, she just taps Robo’s waist with her fingernails, making a hollow metallic sound whilst saying: “Let’s get in the car and leave this place” RoboCop remains standing still for a short while, in disappointment.
Despite this recent evolution as a man, his emotional responses will always be limited by the machine that is merged within his organic part. Robo had made a great effort making a move letting Lewis know he’s interested to continue what they had started at Wildcard Edge, however, the one that doesn’t seem to get the hints this time, it’s her.
RoboCop takes the wheel and it will be a long way back this time. Lewis observes ‘funny Murphy’ has turned into expressionless machine cop again. She presumes he’s concerned about him not being able to track down Bertha and the rebel base, and not because he feels rejected by her.
Lewis: We’ll find them, Murphy, Bertha, and this group of people…the rebel base…and we will offer police protection to them
RoboCop: We can’t let OCP do more harm.
“More harm” Lewis knows Robo is referring to himself and she has come to the conclusion that his vested interest in finding the rebel base has to do with him projecting himself on the civilians that are being attacked by OCP. They’re victims, just like he was, when he was cruelly rebuilt by them.
“Despite everything, I am glad they brought you back. Otherwise I wouldn’t have had the chance to really get to know you, my love”
Those are the thoughts that cross Lewis’ mind, but represses to say out loud.
Lewis: No. We can’t let them.
The cruiser arrives to the police station. Once at the files’ room Robo downloads information and Lewis writes reports; that’s the way it has always been. Lewis complains about Officer Cecil Starkweather’s slowness in classifying information and how he’s usually creepy with them.
“What is this guy’s problem? He’s always ogling, staring at us!”
Robo dismisses her comment as he is more interested in counting time rather than thinking about the other officers that are surrounding them. He knows that once they’re together in the cruiser again, he’ll have no more than fifteen minutes to think what to do before Lewis says goodbye.
Shortly after, the moment of dropping Lewis at her house arrives. Robo has studied her movements for a long time. Lewis will step out of the vehicle and will walk around it, say goodnight to him, and finally cross the street to get to her building.
Although Robo doesn’t allow her to get away, as he had taken his left arm outside the driver’s window in advance catching hers abruptly. Lewis stops, surprised at his sudden reaction wondering what’s going through his mind.
RoboCop: Is this…all I get?
Lewis: What do you mean? All you get of what…?
Robo hesitates for a short while, replying afterwards, in a low, sad voice that has a slight metallic echo:
“I drive you home every day and…this all I get from you?”
Lewis momentarily stares at RoboCop, trying to decipher the message. She starts connecting dots and remembers his affectionate-funny actions when they were at the exit of Clover Hills. Then, she finally comprehends.
“Oh…he was flirting with me back there…so that’s what he was doing!”
Lewis appreciates Robo’s effort to make a move, in his own particular way, and without saying a word, approaches the driver’s window and although it is an awkward angle she manages to kiss him goodnight. It feels electrical for both of them, it gets better every time. RoboCop smirks and without saying anything else, starts the engine and drives away.
Lewis looks at the cruiser until it fades in the horizon. The lights of the city call her attention, it’s a beautiful night. Anne had been clever in the past to decipher Murphy’s reactions and words, however, as recent, her own feelings of disillusionment had blinded her temporarily making her unable to see, this time, things had finally changed.
Lewis remembers the first time she successfully interpreted his actions; after her being almost completely recovered from the Boddicker episode, she had dropped by Metro West to do some paperwork; she was still wearing a plaster splint for her broken arm. She spot from a distance the cruiser of RoboCop coming back to parking lot and waved at him with her free arm. He stopped and once they were together in the car, Lewis hoped Murphy would start a meaningful conversation with her.
Lewis wanted to hear how he was doing or adapting to life. She observed he had become blue. His old silver grey battered armor had been almost completely replaced.
Despite the fact the conversation between them was short; Robo took unexpected action by driving away from the station taking her for a ride that lasted some minutes. At this point, Lewis had decided to stop talking and just enjoy the moment. She immediately got the message and after saying goodbye to him, Lewis rushed to Reed’s office, requesting to be assigned to Robo once she could incorporate back to police work.
Reed was relieved to see one of his officers was willing to work alongside RoboCop. That would make his life easier, as he was still unsure on how to relate to the mechanical officer on a daily basis. Lewis would do the work for him. Report directly what Robo and her had done for the day. Sergeant Reed gladly approved her request.
Lewis wonders now if that was the first time Murphy ever flirted with her or if it was just a friendly invitation to be partners again or perhaps both. Either way she had correctly interpreted his actions, as Robo seemed pleased to see her eventually getting in the car with him to start doing police work together.
Years have passed since that moment and although Anne is uncertain on what comes next or how would she be able to manage having a romantic relationship with the very unconventional man she inadvertently fell for and seems to have finally corresponded her feelings, at that particular moment she’s just enthralled living a new improved reality in which she’s finally able to reach out for the things that seemed impossible for her to get in the past.
Anne walks towards her building and slides her electronic card to get access to the elevator. She stumbles upon some neighbors and greets them in a friendly way and although the people in the elevator greet her back, they’re surprised to see that the quiet and reserved police officer that has lived in that building for quite some time has finally dared to interact with them.
