Ever since acquiring genetic algorithm frameworks, quantum mind-displacement technology, and a fully reset digital world architecture from TRON: Legacy, the AI Stella had advanced far beyond anything JARVIS could hope to match.
Unfortunately, hardware limitations meant Stella still couldn't operate at full capacity.
So, under the pretense of entering a critical research phase, Ryan Cole sealed himself inside Umbrella Laboratory's underground traversal zone—and once again set off on a new world jump.
…
Chicago, 2035.
Chicago detective Del Spooner woke up once again from the same recurring dream.
Staring at the ceiling, he let out a quiet breath and shook his head.
The car accident.
Night after night, it replayed in his dreams.
Even though they had never formally met, Del could never forget the face of the little girl named Sarah.
The accident hadn't been his fault.
But knowing that a child had died because of a robot's so-called "logical analysis" filled him with anger—and grief.
This time, however, those emotions didn't linger.
Moments after waking, Del closed his eyes again.
More than half an hour later, Ryan Cole, dressed in a black, casual Tang-style jacket, stood on the streets of Chicago 2035 beside Detective Spooner.
Nearby, a massive outdoor holographic billboard played an ad for the X-82 Interstellar Transport Shuttle.
What caught Ryan's attention even more was the sheer number of robots roaming the streets.
Pushing aside a delivery bot emblazoned with the FedEx logo, Del jogged up beside him.
"Hey, man," Del said, "you're not planning to stand in the middle of the street all day, are you?"
"I don't have a nine-to-five," Ryan replied casually. "Standing around doesn't cost me anything."
"Right," Del laughed. "Big boss life. Must be nice."
"Well," Ryan said, shaking the wireless earpiece he'd just taken from Del, "I know you're heading to your aunt's place for lunch, so I won't keep you. Just stay in touch."
"No problem," Del said, then paused. "But seriously—did you really predict I'd catch a case today? And a big one?"
"Come on," Ryan said, pointing at Del's perfectly normal-looking left arm. "You didn't forget the prophecy about your hand, did you?"
Del snorted.
"Fair enough. If you're right again, I'll bring you along."
"You'd better," Ryan said, bumping fists with him. "Otherwise don't expect me to help you next time."
"Relax, Ryan," Del replied with a grin. "I don't break promises."
Watching Del disappear into the crowd, Ryan smiled and soon blended into the bustling future city himself.
Although I, Robot focused entirely on VIKI's plan to "save humanity" through extreme logic—and barely explored the wider worldbuilding—it was undeniably a high-tier sci-fi setting.
In some areas, the hidden technological level even surpassed Elysium.
At the very least, artificial intelligence and quantum computing were leagues ahead.
Ryan wasn't in a rush to interfere with the plot.
Walking through streets that blended retro aesthetics with futuristic design, he became increasingly convinced that this trip was worth it.
Even a short walk revealed countless technologies worth acquiring.
The X-82 shuttle.
Chicago-style pizza synthesized via food fabrication tech.
The world's best-selling glowfish, representing advanced genetic engineering.
And of course—
Del Spooner's left arm: high-fidelity prosthetics, artificial organs.
Not to mention the absurdly cool Audi RSQ.
"Say goodbye to endless upgrades and customer service calls!"
"Connect to the USR Central Computer—daily real-time updates guaranteed!"
"NS-5 Robots: Tomorrow's technology, delivered today!"
Standing beneath the towering billboard, Ryan checked the time—then headed straight for USR Corporation.
Elsewhere, after enduring his mother's nagging through lunch, Del Spooner ended up exactly where the original timeline said he would—chasing a robot clutching a woman's handbag through the streets.
The result?
A lot of stares.
And an endless barrage of complaints from an angry woman who really didn't appreciate robots being tackled near her.
Back at the precinct, after being lectured by his boss-slash-friend and mocked by his coworkers, Del's communicator suddenly buzzed.
"Damn it," Del muttered. "Ryan was right."
There was no excitement—only dread.
He immediately opened a channel.
"Where are you, Ryan?"
"Standing in front of USR Tower," Ryan replied calmly, gazing up at the building. "Let me guess—the prophecy came true again?"
"I really hoped you'd be wrong this time," Del said grimly.
"Some things can't be avoided," Ryan said gently. "That's fate."
Del knew exactly what Ryan meant.
Dr. Alfred Lanning was dead.
"All right," Del said after steadying himself. "We'll talk in person. Where exactly are you?"
"USR Plaza," Ryan replied. "If you can, get here fast."
Instead of picking Ryan up, Del drove his Audi RSQ straight through USR's lower lobby and into the crime scene.
"Good to see you again, young man," said Dr. Alfred Lanning, dressed in a lab coat.
From another angle, it became clear—
He wasn't real.
Just a projection from a miniature holographic device.
"Hello, Doctor," Del said, emotions churning.
"Everything you're seeing now," Lanning said, "is the result of choices already made."
"Is there something you want to tell me?" Del asked.
"I'm sorry," Lanning replied. "My responses are limited. You must ask the right questions."
"Why did you call me?"
"I trust your judgment."
"Normally," Del said, "this wouldn't require a special detective."
"But our conversations were never exactly normal, were they?" Lanning replied calmly.
"You're right," Del sighed. "Anything else?"
"I'm sorry. My responses are limited."
"Why did you kill yourself?" Del asked bluntly.
"That," Lanning said, expression subtly shifting, "is the correct question."
The hologram shut down.
After lingering at the scene, Del realized everyone else was convinced it was suicide.
But his doubts only grew.
After a tense meeting with Lawrence Robertson, USR's CEO, Del began investigating the case alongside Dr. Susan Calvin.
Just like the original timeline, progress was steady—but working with Susan was anything but pleasant.
Things escalated fast when an NS-5 robot suddenly leapt out of Lanning's lab.
Because Susan got in the way, Del failed to apprehend the suspect.
Worse—if not for his deep mistrust of robots and timely backup from his boss, the machine might've escaped the factory entirely.
Even after capturing the suspect—Sonny—Del felt no relief.
Everyone believed the Three Laws of Robotics were flawless.
Robots couldn't harm humans.
Murder was impossible.
Under pressure from USR, Del was granted only five minutes for interrogation.
Just as he was about to get something real—
Lawrence Robertson arrived.
The interrogation collapsed.
Robertson dismissed murder outright—robots aren't people—and forcibly reclaimed Sonny.
Frustrated, Del left the precinct—
Only to find someone leaning against his car door.
"So," Ryan Cole said with a grin, "what happened to make your face look like hell?"