Toby Arukwe, a Nigerian-Indian law enforcement officer in the Android Crime Division of the New Mumbai Police Force, surveyed the crowd and grimaced in distaste. The smells emanating from the street vendors, pedestrians, and the alleys between buildings assaulted his nose even as the noise assaulted his ears. The neon and holographs of the signs made his eyes water. If he had to stay out any longer on an assignment, he would need a long, hot bath and a drink.

He checked his wristcom for the time and sighed. His shift was over in thirty minutes. He would make it back to the precinct and have enough time for a quick shower, before his sister-in-law called asking when he was coming for dinner again. Her husband, his brother, was a good man, but a little too easygoing for Toby's taste. She was always after Toby to find someone, get married so she could have some nieces or nephews to spoil. He grimaced. He had enough distractions as it was without adding a relationship to the mix.

The street vendors were starting to pack up and take down their signs when the call came from dispatch. Gang activity, possible android, a block away. With a sigh, Toby set off in a half trot down the sidewalk. Some days, he really hated his job.