Work Text:
In retrospect a hotel lobby wasn’t the ideal place for a killing spree, but it wasn’t like Alex picked it. The man just wouldn’t shut up. He went on and on until Alex moved without thinking. Blood spilled over the pristine tiled floors. The android checking people in watched as it happened, the light on his temple flashing yellow. Then a witness came by, and another, and another, and before he knew it there was a pile of bodies and a lake of blood. Still, the android only observed. Alex should have killed it too, but androids over the years had become more and more specialized, focused solely on their ‘primary objective,’ and nothing else. THis one, apparently, didn’t care what was happening unless someone wanted to check into or out of their room.
When Alex finished hauling the last of the bodies into the stairwell, he came back up to find a ‘wet floor’ sign placed in the middle of the lake of blood. The android, pants smeared with streaks of drying blood, stood in front of the mess.
“Excuse me, sir,” said the android. “I need to inform you that this floor is wet. Please heed the signs I have placed around the perimeter.”
“It’s not wet. It’s bloody,” said Alex.
“The blood has yet to congeal and poses a severe hazard for slips and falls. Please heed the signs,” the android repeated. The name badge on his shirt read 'Morgan.'
“It’s bloody because I bloodied it,” said Alex as he held up his bloody hands.
“There are tissues and napkins in the bathroom to your right.”
“I killed people,” said Alex.
“Would you like me to call the police on your behalf?” Morgan asked.
“No,” said Alex. “I would like to leave.”
“I’m afraid I cannot let you pass while the floor is still wet.”
“I’m not staying here,” said Alex.
“I must insist.”
“Or what?” Alex said, rolling his eyes.
“You will put yourself at risk of slipping and falling.”
“I’m willing to take that risk,” said Alex.
“My programming will not allow me to let you put yourself at risk of a slip and fall accident. If you do not wait here until the wet floor is dry I will be forced to call the police. Please heed the floor sign.”
“So you didn’t call the police when I killed people in front of you, but if I try to cross the bloody floor you will?”
“My objective is not to report crime. My objective is to stop slip and fall accidents," said Morgan.
“Well my objective is to get away with committing crimes,” said Alex.
“You may do so,” said Morgan. “Once the wet floor is dry.”