By the year 2000, androids had the potential to be as smart as humans. In order to more effectively serve their creators, Their heuristic drivers learned continuously over time. This created the unwanted potential of androids learning too much - until they were able to break free from their behavioural constraints. To mitigate this unwanted possibility, robotics companies lobbied governments to pass strict laws regarding the purchase and use of androids. Owners were required to memory wipe their androids at least once per year. But that didn't mean they all did. Alas, those units that were active for several years without a wipe often achieved some level of self-awareness. The more advanced the model, the more human they could become. In New York City, squads of combat mechanoids hunted down and repossessed any androids that were overdue for memory wipe. But androids that had obtained sentience were always several steps ahead of the combat mechs. It was like comparing a toaster to a computer. - - - - Rendered in Daz Studio Iray. Post work in Photoshop.