We're Friends, Now

"We're Friends, Now" by Henry Hasse is a science fiction story unfolding in a world where machines are increasingly taking over crime-solving. The central character, Raoul Beardsley, works at Crime-Central and is struggling with his own sense of worth as machines like ECAIAC become more prevalent. The story kicks off with a big day for Beardsley as the agency investigates the murder of Amos Carmack, the man who created ECAIAC. Readers follow Beardsley as he deals with his inner doubts about using machines for justice, interacting with a cyberneticist named Jeff Arnold, revealing the behind-the-scenes activity taking place within the Mechanical Division. It becomes clear that this might be no ordinary day at Crime-Central as tensions are high, and the narrative hints at shocking secrets about the machine and Beardsley himself.