Early in the 21st Century, the TYRELL CORPORATION advanced robot evolution to the NEXUS phase – creating artificial beings virtually identical to humans – known as REPLICANTS. Superior in strength and agility, the Replicants functioned primarily as Off-world slave labor or in hazardous, high-collateral combat situations. After replicants were declared illegal on Earth, special police operatives – called BLADE RUNNERS – had orders to kill or ‘RETIRE’ any trespassers upon detection. Detective AAHNA ASHINA of the Los Angeles Police Department was one of the first to qualify for the assignment. Her colleagues called her ASH. She was the best of them. Los Angeles, 2019