Cyborg Claude

Episode 22

In the previous episode, Claude chats with the AI and discovers the language he only spoke at home with his parents was Nagjan. In a meeting about how to find the way into transporting for Nagjan Trillium, a picture of the COO comes up and he is positive the man is his uncle. This leads to him heading home because their next stop is Droeken.

Cyborg Claude Main Page and Table of Contents

Salindra stood with hands on her hips while examining a bank of monitors on the information and communications side of the bridge. Too many coincidences stared back at her on the screens. One of them was the obvious likeness between Derrik Burnsheklon and Claude’s father. Another coincidence put the death of Claude’s parents at the right time. Somehow, the accident on Droeken never tied back to what Derrik claimed. They had told Claude, as next of kin, it was an accident and closed the records. What his parents had in property and bank accounts had rolled to Claude. He could retire without worry anytime he wanted, so what kept him in the military, let alone joining the agency a couple of years later?

“How can this much data come up with only a coincidental match?” Hawkins waved his hand at the bank of monitors while settling into a spot next to her.

“I’m surprised his parents left nothing obvious if they are truly the owners of Nagja Trillium. And how does a man reach his forties without figuring out what his first language is?” Salindra tilted her head, not that it helped make the answer leap out at her.

“Nagja is pretty quiet, and it happily speaks with the universe in the trade language.” Hawkins crossed his arms. “Has he shared anything beyond recognizing his evil uncle?”

Salindra shook her head. She whispered, “The computer isn’t sharing anything it knows beyond this. I think it had a long conversation with Claude.”

“I did,” said the computer, “but his recognition of his uncle occurred right in front of you. This will require finding off network documentation that proves beyond a doubt the coincidences are linked. It has to be airtight for his claim to stand, but it’s up to Claude to present it.”

“Regardless of what Claude does with the company, I have a feeling he will not let his uncle walk free if he had anything to do with his parents’ accident or even the forced move to live under a new name.” Hawkins’ jaw set. “I know I would do something about it if I were him.”

“As long as it doesn’t distract us from the mission we have to do. The Universal Alliance put in a lot of work setting us up with this ship and making it look like we are just another security and transport service.” Salindra looked at Hawkins. “However, a part of me would love to see the truth come out and suddenly we have no issues acquiring a transport job far sooner than we might otherwise.” The thought of helping the mystery man solve an even deeper mystery about himself made her smile.

Hawkins arched a brow. “You look like you rather solve Claude’s mystery more than the job we have set before us.”

Salindra shrugged and gave him a sweet smile when he laughed. At least her life didn’t have all this family intrigue. She got enough being a spy. If she had the money Claude had, she would retire from the service. She could turn into a consultant for information gathering and parsing to keep herself from going stir crazy. Then again, she had been put in charge of the agency’s information arm. She could live with this for a while and have time to figure out a deeper relationship with Stefen.

“You’re not thinking about work now.”

Salindra winked at him. “Oh, I am, but not that anymore.” She waved a hand at the screen.

Hawkins grunted.

She clapped her hands. “Okay, everyone, we are putting this to the side for now. There is nothing new we are going to find by combing the network.”

Rajim spun his chair around so he faced her. “And what shall we do, ma’am? We are at a stall with the mystery schematic until we verify if one is at the hospital on Telna. We have to wait to see what Claude finds at his townhouse to go with the coincidences. There isn’t much our department has to do with the scheduled pickups and deliveries.”

Salindra pursed her lips. What could they do that would help the mission?

“I have a suggestion,” said Stefen.

Salindra spun around. “Let’s hear it.”

Stefen stepped away from the lift’s door and looked around. This could be his first time on the new ship’s bridge the way he took it in.

Everyone watched him walk over to Salindra.

“Well, everyone knows there are some special biomechanics in Claude. The goeks probably suspect something is up.” He pushed his glasses up his nose with an index finger. “I’m sure I have everything properly organized, but you could verify not only the universal rules, but those of various planetary systems, on what classifies a human as a cyborg. Some of the tech in him is only in him and sanctioned as a test, but not under his name.” He frowned. “That’s the hitch that worries me.”

“Well, the agency labeled him as dead five years ago by his legal name.” She paused and her eyes widened. “Wait. That means even though the agency has made it look like Claude is dead, anyone searching further has to know he is alive. All his personal stuff is still showing him as alive and well. If he truly died, Derrik would have claimed the company five years ago. And how did we fool the goeks that long?”

“He has more than one identification and not all of them have public pictures.”

Rajim added, “And not related to anything but the AI’s databank. She is not connected to the emergency power system. Conrad didn’t have time to access her. His decision to spike the power made sure he couldn’t.”

A rumble escaped Hawkins. “There have been too many close calls. If I didn’t know better, I would look for sloppy operations.”

Salindra mulled over the close call on Goeken. That hadn’t been sloppy, but Claude may have gone too far in exposing himself in order to protect her. Together, they had gotten out of there. They could do the same with what lay ahead.

“Okay.” Salindra faced her crew. “Let’s compile all the details that can flag a person as a cyborg, determine if something could make the goeks use that against Claude, and see how we can reconcile the multiple identifications for him so they don’t add any complications in a court case.”

In unison, her crew replied, “Yes, ma’am.”

“I’ll assist, but much of the data is off network,” said Stefen.

“Or in my secure databank. Rajim has come the closest to truly understanding how I work.” The computer’s tone held an appreciation that surprised Salindra. “My creator made me plug-and-play with a shell that hides the deeper code even from a cleared user.”

A sound much like a sigh came over the com.

Salinda looked at the speaker over her head. The computer seemed far more human since they moved to this ship. She shook her head. It probably seemed that way knowing how she related to Claude, even on the yacht.

“Looks like we are about to unravel the Mystery man.” Salindra smirked when her comment caused her crew to stare at her. “Get to work.”

Stefen put his hands in the pockets of his lab coat. “May our decisions not undermine the second chance Claude received on life.”

“You think there’s something that could ruin everything?” She turned to Stefen with a sobered look.

“Too many layers of secrecy now that we can include what his family may have added with the move to Droeken.”

Salindra scanned the screens that still showed the coincidental information around Claude’s move and the timing of his parents’ fatal accident. It was too crazy not to be true.

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Claude wasted no time getting off the freighter once it docked at the Droeken Space Station. Ever since Stefen had told the crew to verify his biomechanics fit within all legal restraints, he received quizzical looks mixed with affirmation for stepping into his role of agency commander. If he tried to hide in his unfurnished suite, someone would show up to ask him questions. He had to focus on the good side of it all. Questions thrown at him in a court of law about his health and biomechanics shouldn’t surprise him.

He paused upon reaching the concourse to get his bearings. Freighters docked on a lower level and had a far longer trek to this area. The agency rarely returned to Droeken, and he had not bothered heading to his townhouse in over five years. Nothing looked familiar, so he checked a map in the center of the wide avenue flowing with pedestrian traffic. With his path determined, he checked a screen above the map listing shuttle times. He had to hustle for the flight he had booked.

He could hire an electric cart, but a run would do better. The thought made him grin as he jogged to the closest travelator. He stayed to the right of the line painted down the middle of the moving path and picked up speed. His leather trench coat flapped against his legs.

He approached a cluster of people blocking his path. He called out, “On your right.” They moved though he had to slow in order not to hit anyone.

The transition from travelator to solid floor caused a slide that he recovered from, as if he meant to slide several feet on one foot. He laughed at some looks he received. Running steps behind him proved someone else in a hurry had hopped on his path clearing. The temptation to look behind him to make sure he could avoid the chaser added to his amusement. He had nothing to fear on his home turf.

However, the voice of a young man behind him said, “Keep going, old man. I have a shuttle to catch.”

“So do I.” Claude zigged through the crowd until he reached the next travelator, which he sprinted onto with ease.

This time, a wide, low cart blocked the path, but the people near it stood properly to the left. He didn’t slow. Gasps followed him as he soared over the cart. He landed, but two strides later, he had hit the transition back to tiled flooring. The change jarred his right foot, but the improved skeleton kept his ankle from rolling. Was it only a few weeks since it had been crushed, scrambling to safety after chasing Conrad off the yacht?

He narrowly beat the younger man onto the next travelator, the last one he needed to reach the security entrance to the shuttle area. This speed should allow for the extra time he knew his biomechanics would cause at the checkpoint. Would the young fellow think he cheated or be impressed upon knowing this old man had replacement parts?

He slid into line, glad he had no hurdles or anyone in the way on the last travelator. Taking in a deep breath and letting it out slowly eased his system.

The panting young man stepped in line behind him.

They received the attention of most of the people at the end of the line and quite a few passing by. Not something Claude would have wanted on any other station, but he was running out of time in several ways.

The line processed at a steady pace through the checkpoint, bringing Claude to where he had to remove his coat and boots. He carefully placed his com in the tote underneath the coat. He had nothing else in his pockets because the Droekens had his full biometrics for identification. They worked for a few other systems, but it had been a while since he wasn’t on a ship other than his three months on Goeken. Some systems still used chip cards, while others had convinced their populace to be chipped. Thankfully, the enemy had not used biometrics or they may have figured him out when he showed up at Goeken’s space station after his death.

He stepped into the scanner, turned to his right, and raised his hands. The security stiffened, and a second stepped up by the one coaxing him to step on through the scanner. He kept his hands in the air and stopped with his feet slightly wider than shoulder width. The wand squelched all along his left arm and at his right foot.

The officer with the wand looked at the scrivpad the other held. Her brows arched as her gaze bounced between him and the scrivpad. She shook herself when people still in line waiting for clearance barked their impatience.

“Step over here. We’ll need to verify your identification,” said the scrivpad officer.

“Of course.” Claude stepped up to the identification machine, placed his forehead against a bar and put his hand on the pad below the eye scanner.

“You can step back, Commander Burn.” His voice shook. “Sorry, sir.”

“I expected it.” Claude found it easy to smile reassuringly at the fellow. “I would have asked questions if you hadn’t stopped me.”

“Right, sir.”

“You might want to make sure they expect me back within the next day or two. My furlough is short.”

The officer tapped on his scrivpad. “Done, sir.”

“Thank you.” He waited for a moment with nothing further from the officer. “Am I cleared to move on? My shuttle is the next one. The same for some people behind me.”

“Oh.” He snapped to attention. “Yes, you are, sir. Enjoy your furlough.”

“Thank you.” Claude’s smile slipped, knowing his trip home had more business than fun involved.

He grabbed his items out of the tote, slipping the coat on right after putting the com in his pocket. He stomped into his boots and waited until he was away from the checkpoint to bend over and fasten the straps.

The young man stopped by him. “I should have known you were military when you stayed ahead of me.”

Claude straightened and adjusted his trench coat so it settled more comfortably. “Don’t have to be in the military to be fit. You just need a doctor and others who push for you to be your best. They rather like me for some reason.” He chuckled, despite knowing he had helped none of them to know him well.

“I’m a professional runner, so I’m wondering what you’ve done to run so well at your age.”

Claude doubted he was old enough to be this fellow’s father, but he was close enough. The runner didn’t look over twenty-five, maybe younger.

He stroked his chin for a moment. “A strong desire to live and not lose my ability to enjoy it, even if I’m bound for a desk job. Not thrilled by that, but it’s time to let the younger fellows do the crazy stuff.” He checked the time on his com. “Plenty of time to catch the shuttle.”

Claude looked at the signs above the large archway leading to the shuttle docks. The location for his departure was on the next level down, but his shuttle gate was the first one right by the escalators. Good. He could stroll and be there on time. However, he set out at a walk that made people move out of his way. Or maybe his military bearing had something to do with it. For once, he wasn’t trying to fit in or skulk around enemy territory.

The run had exhilarated him, but the lower shuttle deck closed in around him. His shoulders hunched. Odd that this fairly open setup with seats near each gate bordered on claustrophobic for him, but he had no issues in much smaller spaces. He smirked at the memory of the tiny hole Salindra had shared with him to hide from the searching goeks. He rolled his shoulders.

The gate for his shuttle was packed and the door to the walkway stood open, ready to accept passengers. An attendant standing behind the desk tapped her earpiece and said, “We are ready to board shuttle B5. First class, military, and families with small children may board.”

Claude stepped into line and placed his hand on the pad when it was his turn. It beeped and a green LED lit up. The tube to the shuttle did not maintain gravity like the station. He never delved into what they had changed to not require centrifugal force. Stations, ships and shuttles had always worked without it in his life. If he jumped near the shuttle entrance, the lower gravity pull would allow him to hit his head on the ceiling with ease. He could probably do a flip if he didn’t have people in front and behind. It would cause some talk, not that anyone managed that on the bumpy transition into the atmosphere.

He stepped into the shuttle and strapped into his assigned seat. It offered little distraction because most everyone else would sit behind him. At least, he had a short time of distraction during the run, but all too soon he would walk into the family townhouse searching for anything his parents left behind. He should have seen everything by now if not during the legalities after their death.

What am I going to do with ownership of a company as big as Nagja Trillium? It could lead to some fun shock to Goeken.

< Episode 21 | Main Page | Episode 23 >

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The fun of weaving things together in the messy middle I have to fix continues.

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