“Please bring your identification papers,” a guard said to Eiske. He followed Eiske into the dwelling. Syp looked up from its electronic pad. “Please find your identification,” the guard said to Syp.
“What’s going on?”
“Do as he says, Syp.”
Syp hurried to the bedroom and took the packet of papers out of the backpack as the security guard watched.
In a few moments, they gathered in the living room. An officer spoke, "Three to transport.”
Syp and Eiske suddenly found themselves standing in a hallway. A light blinked over a door. They were directed into a room by a young woman in a form-fitting green uniform. There was a hum. Seats and a table rose from the floor. “Please sit. Dr. Bonnema, you brought this interaction to our attention. We are initiating an investigation and mediation process.” She pushed her black hair over one shoulder and looked down at her electronic pad.
“Thank you.”
“You will not be able to influence this process in any way. You are expected to control your emotional and physical reactions. If you cannot, assistance will be provided.” Eiske nodded. “You were not physically assaulted, so we will eliminate the trip to the sick bay. The two of you will be separated for questioning.”
“Questioning?” Syp looked at Eiske curiously.
“We’re in the security building of the Protector’s Enclave. Syp, please listen carefully to the questions and speak the truth,” Eiske told it.
The woman led Syp into the next room. “I’m Solrio Nansen. I’m the investigator and mediator for this incident. You are Syp Bron. You are the child of Geldou and Haerm Bron, child eight of eight. Female or male?” Syp looked at her uncertainly. “Please answer the question. Female or male?”
“Neither.”
“Your age?”
“Five.”
The woman stood. “Please come with me.” They went down the hall to the medical wing. “Please stand here.” The woman pushed a button, and a machine began to buzz. A red line slowly slid down Syp’s body. Syp was led back to the interrogation room. “Tell me what had happened at the medical facility.”
“I saw my father come to my uncle’s home. Eiske asked me to go inside, and I did. If something happened, I’m not aware of it. I was reading my electronic device.”
“You have requested sanctuary and it has been granted. Tell me the circumstances prompting your request.” Syp told her what had happened on its loosing day. “What are your intentions for the future? Do you require assistance?”
“I don’t know.”
“Surely you have planned for this time of your life.”
“I was told eight days ago that I would be loosed in five days. There was little time for planning.”
“Explain what you did that prompted being sent out of the house at such a young age.”
“I don’t know.”
“You’ve been disobedient?” Syp shook its head. “Your parents disciplined you and you left.”
“No, that’s not the purpose of being loosed.”
“Surely there is a reason that you’ve been sent out at such a young age.”
“You might want to ask my dad. I’ve asked this question and have received no answer.”
The mediator went out the door and returned a few moments later with an electronic pad. “I’d like you to read this. When you’re finished, you are free to play one of the games or read a book.”
She entered the room where Eiske waited. “Dr. Bonnema, I’m Solrio Nansen. I’m the investigator and mediator for this incident.” She reviewed his medical training and certifications, asked how long he’d been at his current assignment, and whether there had been any earlier similar interactions. He answered, as briefly as possible.
“Please describe the interactions that occurred before you initiated the recording device.” Eiske explained the conversation.
“You are related to Haerm Bron?”
“He’s my sister’s husband.”
“This child that is with you, Syp, is Haerm and Geldou Bron’s child. Is Syp a male or female child?”
“Neither.”
“You’re saying the child is asexual?”
“Yes.”
The mediator’s communicator beeped. “The results of the scan you initiated are now available.”
“Your request and the acknowledgement of sanctuary being granted is on Syp’s record. Thank you for your clarity in describing what happened. Doctor, perhaps you can explain why your sister and her husband have sent their child out of the house at such a young age.”
“I can’t explain it. You would have to ask them that.”
“Please describe your investigation into this child’s background before you applied for sanctuary for it."
“The school entrance paperwork indicated that Syp physically appears to have a genetic mutation of its fourth chromosome. It has a high forehead. Its eyes are widely spaced and appear to be protruding, it has a broad, flat nasal bridge and there are two slits below its nostrils. It has a downturned mouth, a flat chin, and flaps of skin for its ears. It’s school records show that it is above average in intelligence. Syp’s participation in class is minimal. According to the medical records maintained by the school, Syp has had no vaccinations. It was unable to sit for the hearing tests. There was a note that it pulled off the headset and sat with its hands over its ears, rocking back and forth, for some time after the first set of sounds. Dental records were blank. It failed the eye exam. There was a note that the parents deny that Syp has any visual problems.”
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“Did Syp’s siblings have vaccinations?”
“No. There is a note on each of the other children’s records stating that the parents refused immunizations because of financial reasons and declined free vaccinations.” Eiske hesitated. “I found several unusual things in the records.”
“Go on.”
“It has been documented yearly that Syp has a visual challenge, but there has recently be an attempt by its parents to rectify the situation.” Eiske explained that there were notes in the record that Geldou had taken Syp to a doctor in Nik on Trazene. He had called there but the administrator stated that no one by the name of Syp or Bron had ever been seen by any of the doctors in that office.
“Generally, the child gets along fine with other students. School records show that there have been dozens of reports filed by the teachers stating that Syp was being bullied by its brothers during the outdoor breaks. The issues were addressed with the parents during teacher conferences. There were multiple reports by the teachers stating that the parents didn’t want to hear about bullying and so the teachers should ‘deal with it.’ The sequence of dates indicates that it's occurring at least twice each week. The brothers are being consistently sent to detention for bullying.” The mediator made a notation on her electronic pad. “Is she bullied at home?”
“Syp is not a ‘she,’ Mediator. Syp has clearly told me a preference for the word ‘it.’ My understanding from Syp and my experiences in the household are that Haerm and Geldou do not allow the boys to disrespect and mistreat it.”
“You are Syp’s uncle. What is the child like when it is around you?”
“It has always been withdrawn. It’s obedient to its parents, cooperative, and thoughtful when it was in my presence. I saw it smile for the first time this past week.”
“It’s five and this is the first time you’ve seen it smile?”
“Yes. Keep in mind that I’ve only been around the family for the past three years.”
“Are you it’s doctor also?”
“Yes.”
“Dr. Bonnema, the contents of the rest of this conversation between you and I are officially restricted. This conversation is not to be shared with anyone.”
“Including Syp?”
“We will decide together when it is time to inform Syp. Please state your acknowledgement of this restriction and sign right here.” He agreed and signed the electronic pad. “Tell me what treatment you have provided for this youngster.”
“I’ve never provided urgent treatment. I have however, given it a physical because of its recent discomfort. I noted its unusual bone and muscular structure and made a diagnosis.”
“Please tell me what your conclusion was.”
“Syp is demonstrating characteristics indicating adolescence attributed to a Zuphreon Stafriez.”
“This information is not on Syp’s medical record or on the report you submitted.”
“I haven’t ordered genetic testing. I decided not to bring it up until it has gone through an adjustment to being independent from the home it was raised in.”
“Is the child aware of your conclusion?”
“Yes. Syp recognizes that it has the characteristics listed in my medical books. It is aware that it’s begun adolescence and that its body is going through great changes.”
“Doctor, Syp Bron carries no genetics related to the Aphyxians on Iragos. Syp’s genetics set indicates that it is a Zuphreon Stafriez.” She handed him the computer DNA results. “I will be contacting the Stafriez leaders to inform them about this child.”
Eiske looked at it. “You and I both know this doesn’t make sense. Syp was born when the other four children were.”
“Is it possible that this child was placed at the Bron home at the same time when the other children were born?”
“No. There’s a video record of the birth. The midwife believed it would be a multiple birth and created a training video record for her apprentices. Subsequently, she made a copy and gave it to Geldou as a gift. Our mother, Onke Bonnema, found the tape in the garbage. She viewed it privately then had a conversation with Eaglestje Bron, Haerm Bron’s mother. Together they decided that Eaglestje should keep it in a safe place. If you view the recording, you’ll see that the midwife lifted each child to show Geldou. You can see that Syp, the last child, was born en caul, that is, still in the amniotic sac. In the video, Geldou become hysterical. Some people in this area believe that the caul is a sign of promise and protection for the child. Others believe that children born like this are evil and will eventually destroy the home they are born into.”
He went on, “Eagelstje stated that Geldou told Haerm to place the infant outside and when it was dead, to dispose of the body. She took one infant and nursed it exclusively. The other infants were cared for by the grandparents. Eageltsje made written and audiovisual records of the incident because she believed that Geldou would somehow kill the infant. Her record holds many more details about the birth and the following year or two, particularly several situations that she found Syp in that seemed to be deliberate attempts to kill the child. Eageltsje indicated to me that if Syp had disappeared, she would have taken her document and suspicions to the authorities.”
“You know this how?”
“Eageltsje Bron asked me to arrange for a registered certifier to be in my office during an appointment. This was a few months before she died. She gave me the video record, the written statement, and gave a lengthy statement which was videoed and transcribed by the official.”
“Why wasn’t this statement attached to Syp’s record?”
“Mrs. Bron requested that the information not be shared with anyone until five years had passed after her death. It is in secure files on the medical server of the Protectorate. I restricted access to it.”
“I’d like to see it.”
“I made a promise. It has only been two years."
“I understand. The information might help us help it.” Eiske told her that he’d think about it. “Doctor, Syp considers you to be its uncle. You and I both know that it’s not true. What are your intentions regarding its future?”
“I’ve told Syp that I will help it as much as I can. I’ve offered it the option of living with me and returning to school. I was there when Haerm and Geldou told Syp to leave the home and to not return to the family property or contact them for any reason. Syp has prepared to leave the area and live on its own.”
“Where?”
“That has not been determined.”
“Surely it has a plan.”
“It does not. Syp was told,” he had to think, “seven days ago that it would be loosed on Zaterdag, which was two days ago. It has been exploring its available options.”
“State what you would like to see the Protectorate do for this child.”
“I don’t know. I’ve been educated on the Stafriez body structure and internal organ systems. I don’t know the diet, lifestyle, or customs of this race. I don’t know if it’s capable of taking care of itself at this age; it hasn’t been trained to do so by Haerm and Geldou. We’ve spoken about trying to locate another Stafriez for education and physical training. I stated in my weekly report that this is one of my goals for next week.”
“Have you suggested that it ask us for assistance?”
“Yes. As I’ve said, Syp and I have been discussing the available options. We don’t know all its capabilities and weaknesses.”
“Does the child show a particular leaning toward one of the options?”
Eiske shook his head. “The only thing Syp has said is that it has an idea.”
“You have been threatened by Haerm Bron. Do you sense that your life is in danger?”
Eiske took a deep breath. “Give me a moment, please.”
“Take your time.”
There was a short silence before Eiske spoke. “Haerm Bron is a committed husband and father. Haerm is arrogant and wants people to respect and admire him. He and I have had our share of disagreements, but this is the first time he’s threatened me. There are rumors around the area about several different issues that the Bron name has been linked to. My sense is that he has directed his anger at me simply because he doesn’t know what to do about these other situations. I believe that, for some reason, he is using Syp as a scapegoat for the family’s problems. He’s adamant that Syp leave, not only his home, but the peninsula. I believe that until Syp’s future has been decided, Haerm will continue to agitate myself and Syp. Do I feel threatened? Yes, to some degree. What I saw today is something I’ve not seen before. I’ve never been trained to fight or use a firearm to protect myself. I’ve never had to. Perhaps if Haerm has a few days to cool down, this whole thing will pass.”
“Thank you for your candor about the child and this situation. It is clear to me that you are uncomfortable with the way the situation stands and that you are very concerned about how things are handled. I have one more interview to conduct. I will then discuss the matter with my superiors and decide how to proceed.”
“Thank you, Mediator.”
“There is a toilet down the hall. Refreshments are available. You may bring food back to this room, if you like.” After she told Syp the same thing, she considered carefully how to handle the third interview.