Before a chair was offered at the table, Kran activated a digital, semi-transparent, overlay scanner on his arm by clicking his fingers. The overlay was a digital blue gauntlet with a hologram platform on the back of the hand.
He clicked his fingers in a pattern before Veronika to activate a semi-transparent screen. It transformed into a scan that ran over her body, then returned results before them. His eyes narrowed on her genome identity, being a clone species.
“You’re a clone?”
“Does it matter?” She stood firmly before him with her arms folded over her chest.
“It does. Most human clones just kill on order, so we kill them.” He dismissed the screen with a finger click and did another to make his digital gauntlet disappear. “You pass for a human.”
“I am human.”
“That doesn’t give me comfort either way. A born human is annoying enough, but to have clones is insulting.”
“Why?”
Kran huffed and glared at her. “There’s more stupid than smart in your species.”
“And yet, someone of your species signed a treaty with mine. How’s that working out for you?” She smugly answered back, which had System groaning and flashing warning alerts in her head.
“Hah! You’ve got a pair! Okay, I did walk into that one.” He relaxed his expression with a chuckle.
Veronika relaxed her stance with a sigh. “Look, rest assured, I’m not here to cause trouble.”
She scratched her head with a thought that she probably just did back at the bar.
“What are you here for?”
“Specifically, I came here hoping to use your public-net terminal.”
“What are you wanting to search?”
“The reason why I’m here and who wants to kill me, aside from being a Concordat soldier.”
“You don’t know?”
“No, but your scanned report on me is more or less the truth of things known.” She gestured to his arm as she factually explained more of her situation, minus her soul being Wu Chen. If she was going to come into town on a banner of peace, she needed to at least show a modicum of trust.
Unlike his son, Kran listened attentively and nodded in places where her explanation seemed likely and reasonable.
“They’re even cruel to their own. Left for dead, huh? They didn’t bother to check?” He rubbed his chin as he mused on her tale.
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
“I have a convincing talent for appearing dead after a couple of bullet holes in my body.” She joked then soberly added, “I’m not gonna talk-up humanity as being saints. And it sounds like the humans you’ve encountered need a bullet between the eyes. But not all humans are evil. Individuality is still a strength among us.”
Kran’s eyes narrowed as he stared at her and said, “So what kind of human are you, aside from being a clone?”
Veronika said without reservations, “Someone who gets angry when the strong take advantage of the weak. Or when they think they can push me around without expecting a fight.”
Kran’s expression changed to surprise. He wasn’t expecting such words of honor to come out of her mouth.
“Was there something you need to discuss with me, Kran-dono?” Scot politely asked to change the subject.
“Dono?” A snippet of Wu Chen’s past flashed through Veronika’s mind, but was gone before she could take note of it. Only the lingering nostalgia remained.
“Ah, yes. Formal introductions first.” Kran cordially acknowledged Scot, which was a far different attitude to when he had been talking to Veronika.
He offered Scot a seat.
Veronika leaned against the back wall behind the biodroid before one was offered to her. Kran had kept his hospitality to Scot. He placed his right hand over his left breast and bowed his head to formally introduce himself.
“I am Kran Ashdon, 45th, first son of Warlord Abal. Chief of Ashdon Kotta.”
He began to talk business with Scot. “I know you’re a biodroid, but I respect your position as a Starcharter Guard for Madam Ross.”
“As not was?” Veronika thought to open a conversation between herself and System.
[Interesting. If Scot is still in service with his mistress, he effectively lied to us] System commented.
Veronika wasn’t so sure. It made more sense that Kran misunderstood his service still being active. “Can a biodroid even lie?”
[He is still largely a human organic, Veronika. Even if his brain houses synthetic intelligence of a VI kind, it is still enough for him to draw conclusions for himself]
“Do you think he also carries an AI implant in his brain?”
[No. It is unlikely, as I was a prototype. No other attempts from any company have been successful in ensuring a mutualistic symbiosis between an organic brain and fully self-aware AI synthetic implant. Either way, we need to be cautious of Scot. After all, he is a Starcharter biodroid]
“Does Starcharter own this town?”
[No. They provide funding and support for the Bing Verslas mineral, the Lakionian mine across the region. This town couldn’t exist without Starcharter business. Unlike Concordat agreements, Starcharter doesn’t interfere with their culture or mundane operations. They only require results. So Scot would be seen as a diplomatic attaché, despite being a biodroid]
“No wonder everyone is treating Scot like an MVP. Any troubles he encounters would be automatically reported back to the company’s office.”
[So it would seem. The fact that he is traveling around with you might be seen as appropriate for an infiltration unit as well, so not seen as untoward. By my analysis, there has been no reason for Scot to report back to date. We need to ensure this remains the case]
Veronika frowned with another question that she asked System in thought, “System, how could you engage Scot with a Starcharter handshake when we first encountered him?”
[I am programmed with over 450 company handshakes for galactic business dealings, which is something to keep in mind for future purchases where we would need to barter]
“Hmm. Nice.” Veronika dismissed her questions and returned her focus to the men’s exchanges.
Before more could be said between the men, sounds of confusion and chaos were heard from the tavern. The door slammed open. A beautiful, young woman entered: flustered and panting for breath, with a clear expression of panic.