Socket 1-3 - The Socket Greeny Saga by Tony Bertauski Read Free Book Online

drifted upward,
thinking. “Your father was a remarkable man. He was head of mech
design and maintenance. Your father was involved in my prototype
design and personally worked on my bodyshell.”
    “He was a Paladin?”
    “He expressed Paladin traits, much more than
your mother, but never fully realized them. He worked in the
Garrison and was not often involved in missions. The Paladin Nation
has been watching to see if you would inherit his traits. I believe
you caught them by surprise.”
    “What’s that mean?”
    “All the details will be revealed to you
soon.”
    My dad died in for a secret agency and no
one ever told me. That’s super. No doubt she knew I was next line
to follow in his footsteps. What else did Mom have in the family
vault?
    I buried my face in my hands and took a deep
breath. I want off the crazy train .
    “Was he a good father to you?” Spindle
asked.
    To me? He was asking like my father
was a good father to him. Did he think we were brothers? I shook my
head, my voice echoing through my hands. “I guess. I don’t remember
much.”
    “I remember your father quite well, from the
very first day he ignited my awareness panel.” His eyelight drifted
up, again. He was lost in thought for several seconds while colors
flashed on his face. “We spent every day together in the beginning,
perhaps the entire first year of my existence. He worked on my
programming to perfect my learning impulse. After that, I saw him
once a week. That is unusual, you realize, for a creator to remain
after programming is complete. Your father did that.”
    He had that drifting look again. “You miss
him?” I said.
    “Miss him? I am not sure what you mean.”
    It feels like there’s something missing,
that’s what. It’s longing. Sadness. It’s all of the above. “It
feels… empty.”
    “Empty?” He contemplated that, feeling his
belly with his hand. His face brightened in a got it moment.
“There is something missing. A… hole in my awareness. Not a hole,
but an…” His eyelight focused on me. “ Emptiness. Yes, I do
sense that . I do miss him, Master Socket. Thank you for
teaching me.”
    The colors on his face ran through the full
spectrum, brighter and brighter. I didn’t consider emptiness as
something he needed to thank me for. For me, it ached. But for
Spindle, it was obviously something joyous to experience. Whatever .
    He turned back to the control panel. Then
said, “If you hold still, a body print is being scanned and a
security access level assigned.”
    Tiny shockwaves started at my feet and ended
at the top of my head. The control panel folded back into the wall.
The pictures, vase and flowers dissolved. I stood and the chair
disappeared. The room was empty, once again.
    “You have been assigned level one access.”
Spindle walked through a dim arching outline on the wall. I could
see the doorway now. No more walking into walls for me. I followed
him into the hall.
    “You should be able to see doorways to rooms
you have clearance to enter,” Spindle said. “Do you see them?”
    There was a similar outline that simulated a
doorway at each end of the hall. I nodded. “Got it.”
    “Good,” he said. “Agent Pike is
waiting.”
    “Agent Pike? Who’s that?”
    “He will be conducting your preliminary
evaluation.”
    “Whoa, wait a second. I thought we were
going to Mom’s office. I don’t know anyone named Pike.”
    “All potential cadets are evaluated for
potential traits upon arrival. It is the first assignment after
security clearance.”
    “I’m a cadet? Wait, when did that happen? I
didn’t sign up for anything.”
    Spindle remained absolutely still, assessing
the conversation. “Why do you think you are here, Master
Socket?”
    “I don’t have a clue.”
    Long pause, again. “You were assigned to the
Garrison because you exhibited exceptional abilities that need to
be assessed.”
    “When the hell did I do that?”
    His face darkened, but he let the hell word slide.