Inception - Ascension Paradox, Book 1
Copyright© 2023 by L.R. Thornton
Chapter 21
“Guten Morgen Professor.”
Daniel glanced up from his contemplation of the summary report he received from Jackson and Jillian yesterday to see Karlo Braun standing in the doorway of his lab.
‘Ja, Herr Braun.”
He nodded permission to the man to enter.
“Kalt heute, oder?”
Daniel agreed that it was cold today and they exchanged polite conversation in German for a few moments. Daniel had a hard time focusing on their conversation. Some unease had risen as he perused the report. Jack and Jill Technologies, like many robotics firms, had utilized the protocols he put into place for their robots. However, although they had, they’d tampered with several of them.
“Professor?”
He jumped up and saw the questioning look in man’s eyes. Today, Karlo wore a pair of neon green glasses which had tree limbs coming up along the side of them. The tree limbs hugged the side of forehead, a subtle nod to the word, ‘tree hugger’.
“Hast du gehört was ich sagte?”
“Es tut mir Leid.” Daniel apologized. “Bitte noch einmal sagen,”
“I said, did you enjoy the VEX conference?” Karl switched to English.
“Yes, I did. Did you see any footage about it?”
“Ja, Professor,” Karlo’s eyes widened behind the neon green tree hugger glasses, “The android. C. A. D. I. Vorzüglich, ja?”
“Ja,” Daniel agreed. “Makes Dino look like a toaster.”
They both turned to look at the ape-like robot. Daniel, proud of his work, saw the inadequacies of his robotic friend.
“But Dino is still prunkvoll toaster.”
Daniel accepted the man’s esteem with a nod. “I wonder if I should tell you a secret.”
“You should, else you would not have mentioned it.” Karlo said bluntly.
Taking it on the chin, Daniel nodded. “Well, I am going to be speaking face to face with the creators of C. A. D. I. In fact, Herr Braun, they are going to be meeting me here. Das Heute.”
“Today?” Karlo repeated as he took off his glasses and rubbed the lens. “May I meet them as well?”
“Natürlich!” Daniel answered. He’d never would have mentioned it if he hadn’t intended on the man knowing about. “What are you doing now?”
“I was to study for a few hours but since I will have a chance to meet C. A. D. I. and her creators, I shall stay with you. Can I assist with your work?”
Daniel closed the report he received and got up from the stool. “Sure. Dino, come give me a hand putting this on the table.”
Dino thumped its massive seven feet tall body forward.
“It’s over in the corner, Dino.”
Thump ... thump ... thump. The ape’s footsteps thudded across the room. It went towards the large metal box that contained Daniel’s current project. He was forever tinkering with something, following the flow of his ideas.
“What are you working on, Professor?” Karlo asked.
“A government agency, which I shall leave unnamed, wants me to improve on some of their drones.”
They both watched as Dino with one swift movement lifted the metal box in its mechanical hand. Dino then lumbered back over to them, setting the metal box on the table as if it were light as a feather.
“Thanks, Dino. That’s perfect. That will be all.”
“You ... are ... welcome, Professor.” The heavy dark metallic figure returned to its resting place.
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