A Scripta

Nate smiled at the woman with the clipboard who barely gave him a glance.  She took the small card from him that medically cleared him for service.  "Nate.  That's it?"

 "That's it."

 She shrugged and walked over to a desk.  "I've heard weirder I suppose."  She put the card through a slot next to the computer on her desk.  She looked at the screen, then up at him.  Then, while studying the screen, her arms folded across her chest, she asked, "Who's this Darcy person?"

 "He's my maker."

 She looked at him.  "Where is he?"

 "He's right outside."

 "Could you get him?"

 He nodded, and went out into the hallway.  The man who followed Nate back was a tall, bald black man, who walked forward as if he had nothing to hide.  The woman shook her head.  Did he have no idea what he'd just done?  With a press of a button, she forwarded the information to her superior, Rebecca Brunell.  She would have to approve security to come down and take these two people away for illegal activities.  The clone would have to be disposed of, and the scientist would head to the Zig.

 "Good morning, sir," she said, and saw something flash on her computer.  "Excuse me a moment."  She clicked open the flashing icon.

 From her supervisor: Due to significant increase in Rikti attacks, we need all the help we can get.  Let it go.

 She hoped the two men on the other side of the desk didn't see her "deer-in-headlights" look.  She swallowed.  "I..um... so!  What will be your superhero name?"  She sat down at the desk and converted the information on the card into the superhero ID form.

 "I never thought about it," said Nate

 Darcy said, "Duncan Idaho."

 She poised her fingers above the keys, looking to Nate for approval.  He tilted his head at Darcy.  "What does that mean?"

 "It's the name of a ghola, a clone, in the science fiction series Dune by Frank Herbert.  He was a Swordmaster."

 The woman asked, "Is that the weapon you use?"

 "No, not really."

 "What do you use?"

 "I don't know."

 She looked at the screen.  "It says you set yourself on fire."

 He nodded.  "The only thing I can do with fire is make more.  I can't make it into things."

 Darcy nodded.  "We tried.  He needs a weapon."

 "We'll leave that part blank.  You can always use your bare hands."

 Nate said, "No, I think I'll break something if I do that."

 The woman typed.  "All right, Duncan Idaho's taken."

 "How about just Idaho?"

 She typed, saying, "People are going to think you're a potato.  That's available.  Congratulations, Idaho, welcome to the Phalanx."

 Nate, now Idaho, smiled and took the offered ID.  "Thanks!  I won't let you down."

 "It's what they all say.  Go over to E.L.I.T.E. to ask them if you can try out some weapons.  Don't be upset if they start calling you 'Spuds'."

 Nate looked confused, while Darcy bristled and took Nate's arm.  "C'mon, Nate."  He muttered to him as they walked across the hall, "People who care will know what the reference really is."

 "But what does 'Spuds' mean?"

 "I'll explain later."