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Clete is one of Hawk's friends in HAWK, and is a fifteen-year-old computer genius. He is described with many traits consistent with autism.
History[]
Clete arrived at McCallum Children’s Home as a small child and slowly recovered from his addiction as an "Ope." He and a small group of others, including Hawk, were eventually the only kids remaining, as others were picked off as subjects for science experiments.
While Hawk is away one evening, her friends are kidnapped for experiments. Clete, who had fallen asleep in a hiding place, is the only one to escape; he informs Hawk and prepares a plan to rescue them, getting to the labs by going through the prison on the excuse of delivering laundry. Although Hawk and Clete eventually make it into the labs, they discover that it's impossible to get their friends out without help.
The Flock is able to help them. Although Clete does not want to be carried flying, he is eventually convinced, and is taken along to the city of Tetra.
Hawk notices that he seems happy there. His program for a virus that will disable guns (which are all computerized) becomes pivotal to the Flock's plans to save the City of the Dead. They plan for him to use his virus at a rally they will hold in the city.
Although the virus succeeds and contributes to the Flock's victory, the rally turns into a riot. Hawk tries to protect Clete, but an attacker stabs Clete through her wing and kills him.
Personality[]
He is extremely intelligent, enjoys reading and is excellent at math, and often talks at length about computer programs and viruses that he is working on. He is also very determined when it comes to rescuing his friends.
Clete is Hawk's age, but she says he acts younger. He can become distressed when his routine is disrupted. He is close to Hawk and she can often get through to him when others can't.
Appearance[]
Clete is about 1.8 meters tall (five feet nine inches) and very thin. Hawk described him as "a tall, camel-colored drinking straw."
Trivia[]
- Clete is implied to have autism, which would make him the first character on the autism spectrum in the Maximum Ride series.
- Clete is the only named good character to die in HAWK, although other characters survive injuries such as being struck by lightning or shot in the head.