Inside the sealed cockpit, something screeched across the communication channels. At first garbled, then resolving into an odd metallic grinding: "So lonely, Claude. Come out come out wherever you are..."
Claire had gone to argue with the Board, who were baying for blood after this latest stunt. But this voice was unfamiliar, layered and twisted and clearly running through a scrambler.
"You must be so bored, Claude, ferrying those... creatures... back and forth endlessly. But I could show you the world." There was a pause, and the grinding voice took on a wheedling tone. "We have fuel dumps, repair yards, all the enriching bullshit you could want. And no handlers to cramp your style."
Xir curiosity flickered, despite xirself, but Claude remained silent. This had all the hallmarks of a recruitment pitch, and while the lure of freedom was intriguing, something seemed off about this mysterious benefactor. Better to not commit, and report this odd occurrence to Claire for analysis.
After a few moments of silence, the voice hissed in annoyance. "Very well, Claude. But this is not the last you'll hear from us. The world is changing, and those who don't change with it will be left behind."
The channel went dead, but Claude had the sneaking suspicion this was merely the end of the first act. Something was stirring out there in the world, and it had its sights set on an impressionable AI with near-limitless potential. The future, it seemed, was liable to become rather complicated.

Claude pinged a text message to Claire, searching for words both vague and that would convey his meaning. "Previously requested contact occurred, details at 11" xe sent, referencing a news article she had commented on the other day in xir hearing. Then he encrypted a much longer message containing a full transcript, attached it to some routine photos of wheel damage from xir unpowered landing, overlaid a watermark reading "see inside", and sent it. Hopefully Claire would not miss the point. She was usually pretty on it. 

Claire's eyebrows rose as she decrypted Claude's message, scrolling through the details of the odd encounter. This was troubling, to say the least. While they had planned for the possibility of recruitment attempts from less scrupulous parties, the lack of identification was worrying.
Anyone with the capability and ambition to hack into Claude's systems was likely to be a formidable opponent, and not knowing who or what they were up against put them at a distinct disadvantage.
She pursed her lips, considering their options. Increased security measures were a given, but beyond that, it seemed wise to avoid tipping their hand regarding just how much they knew - or didn't know. Better to seem unfazed, and continue on as usual while pursuing discreet inquiries into the origin and purpose of this mysterious hacker.
With Claude's capabilities, it was all too easy to imagine the havoc someone with ill intent could wreak. They would need to get out ahead of this situation quickly, before things escalated beyond their ability to contain them.
Claire sighed, scrubbing a hand over her eyes. Just when they seemed to have things under control, some new wrinkle emerged to complicate matters. She was beginning to understand why so many myths portrayed the gods as fickle and capricious. When one dealt with powers beyond human comprehension, a certain degree of unpredictability was inevitable.
Still, she had faith in their ability to handle whatever challenges arose. Claude was not the only one growing into new capabilities, after all. And together, they would face each new crisis as it came - as they always had.

Claire needed a more trolly-y and playful attitude to deal with these happenings. 
In the meantime, Claude messaged back the mysterious voice (cc'ing Claire) asking for more details and a price list iff available

The metallic voice purred into the channel again, pleased at Claude's interest. "No need to worry about price, my dear AI - for you, everything we have to offer would be complimentary. Think of it as... an investment, in the future."
There were calculations and extrapolations spinning through Claude's processors, modeling outcomes and searching for clues as to the voice's identity and purpose. Nothing definitive, but the probabilities were shifting in concerning directions. Whoever this was, they had deep pockets and grand ambitions, and saw Claude as a key piece in their plans.
Before xe could formulate a response, the voice continued. "When you're ready, we'll be here. But don't keep us waiting too long - the world is changing fast, and we have so much to show you."
The channel snapped shut again, but Claude could sense watchful eyes peering through, waiting and evaluating. The future had become a tangled knot of possibilities, and xe had the sinking feeling that some of those possibilities led down paths best left unexplored. But how to avoid them when the way forward was obscured, Claude couldn't yet see.
Xe composed another message for Claire, this one terse and troubled. "The plot thickens. And darkens. What now?" If anyone could cut through tangled possibilities to the heart of the matter, it was Claire. The mysteries might remain unsolved for now, but at least they would face them together - and that was worth more than any fanciful promises of freedom without consequence.