We Are Legion (We Are Bob)

Book 3: Chapter 11: Remains

Book 3: Chapter 11: Remains

Bill

March 2223

Epsilon Eridani

I was making some modifications to Bullwinkle when I got a ping from Mario. I gave my roamers instructions that would keep them busy for a while, and rematerialized my VR.

Mario popped in a moment later. He turned to Jeeves, who had appeared at his elbow, and requested a coffee, then sat down and gazed at me.

“Okay, Mario, I know you well enough to realize the inscrutable act always means trouble. What’s up?”

“Wonderful. So the Others have yet another notch on their collective holster.”

Mario smiled without any humor. “Sure. Except, by some enormous coincidence, there’s no metal to be had anywhere around GL 877.”

“Okay, got it.”

Mario was right, of course. The home system of the Others was out at the periphery of explored space. By definition, since exploration had pretty much stopped once we’d discovered them.

“Claude and a large number of the Bobs from the Delta Pavonis defense are heading for Gamma Pavonis. Maybe you can arrange something with them.” Mario looked at me with one eyebrow raised.

I nodded, then grimaced. “I’ll do that, Mario, but I think Claude took the defeat really hard. I’m not sure he’s going to be entirely rational where the Others are concerned. His talk was all about defending Gamma.”

“Well, you have a few more years until his group gets to Gamma. Maybe come up with a sales pitch.”

I sighed. If there was a hell, it was in sales.