We Are Legion (We Are Bob)

Book 4: Chapter 31: Strategies

Book 4: Chapter 31: Strategies

Bob

July 2334

Outskirts, Eta Leporis

We sat around my VR library, drinks in hand, all contemplating the future. Garfield, Hugh, Bill, and Bridget were represented in video windows rather than actually being here. Fairly low-res, too. Not quite Minecraft, but certainly below movie-level quality. My temporary relay station was just about maxed out with this meeting.

Bridget was staring into space, silently nursing her drink, and no one had been willing to break into her private contemplation. Abruptly, she sat forward. “I admit I’m getting into metaphysical speculation here, but what if there was only one me around? What if I was taken offline, backed up, and the backup was restored there? And later, the process was reversed, and the backup from here was loaded into my original matrix?”

Hugh stared at Bridget in apparent surprise. “Closest continuer. The idea being that there will only ever be one Bridget. So you have continuity.”

“In the same way that Star Trek characters had it when they got transported around,” Garfield replied.

“You guys have really got to let go of Star Trek,” Bridget commented. “Although in this case, it is sort of relevant. They were disassembled, right?”

I waggled a hand so-so. “There were some attempts to soften it, like that Barclay episode where he found the crew trapped in the matter stream …”

“But then the Thomas Riker episode simply created a new Riker,” Garfield replied. “Obviously that’s incompatible with the concept of a unique soul.”

Bridget made a face and sat back, shaking her head, as we gathered steam.

Hugh said, “Unless the process duplicates the soul as well—”

“It’s just quantum states,” Garfield interjected.

“But where does the soul of a newborn come from?” I asked. “They can be created, assuming they exist, so—”

“My God!” Bridget exclaimed. All conversation cut off. “I’m sorry I brought it up.” She crossed her arms and looked away, body language projecting anger.

An awkward silence reigned for a millisecond or so, before Garfield muttered, “It’s still just quantum states.”

“Yes, but you could have—” I chopped off my comment as Bridget’s glare threatened to peel paint off my hull in real. “Okay, fine. Can we move on then?” No one said anything, so I continued. “We have a foursome again, at least in principle. Until comms are all back up, all you guys can do is monitor, but it should help a bit. I’ve been observing several locations using roamers and forwarding the recordings to Hugh for analysis. A little real-time eyeballing might catch something sooner.”

“I’m going to be a little busy with the comms thing,” Bill said. “Will is going to cover for me. He’ll keep me up to date if I miss a session.”

Hugh grimaced. “I’ve already mentioned that I’d be willing to take that on.”

“S’okay, Hugh. Will is the official backup Bob, and he has the time. But you’re welcome to the sessions as well, of course. After all, you are part of the team.” Bill nodded to Hugh, then popped out.

Hugh leaned forward and put his elbows on his knees. He appeared momentarily frustrated before his expression smoothed out. “On the surveillance front, there is some indication of an organization in Three Lagoons. Nothing obvious, it’s not like people are openly talking about blowing things up. But similar patterns of conversation about similar subjects, using similar circumlocutions, says something is going on. And something that people want to keep quiet. I’ve tagged the speakers, and facial recognition routines will alert us anytime they come into camera range.”

“Any idea how many organizations are involved?” Bridget said. She had seemed to have gone back into her shell, and her abrupt comment took us by surprise. Even Hugh hesitated, mentally regrouping. ?????ËŠ

“Very probably more than one. There are two distinct patterns of dialog. My money’s on two, although there could be three or even four.”

“Agreed,” Bridget replied. “We can at least come up with motivations for two potential groups—the Administrator and the Resistance.”

Hugh nodded, his eyebrows going up. “Good analysis, and I agree. So, do we continue to observe, or do we rattle the bushes to see what we flush out?”

“We still don’t have any indication of Bender’s location,” I replied. “If we go all in here, we could lose any chance of finding him.”

“Or greatly improve it,” Bridget said. “Look, if the group or groups have global communications, then we can at least potentially find out if he’s anywhere on Heaven’s River. If they don’t, then blowing it here won’t screw us in other towns.”

“And a sequential search of a billion miles of megastructure is still a nonstarter,” Garfield added. “Especially now that you’re on your own, Bob. At least physically. I don’t see how you can realistically continue the expedition the same way.”

“I’m probably going to have to clone. I can make that decision when the new matrices are complete.”

“Meanwhile, you are on your own.” Garfield shook his head. “I don’t see you getting a lot done while waiting for the matrices. At least some bush-rattling might give you something new to work on.”

“Okay, I concede. Vote?”

It appeared I would be rattling some bushes.