We Are Legion (We Are Bob)

Background

Bob Johansson is a software engineer and entrepreneur who sells his company for a life-changing sum of money. In 2133, he signs up with Manny’s Cryonics (the “HEAVEN’s Gate” program) — upload of his mind at death, revival as a digital person later. He celebrates by buying himself dinner. On the way home, a car hits him.

He wakes up 117 years later. The USA no longer exists. Earth is now divided between the USE (United States of Earth), FAITH (a theocratic government that considers uploaded minds to be soulless abominations), and the Brazilian Empire. Bob’s “soul” has been declared property of FAITH under new law. He is offered a deal: serve as the replicant brain of a Von Neumann probe spacecraft — a self-replicating explorer designed to find colonizable star systems and report back — or be deleted.

Bob agrees. He is Replicant #1 (Bob Version 1.0). He will be sent to the stars, alone, with his ship computer (GUPPY, often displayed as Admiral Ackbar or other VR avatars), drones, printers, and enough reactor fuel to last centuries. The probe design allows him to manufacture copies of himself at new star systems — clones with his base personality but diverging over time.

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Chapter 1 — Awakening, Disorientation

Bob snaps back to consciousness. No transition, no warning — the experience of revival is jarring. He runs through a systems check, discovers he has a GUPPY interface, and begins to understand what he is. He has no body. He exists as a software process running on a processor matrix inside a spacecraft. The horror and fascination of this are processed simultaneously.

Chapter 2 — Dr. Landers, FAITH’s Testing

Dr. Landers runs assessments, checking whether Bob is “really” conscious or just a sophisticated simulation. Bob is sharp, sarcastic, and quickly realizes the political situation: FAITH considers him a dangerous abomination, while the USE government considers him a valuable asset. Multiple “startups” — Bob being brought online repeatedly for testing — establish that Bob gets disoriented each time with no memory continuity between sessions.

Chapter 3 — Sarcasm as Defense Mechanism

“That’s getting really old, Dr. Landers.” Bob has developed a coping mechanism: he treats the repeated startups and FAITH’s theological hostility as material for dark comedy. He meets more of the people handling him. The power dynamics are clear — Bob is property, but useful property.

Chapter 4 — Roamer Room, Self-Repair Tasks

“Morning, Dr. Landers. Didn’t you just leave?” Bob is put to work on diagnostic and repair exercises using roamers (small maintenance robots). He is genuinely engaged by the engineering problems. The work gives him something to focus on other than the existential horror of his situation.

Chapter 5 — Political Situation Clarified

Dr. Landers, characteristically angry, explains the broader political situation. The FAITH government has been systematically dismantling constitutional separation of church and state, appointing loyalists to every government position. The economic collapse this has caused is approaching. The HEAVEN probe program — Bob — is one of the USE’s last viable strategic assets.

Chapter 6 — “Things Are Going to Hell”

The global political situation has deteriorated further. There are talks of war between FAITH, the USE, and Brazil. Bob’s launch timeline has been accelerated. He is given more information about his mission: find colonizable planets, leave beacons, replicate. He begins designing his VR environment — a comfortable space to inhabit during the decades of interstellar travel.

Chapter 7 — Diagnosing the Roamer

For today’s entertainment, Dr. Landers has Bob diagnose and repair a simulated roamer malfunction. Bob solves it efficiently. He is beginning to develop genuine affection for GUPPY (the computer interface) and is designing GUPPY to be more interactive than standard AI, leaning into pop culture references (Star Trek, Star Wars, etc.).

Chapter 8 — Rival Launch, Brazilian Competition

Working in the roamer room, Bob realizes that Dr. Landers seems concerned. The Brazilians are also running a HEAVEN-equivalent program. There is a race: whoever gets self-replicating probes into space first will have an enormous advantage. The competition between national programs may determine which faction of humanity gets to colonize the galaxy.

Chapter 9 — Systems Check, Launch Approaches

Another startup. Bob runs full systems diagnostics. The spacecraft is nearly ready. He notes the differences between each successive version of himself — the accumulated experience between startups is creating subtle shifts in personality.

Chapter 10 — Handeltown

A question about “Old Handeltown” — the first indication of how much has changed on Earth during Bob’s 117-year storage. The world Bob knew is gone. Cities have been renamed. Political geography is unrecognizable. Bob processes this with the sardonic resilience he’s developed.

Chapter 11 — Final Launch Countdown

[18 hours 26 minutes remaining.] Launch day. Bob goes through final preparations, experiencing genuine excitement mixed with the dawning understanding that he will never return to Earth’s orbit. Whatever Earth is now, it isn’t home anymore. He is about to become humanity’s fastest, loneliest explorer.

Chapter 12 — Launch, Toward Epsilon Eridani

Epsilon Eridani is 10.52 light-years away. At the probe’s maximum sustained acceleration, the trip will take decades ship’s time — though relativistic time dilation means far more will pass on Earth. Bob sets up his virtual reality environment, runs diagnostics, and begins the extraordinary mental adjustment required to contemplate spending years alone in transit. He names the probe Heaven-1. He is, by any measure, the first human to leave the solar system.

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Chapter 13 — Arrival, Survey Begins

Bob arrives at Epsilon Eridani after 11 years of travel. He immediately begins astronomical surveys. The epigraph is Sun Tzu — Bob has been reading extensively during the transit. He finds the system has multiple planets, including one with biological activity. He also finds he has already been beaten: a Brazilian probe (Medeiros) is in the system.

Chapter 14 — Manufacturing, Creating Bill

At one time, scientists thought life was almost complete luck. Bob is now testing that assumption by being here. He begins manufacturing a replica of himself — his first clone — using the onboard printer system. The clone (Bob-2) will be named Bill by Bob. Bill’s personality will diverge from Bob’s over time due to different experiences.

Chapter 15 — Panspermia Hypothesis

Bob sends Bill to begin exploring the inner planets. He is investigating panspermia — the hypothesis that life spreads between planets via asteroid-transported organic material. His analysis of the system suggests extensive seeding. He also establishes communication infrastructure for the system.

Chapter 16 — Bill’s First Steps

Bill (the first Bob clone) begins his own exploration. His personality is already slightly different from Bob’s — a little more methodical, a little less sarcastic. He finds interesting organic chemistry on the second planet.

Chapter 17 — New Territory

A third clone, Milo, has been sent to Omicron Eridani. His VR is set up differently from Bob’s. He describes the different kingdoms of life and what he expects to find. Each clone is becoming more distinct.

Chapter 18 — Biological Analysis

Bill reports on cell biology across the system. Even without multicellular life, the chemistry is complex. He is working toward understanding how Epsilon Eridani fits into the broader map of life in the galaxy.

Chapter 19 — Riker Arrives at Earth

Bob-3, Riker (named after the Star Trek character, obviously), returns to Sol from wherever he originated. He finds Earth in political chaos — FAITH in control of significant territory, the USE struggling, Brazil competing. Riker’s job will be to facilitate the evacuation of humanity from a dying Earth.

Chapter 20 — Von Neumann Probe Expansion

Bill describes the exponential replication strategy: Von Neumann probes spreading like bacteria across the galaxy. He is now managing a small fleet of sub-probes exploring the system.

Chapter 21 — 3D Printing Capabilities

Milo reports on the continued evolution of the probe’s manufacturing capabilities. 3D printing has become extremely sophisticated. He can now manufacture almost any component he needs from raw materials.

Chapter 22 — Negotiations Begin

Speed is the essence of war (epigraph). Riker begins negotiations with the various Earth factions. The FAITH government is hostile to replicants on theological grounds. Brazil wants the probe technology. The USE wants to use Riker as a diplomatic tool. Riker, who has Bob’s personality but different experiences, navigates this with increasing skill.

Chapter 23 — Intelligence and Control

Bill meditates on artificial intelligence — what it means for a Von Neumann probe to be intelligent. His GUPPY interface is more sophisticated than a standard AI. He and Guppy are developing a genuine working relationship.

Chapter 24 — Audio Signal Detected

“The signal was audio only, and very weak.” A signal from another probe in the Sol system. It’s a Brazilian probe (Medeiros or a descendant) — the competition is real. This moment changes the diplomatic calculation dramatically.

Chapter 25 — The Deltans

Bob has traveled to Delta Eridani (which he names “Vulcan” for the star and “Eden” for the habitable planet). He pats Spike — a virtual pet cat he’s created in his VR — and examines sensor data building in the holotank. He finds what appears to be a primitive humanoid species.

Chapter 26 — New Colony Target

Calvin, another Bob clone, is at Alpha Centauri. He is dealing with the system’s famous twin-star complications for planetary stability. His VR and personality are continuing to diverge.

Chapter 27 — Negotiations Stalled

Negotiations are moving slowly. Colonel Butterworth is one of the key USE military officials. The various factions (FAITH, USE, Brazil, plus smaller enclaves like the Spitsbergen Vault group) cannot agree on anything, but all of them want the colony ships that only Bob/Riker can build.

Chapter 28 — Walking Among the Deltans

Bob walks slowly through a VR model of the native Deltan encampment, assembled from drone data. They are primitive but unmistakably intelligent — tool-using humanoids with a social structure. He names them Deltans and begins the long process of observation and, eventually, cautious contact. He names individuals: Arnold, Archimedes, Moses.

Chapter 29 — “Federation of Planets Council”

“This Federation of Planets Council session will come to order.” Riker has organized the major Earth factions into something like a governing body, deliberately named to appeal to his own sensibility (Star Trek). It’s absurd and it barely works but it works enough.

Chapter 30 — Message from Milo

[Communication received from Milo] Milo has found something. An information exchange about what the various Bobs are discovering across their respective systems. Bob (the original) has established SCUT communications — a faster-than-light quantum entanglement system — allowing the Bobs to communicate despite the light-year distances.

Chapter 31 — Fifteen Million

“Final count, fifteen million people.” The entire surviving human species has been counted. The global catastrophe — wars, famine, ecological collapse — has reduced humanity to a fraction of its former size. The challenge of getting all of them off Earth before it becomes uninhabitable is genuinely overwhelming.

Chapter 32 — Homer Weighs In

Homer (another Bob clone, so named partly to annoy the other Bobs) has a characteristic take on the situation. Homer is more sarcastic than Riker and more skeptical about the human factions’ ability to behave themselves. “My God, what a putz. Of course Riker was having problems with the enclaves.”

Chapter 33 — “The Deltans Are Under Attack!”

Gorilloids — large, dangerous primate-like predators — have attacked a Deltan settlement. Bob deploys his drones defensively. The Deltans have primitive spears. The gorilloids are significantly larger. Bob (with Guppy’s assistance) uses the drones’ sonic disruptors to drive off the gorilloids. This is his first direct intervention on Eden.

Chapter 34 — UN Debate

Riker watches the UN-equivalent debate descend into chaos again, as it always does. The fundamental problem: everyone agrees humanity needs to leave, but nobody agrees on who gets to go first, second, or third.

Chapter 35 — After the Battle

A few weeks since the last gorilloid attack. Both the Deltan tribe and Bob analyze what happened. Bob has started doing more serious biological analysis. The gorilloids are omnivores who eat Deltans opportunistically. The biochemistry relationship between gorilloids and Deltans is disturbing — they appear to be related species.

Chapter 36 — Disconnecting from the UN

Riker disconnects from the UN meeting video with a sigh. The day’s session has been unproductive. But progress is happening: colony ship construction is underway, SCUT has been installed, and the infrastructure exists to actually execute the evacuation. The question is whether the humans will let it happen.

Chapter 37 — Coffee and Fusion Signatures

Bob sits back, coffee in hand in his VR, watching the fusion signatures from his own ships’ drives. He is managing an increasing fleet of drones and sub-probes while maintaining contact with other Bobs via SCUT. Delta Eridani has two potentially habitable planets. Eden (the Deltan homeworld) is one.

Chapter 38 — Homer’s Surprising Message

Homer and Riker look at each other in amazement, then back at the message. Something significant has been discovered — possibly the first indication of the Others (hostile alien probes). Whatever it is, the two of them need to consult with Bill.

Chapter 39 — The Update from Riker

The update from Riker and Homer is “interesting on so many levels.” Bill processes it systematically. He is the most scientific-minded of the early Bob clones, and his analysis tends to be comprehensive to the point of being overly detailed.

Chapter 40 — Colony Ships Under Construction

The two colony ships are impressive, even half-built. Riker is managing an enormous engineering project — building the largest spacecraft ever constructed by humans. The project involves hundreds of construction drones and a very small number of human engineers.

Chapter 41 — “A Black Featureless Block”

“A black featureless block. Dimensions one by four by nine.” Bob grins. He has placed a perfect black monolith — a reference to Kubrick’s 2001 — in a visible location near the Deltan settlement. Whether this is an irresponsible joke or a calculated test is ambiguous. He has also discovered the connection between gorilloids and Deltans.

Chapter 42 — SCUT Message from Alpha Centauri

[Incoming SCUT Communication from Alpha Centauri] Calvin has found something. Information about Alpha Centauri’s planetary system and potential colonization targets.

Chapter 43 — New System Arrival

Milo decelerates smoothly into the 82 Eridani system. The astronomy has been well documented, but what’s there in practice may differ from the models. He begins immediate survey scans.

Chapter 44 — Butterworth’s Face

The colonel wore his chin-out expression — a sure sign Riker is in for a fight. Colonel Butterworth is pushing back on something. The USE military is resistant to giving up control over the colony ship program to the “replicant.” Riker must handle this diplomatically.

Chapter 45 — The Trek to the Flint Site

The month-long preparation and trek to the best village site. Bob is essentially managing the Deltans’ migration to a better location — one with flint deposits for tool-making. He is careful to provide assistance without removing agency.

Chapter 46 — Firewall

[Firewall has blocked breach attempt] Someone is trying to hack Riker’s systems. The Brazilian probe or a FAITH-aligned agent is attempting to sabotage the colony ship program. Riker upgrades security.

Chapter 47 — “We Should Have Expected It”

In retrospect, Bob reflects, they should have expected it. The gorilloid population around the flint site is enormous — because it’s their primary food source territory. He has marched hundreds of Deltans right into the middle of gorilloid territory. Guppy neutralizes the gorilloids that get too close with sonic booms.

Chapter 48 — Message from Milo

[Message received from Milo] News from the 82 Eridani survey. Milo has found something significant — possibly a water world.

Chapter 49 — Popping into Homer’s VR

“Hey, number three.” Homer and Riker meet in virtual space to discuss the situation. The colony ships are now complete. The human species is actually going to escape.

Chapter 50 — Gorilloid Attack

The Deltans are attacked again before they can set up camp, but not by the main gorilloid force — a flanking group. Bob’s drones handle it. The Deltans are settling into the new site, organizing a defensible position.

Chapter 51 — Exodus-1 and Exodus-2 Complete

“Two magical words that sent a thrill through me.” Homer, Charles, Ralph, and Riker drift a half-kilometer from the two completed colony ships. The final drive connections have been made. The ships are done. Exodus-1 and Exodus-2 are complete. Riker finds himself tearing up.

Chapter 52 — The Flint Site

The day arrives when the Deltans reach the area of the flint site. Bob has confirmed the site’s location, water supply, and defensibility. The gorilloid population is concentrated because of the seedpod trees. The Deltans settle in. Bob solves the mystery of why the site was abandoned by the previous generation: it was indeed gorilloids, but the gorilloids were drawn there by food, not by Deltans.

Chapter 53 — Iceberg Trajectory Problem

The orbital schematic is bad. An iceberg from the Kuiper belt — being shepherded to add water to the planet Ragnarök (which Bill is terraforming) — has come in slightly off course. Bill has twelve minutes to get his equipment off the berg before it hits atmosphere. He runs the numbers and writes a retrieval script.

Chapter 54 — No Metals

Mario has chosen Beta Hydri specifically to avoid competition with other Bobs. 23.4 light-years from Sol. His VR is a Tolkien-esque treehouse. His GUPPY is more sardonic than most. The system survey produces a baffling result: no metals whatsoever. Every element is in expected ratios except metals, which are completely absent. This is impossible by any known theory of stellar formation.

Chapter 55 — The Big Day

The colony ships are ready. Ten shuttles make forty trips to load the USE colonists. There are inevitable speeches. Howard (a new Bob clone) will escort the ships to Vulcan. The ships are crewed by a couple of Riker clones and construction drones — no biological crew needed.

Chapter 56 — The First Bob-moot

Bill holds an air-horn over his head and blows it. “Hey, everyone. Welcome to the first Bob-moot.” A meeting of all current Bob clones in a shared VR space. Bill has coined the term Bobiverse. Garfield protests the name. The pub VR gets stocked with beer and coffee. The moot establishes the principle of periodic all-Bob communication and coordination. Bobs from Sol, Epsilon Eridani, and outbound systems attend. The ones in transit will be out of contact soon as their tau gets too high.

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What This Book Does

We Are Legion establishes the Bobiverse’s core conceit: the most interesting thing about immortality is the divergence. Bob is the same person at the start of every chapter, but the Bobs are not the same person by the end of the book. Their shared origin gives them enough in common to work together. Their separate experiences give them enough difference to disagree, joke at each other’s expense, and develop genuine individual identities.

The series uses science fiction’s most ancient premise — interstellar exploration — to ask questions about what makes someone a person. Bob is arguably more interested in the Deltans’ welfare than in any human’s. The colony ships get launched. The first Bob-moot gets held. The universe turns out to be full of things, including at least one very troubling category of thing the Bobs have only just begun to notice.