We Are Legion (We Are Bob) (Bobiverse, #1)

by Dennis E. Taylor

Systems Check. Square root of 234,215. [483.957642] Damn, that’s cool. Do I have a date function? Current Date. [2133-06-25.08:42:24.235] Woo hoo, I’m Data. “At the tone, the time will be eight forty-three. Beeeeep.”

“Will you please stop doing that!” I said. I attempted to glare at him. “Would you prefer that I pick you up and carry you around under my arm?”

“Who the freaking hell was that? And don’t tell me ‘Minister Jacoby.’ ”

I had three issues that bothered me. Was I conscious? Could I actually consider myself to be alive? And was I still Bob? Philosophers had been going on and on about this type of thing for centuries, but now, for me, it was personal. A human, regardless of their opinion on the subject, could depend on being a human. The minister’s offhand reference to me as ‘it’ and ‘replicant’ had stung at a level I was just now starting to appreciate.

It was a kind of good news/bad news thing. I’d finally have some time for some quiet reflection, but it could drive me nuts. Woo hah…