Book 4: Chapter 18: Not Part of the Plan
Will
June 2334
Quin
I pulled myself off the rack, staggering slightly. The proportions of the Quinlan manny would take some getting used to. I was examining the not insubstantial claws on my hand when the other manny opened its eyes.
“Hey, Howard.” I held up a hand. “Dig these crazy nails.”
He gave me a frown. “You gone hippy on me, Riker?” I grinned at him and he smiled back. “Thanks for inviting me, Will. I admit I’m curious about Bridget’s project, and her description of the swimming was more enthusiastic than she generally gets about things.”
I signaled the drone to open the cargo door. “No prob. I’m curious too, although I also have a responsibility to practice in case I’m called up. That’s my story, anyway.” I gestured to the door and we walked out together.
I’d parked the drone in a different city, somewhat larger than the one Bob and Bridget had visited. And a good deal more messed up. We’d have to avoid areas with too much radiation—even the mannies weren’t immune to the damaging effects—but just about anything else could be ignored. I wanted to get a cross-section of the types of warfare that the Quinlans had waged on each other. This city had been pounded by explosives. Maybe missiles, maybe dropped bombs. Not kinetics, though. Those wouldn’t have left much to examine.
The city had likely been a capital, or at least a major hub of some kind. It had that all roads lead to Rome feel about it, at least from the air. The Quinlans had used rail for overland transport, and there were a lot of rail lines leading here.