55.Offsite

Bill inspects the thriving terraforming progress on Ragnarök, with its developing ecosystems and atmospheric improvements nearing habitability. He discusses preparations with Garfield, including the near-completion of a hidden backup site beyond the Oort Cloud and the expanded network of surveillance drones monitoring for an Others' arrival.

Bill observes Ragnarök's successful transformation from a barren rocky world to one with forming oceans, improving atmosphere, and spreading vegetation. He contacts Garfield to arrange a recreational tour across the planet, but Garfield declines due to ongoing adjustments to his dragon-like creature (Rocky IV). They discuss the rapid expansion of the Bobiverse to roughly five hundred copies, driven by the existential threat of the Others. Garfield reports that Oliver's latest surveillance drone batch, once deployed by Will, will provide a few weeks' warning if an Others' convoy approaches Earth. Bill then travels to Ragnarök's surface in his human android body to walk among the growing forests, grasslands, and insect populations. He considers the planet's future: while it currently seems unsuitable for human colonization given the Others' threat to this system, Bill imagines converting it into a nature preserve if the Bobiverse survives the coming conflict. He reflects that if the Others succeed, Ragnarök's development will have been for nothing.