Chapter Thirty-Two: Second Wave

Ferb, a Bob duplicate, discovers that another Bob named George has already begun a similar mission to explore galactic north with relay stations, having departed centuries earlier. Ferb learns that George is already two hundred light-years ahead and has moved into the metal-poor thick disk region, forcing Ferb to reconsider his own exploration plans.

Ferb receives a radio message from George, another Bob, who initiated the same mission concept of heading galactic north with relay stations far earlier—back in the twenty-second century before SCUT technology existed. George built an onboard SCUT and has been sending reports by radio, now positioned two hundred light-years ahead of Ferb in the thick disk region populated by metal-poor Population II stars, an area unlikely to contain habitable planets or even gas giants. Ferb realizes his exploration plans, which he formulated only a few years ago after the War for Earth ended, have been anticipated and executed by George long before. Noting that George doesn't appear in any registry and may be receiving Bill's transmission plans by now, Ferb feels his grand gesture has become derivative. He contemplates changing direction entirely—perhaps heading galactic south or toward the galaxy's edge, since Icarus and Daedalus are already exploring the galactic center. Despite his frustration, Ferb decides to monitor George's reports for a while longer, though he insists to himself he won't actually enjoy doing so.