14. Bob – August 2144 – Epsilon Eridani

Bob uses his roamers to defend the facility during an armed attack, forcing the invaders to surrender. After the incident, Dr. Landers reveals that a tactical nuclear weapon is hidden in the facility as a failsafe against Bob becoming a threat. Bob secretly explores the building and discovers the computer room containing the upload candidates, including himself and Kenneth Martins, but chooses not to sabotage Kenneth despite the opportunity.

The chapter opens with Bob assisting Dr. Landers during a training exercise when a massive explosion and gunfire erupt throughout the facility. Despite being ordered to stay put, Bob directs his thirty-two roamers to break through the security window and swarm the attacking force. The roamers, equipped with tools and driven by Bob's frustration, overwhelm the invaders by attaching to their faces and bodies until security guards can establish a crossfire. The attackers surrender, and Bob returns his roamers to the training room as requested by Dr. Landers. In a subsequent conversation, Dr. Landers explains that the project team is monitored by an unknown faction within FAITH who has planted a tactical nuclear weapon in the basement as a last resort failsafe. If Bob's behavior becomes deemed too dangerous, the nuke can be detonated remotely without warning. Dr. Landers notes that three people died and several were injured in the attack, but the danger appears to have passed. Later, Bob sends a single unaccounted-for roamer through the air ducts to explore the facility. After carefully mapping the building and bypassing security measures, the roamer reaches an isolated computer room where five cubes are housed on a platform—two glowing blue (Kenneth Martins and Robert Johansson, Bob himself) and three dark (the other candidates). Despite considering sabotaging Kenneth's cube, Bob ultimately decides against it and leaves, refusing to compromise his principles.