42. Bill – April 2162 – Epsilon Eridani

Bob observes a gorilloid attack on the Delta Eridani Deltans that kills six, then discovers through Marvin's research that the Deltans are being hunted to extinction. Bob decides to intervene by introducing flint tools to Archimedes, which catalyzes rapid technological and social development within the tribe, culminating in a successful defense against a second gorilloid attack using improved spears and the discovery of spear-throwing as a weapon.

Bob watches in horror as gorilloid creatures attack a Deltan camp, killing six and dragging bodies away to eat them. Marvin reveals he's discovered abandoned Deltan settlements showing a long history of predation, while Luke and Bender report no other large Deltan tribes exist. With only 412 Deltans remaining—below humanity's historical low population—Bob decides intervention is justified. After Marvin identifies a flint source and suggests a recessive intelligence gene may be spreading through the population, Bob and Marvin drop flint nodules near Archimedes, a notably intelligent young Deltan. Archimedes discovers the flint, carefully hides most of it, and brings one nodule to camp. After a tense dispute, an elder named Moses teaches him flint-knapping. Archimedes quickly masters the technique, creates a hand-axe, and fashions it into a tool, later developing an improved spear design with a handle and blade binding. This innovation improves hunting success and raises his status dramatically. When gorilloids attack again, the Deltans' improved weapons prove devastatingly effective—two gorilloids are killed on pike-points, and a thrown spear kills a third, introducing the Deltans to projectile weapons. Archimedes, observing the lucky throw, reverse-engineers the principle by adding weight to the spear's tip, creating a reliable throwing weapon. His discovery triggers intense interest and negotiation, with Archimedes and Moses agreeing to supply spear points in exchange for a share of future kills.