Freefall 1971 - 1980 (D)
Freefall 1971
Day of the dead
[!0.987]2010-12-15
That is why it's called “Lost truck lake”
Oh, man! Your owner was a character. I wish I had known him.
It's the day of the dead. Our owner wanted people to remember him with happiness, not sadness.
That's the way I want to be remembered.
But so many of your inventions cause people to run screaming in terror.
Those can be happy memories… depending on which side of the terror you're on.
Color by George Peterson
Café “A valentine box with a non-obesity-inducing gift”, dietary, yep. The Joulery Box
Freefall 1972
Day of the dead
[!0.987]2010-12-17
Good night. It was a pleasure meeting you.
Copy paste that. You two make a nice couple.
Speaking of which, do you still contact that interstellar probe with the big ramjet?
The occasional burst message. We don't talk much now that she's exceeded point nine lightspeed.
Too bad. She was cute.
Well, it's hard to maintain a long distance relationship once relativity comes into play.
Color by George Peterson
I think Querty was referring to a Bussard ramjet
Freefall 1973
Day of the dead
[!0.987]2010-12-20
I've never sat down and talked to robots before. After a while, you do start to see them as people.
Though as people go, they're kind of… kind of…
Nerds?
What were you expecting from minds designed by engineers?
Good point.
Color by George Peterson
Freefall 1974
Day of the dead
[!0.987]2010-12-22
When did your owner realize you were smarter than the average dog?
He pretended to throw my ball. I fetched it.
I brought the imaginary ball back and pretended to drop it at his feet. Then I whuffed at him to pick it up and throw again.
After that, his mom would play with me. She appreciated that an imaginary ball doesn't get covered with real drool.
Color by George Peterson
Freefall 1975
Day of the dead
[!0.987]2010-12-24
I don't think it's to disguise the scent. Wolves will go for the easy meal.
I think when deer smell wolves and carrion from the same direction, they think the wolves are scavenging and not hunting, so they become less alert.
I never really gave much thought to the benefits of rolling in dead animals.
It's a neglected area of study. I expect it will become more prestigious when Bowman's wolf researchers get into the field.
Color by George Peterson
Freefall 1976
Day of the dead
[!0.987]2010-12-27
How about clothes? When did you start wearing them?
Not counting the collar, about thirteen.
My hands developed first. I was able to handle buttons and zippers before I could walk any distance on my hind legs. It took a while for me to develop a good sense of balance.
Fashion sense, even longer.
Color by George Peterson
Freefall 1977
Day of the dead
[!0.987]2010-12-29
What was your childhood like?
Pretty normal. School. Friends. Sports. Then my parents wanted to come here.
Back home, almost the whole system is explored and claimed. Here, not only is most of the planet unclaimed, there are moons, asteroids, even dwarf planets waiting.
You can homestead here. File a claim. Make some improvements. Presto. You're a landowner.
Which would be interesting news if I could own property rather than being property.
Color by George Peterson
Freefall 1978
Day of the dead
[!0.987]2010-12-31
You tensed up for a moment. Is something wrong?
I can't homestead. Legally I can't own property.
File anyway. things are a bit looser here. The worst that can happen is they'll say “no”.
Well, I do have my own bank account here. that's something I couldn't have back home.
Of course, if I am successful, there's going to be a land rush as over four hundred and fifty million robots do the same thing. Perhaps the worst that can happen is they'll say “yes”.
Color by George Peterson
Freefall 1979
Day of the dead
[!0.987]2011-01-03
I looked up Bowman's wolves on the Ecosystems Unlimited site. It says you're human safe and direct order compliant. Can I give you direct orders?
No. My owner can give me direct orders. The mayor. Certain positions in Ecosystems Unlimited. And civil servants in emergency situations.
So everything we do together is free will.
Good. It would be scary to have that kind of power over someone.
It would be even scarier to be with someone who wanted that kind of power.
Color by George Peterson
