"I... am not sure if this is the sort of thing I can ask the Undersides for without feeling like more of a burden on my co-workers who are being very understanding about how I am calling in sick during my first two weeks. Possibly Rete can transport books?"

"I think it's not supposed to go to... Transit's... house to collect Lorica's books but it could get them from your place if you're okay with that. If you can call it. I still don't really want to talk to it, I'm sure I'll be fascinated once I'm no longer magically lonely for real people."

"I can text it and talk to you while I do it?"

"Yes thank you. It must be a great robot, Transit seems to really trust it and wanted to let it eavesdrop on a lot of my conversations while I was over so it could pick up background information, but - yeah. Backlash."

"Yeah blacklash sucks. I'm sorry for how I've made yours worse."

And he can text Rete about whether Rete is willing to pick up books from his parents and bring them to him. And not like, tell the cops about where his parents are staying without good reason to do so. 

"You haven't made mine worse at all? You're guiding me and keeping me company."

My drones don't have much carrying capacity. I can bring one small book at a time and it exposes them to some incidental risk from anyone they pass deciding to interfere.

"I... guess that's true? It still feels like I'm making things worse somehow but maybe that's my backlash talking. It sounds like Rete can't really carry books well."

"Does your phone have signal, can you charge it here and download some?"

"Maybe? I do really prefer something larger, if you think it won't be too much of a hassle for your dad."

"I just think he does not really want to confront the fact that the alternate universe version of his dead daughter has been having sex and if we put all our clothes back on I have to be touching you less but I can cope if I have to."

"... my brain is claiming that he is probably thinking about it anyways because it's with me."

"He's probably thinking about it anyways because it's with me, some, but that doesn't mean he couldn't be obliged to think about it more and would dislike that."

"Hm... I wonder if Rete can deliver an ereader more easily than a book."

"Maybe, depending on why a book is hard."

"Weight, I think. And risk from someone interfering when they pass by."

"So one trip with a thing that weighs about as much as one book might be an easier sell. ...your teammates won't bring you stuff? Like I realize you're calling in sick but Tattletale verified what was happening, right, it's not like they think you're faking. And you'll have more superpowers after for your, uh, supervillainy."

"I don't know? I... just joined and already feel like a burden and amn't friends with them or anything and I assume they are annoyed at me."

"Okay. Well, I can call Transit and ask him if you want me to and can't talk Rete into it."

Nod.

How does Rete feel about the e-reader plan?

Amortizing over my likely operational lifespan without Lorica, this would represent an expected loss of at least $600 in value to the Protectorate. I will do it for that much in verified donation to a charity Lorica liked.

Oh.

"I have discovered I really don't want to be responsible for Rete breaking."

Is the risk to you or just a drone you control sometimes?

To the drone, but they cannot be replaced or repaired any more.

"Okay it sounds like it won't risk Rete - sorry do you want to talk about a different subject?"

Okay, I can send you the receipt for the donation in a minute.

"Rete is a fine subject I just don't want to talk to it. Why's it named that?"