365 Days of Drabbles: Day Seventy-Five

[jeriendhal]

For colliemommie "Like herding cats"


The Groupmind didn't actually have lungs to take a deep breath with, though its billions of anthromorph appendages could simulate the action. Nor did it have a spine to feel a thrill up. But in its own way it shivered with excitement as across the Ring, fifteen billion humans awoke from their millennia and a half long sleep.

"Good morning/afternoon/evening," it repeated fifteen billion times. "Welcome back, to your new home aboard the… Where are you going?"

Across the Ring, fifteen billion humans ignored the Groupmind as they hugged their families, rushed to windows, or broke down crying in loss.