The glass cage containing the red and black butterfly rested in the center of a table in the laboratory. The four persons standing around the table could scarcely take their eyes away from it. No one spoke for several seconds. Finally, Zo’or broke the silence. "It was your failure, Commander Boone, that has brought this situation upon us. If you had investigated and destroyed all of these butterflies when you had the chance, we would not now have a problem to face." Boone tightened his jaw and tried to keep his composure. It would take a great deal of self control not to yell at Zo’or. It was already taking a great deal of self control not to try to kill Zo’or right now. "If I knew how to kill Taelons, I would start with Zo’or", he thought to himself. Out loud he said, "At the time, it appeared to better serve Companion interests by relieving the public of the fear of a reoccurrence of CRS. It was not until very recently that these butterflies were even connected to the alien probe. In retrospect, we should have paid more attention to the butterflies."

Agent Ronald Sandoval could keep silent no longer. His words came out in quiet anger. "Your lack of action is the problem. Action eliminates the need for wasteful retrospection. Now we must eliminate anyone who has had contact with, or knowledge of, these butterflies." It was Da’an’s turn to break silence. "No! While it is true that we must eliminate the butterflies themselves, no more human deaths must occur in connection with them." "Does that not put human interests above the interests of the Taelons?", asked Zo’or. "It does not serve Taelon interests to have the public connect contact with Taelons, or Taelon technology, with human death.", replied Da’an. "Commander Boone, you will work with Agent Sandoval to track down any remaining butterflies and destroy them." Boone nodded.

Sandoval said, "I have already compiled data on all anomalous deaths reported since the incident at the Amish village." He punched up the data on a portable computer. A map of North America showed red dots radiating out from central Pennsylvania along lines that almost looked like spokes, or a spider web. "Not much of a pattern", said Sandoval. Boone frowned and said, "Just a minute. Look at this." Boone reached over and tapped on the computer keys. Green lines appeared on the map. The red dots lined up along the green lines. "Here is our pattern.", Boone said. "What grid is this?", asked Zo’or. "High tension power lines.", replied Boone. "The butterflies seem to be able to take in energy from virtually any nearby source." Sandoval moved in front of the computer, pushing Boone out of the way. He punched in some commands and numbers appeared next to the red dots, then yellow concentric circles were drawn around the Pennsylvania site. Sandoval smiled and said, "Ha! Look here. These numbers are date and time codes for each of the deaths. They are occurring in sequence along the power line grid. Using this data, we could predict where they are most likely to hit next and be there ready to strike."

Zo’or turned to Da’an and said, "Your implants appear better at repairing problems than anticipating them." Da’an nodded and said to Sandoval, "Prepare to encounter the next outbreak without delay. Use whatever forces that can be employed with discretion. Commander Boone will follow and provide a cover story to be used."

"I will need to go with Agent Sandoval and work enroute as I am without a shuttle pilot for a while.", Boone said. "Is Captain Marquette ill?", asked Da’an. "Not exactly.", replied Boone. "Recent events in her life have left her drained emotionally. You, yourself told her to take some time off to come to terms with the death of her father, which she did not do. Now it seems to have all caught up with her. She needs time to herself to regain strength." "Captain Marquette has always seemed tough as nails to me.", said Sandoval. "More like a diamond.", said Da’an, almost wistfully. The other three looked at him in surprise. "A diamond, while beautiful in appearance, is one of the hardest substances on this planet. It has sufficient strength to be used to cut almost everything else." Boone nodded and said, "All diamonds have flaws. However tiny, they make the diamond vulnerable. If enough pressure is brought to bear on the flaw..." "The whole crystal structure could be shattered into worthlessness.", Da’an continued. Boone said, "You understand then." Da’an looked slightly sad. "More than you know, Commander."

Captain Lili Denner Marquette looked more like a volcano than a diamond at the moment. She stood up from the table at which she, Jonathan Doors, and Auger were seated and pounded both fists down on its surface. "Blast!", she yelled. "Jonathan, I have seen it with my own eyes! I prepared the test myself and the evidence was waiting in my desk drawer when I got back." "Anything can be faked, Lili", Doors replied dryly. "He could have described what you wrote on that pad to an agent who then went to your office and recreated the message. Your message had to be simple because Miraldi did not give you much time. He is crafty, and not at all stupid. After all, he used to work for me." Lili paced around the table. "All right.", she said. "But we could propose a test that could not be faked. You come up with something!" Doors folded his arms, rolled his eyes, and looked away in disgust.

"One thing was not faked.", said Augur. "The tracking virus in the Global Links is real enough. It's a tough little bug, too. It is going to take some time to figure out how to eradicate it." "See?", said Lili to Doors. Then to Augur she said, "Maybe Miraldi could help." "Maybe.", replied Augur

"Damn it, Lili!", said Doors. "Miraldi was always out of control, even when he worked for me. I thought that he was just crazy. Now I know that he is dangerous. And you want me to let him in here? Why should we even let him know where this place is?" "He already knows, Jonathan.", Lili replied. "That, and a lot more." She reached into her pocket, took out a computer disk, and handed it to Augur. Augur put the disk into the computer and flipped through the data. His eyes grew wide in shock. He swallowed hard as he listed off the contents of the disk. "Complete maps and diagrams of this facility, both inside and out. Personnel files. Lists of expenses and payoffs. Bank account numbers and balances." He looked up at Doors. "Lili is right. If this Miraldi wanted to bring us down, he would not have to come here to do it."

Doors sighed in resignation. "All right, Lili. Let's invite the snake to the party. How are you supposed to contact him?" "I call my mom.", Lili answered. Doors and Augur looked at each other and then back at Lili questioningly. "Her phone is tapped. If I tell her that I am coming to see her, then Miraldi will know that the deal is off. If, however, I tell her that I am not coming, he will take that as a go." Augur shook his head in disbelief. "Such cloak and dagger nonsense.", he said. Doors, in a low growl, said, "Lili, Go tell your mom how sorry that you are."

Lili went to the desk video phone and punched in the combination. The face of her mom appeared on the screen. "Hello dear.", said Mrs. Purcell. "It is so nice to hear from you." Lili waved to her mom. "Hi mom. Just thought that I would call to tell you that I am taking some time off from work." "Good idea, dear. You have friends here who would very much like to see you, as would I. When are you coming?" Lili bit her lower lip and then said, "Not right now. I really need time to myself. Maybe a bit later though." A tear welled up in Lili’s eye. She put her hand to her mouth and sniffed the tear back. "Sorry, mom.", she said. "Me too, dear.", replied Mrs. Purcell. "Take care of yourself. You know how much we love you." Lili blinked, nodded, and waved good bye. The screen went dark. As Lili turned away from the phone, she caught herself. "We?", she said aloud. "What did she mean by that?"
 
 



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