�From the Taelon Mothership news has just been released of a terrorist attack that took place just an hour ago on the Mothership. From what we have been given to understand someone posing as a Volunteer brought explosives onto the spaceship. Only one of the charges exploded, resulting in minor damage to the Mothership. The same can not be said of those Volunteers unfortunate enough to be working in or near the place of the explosion. Casualties are being reported. At least 5 people have died and many more were injured. Among those who died was Captain Lilli Marquette, who��

Augur never heard the last words of the reporter. Groaning with grief and despair he sagged into his chair. He could not believe it. Lilli dead? That was not possible, it just could not be true. He buried his face in his hands and let the tears come until they ran down his wrists and into his shirt. Lilli had always meant a lot to him, but their friendship had only recently deepened into more than a simple friendship after Lilli�s ordeal with the drug called �Bliss�. He had even dreamed of it developing into a relationship. Now that dream had shattered in one heart breaking moment. Augur felt like he nothing to go on for now, his entire world turned upside down, inside out. He was powerless to stop it.
The chime of the elevator reached him slowly through his grief and he suddenly realized it had been chiming for a couple of minutes. Dragging himself out of his chair he made his way over to the security panel next to the doors. In his heart a small, meaningless hope blossomed for just an instant. It could be her. But he knew that wish to be futile, even as he thought it. Lilli was dead and the sooner he accepted that the better. He switched on the small screen and recognized Dr. Belman. He pushed the button that would grant her access and turned back to his chair.
�Look what the cat dragged in!� Dr. Belman said as she came in and Augur looked up. Melissa Park smiled at him and he felt himself smile back. Thank God, at least somebody had been spared. Even if Lilli�Shaking his head he closed his eyes for a moment, berating himself silently. He had to stop thinking that way if he wanted to be of use to the people around him. He had to forget!
�Augur? Are you alright?� asked Julienne as she seated herself across from the computer expert. Something had happened while she had been away and it was not Liam. Looking over her shoulder she smiled to see him sleeping peacefully on the couch, blissfully unaware of whatever had happened to Augur that had him this rattled. Turning back to Augur she saw him looking at her with a look of pure grief on his face. Just then she noticed the tracks his tears had left on his cheeks. He had to clear his throat before he was able to speak.
�I..eh..Lilli is dead,� he whispered and instantly those damned tears came again. Bowing his head he dimly heard both women suck their breaths in sharply, at least as shocked as he was. The next instant he felt strong arms around him and a hand that stroked his head in a comforting gesture.
�I�m so sorry, Augur. I know how much she meant to you. I am so sorry,� whispered Melissa as she held him. This was a side of Augur she had never seen before and it scared her. She continued to hold him until he calmed down again.
�Thanks, Melissa,� said Augur with a weak smile as he sat up again and wiped the tears of his face.
�So what happened?� asked Julienne.
�A news report�something about an attack on the Mothership by someone posing as a Volunteer. A bomb went off in a crowded area, killing�� Here his voice caught and Melissa softly squeezed his shoulder in support. For a while no one spoke as they dealt with the news. Augur was the first to break the uneasy silence.
�Liam�Liam is going to be have to told. I don�t have the heart to do this to him right now, not with everything that has already happened to him,� he said with a look at the sleeping form of his friend. Melissa followed his gaze and nodded.
�I�ll tell him.�