Part 3

_It's over_, he told himself. _And now I'm a murderer. All of us are. A guilt shared by the few to save the many. But the few are the product of the many, just as each individual is, so where are we to place the blame?_

Twenty years of research, and where had it led?

Somewhere he had failed as society had failed, and, even in success, Flinn could feel no flush of victory.

The Earth was safe, but every human upon it had died a little without even knowing it.

_Yes, it's over_, Flinn thought finally. _For now. Until the next time._

He could see no stars. In a while it would be dawn.