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"Of course However, that log was hacked ten hours ago The data has been scrambled beyond recovery"

"Do you take us for rehabilitated idiots?" Nikita said, her psychic voice a razor "No hacker in the Net is capable of circu a Councilor’s security"

"It was a virus" Shoshanna refused to back down "The proof is here" So slammed into the empty "dark-space" inside the vault, a data file that vibrated with a broken viral signature

Everyone but Nikita drew back "It’s safe," she pronounced a second later "Not designed to spread through dark-space Even if it were, all such viruses dissipate within a few inches at most Dark-space is an inhospitable environrateful Otherwise the viral transmitters would’ve corrupted the entire Net by now," Shoshanna said, in a cool reference to Nikita’s rumored abilities

They took ti The psychic file she’d presented should have been readable by their Psy minds, the strealed into a giant clu that dissected and further destroyed as they watched

"It’s feeding on itself," Marshall rades"

"Undeniably an extraordinary piece of progra" Tatiana went even closer "We need this individual working for us I’d like to take on the task of tracking the perpetrator"

"Go ahead" Shoshanna "pushed" the file toward Tatiana "You’re unlikely to have nature"

"The virus is the signature," Nikita pointed out "Unless he was sh to mask it This could fit into the pattern of disturbances attributed to the Ghost" She naerous thorn in the Council’s side

"Possible," Kaleb said "But there is another option - perhaps the Liu family decided to take the matter into their own hands after all"

"Whoever it was," Nikita said, "how much data did they siphon?"

"None They inserted the virus and left Nothing was reain

"Absolutely" Henry spoke for the first time

"I assume you’re aware you have to stop" Marshall "With the ripples fro, we can’t run the risk of further alienating the reed" Shoshanna obviously knehen to cut and run "However, while the ether a list of ten individuals from memory We intend to continue to monitor themwith the Council’s per as you’re discreet," Tatiana answered

"Agreed There is a further ht up another file, this one fairly thin in terms of data "Brenna Shane Kincaid"

Kaleb recalled the name immediately "Santano Enrique’s last victim? What’s your interest in her?"

"I assume you’ve all read the most recent report on e’ve been able to decipher of Enrique’s notes?" Shoshanna waited until everyone had confirht have achieved extraordinary things with her mind We need to examine her"

"You knoell as I," Nikita interrupted, "that any attempt to remove Brenna Kincaid would be tantaainst the SnowDancers"

"Don’t want another mess in your backyard, Nikita?" Shoshanna’s question was valid - both the recent renegades had coion

Nikita’s mind remained undisturbed "Not when the mess results from the mistakes of other Councilors" A cool response that reminded everyone of the Scotts’ aborted atteirl is too well protected to be a viable target"

"Nikita is correct," Ming said unexpectedly "Also, while Brenna Kincaid is interesting from a scientific standpoint, I’m sure none of us plan to duplicate the process"

"No" Tatiana "The animals should remain animals In any case, it may be that Enrique’s alterations will close the issue for us"