The smiley face grew to encompass the whole screen. 'Enter password,' it said. 'But beware ... three wrong guesses and I self-destruct.' The icon chuckled away madly and then fell silent.

'The programming files are protected by the same self-destruct mechanism, so I can't access code words from there either.' Floyd shrugged, 'I haven't messed with any of them yet for fear of losing everything on the hard drive. Mind you, I have taken copies of all the data that is readily accessible. It's all the rigged files, like this one, that we stand to lose. You can guarantee they'd make the most interesting reading.'

'I thought you said you could crack any code,' Rhun jeered.

'Ah, but I never said how long it would take,' he pointed out in his defence. 'Doc Alexander is a smart young pup. I've never encountered an encrypted system with a self-destruct mechanism. Most large organisations that require code protection would lose information to hackers and risk sabotage rather than wipe out their whole system.'

'Well,' Rhun rubbed his hands together. 'I'm game, if you are.'

'It's your call.' Floyd shifted the responsibility, although he was every bit as eager to gain access to the protected files as Rhun was.

Rhun scribbled down some possibilities, trying to decide which words might be the most suitable, and then eliminated the ones that were more unlikely. In the end, he got the list of possible passwords down to five: NERGUZ, Radtec Trading Company, Unken, LugalShamash, Utu.

'But we only have three guesses.' Floyd eyed the list over.

'They're in my order of preference,' Rhun said, 'so if you agree, feel free.' He motioned to the keypad.

'Alright, here goes nothing.' Floyd typed NERGUZ into the computer and pressed Enter. The smiley face stuck out its tongue at them.

'Two to go before I blow,' it announced with mirth.

'Next,' Floyd droned, typing in Radtec Trading Company and pressing the Enter key.

'Twice wrong, say, so long.' The computer was heard to laugh which set both Rhun and Floyd on edge.

'Damn it. I was sure that one would work,' Rhun grumbled.

'Shall we quit while we're ahead?' Floyd didn't feel so confident about any of the remaining words.

'Try ...' Rhun hesitated, then decided he should follow his gut instinct, 'try just Radtec.'

'I don't know, Rhun ...' Floyd smiled as the same thought had just occurred to him.

The two of them stared at each other a moment, their smiles growing as they encouraged each other to make a decision.

'Stuff it,' Floyd finally announced, typing in the word and hitting the Enter key, before they lost face.

'Live to play another day.' The smiley face dissolved to reveal a detailed account of Radtec Trading's financial affairs.

'My main man.' Rhun gave Floyd a high-five, then looked to the screen in search of an address. 'That figures,'

Rhun commented as he spotted it. 'Like everything else, the NERGUZ-I-NUEN is made in Taiwan.'

A few hours into their flight, Walter became drowsy and fell asleep. Rhiannon slipped away to the back of the aircraft and waited while Doc dismissed his staff in order to speak with her alone.

'Anything to report?' Doc fastened the NERGUZ-I-NUEN firmly around her right wrist, uttering the word that activated the control mechanism.

He had discovered that even an individual with the strongest will needed days to recover from the module's brainwashing influence, yet the subject's psychic abilities were restored as soon as the restraint was removed. This allowed him to utilize Rhiannon's talents without risk of losing her to her own sense of reason.

'Cadfan is keeping something from you,' she told him, 'but you're not going to like it.'

'Don't tease me, girl,' he warned her playfully.

She smiled at this, getting more comfortable in her seat. 'Your dear friend, President Langford, has AIDS.'

'What?'

'Not only that,' she told him calmly, as if enjoying his dismay. 'He caught it from an underage male prostitute, so he's a pedophile as well.'

'Shit!' If there was one thing Cadwaladr couldn't abide, it was homosexuals. His project in Alaska had quietly disposed of many of them, and those that had proven themselves to be immortals had been brainwashed out of their chosen sexual preferences. Patrick Haze had turned out to be one such individual, which was why Doc had no intention of ever allowing Cadfan admittance to the AIDS facility. He had far greater plans for the healer.

'Hey, Doc.' Stanley Brennon stuck his head around the curtains to speak with him. 'I think you'd better have a look at this.'

Walter Cadfan had gone as stiff as a board in his seat. His head was thrown back, and his eyes, though wide open, had rolled back so far into his head that only the whites could be seen.

'A vision?' Doc asked Rhiannon, who was quite bewildered. She had never witnessed this phenomenon before - she had always been part of it. Still, Rhiannon had heard descriptions from those observing her in a trance state and this was exactly as they'd described.

'Yes,' she confirmed, a tear trickling down her cheek as she began to tremble.

'Yet, you are not perceiving it,' Doc noted aloud, finding this most intriguing. 'The clan of the Serpent have rejected you, it would seem.'

The comment sent a dagger through her heart, and Rhiannon didn't even know why. She glared at Doc a moment, before heading to the back of the plane and taking a seat on her own.

'Get Vice-president Hagar on the phone, and make sure the line is secure,' Doc instructed Stanley.

As he waited for his instruction to be carried out, Doc observed Rhiannon. Her will was strong, and she was very talented. He had only removed her restraint for a few short hours, and yet his hold over her had lessened considerably. He found that the added element of danger involved in setting her free was deeply arousing. Rhiannon was so much more feisty, clever and fun to be with when he wasn't controlling her. Heaven help me if I ever slacken her leash too much.

'Hagar,' Stanley confirmed, handing the phone to Doc.

'Maxwell.' Doc put on his cheery voice. 'I've got a prediction for you ... I see you being sworn in as President of the United States within the next few days.' Doc paused to catch his reaction. 'I'm deadly serious, my friend. I've been chatting with Walter Cadfan ... yes, the psychic. We need to talk.'

It was dinner time at Watarrka, and the crew of the Goddess were in the rec-room, plotting their excursion to Taiwan.

Ray and Rhun were sitting next to each other going over the blueprints of Radtec Trading's manufacturing plant, which Floyd had pinched from the local Taiwanese council's mainframe computer.

As down as Tory felt, it made her smile to see the lads getting along. It felt like old times watching them pay out on each other without any malicious intent.

Ray had been stoked to learn that Rhun and Floyd had found the manufacturer's address before they'd even had to ask for it. Judging from the way they were getting along now, Ray had perhaps realised that Rhun might be his greatest ally after all.

'Have something to eat.' Jenny placed a plate of food in front of Tory, who screwed up her nose.

'I'll stick to tea, thanks.' But she only took a couple of sips. Tory's stomach couldn't cope with the thought of anything. She was sick with worry for her child.

'Tory, honey.' Naomi sat down beside her to help aid Jenny's cause. 'Worrying is not going to get her back, nor is starving yourself.'

'I don't need it.' Tory resisted strongly.

'I know that, but you'll feel stronger and more alert if you force yourself to eat.'

'Please ...' Tory held her head. The thought of food made her feel giddy and nauseous.

'Tory?'

Naomi's face became a blur.

Seconds later, all the immortals started dropping like flies: first Tory, then Rhun, and Brian. Jenny was the last to go.

Nobody had to ask what was happening. They had all witnessed this phenomenon before and knew the drill. They quietly went about laying out those afflicted flat on the ground, where they could see out their trauma with as much comfort as possible.

Three hours passed. But for those who awaited the prophecy of their unconscious crew members, it seemed like three days.

Tory was the first to stir. With her eyes closed, she began to mumble deliriously. 'Ice ... fire ... blood!'

Noah and Ray went down on their knees on either side of her, helping her to sit upright and encouraging her to awake by means of gentle slaps about the face.

'Tory, it's Ray.'

Her eyes shot open and she gripped hold of the neck of his shirt. 'Langford's going to suicide.' She closed her eyes to recall what else she'd seen that made sense.

'And Cadfan -'

'Yes, what about Cadfan,' Noah coaxed.

'Someone is going to have him assassinated!' In a panic, she attempted to raise herself, only to collapse back into Noah and Ray's arms.

'Calm down,' Ray urged her. 'Think now, was there anything else you remember?'

'A new religious leader.' The voice turned everyone's attention to Rhun, who had found his own way to a seated position.

Rhun continued: 'A Messiah ... I didn't see his face, but the man will have one hell of a following.'

'Yes.' Tory remembered seeing this also. 'So many, many people.'

'I saw a couple of explosions ...' Brian rolled over on one side, propping his head on his hand.

'Me too.' Rhun seconded his statement.

'Me three,' Tory waved at them. 'So I guess we'd better get in and out of Radtec Trading quick smart, just in case it's one of the targets.'

Everyone agreed. Rhiannon's rescue was still their top priority.

An hour away from the AIDS facility in Alaska, Cadfan began to come round. His eyelids fluttered closed as his body relaxed into his seat. 'I'm not a saviour,' he muttered in protest.

'Yeah,' Doc had to smile, 'but you'll do.' He slapped the healer gently around the face to bring him to consciousness. 'Been speaking with God again, have we?' Cadfan was startled awake and Doc offered him some water. 'I assume you know the plan then?'

'Cadwaladr,' Cadfan named Doc, overawed by his newly-acquired knowledge.

'Grandfather,' Doc acknowledged in return, placing the water aside.

'Yes. I have been made aware of your intentions, Cadwaladr.' The healer finally answered the question, looking out the window over a snow-drenched countryside. 'So where are you taking me, really?'

'Just where I said,' Doc assured him, pointing to a place on the distant horizon. 'We're only about an hour away from the facility. So relax, you'll get where you're going soon enough.'

It was a beautiful day outside, though at this time of the year it was pretty much day all the time in Alaska. It had obviously been snowing outside, but the storm had passed completely, leaving a clear view of the serene white countryside that lay before them.

A flare of light erupted from the very spot where Doc had directed Cadfan's attention.

'What the ...?' Stanley Brennon was on the phone at once. But the aircraft was hit by a shock wave, and he was knocked off-balance before he could interrogate whoever was on the receiving end of his call.

Due to the shock wave generated by the distant blast, the plane lost power and the engines died.

Knowing something of the effect an EMP wave could have on the plane's electrical systems, the pilot was quick to shut down and re-boot his computers. The engines roared to life once again, and the aircraft was back on course in a matter of minutes.

'Is everyone okay?' Doc received garbled responses from his team. 'Good ... because it would seem the Unken have retaliated, ladies and gents. Therefore we have a whole lot more work to do.' Doc clicked his fingers to draw Stanley's attention away from searching for his phone. 'Get me to Washington.'

'No!' Cadfan suddenly remembered his most recent vision. 'He's not in control of his own faculties, you have to stop him.'

Doc grabbed the Stormer off Brennon's belt and blasted Cadfan with it. 'We really must look into manufacturing those things.' He passed the weapon back to Stanley. 'It shuts them up for a while, at least.'

Doc arranged a closed meeting with Langford. From the airport the ICA party were flown to the White House by helicopter, and were given a clear run all the way through to the oval office. Doc entered alone.

Langford confirmed that the total destruction of the ICA's AIDS clinic in Alaska had been an act of Unken retaliation for their own fallen nation. 'They claim full responsibility ... what a mess.' Langford rubbed his weary brow, starting to sweat under the pressure. If anyone ever found out that the Unken had not been responsible for the disaster in the Middle East his life wouldn't be worth living.

'Well, here.' Doc passed the President a NERGUZ bracelet. 'This is a little something my scientists have been working on. I hoped we'd never need them, but the way things are going we'll have to make the damn devices compulsory.'

Langford picked up the strange, pinkish metallic band, looking it over with a perplexed expression.

'It's a radiation detector. It also absorbs excess radiation,' Doc explained. 'It's designed to be worn on the right wrist.'

The President tried to look appreciative as he snapped the metal band on. 'Ouch ...' He felt something bite him, and tried to dig under the secured band looking for bugs. 'I beg your pardon?' Langford queried.

Doc had uttered something but he didn't quite catch it.

'Enough of the pleasantries,' Doc changed the subject, though Langford wouldn't have known.

'Another urgent matter has come to my attention, Bob, and I'd like to run the scenario by you so we can decide on the appropriate action.'

'Shoot,' Langford bade him, though the last thing he needed was another problem. As his esteemed colleague outlined the cause of his concern, Langford's other woes suddenly paled by comparison. His life was already not worth living.

'Now, I know you keep a pistol in the top drawer of your desk, Bob.' Doc planted the seed before departing. 'I'm going to leave you to mull things over for a while.'

The outer office was filled with the President's staff, all anxiously awaiting an audience. When Doc emerged he was swamped with questions, but he called everyone to silence and addressed Langford's personal assistant. 'The President could use some tea,' he told her, before turning to address the rest of the crowd, 'and a few quiet moments to collect his thoughts wouldn't go astray either.'

The garbled protests were silenced by the gunshot.

Seconds later the oval office was flooded with witnesses to the President's suicide - nobody could dispute the fact.

Doc was one of the first through the door, and while others were taken aback by the gruesome sight, he made straight for Langford to check his vital signs. 'I knew he was feeling a little stressed, but this?' While Doc was playing the saint, he managed to retrieve the NERGUZ module without anyone noticing.