- [last lines]
- ISN newscaster: In other breaking news, ISN has just learned that the main headquarters for the Psi Corps was bombed early this morning by unknown parties. The only clues found at the scene were the words "Remember Byron" painted on the side of the building. More after this.
- [first lines]
- Alfred Bester: A few words for those who've just arrived: A colony of rogue telepaths have been unwisely allowed to take up residence here. Since they are all humans, they fall under the jurisdiction of Earth law. The Alliance has agreed to respect the rights of each member world to control its own people. This leaves it to us. The rogues have engaged in unauthorized scans of several dozen ambassadors. They have extracted an unknown amount of privileged information intending to exchange those secrets for a Homeworld of their own. Since then, they've divided into two groups. Half of them are now holed up in Downbelow. They have reportedly begun a hunger strike, which they believe will create sympathy for their cause. This is all fine by me since it means that group one is already contained. Saving us the trouble. ...
- Lyta Alexander: You can't change human nature, Byron.
- Byron: Then there's not much point in living, is there? If you can't hope for something better, something nobler, at least something kinder?
- Alfred Bester: Every race to develop telepaths has had to find some way to control them, through laws, religion, drugs, or extermination. We may not be pretty, but we're a hell of a lot better than the alternatives.