Something Innocuous

<s>
Fuzzy was relaxing at the bar of his club when the goon arrived.

"Mentat Thistle would like to see you."
"Doesn't he beleive in phones?"
"Do you beleive in answering them?"
"Good point. You have a car waiting outside?"
"Of course."

Fuzzy finished his drink and hopped toward the door, goon in tow.

"Major Bunny, so good of you to come."

Thistle motioned to the goon the leave. "So, why are you interrupting my retirement this afternoon? The floorshow was about to start."

"You've seen this?"

Thistle tapped on the console beside him and brought up a newsgroup post on the large screen behind him.

"The encrypted widebeam from Rhode Island?"
"I thought you'd retired?"
"Old habits die hard."

Thistle tapped a few more keys.

"I ran the information about the virus through our comparison modeler. It came up with this probable match."

Two complex molecular structures rotated slowly on the screen.

"The one on the left is the Granite Ridge data, and the other is ..."
"Sibylvirus."
"A very classified bit of trivia, but now that the data has been widebeamed..."
"I see. But how does this involve me?"

Thistle smiled slightly.

"You did deniable things for Colonel Sandspur, didn't you? I'd like you to do some for me."
"You want me to get this Woodsorrel out of Granite Ridge before Daphnie shows up."
"And make sure it isn't traceable back to us."

Fuzzy bristled slightly.

"Don't be like that. You're the only bun I can turn to for this. If we can recover the information about Monkshood's experiments, we might be able to come up with a vaccine for the Sibylvirus. And if other Mentats have gotten similar ideas, then a weapon of enormous potential will be aimed against us."
"Well, at least I haven't got much of a calendar to clear."

Back in his burrow, Fuzzy sat in front of his terminal and looked at the message. He chewed on the end of his pen thoughtfully.

</s>

Woodsorrel, I'm glad I finally found a bunny net address for you. When you left the warren, I wanted to tell you how I felt but you left before I could and then the messages started bouncing. I used that new search tool they came up with to find you. I hope you still feel the way you once did. I know I do.

<begin BUNIX4.4sp7 tightbeam>
My name is Fuzzy Bunny. I saw your widebeam and realized I needed to contact you as quickly as possible. You have exposed yourself to tremendous danger. By the time you read this, forces under the command of Daphnie Mentat are probably mobilizing towards Granite Ridge Warren. When they arrive Mentat Monkshood's experiment will be terminated. With extreme predjudice. You must leave the warren as soon as possible and make your way to a safe warren. I am prepared to offer you sanctuary in KingdomWarren, but we must act quickly and secretly. Not only must Monkshood not know, but Daphnie as well. I have no doubt that she'll want to clean up any loose ends, of which you are one.

Respond quickly. You life depends on it.
<end BUNIX4.4sp7 tightbeam>