While walking along a street, Boone sees that a young woman is about to leap off a building top. He goes up to talk her down, and sees that she is Julie Payton, a girl who was orphaned in a terrible car crash that killed her parents. He convinces her not to jump, and helps her down.
Boone discusses Julie with Da'an, who doesn't understand the concept of suicide out of despair. The Taelon offers to make Julie the first "public recipient" of a new limb-regrowth technique. Da'an later discusses this with the Synod, saying that she will be the first healthy person to undergo the treatment.
Boone grows closer to Julie, but is suspicious of the program. Da'an, Boone, and Sandoval watch as Julie's arms are dipped into a fluid, and a Taelon doctor begins tapping controls. She lifts her arms from the fluid, with fully-functional hands.
Julie is brought out in public, where she giddily shows her hands to reporters. Suddenly she sees a white halo of light around Da'an, and falls to her knees, declaring him to be a messenger from God. Da'an and Boone are both astounded by this.
Julie's declaration starts off a frenzy of religious fervoy around the world. Julie shows up at a meeting of the "Church of the Companions", a group of Taelon-worshipers, and is quickly swept up under the Reverend Travis Murray's wing.
Boone shows up and pulls Julie away, much to her irritation. He and Lili have formed a true attachment to Julie, and believe that Murray is using her. Jonathan Doors informs Boone that Julie will be in terrible danger if her hands deteriorate.
Shortly thereafter, Julie shows up at the Church of the Companions, her hands shriveling. The Reverand Murray quickly hides her away.
Boone and Lili find Julie as the Taelons approach, planning to get Julie away before anyone discovers the problems with her hands. They bring her onto a scheduled talk show, where she states that though her "miracle" was short-lived, she considered it a miracle because it created faith and strength, and pledges her support and help to the Taelon limb-restoration project.
Even with Julie's statement, the Church of the Companions shows no sign of dwindling. The Reverend Murray arrives at Da'an's office, evidently conspiring with him.
