Miracle (Episode 103)

William Boone (Kevin Kilner) encountered a suicidal young woman with artifical limbs for hands, poised to leap off the top of a building. Boone's CVI identified her as Julie Payton (Emily Hampshire), the orphaned daughter of famous missionary parents who were killed in a fiery car crash which also destroyed Julie's hands. After Boone talked Julie down from the building, he discussed her case with Da'an (Leni Parker), who chose her as the first "public" recipient of experimental Taelon limb regeneration technology. As Boone bonded with Julie, he became suspicious of the Taelon medical program and pondered why Da'an used the word "public" when referring to the decision to operate on Julie. He wondered if there were previous limb regenerations and if so, what happened to the patients. The operation on Julie proceeded and her limbs were successfully transformed. Recovering full use of her beautiful new hands, Julie viewed the experience as nothing less than a miracle, which inspired her to believe that the Companions were messengers of God. This touched off a groundswell of religious fervor, which was quickly capitalized on by Travis Murray (Peter Krantz), founder of the new Church of the Companions. He was thrilled when Julie showed up at his Church during a live on-line meeting. Boone, on the other hand, was not so happy. He questioned Julie's religious view of the Companions and doubted that Travis Murray's motives were in the girl's best interest.

Boone and Lili Marquette (Lisa Howard) developed a real fondness for Julie and were determined to protect her, ready to act on a pronouncement from Jonathan Doors (David Hemblen) that she was in grave danger if anything went wrong with the regeneration process. Prophetically, Julie's new hands began to deteriorate and she turned to Murray for help. As the Taelons discussed "isolation procedures" with FBI Agent Ronald Sandoval (Von Flores), Boone and Lili found Julie under the protective custody of Murray. Breaking into Reverend Murray's headquarters, they were able to spirit her out of the building. In a plan devised to ensure her long-term safety, Boone and Lili arranged for Julie to appear on a top-rated TV talk show where she announced to the world that although her operation was unsuccessful in material terms, she considered it a true miracle since it created faith and strength in her. Despite Julie's announcement, the membership of the Church of the Companions increased and in a frightening moment of complicity, Da'an complimented Murray on strengthening the Companions' message through his work with Julie.