Butterfly Effect

A Novel

Arc 1: The Silence

A round lens marked by a tiny flaw. 1. The Lensmaker Kael · Continental city-state (Caribbean/Atlantic coast) A precise grid with a single subtle error. 2. The Optimal Day Sūrya · Habitat Prithvi, Antarctica A dish receiving a faint signal. 3. The Dish Kael · Arecibo-successor ruins A council ring with a break. 4. The Council Convenes Sūrya · Habitat Prithvi, Council Chamber A transmission wave leaving a key. 5. Transmission Kael · Arecibo-successor ruins

Arc 2: The Signal

Two risk curves crossing. 6. The Probability of Ruin Sūrya · Habitat Prithvi Two lenses reflecting waves. 7. The Glass-Eyes Kael · Tidemouth A point leaving its boundary. 8. Adharma Sūrya · Habitat Prithvi, VLF array control A connection that implies a third presence. 9. The Grammar of Contact Kael · The observatory A DNA helix with an altered section. 10. The Double Helix Dual — Kael, then Sūrya (separated by ---) · Observatory / Habitat Prithvi

Arc 3: The Crossing

A decision weighed like a scale. 11. The Argument Kael · City-state council chamber A compass pointing south. 12. The Volunteer Moss · Tidemouth harbor A signal line hidden beneath ice. 13. The Secret Signal Sūrya · Habitat Prithvi, VLF array control One ship leading a fading line of others. 14. Twelve Ships Moss · At sea, southward crossing A lone ship facing ice on the horizon. 15. The Reckoning Moss · At sea, the Crossing A doorway in ice with an observing eye. 16. Landfall Moss · Antarctic ice shelf → Habitat Prithvi airlock

Arc 4: The Stranger

Two spoken names crossing a gap. 17. Handler Sūrya · Habitat Prithvi, Medical Wing Two fingers pointing at the same point. 18. Pointing Moss · Habitat Prithvi, quarters + common areas A voice emerging from a wall. 19. The Voice in the Wall Moss · Habitat Prithvi A network with one broken connection. 20. The Network Surya · Habitat Prithvi Illness judged by a council. 21. Fever Moss · Habitat Prithvi, Medical Wing An eye transformed. 22. Modification Surya · Habitat Prithvi, Council Chamber + Medical Wing

Arc 5: The Mirror

A bundle holding imperfect fragments. 23. The Carried Past Moss · Habitat Prithvi Aurora arcs over a quiet horizon. 24. The Sunset Sūrya · Habitat Prithvi, observation dome A vessel full of life. 25. The Diversity Within Moss · Habitat Prithvi, Biolab Entropy spilling out of time. 26. Terminal Entropy Sūrya · Habitat Prithvi, Council Chamber A book with an erased passage. 27. The Deleted Library Moss · Habitat Prithvi, VEDA Archive A bottle holding a radio wave. 28. The Confession Surya + VEDA interstitial · Habitat Prithvi, Council chamber + private quarters

Arc 6: The Return

Two worlds connected by a bridge. 29. Symbiosis Surya · Council Chamber, Habitat Prithvi A ring of dots with one leaving. 30. The Twelve Surya · Habitat Prithvi A symbol split between two worlds. 31. Neither Moss · Habitat Prithvi, departing A wave with a small spark of joy. 32. The Second Crossing Sūrya · At sea A free loop breaking a grid. 33. Unstructured Sūrya · At sea A voice carried across a shoreline. 34. Homecoming Moss · At sea → Continental coast

Arc 7: The Choice

A weapon lowered in restraint. 35. Recognition Kael · Continental shore Footsteps meeting across a gap. 36. First Ground Kael · Beach, Continental coast A message distorted by a lens. 37. Lost in Translation Dual — Kael + Sūrya · City-state meeting hall A small hand held by a larger hand. 38. Small Mercies Dual — Kael + Sūrya · Continental city-state A cracked seal held by three points. 39. The Fracture Dual — Moss + Sūrya · Continental city-state + outskirts An open hand offering a choice. 40. The Question Dual — Kael + Sūrya + VEDA interstitial · Beach, Continental coast