The Butterfly Effect

The Butterfly Effect.
	This simple phrase shows that even three words can have a tremendous meaning, and in more ways than one. By just writing those three words, I may have influenced your next decision. That one decision may change the plan and layout of your entire day. And the events of your day may cause you to put off a project until tomorrow, thus changing the layout of your next day.
	You being busy with something you should have done yesterday may change the schedule of a relative or a friend, as maybe you were supposed to be free today, but put off a project until the present, and therefore cannot go to an event with your friend or relative. Your relative then takes somebody else with them to the event, affecting yet another person’s schedule. Then that second person, having gone to the event in your stead, influences the action of more people by not being at home or at work that day, all stemming from the fact that you picked up this book a few minutes ago. 
I could continue this forever if I really wanted to, but I’d rather you actually finish reading this book, and I finish writing it.
	Your day may have been utterly different, if you had just not picked up this book today from one of your bookshelves, from your local library or bookstore, or perhaps out of an amazon delivery box. Even the location from which you got this book influenced what you are doing today.
	In one way or another, by writing these words, I may have saved or doomed our universe to a horrible end. Kinda strange, isn’t it? 
	This is the magic of the butterfly effect: that even the tiniest decision can make everything change.
	 If you remember anything from this introduction, remember this: Your actions do have meaning.
== 1 ==
	“Another job for you, Burnet.” The man regarded him warily from beneath his blue hat, a sheaf of papers and a stack of money in one hand. His police badge glinted gently in the light of the incandescent bulb. Two men stood behind him, both armed. Burnet knew that there was no reason for them to be armed. He could kill them both before the bullets hit his body.
	“Who is it this time?” Burnet replied, tapping his finger on the mahogany table. The men tense their muscles, visibly uneasy near him.
	“Crime boss in the next town over. The rest of us can’t get at him. He’s too well armed, and has too many guards. Incredible security, stalwart defense. Top brass said we could talk to you.”
	Burnet stopped tapping. “This sounds like an interesting job. What's the payment?”
	“Fifty grand. Half up front, half upon completing the job.”
	“Sounds like a deal. Trust me, you won’t even know he existed.” Forcing a weak smile, Burnet grabbed the papers and the stack of money, Inspecting it closely. “Looks legitimate to me. I’ll get your job done.”
	The man in the uniform nodded, turning towards the door. He walked forward, his guards obediently following him, but he stopped before touching the doorknob. “Burnet…” he said, turning slightly. “There’s a price on your head.”
	“You think I don’t know that? I’m an assassin, officer.”
	“I intend to take it.”
	The man spun around, pulling a Gesellschaft M.B.H from his holster and pointing it directly at the skull of Burnet. He seemed visibly calm, and resumed tapping on the mahogany table. “You should probably go willingly. I get to keep my bigger reward, you get to keep your life.” Burnet looked to the left. The man’s expression shifted slightly, fear appearing in his eyes and his smile shaking. “I’m going to put a nine millimeter bullet into your skull. How does that strike you, Burnet?”
	Burnet returned his gaze to the man “If you plan to fire that gun into my skull, do it. I’m not particularly scared of it, especially with that empty magazine inside the well.”
	“Wha- what do you mean?”
“I’ll let you figure that out yourself.” The man pulled his trigger, directed at Burnet's forehead. The hammer clicked against the back of the gun. 
“But… how?”
Burnet got up, sighing. He walked up to the bodyguard on the officer’s right, grabbing his arm and throwing him to the ground. “I conveniently placed a sharp rock on the highway.” Burnet stomped the downed soldier, throwing the other soldier through the to the ground and knocking him out. “The magazine in this gun, however, is very full.” he raised the barrel, making it touch the man’s forehead.
The man smiled uneasily, putting his hands forward. “No-no need to go that-” He was cut off by the sound of Burnet unloading three bullets into his head. 
Burnet placed the gun back into his jacket. He searched the body, collecting the last twenty-five grand. “A mission is a mission, betrayal or not.” he walked out of the door, placing the money in a suitcase inside his black-and-white striped suit. “Goodnight, brother, and happy travels through the road to darkness.”