The Fiery Descent

They succeeded. In fact, they came up with a method for creating a radiation barrier. The participants of the Second Scientific Convention developed a workable strategy based on the notes of the late Hubert Montgomery. The testing stage now began.

The first subjects were rats, who fared well against the radiation assaults. Then a human volunteer was required. Still with the weight of his remorse for Montgomery's suicide, Jonathan Aston came forward. He believed that if the radiation took him, it would be poetic justice. It didn't.

They came to the conclusion that the shield would function after examining all of the experiments and their outcomes, but it required a great deal of electricity to run. Probably only one could be built. They would need to gather everyone in one place and let the others die. It was an unavoidable but painful fact.

The safe zone was decided to be the Canadian shields. It was challenging for outsiders to swarm in and overcrowd the protection area because of their remote position. To accommodate the people, more shields would have to be constructed there.

In the remaining Canadian territory, President James Wilton had five enormous tasks to complete: building a power plant, a radiation shield, additional shielded housing, radiation-proof satellites to monitor the sun, and a dependable transit system between the Canadian shields. He started all five of them.

The two kinds of shields were the most important. Construction of the power plant and radiation barrier, which would cover all of Canadia, started right away. Smaller shields to shelter residents were then built. The elite had begun to whisper that Canadia was the only place where they could be safe. The shields formed as korium reserves were tapped.

In the meantime, satellites that were intended to orbit the sun without being pulled into it were being equipped with radiation shields and detectors. It took careful planning and execution to achieve this precise equilibrium.

Martin Wilkerson had other things to do and had no time to help the physicists with their calculations. Finding Katherine Branson was his top priority since his parents might attack her. He was afraid that someone could be following her, so he was hesitant to go straight up to her.

He'd seen her, and he'd convinced himself that Canadia as a whole was chasing them. He struggled to control his paranoid side, which was shouting that everyone was dangerous. For a short while, it did the trick. Thankfully, he was able to recognize the individual most determined to hurt his lifelong friend thanks to that brief moment of clarity.

The man had a large nose, which was his most distinguishing feature, and was of medium height with brown hair. He had Katherine Branson in his sights. In turn, Martin Wilkerson followed him.

Martin Wilkerson almost fell behind too much. He watched as the man hurried after him after breaking down the door of Katherine Branson's apartment. Her only chance to stop this murderer was through him.

Martin Wilkerson heard Katherine Branson cry as he stormed inside the apartment after the burglar. He accelerated. He went inside a room where the man was standing with his back to Katherine Branson, who had her eyes squeezed shut in fear. The man held a firearm that had been silenced. The only thing Martin Wilkerson could do was to sneak up on him and kick him in the groin. The murderer's aim was thrown off, but the gun continued to fire. Katherine Branson was shot in the lower right abdomen. Martin Wilkerson then kicked her in the face, breaking the hired assassin's nose as she screamed in pain. Martin Wilkerson's foot struck repeatedly until the man was permanently silent.

After turning to Katherine Branson and applying pressure with his shirt to stop the bleeding from her injuries, Martin Wilkerson dialed 911. Despite the blow, he could only pray that emergency services were still available inside the shield. He had good reason to hope. The ambulance came quickly and took Katherine Branson and the dead attacker away. They understood there was no way to save the bleeding man.

Martin Wilkerson's revenge was sparked by that. He needed to track down and murder his parents. He was unable to understand why he had previously spared them. He wouldn't make the same error twice.

In his speech, President James Wilton warned of the looming catastrophe and revealed the remedy. He presented himself as the only way out. Desperate to be saved, the wealthy flocked to the habitats that were emerging in Canadia.

Martin Wilkerson persisted in his search for his parents because he was resolved to hold those accountable for the assassinations of Katherine Branson and himself. Rather, he came across another murderer.

Martin Wilkerson muttered, "I think that man is following us, Katherine." "Go to the next one by turning down this street. We will be able to see who is pursuing us more clearly from the quieter side street. They took a detour and stopped behind a wall outcropping in a recess. The man walked by. He had a visible bruise under his eye, filthy blonde hair, and was shorter. He was skilled at following them without even looking in their direction as he passed.

Too good, actually. The fact that Martin Wilkerson was the only onlooker who didn't glance at them was a clear giveaway. That strengthened his suspicion.

Every time the man looked back, Martin Wilkerson chose to follow him, swerving behind storefront windows with Katherine Branson. Perplexed by their seeming disappearance, the man finally gave up and went back to his flat. He failed to account for the possibility that his targets would be astute enough to pursue him. Maybe he ought to have.

After shooting the man at Katherine Branson's apartment, Martin Wilkerson acquired a gun and began carrying it. It was a relief to him.

Keeping the gun raised in case the man attacked, he burst through the door of the man's residence. He didn't. The sound of the door being yanked open was drowned out by the blaring television.

When Martin Wilkerson walked in, he saw the man unaware, absorbed in his television. He touched the man's forehead with the gun. The battered body was willing to do whatever was asked of it.

"How did you get in touch with us?"

"A phone call."

"If you were successful in killing my friend and me, were you given instructions?"

"Yes, I was provided with a phone number."

"Give it to me."