A Faint Lightening Outside

After taking another look at the construction, Jonathan Aston wondered if any of these workers would be left out of the shield after it was finished. Although governments around the world were unable to safeguard everyone, even those with the power to make decisions were unable to clearly distinguish between life and death. As he examined the blueprint in his palm, he became aware of how brittle modern technology was in comparison to the timeless powers of nature. However, nature could also be manipulated, particularly by humans. It would happen again; it has occurred before. It seems that human nature was obsessed with destruction.

The labor continued throughout the barren landscape of Canadia. The finer aspects of the power plant's structure were shortly to be revealed as it ascended slowly. Aeronautical engineers worked nearby on satellites intended to predict solar flares. To connect the remaining metropolitan outposts, a massive subway system was developed underground. As if in defiance of Cody Amerson, whose greed had started this series of events, korium shields appeared all over the once-frozen earth.

James Wilton, the president, struggled with his own problems. There would be a calamitous stampede to the country if the impending calamity and Canadia's unique safety were announced. To allay suspicions, he had to persuade the world's population that they were safe. There were already plans to build phony radiation barriers to trick people into thinking they were safe. It had probably been a mistake to broadcast the Second Scientific Convention; now that the world was aware of a survival technique, they would be tricked into thinking it was theirs. The president decided to instruct other nations to start building these decoys for the benefit of his remaining country. Although it was the only option to save anyone, he did not support it.

Though he first failed to see its full potential, Jonathan Aston had a fantastic concept. He was outdoors watching the installation of the radiation shield when it hit him. Breathing and the sky being choked by dust clouds had become commonplace. He was aware that millions had fallen victim to this oppressive threat, but with the help of his mask and filters, he had become used to it. He considered people without these comforts, constantly struggling to breathe in a lethal atmosphere—a life of agony. Something better must have existed.

The beauty of a blue sky, which was formerly praised by poets and painters for generations, was beyond the reach of even the protected settlements. In a sense, that world was lost. It may eventually heal to some extent, but never completely. This generation would forget—or, if the radiation proved too intense, die with it fading from memory—but future generations would never know its previous magnificence. An electrical shield was not enough; something extreme was required.

Jonathan Aston recognized that something: humanity needed to depart from Erath. They had a little chance of discovering a habitable planet, but they were better than staying on this destroyed planet with nothing to do. He made up his mind. In order to find a planet for a second Erath, he would lead a mission to the furthest regions of space. Forever remembered as humanity's rescuer, he would be celebrated as the hero of the surviving. Captivated by this vision, he failed to see the enormous obstacles that lay ahead.

Jonathan Aston went to President James Wilton with a proposal: if the president provided funding for the building of the ship and provisions for a crew, he would lead a journey under the American flag, even if the country was officially disbanded. Jonathan Aston now had the daunting challenge of creating a spacecraft that could travel the cosmos quickly enough to carry food until they discovered a planet that could be farmed. He had a difficult task ahead of him.

In front of Honorable Judge Mason, Martin Wilkerson was urged to demonstrate his insanity while fighting against going back to a mental hospital. He was unable to return since he would be cut off from everything he had ever known and sent in solitary confinement for killing someone. He refused to let it happen.

You say that this man was your father, Martin Wilkerson. How did you come to that judgment?

According to my birth documents, a Martin Wilton was born on the same day as me, but no Martin Wilkerson was born. I looked more, thinking it might be a coincidence. The day I was sent to a mental hospital, Martin Wilton "died." I noticed a serious mistake in his dying tale that was too coincidental to not be me. That was sufficient evidence.

"You pointed out an obvious 'error.'" What was it?

"Photos of the family yacht showed no section low enough for a young child to climb over, despite the report claiming he fell over the rail."

"And for what reason did you murder your 'father'?"

"No, Your Honor. I killed him to keep myself and my friend and coworker, Dr. Katherine Branson, alive.

"So, you're saying that your father put you and her in grave danger, which is why you killed him?"

Indeed. There is ample proof of our attempted murders. He attempted to kill me when he first visited my room in the psychiatric hospital. He fled with a broken kneecap; I was cut and bruised. Although he attributed his knife to my violent reaction, that doesn't explain it. After that, a man hounded Dr. Branson and made several attempts to assassinate her; I killed him to protect her. Another man came after him. Before he had me kill him in self-defense, I got a phone number out of him. My parents' house was among the locations that that number led to, and I was able to find it through observation. It was obvious that they had hired someone to get rid of me.

"You attacked him in his own house, but why?"

He would have continued to send assassins till I was dead if I hadn't. That was not how I wanted to live.

"Do you think you're being pursued right now?"

"Yes, sir. For my own safety, I asked that this hearing be private and off the record."

"Do you have evidence that you are being followed or that someone is attempting to kill you?"

"I've witnessed multiple people following me around the city and others constantly looking into my room."

"Is your diagnosis of paranoid delusions accurate?"

Yes, but I don't think that matters in this case. I would not have had to kill them if they hadn't obviously been pursuing me.

"Are you positive they meant to murder you?"

"Beyond a reasonable doubt."

"You wanted a private hearing for any other reasons?"

"I wanted to protect my father's honor and standing. After his passing, it didn't feel fair to disparage his name in newspapers, going against his legacy.

"Did you murder your father in retaliation for leaving you in a mental hospital when you were a child?"

"What makes you believe that?" Then Martin Wilkerson burst forth. This man is trying to persuade me. He wants to murder me. "All you want is for me to die for what I did! I will no longer put up with this. I have endured too much oppression from your sort.

"Calm down, sir. I'll make sure that this hearing is impartial. I want to render a fair verdict in this case, not convict you.

"You wish to return me to a mental health facility. I refuse to go. My father attempted to kill me the last time, as you witnessed. I won't be defenseless once more.

Judge Mason sought advice from a friend who is a psychologist in order to clarify the matter after the hearing.

Because his father attempted to kill him in a mental hospital, this man has developed paranoid delusions and now views mental institutions as dangerous.

Don't send him back, then. It's too dangerous. I would advise a private physician to keep an eye on him.

"Is that feasible? He only has faith in his buddy Katherine Branson. He has only ever felt comfortable around her.

"Has she received any mental health training?"

"Just her encounter with him."

Then it's up to you. Your head can fool you too frequently, so follow your gut. Use her if she is suitable.

With additional shields, President James Wilton advanced. As the super-subway approached completion and was prepared for use, colonies were required at every station. He rallied all the laborers to complete the cities. When President James Wilton visited the production facility, the satellites were in the last stages of debugging. The scientists rushed to reach the launch date, which he set two weeks ago since he was pleased with the development.

The phone rang as Katherine Branson was taking a shower. She quickly wrapped a towel around herself and answered it, taking it up before voicemail began to play. The caller introduced himself as a judge, and she figured it was Judge Mason. Was he in charge of the hearing for Martin Wilkerson? Most likely. He wants to talk to me, but why?

I want to meet you face-to-face, Dr. Branson. Martin Wilkerson may be able to take advantage of this new chance. If you meet the requirements, you may be chosen to be his guardian rather than having him committed to a mental health facility.

That's fantastic! If it could be set up, he would adore that.

"I believed he may. Would you be able to talk about it this afternoon?

"No issue, I'll be there."