He’d Dispatch Someone to “Overmedicate” Him

At CASCU, Tyler Methews maintained a low profile. The second phase of surveillance, which is scheduled to begin in a month, promised to turn up no suspects, just as the first had. Gregory Rylance would be the target of the third, which was scheduled to start following that. Tyler was unable to reveal his loyalty to Rylance. Tyler jumped at the chance to support his act of competence when Michael Stewart suggested a manufactured terrorist incident that was intended to be stopped.

Rylance launched a daring attack on Alpha Shield IV, the center of the Canadia Shield, which houses CASCU and the White House. To assure authenticity, he carefully selected agents and withheld their inevitable capture.

After being selected for the assignment, Marcus Forrester and Lorena Kerrigan underwent intense training; they were meticulously prepared and taught to die rather than reveal secrets.

In response, CASCU sent its own elite, trained in disarming explosives and capturing enemies alive, including Tyler Methews, Roland Livingsworth, Daniel Carver, and Briana Trooper. There was a tense struggle ahead: would the terrorists be captured alive or dead? By surreptitiously teaching his crew with deadly accuracy and warning of brave bombers who would explode if cornered, Tyler shifted the scales and urged killings at the first sign of hesitation.

The gambit started a year prior to Maris's solar crash. Tyler's team was ready to stop Marcus and Lorena from using explosives to destroy the country, with Roland and Briana at the power plant and Tyler and Daniel at the subway.

In the subway tube, Marcus Forrester was caught mid-act and fell first. Tyler made the mistake of colliding with him while attempting to plant a bomb. After recognizing him, Marcus pushed Tyler's hand and started talking. Knowing Daniel's suspicion was close at hand, he pulled out his gun and pressed it to Marcus's temple.

He said, "Marcus, I need a favor."

"I'll bet you'll kill me if I don't."

"Exactly. Because I know you, my companion back there might have too many suspicions. Take him out. Do you have a gun?

Marcus patted his coat in response, "Right here."

"Now, loudly—'Set down the explosives!'" Tyler growled, "Take your gun, hit me in the head," after barking for Daniel's ears. As Tyler swore, a train whistle sounded, its light enlarging in the tunnel.

Marcus almost went too far. Just inches from the deadly tracks, Tyler was struck unconscious by the blow. As the train rumbled up, Marcus regained his composure and fired twice into Daniel's head as he emerged from the shadows. The sluggish subway cut through Daniel's torso, causing his arm to fall to the rail.

Tyler was awakened by the roar and gunfire. He staggered to his feet and saw Marcus go into the darkness of the tunnel. The engineer came running to his rescue, but Tyler waived him away, determined to get to his target. He followed in silence, his head pounding.

Tyler dropped Marcus after firing repeatedly after spotting him in a shaft of light. He disarmed the explosion, dragging it back, dizzy. The arrival of the train, which witnessed Marcus's "attack" on Daniel and provided a pretense for Tyler's survival, was a blessing.

Roland and Briana were on time, weapons drawn, and attacked Lorena at the power plant. They had to shoot because of her strong resistance. For now, Tyler's cover held, and no terrorists made it out alive.

The following month at CASCU put his nerves to the test. Rylance was captured by surveillance, given to an officer Tyler did not choose, and reporting only to headquarters. Tyler devised a dangerous plan: unintentionally kill the observer, orchestrate another person's murder, and fabricate Rylance's passing to absolve him of any wrongdoing. His hands were occupied.

Roland Livingsworth quickly sensed foul play and followed Rylance. Speed was crucial, so Tyler launched his plan into action.

Roland lost Rylance amidst clothes racks after following him into a department store. He chased after a figure who he assumed was Rylance. It was a paid decoy, a destitute man who had undergone surgery. Roland and the stand-in were among the majority killed when a rogue semi struck the bus they were in.

Tyler at CASCU received the news. He feigned elation, feigning shock—phase one worked. The second phase was approaching.

Despite the lack of obvious symptoms, Joel Ventara kept a close eye on Gregory Rylance. Unprepared for the ambush, caution led him down a dark alley after his target. His stomach burned from the snap of a gunshot; he slumped, wondering if Rylance was responsible. His agony came to an end as a second bullet broke his skull.

After learning of Joel's passing, Tyler launched an investigation and took Rylance into custody to ask him about his reasons for opposing the Shield. In private, he rejoiced—Rylance was safe, the bus catastrophe had silenced the conspiracy's only witness. His luck improved.

Theodore's recuperation was attended to by Georgia Philmore. She had thought him dead when she returned after Martin Wilkerson's attack, but he had survived. The elderly woman was disposed of due to her hysterics; it didn't matter because her death was already certain. The plan continued, albeit a little late. Within a month, 10 months before Maris's solar impact, anti-Wilton propaganda was scheduled to be released.

For his brother, Martin Wilkerson worried. Danger lurked in this turbulent time, with at least one adversary scheming against the president. Joshua struggled to be safe at work. Assassination attempts are considered terrorism, and Martin Wilkerson decided to warn him via CASCU.

"This is CASCU. How can I help?

"I want to inform you about a plot to assassinate the president."

"A murder?"

Indeed. Georgia Philmore, a former courthouse employee at Alpha Shield IV, and an unidentified gray-haired male are two conspirators I know.

"They intend to murder him?"

"Yes, to remove him and take control of the area."

"Are you sure?"

"Definitely."

"Thank you; we'll look into it."

Tyler Methews sneered as the operator filed a report on his behalf. The idea of two people overthrowing the president seemed unrealistic, so he forgot about it.

Martin Wilkerson, oblivious to his tip's rejection, thought he had done enough. To him, if not to others, it made sense.

In his speech, President James Wilton praised CASCU's seeming victory and promised his continuous support. Proud of his assistance to their people, Anna Wilton stood aside.

Robert Norton, fed up with a figurehead president distributing vacuous power, mixed with the mob, fuming at the democratic rhetoric. He was tired and wanted to stop it.

A gunshot rang out as Wilton finished, leaving the podium. He crumpled after hanging in midair. Chaos broke out; everyone ran, concentrating on Robert Norton first, but nobody knew who had shot him. He was beaten to death by the enraged crowd for killing their leader.

Most of the remaining shields were destroyed by intensified terrorist attacks in a matter of hours. In the midst of post-assassination shock, Bravo Shield III was the first to fall.

Hysteria was heightened by simultaneous attacks on Alpha Shield II and Bravo Shield I. Desperate to get away from the slaughter, people scurried around, struggling with a collapsing world.

In this wave, Bravo Shield V was the last to fall, leaving two shields intact. They were overrun by refugees, who looted and crowded in fear—a terrified public committing terrifying deeds.

The exclusion was infuriated by the remaining shields' prohibition of entry. When the militias stepped in, many were killed by machine guns.

It was known as the Assassination Massacre and was the lowest point of the Canadia Shield. In order to defend itself, a headless government massacred innocent people.

Immigrant survivors banded together to protect themselves. Shield-dwellers feared retaliation from terrorists. Due to the vice president's suicide, the position was open and ready for one or more fearless leaders.

Nine months before Maris's solar demise, Carlton Scythe returned from the anti-universe one month after the assassination. Martin Wilkerson was a shell, but the other three colony ships were almost finished. After getting clean, Carlton Scythe made an unsuccessful attempt to contact him.

“How are you, Martin Wilkerson?”

He said, "Does it look like it?" "My brother was killed by them! I could have prevented them!

"You are not to blame."

"Yes, it is!"

"How do you know it wasn't your conspiracy or a lone gunman?"

"I know the truth—it was always their intention, even though the press says Robert Norton acted alone. I ought to have taken his life when I got the opportunity.

Martin Wilkerson, I have a question: will you allow them to put a stop to your project? Will halting your work help them win?

Indeed. I'm sorry, but I can't do it anymore.

"Will you allow me to continue?"

With a defeated tone, Martin Wilkerson responded, "Do what you want." "I'm not interested."

A month after the ships' launch, the sixty-person crew was reduced to fifty-eight. Both Katherine Branson and Martin Wilkerson remained; she clung to her hope in mankind, determined to help where she could, while he was devoid of it. Their fate was linked to Corey Amos's spark four years before Maris was struck, eight months later.