mean fluctuating?”
“Increased coronal mass ejections from the suffusion of energy from the supernova explosion.”
“A super solar flare,” the Prime Minister stated.
“Do we have evidence that corroborates the Kronos Eye?” the US President asked.
“We have previous evidence that coronal mass ejections can reach Earth at an astonishingly fast rate. In 1859, in what was called the ‘Carrington Event,’ a major solar flare from our sun made it to us in a matter of seventeen hours, thereby retaining much of its energy. At that time, it thankfully resulted in a benign aurora display.” Dr. Latimer turned to his laptop and zeroed in on the Orion system. “Secondly, there is Phaethon itself. The simple fact of its existence lends credence to the Kronos Eye. Before nested dust and gas shells obscured our sight around Betelgeuse. Now, we know where to look. Thirdly, we’re seeing increased solar activity across the board. The global blackout was the first wave. No one expected a neighboring star to go supernova at the same time as an energetic sun.”
The US President closed her report. “What would the supernova mean to us, Dr. Latimer?”
“The supernova itself will be merely interesting—a second sun will be visible in the sky for weeks, we approximate. It is the increased activity from our sun that we need to worry about. The super solar flare will hit our already weakened ozone layer—”
A military man interrupted. “I thought the hole over Antarctica was closing.”
“It has been. However, we’ve been seeing severe storms all over the world this summer—quite possibly due to the turbulence in the oceans caused by earthquakes. It has weakened the layer in major areas.” Dr. Latimer continued, “Imagine our ozone, our only protection, as a massive sail with several thin patches that’s about to face a hurricane. Mild flares cause satellite disruption and magnetic storms interfering with worldwide communications. A medium flare caused the global blackout. Stronger flares will deplete the ozone layer leaving us exposed to radiation and solar winds—”
There was a pause. Everyone across the table flipped through their handout, not because they were actually reading it, but because they needed something to do.
The Defense Secretary said, “We will make plans to evacuate underground.”
The Prime Minister shook his head. “The super solar flare will be like a million megatons of hydrogen bombs being launched on us all at once. Nothing is going to survive that.”
Dr. Latimer, his white hair glistening in the dim light, stared at the table. “The universe is in delicate balance, gentlemen. The flare will not only destroy the Earth’s surface, but also superheat the core of the planet. It won’t take long for the already unstable supervolcanic sites, like Yellowstone, to erupt. This is actually a good thing for the planet. Volcanic eruptions will tear apart the earth and release atmospheric particles trapped in the ground. That will rebuild the ozone layer and ultimately, preempt global cooling. The Garden of Eden will flourish again and the planet will rebuild.” He smiled grimly. “However, we will not survive the upcoming chain reaction. Life will be eradicated. We are the dinosaurs.”
“Kronos’s Fury,” Matt murmured beside me. “The day of reckoning.”
No one on the rectangular table heard him. The US President tapped her pen on the hefty report. “If it is inevitable, as you say, what hope do any of us have?”
Matt interrupted, “We can do this with the tools we have been given. Excalibur was sent to us for a reason.”
The Queen spoke, “Yes, since the Total Tremor, we have known something was coming. We must believe.”
With more diplomacy, the US President added, “Sitting back and doing nothing isn’t my way.”
The Defense Secretary scoffed, “How can some magical sword save an entire planet from a super solar flare? Will you go on top of the Himalayas and knock the flare out of the sky?” He glanced at me and sneered. “Should we helicopter up your precious sword-bearer?”
I rasped, “There’s more.”
No one heard me.
Matt faced the Defense Secretary with fisted hands. “She is the champion!”
With effort, I grabbed the back of Matt’s shirt. I repeated, “There’s more.”
The Queen’s sharp gaze focused on me. “What did you say, sword-bearer?”
With effort, I straightened in the wheelchair. I croaked, “More to the v-vision.”
The Queen turned to look at Matt. “Merlin?”
Matt’s amber eyes turned to me. “Ryan, what did you see?”
Black dots danced in my vision. I blinked. “I-I…”
“We should use a memory stone to extract it from her. The poor girl is in no condition to speak.” The Queen took out a