Solar Storms Read Free Page A

barebones programs. Without NTC, I wouldn’t even have the proper
technology to monitor the storms. In fact—”
    Sophie waved her hand, interrupting Tsui in mid
thought. “Bolton’s still in her first term; this could be very damaging for her
reelection bid.”
    “Precisely,” Emanuel said.
    Tsui reached out and enlarged the sunspot with his
fingers. “If what I’m about to tell you is true, then this will be her one and
only term.”
    Sophie winced. All of this foreshadowing was
starting to frustrate her. Why couldn’t he just spill what he knew? She sucked
in a silent breath and tried to remain calm.
    Tsui took a step back to examine the monitor before
turning to face Sophie and Emanuel. “Our calculations project a massive CME in
the next couple of days. If correct, it will create the most severe solar storm
in modern history.”
    There it was at last.
    Massive CME.
    The words echoed in her head as Sophie studied the
strain radiating from Tsui’s eyes. Those were two words she had hoped to never
hear in her lifetime. An image of the NTC soldier’s flaming red goggles slipped
into her mind, and she knew Tsui still hadn’t told her the worst of it. She’d
written extensively on the catastrophic effect a large CME could have on the
planet. History showed how fragile their infrastructure was, and she knew
better than anyone how much devastation one of the solar events could cause.
    “Show me all of your intel,” Sophie said, snapping
out of her trance. “I want to know exactly what we’re dealing with.”
    Tsui managed a small smile, but it faded quickly. “Follow
me, doctors.”
    Sophie paused for a moment to watch the simulation in
front of her. The spot continued to expand, and the swirling flames of the solar
flares grew in size. It was either an anomaly or they were dealing with an
unprecedented storm. With the largest CME in recorded history about to knock on
the earth’s door, the world would no longer need to fight over diminishing resources.
The apocalypse was brewing on the surface of the sun, some 93 million miles
away.
    -3-
     
    STEPPING into the rain
room, Sophie realized a hot shower was exactly what she needed. She’d arrived
at the space center having had only five hours of sleep the night before. When
Dr. Tsui had shown her the simulation of solar activity, she had requested 30
minutes to get cleaned up, knowing sleep was not in her near future.
    The steam from the water filled the small, tiled
shower, fogging up the glass door. She allowed herself to enjoy it for a few minutes
before waving the nozzle off.
    Emanuel was waiting for her on a bench in the
locker room. He turned away as soon as she stepped out onto the cold, tiled
floor. Reaching for a towel, she laughed.
    “Not like you haven’t seen it before,” she said.
    He chuckled nervously, desperately trying to avoid
eye contact with her. Even his dark tan couldn’t hide the red blush on his
cheeks.
    “What do you think?” he said, standing to make room
as Sophie, wrapped in a white towel, walked down the narrow hallway lined with lockers.
    “Honestly? I think we’re in big fucking trouble.
The NTC Special Forces soldier was one thing, but the fact Dr. Tsui hired you
really sealed the deal. If he thinks this storm is capable of a CME that could
affect life on the planet, then we’re into uncharted territory.”
    “I agree. But what doesn’t make sense is the cycle.
The sun should be relatively calm right now.”
    Sophie reached for her clothes. “Turn around.”
    Emanuel obeyed and faced the empty showers,
carrying on the conversation with his back to her. “I don’t understand. Is this
an anomaly, or is something else influencing this storm?”
    “Like what?” Sophie said, hopping on one foot as
she struggled to get her damp leg in her pants.
    “You’re the physicist. You tell me.”
    “Honestly, I don’t think so. I’m sure we are
dealing with an anomaly. The eleven-year cycle is just an average, so it