Author: Julian Miles, Staff Writer

The light in the sky persists well into the morning, an elongated teardrop that mars the azure of a beautiful sunny day and baffles scientists. The news channels show the 3-minute video every ten minutes or so. Viewing figures remain high.
“This could be a problem.”
Turner grins at Marie.
“Don’t see how. The explosion didn’t leave anything big enough to come back down. Some of our analysts say there wasn’t anything big enough left to burn up noticeably.”
Marie shakes her head, point to the news feed.
“Not the disaster, the aftermath. Look at some of the reactions: it’s like they lost a lover or immediate family. That’s a lot of emotion they’ve been investing. This event could become a trigger.”
Turner rocks his open hand in a ‘so-so’ gesture.
“I don’t think so. Most people have religion, they just don’t call it that. The people with something they do or follow ‘religiously’ is not an inaccurate description. What they get from whatever their passion is arguably mirrors what devotees of a particular faith get from their worship.”
Marie considers his argument.
“So you think we’ll see a transition from mass hysteria to communal grieving?”
“Yes. There will be the usual rash of ludicrous theories, encouraged by some media channels, but no violence.”
Chas looks up from their screens.
“I think you’re missing a trigger.”
They both look at him.
Maria nods towards the displays, coincidentally all showing the moment the spaceship exploded almost in synchrony.
“Don’t keep us is suspense.”
Chas raises jazz hands.
“A martyr, a saint, an extra holy ghost, a new revered ancestor. Ascension! Too good for this world and recalled to heaven or planet ten or wherever your gods live. You get the idea.”
“So his divine backers decided he shouldn’t remain in the global shitshow his efforts are partially responsible for?”
Chas barks a laugh.
“Ironic but on-brand.”
Turner chuckles.
“Damn but that’s true. Do the damage, dodge the consequences – celestial edition.”
Marie’s attention is caught by something. She spends a few minutes clicking and typing, then sits back with a sigh.
“Think we’re safe from having a new cult.”
The other two wait for her to elaborate.
She points at her central screen.
“I’ve been running agents to pick up on explanations posted and influencer trends regardless of bias or origin, but with bot filters, obviously.”
Turner nods.
“Reasonable. What are we looking at? Corporate sabotage? Deep-state assassination? Divine ascension?”
Marie looks at Chas, waiting for their reply. They grin.
“Too cheap to get his rockets tested properly?”
Turner snorts.
“Good one. Wish I’d thought of that.”
Marie shakes her head.
“Turner gets a half-point for mentioning assassination.”
He frowns.
“Hey, I got corporate too.”
She grins.
“Yes, but you didn’t mention aliens.”
Turner and Chas chorus.
“What?”
She points at her screen.
“The leading theory – ahead of all the others by at least fifteen points – of it being deliberate intervention rather than an accident is alien assassination. Very specific, too. He was an agent of the lizardfolk so the greys hit his spaceship with one of their control beams and turned his state-of-the-art cold fusion drive into a bomb.”
Turner blows a raspberry before commenting.
“Along with the implication his cold fusion breakthrough wasn’t entirely of human origin?”
Marie nods.
Chas laughs as he rises and heads for the door.
“Conspiracies as usual and no extra gods today, then. First positive result… You guys want coffee?”
Turner raises a hand.
“Two sugars.”
Marie wags a finger.
“Iced tea for me.”
The light in the sky fades.