Chapter 8 :The Birthday of the Invincible Sun God Sol

"Hey, wake up. We're here."Jared Burchall's voice snapped Justin Maddox out of sleep. He blinked, groggy, as the Gulfstream G650ER's cabin came into focus. The jet had landed. They stepped onto the tarmac, where a Tesla Cybertruck waited, its sharp angles and matte steel gleaming like a prop from a sci-fi flick.

Burchall ushered Justin into the vehicle. Ronan Voss stayed behind, handing back Justin's phone with a curt nod before vanishing into the night. Justin exhaled, glad to be rid of the abrasive agent. A silent driver started the Cybertruck, its electric hum pulling them smoothly toward SpaceY headquarters.

Minutes later, they arrived. Justin's jaw dropped. Towering rocket models loomed against the sky, their sleek forms dwarfing a flurry of high-tech gear. Employees in crisp jumpsuits darted between massive machinery, their movements precise, like cogs in a futuristic machine. The air buzzed with purpose, a vision of tomorrow made real.

After multiple security checks, Burchall led Justin to the third floor, into a sprawling conference room walled in transparent glass. The door read Apollo Room, he'd heard SpaceY named its rooms after astronauts and spacecraft.

"Musk will be here soon," Burchall said, his voice low.

Justin's pulse quickened, nerves sparking. Footsteps echoed outside. He looked up as Elon Musk strode in, casual in a black tee and jeans, his eyes blazing with unshakable confidence. Three young women trailed him—assistants, maybe secretaries—silent and professional, their presence polished to a sheen.

Musk sat across the conference table, extending a hand with a warm smile. "Justin, glad you accepted my invite."

Justin shook his hand, caught off guard by the billionaire's ease. "Pretty sure no one says no to you," he said, half-laughing.

Musk chuckled but didn't reply, his gaze locking onto Justin with unsettling intensity.

Justin shifted, unable to hold back. "I gotta ask—why does my video have you, of all people, flying me out here?"

Musk leaned forward, his voice dropping. "First, you nailed Starship One's launch date and explosion. You posted that video before I'd even finalized the launch, let alone announced it."

He paused, letting that sink in, then continued. "Second… do you believe 2025 is the end of the world?"

Justin hesitated, weighing his words. "A lot of people say 2025's doomsday. I dreamed of a solar storm, a bad one. But the end? Nah, I don't buy it."

Musk nodded slowly, his eyes sharp with conviction. "I do. That's why I'm pushing Mars colonization so hard."

Justin's stomach lurched. Elon Musk believes in doomsday? The thought hit like a shockwave.

"So, you brought me here because of the solar storm?" Justin pressed.

Musk's smile was cryptic. "Not just the storm. Plenty of people predict those. It's the date—December 25. You know what that is, right?"

"Christmas," Justin said, shrugging.

"And Christmas is…?" Musk's tone was leading, almost playful.

"Jesus's birthday, isn't it?" Justin said, puzzled by the obvious question.

Musk shook his head. "The Bible doesn't pin down Jesus's birth. December 25? That's the birthday of Sol, the Roman sun god."

"Sun god? Like Apollo?" Justin asked.

"No," Musk said, his gaze deepening. "Sol's distinct, though later folks mixed them up. Doesn't matter. You dreaming of a solar storm on the 25th? That's what got my attention."

Justin leaned back, half-smirking. "Ever think I might've just made it up?"

Musk gave a light chuckle. "Of course I thought about that. That's why I brought you here—to verify it."

He pulled out his phone, tapped the screen. The glass walls snapped opaque, frosted in an instant, turning the room into a sealed vault.

The air tightened, the mood shifting to something secretive, intense.The three assistants sprang into action with eerie precision. One set up a camera, its lens locking onto Justin. Another opened a laptop, fingers poised to record. The third approached with a sleek device—metal and transparent, studded with sensors, like a sci-fi headset.

She moved to place it on Justin's head. He flinched, frowning. "What's that?"Musk's voice stayed calm.

"Relax. It's a Neuralink brain activity monitor. Tracks your neural responses in real time."

"A lie detector?" Justin's unease spiked.

"Sort of," Musk said, his eyes still fixed on him. "But way more advanced."

The assistant secured the device on Justin's head. A faint pulse hummed through his skull, like his nerves were syncing with the tech.

Musk's tone turned grave. "Alright, Justin. Tell me about your dream. Every detail. Don't skip anything, no matter how small."