Power in the Hands of One Read Online Free Page B

able to fit it on a truck. And with it out there, someone’s bound to see it—soon.”
    “You’d think,” Ray says. “Have you ever heard of metamaterials? No? They are man-made, composite materials which exhibit properties not found in nature—namely a negative refractive index.” Ray pauses long enough to see I don’t follow. “An invisibility cloak.”
    “You’re joking.” I shake my head in disbelief. True, the monster is before me, and it is impressive beyond all imagination, but invisibility?
    Ray, ever serious, does not jest. “Granted, it reeks of sci-fi, but researchers as early as 2006 were bending microwave radiation. It wouldn’t be long before materials were devised which could divert all bands of electromagnetic radiation—including visible light.”
    It sounds much simpler when one looks at it as bending light, but this is ludicrous. “So you’re saying that one of these things is out there, and no one will see it?”
    In typical grim fashion, Ray replies. “If the aim is to go undetected, yes—but that’s not the worst of it. That’s not even close to the worst.”

7
    Perspiration begins its maddening descent down the underside of my arms. The supposed gravity of Ray’s crisis is now apparent; the dry, metallic taste in my mouth confirms it.
    Ray steps closer to the machine in the second bay, waving his arms in exaggerated motions as if he’s conducting some psychotic orchestra. “Each one has certain attributes. For example, the one we lost is equipped with an advanced directed-energy weapon.”
    “I don’t know what that is.”
    “The military uses crude versions as Active Denial Systems—crowd control and things of that nature. Basically they emit high-frequency microwave radiation which creates a burning sensation in the targets’ skin. Other systems cause disorientation or nausea.” Ray waves his hand as if to dismiss them as toys. “The one Thomas devised produces electromagnetic pulses at a frequency which disrupts the autonomic nervous system, resulting in virtual coma.”
    “Coma? It can do that?”
    “Supposedly, but none of the technology was field-tested; it was only ever subject to computer modeling. It’s difficult to gauge how…effective…any of it will be. The weapon might very well kill anyone within range.”
    I nod at the second bay. “And this one? What does it do?”
    Ray turns again to face the black behemoth. “Our friend here is equipped with a directed-energy weapon of his own—a pulsed energy projectile.” Ray points to the right shoulder. “The gun is mounted on the back but will swivel up and over to engage a target.”
    “So, it’s like a rocket launcher or something?”
    “No—it’s a solid state laser, which when met with an object, creates an explosion of plasma. The resulting shockwave can be quite destructive.”
    “Worthington is out of his mind,” I say, shaking my head.
    Ray gives a dismissive shrug. “Those not willing to accept reality will think so. But something has to be done—we can’t have the lunatic fringe ushering in their version of the Singularity.”
    I snap back. “Don’t be so self-righteous. What makes Worthington, or anyone for that matter, qualified to shoulder that responsibility? And why does there have to be a Singularity at all?”
    “That was decided a long time ago. The cost of progress is that man lets go of the way things were done and embraces the way things will be done. This is the way it’s always been. But not every pioneer of change has the foresight, let alone the opportunity, to mold and shape it for the better.”
    “How is this better? From what I’ve seen, these machines aren’t meant for peace.”
    There’s a faraway glint in Ray’s eyes. “Thomas thought war would be inevitable—eventually. Rogue technology—imitators—will rise and have to be put down.” Ray nods. “These machines will serve a dual purpose. They will realize what the future should be, but they will