Storm of Lightning (29 page)

“Starting today, the construction of massive Starxource plants will no longer be our primary focus. Our new focus is the corporation, whom we will reach by building sleeker, miniature versions of our Starxource plants—power sources just large enough to power a large hotel or business, even a condominium complex.

“Initially, for those who opt in to our system, power will cost, on average, just twenty-nine percent of what they are currently paying. Once the unit is paid off, which will take the average business owner about three years, the price will drop to eleven percent.

“As we unveil our new system, we will launch a half-billion-dollar advertising campaign extolling its virtues. This is one such ad designed to play during the Super Bowl.” An advertisement began playing on the screen. A beautiful, intelligent-looking woman was sitting next to a replica of Thomas Edison's original lightbulb.

In 1879, Thomas Alva Edison invented the electric lightbulb, bringing illumination to a dark world. Today, Elgen Incorporated presents the biggest breakthrough in electricity since the lightbulb: the Nova Starxource Pod. Propelled by organic fuel with zero emissions, the Nova Starxource Pod is capable of producing clean, electric energy at less than twenty percent of what you're paying now. That's an eighty percent savings and one hundred percent clean energy. So what are you waiting for? Save money, save the environment, save the world. Contact Elgen today for a free demonstration. Let's keep America shining from sea to sea.

Everyone clapped at the commercial's conclusion.

Hatch continued. “Concurrent with our campaign, we will fund major conservation groups and lobbies to oppose all our competition—to fight offshore drilling and the creation of nuclear power plants and nuclear dumps, as well as additional coal mining sites.

“This will raise the price of energy for everyone else, making our alternative even more appealing. Then, as more and more consumers leave the grid for our Nova systems, the average cost of traditional energy per person will increase, making our alternative still
more appealing. Eventually our energy will become so inexpensive, and theirs so expensive, that we will control ninety-eight percent of the commercial and residential market.”

EGG Despain raised his hand. “Once we've spread our mini-plants, how do we still make money?”

“By providing fuel, of course. Our special Rabisk.”

“. . . But what if people just start feeding the rats their own food?”

Hatch looked at Despain as if he were an idiot. “They won't know that our Nova plants contain rats. The units are completely self-contained, and the new Rabisk has been liquefied and looks like oil, which we've named Petrox.

“The consumer just inserts a canister, and the pod time-feeds the rats. If the proper canister isn't used, the rats die and the energy fails. As part of their contract, they will be fined a substantial amount for repairs.”

“What if someone tries to take apart the pod?” EGG Bosen asked.

“Of course someone will try. The Nova Pod is marked with warning labels and double-secured with an intrusion trigger. The interior pod is lined with magnesium panels that will reach heat in excess of two thousand degrees if the pod is tampered with. Once opened, they will find nothing inside but ashes.”

“This is brilliant,” EGG Bosen said, clapping. Everyone else began clapping as well.

“Thank you,” Hatch said.

EGG Grant raised his hand. “Sir, how can we be sure that corporate America will buy into our process?”

“Are you a fool or an idiot?” Hatch asked.

The EGG didn't answer.

“I asked you a question.”

“I hope neither, sir.”

“Then quit asking foolish, idiotic questions. Of course they will buy into our process. What part of capitalism do you not understand?”

Grant shrank with embarrassment.

“What we are doing is creating an unfair competitive advantage. Let me explain this so a five-year-old could understand. We have two bread companies, Bakery A and Bakery B. They both bake bread.
They both have the same basic expenses: material, labor, and energy prices. So the cost of their bread is roughly the same.

“But let's say that Bakery A installs a Nova Pod system. Their energy cost is now eighty-seven percent less than Bakery B. They can now produce bread for less money and make more profit.

“Bakery B is now in trouble. In order to compete with Bakery A, they have no choice but to come to us. Our success will fuel our success. And this ball will roll down the mountain until it covers the world.” Hatch paused for emphasis. “Elgen, this is our path and our destination. This is the day of our glory. In the words of the great Russian leader Stalin, ‘the capitalists will sell us the rope with which we will hang them.' ”

The room broke into wild applause.

A
fter the meeting concluded, all the attendees went up to congratulate Hatch. Quentin and EGG Daines were the last to leave.

“Brilliant, sir,” Quentin said. “Just brilliant.”

“Thank you, Quentin,” Hatch said, then added, “
King
Quentin. How are things progressing in your kingdom?”

“Well,” he said. “We've started the remodeling of the palace, the construction of a stadium, and the new educational curriculum is complete and is being taught in the schools.”

“Excellent,” Hatch said. “Keep me informed of the progress.” He turned toward his EGG. “I'm tired, Daines. What do you need?”

“A moment of your time, sir.”

Hatch frowned. “Is it important?”

“Vitally,” Daines said.

Hatch nodded. “All right. Proceed.”

Daines glanced at Quentin, then said, “In private, sir.”

“You're sure it can't wait?”

“It's best that it doesn't, sir,” Daines said. The EGG was known to be a man of few words but much violence and action.

Hatch sighed. “Very well. We'll meet in my office.” Hatch turned to Quentin. “Carry on.”

“Yes, sir,” Quentin said, walking off.

Hatch led Daines down the corridor to his private office. Once they were inside, Hatch asked, “What is it?”

“We've discovered video of criminal Welch leaving the ship, sir. He was, as we suspected, accompanied by the two guards, Hill and Rawlings.”

“As we suspected,” Hatch said. “Was Welch wearing some kind of disguise?”

“No, sir.”

“And no one questioned them?”

“No, sir. They exited the boat through the aft loading dock.”

“The place was swimming with guards,” Hatch said angrily. “Someone must have noticed.”

“The whole escape was very peculiar. No one they passed showed the least amount of interest in them.”

“That is peculiar,” Hatch said, rubbing his chin. “Very peculiar.”

“There's more, sir.”

“More?”

“They were not alone.”

Hatch's eyes narrowed. “It was a conspiracy?”

“Yes, sir,” the EGG said. “Three of the electric youths were with them.”

“Which ones?”

“Quentin, Torstyn, and Tara.”

Hatch's face turned beet red. “What were they doing?”

“They were walking behind him.”

“How closely?”

“Within ten meters.”

Hatch clenched his jaw. “That explains why no one paid attention.
Tara must have made him look like someone else. Probably a Taiwanese.”

“That's a possibility, sir.”

“It's not a possibility,” Hatch shouted, slamming his fist onto his desk. “It's what happened.” Hatch began to shake with anger. “I made him a king, and he repays me with betrayal? He will pay for this. They will all pay.”

“What are your orders, sir?”

Hatch carefully thought over the situation. “We must proceed cautiously. Especially with Torstyn. He's very dangerous and loyal to Quentin. I want you to arrest all of the youths in their sleep, RESAT them, and then isolate them from one another.”

“What of the two not involved?”

“All of them. The other two must have at least known what was going on. Instruct the guards to use the new RAVE to apprehend them and lock them separately in T block. But leave Quentin to me.”

I
t was three in the morning and Quentin was fast asleep when Hatch opened his door and turned on the light. “Wake up, Quentin.”

It took Quentin a moment to get oriented. He shielded his eyes from the garish light. “Dr. Hatch . . . what are you doing here?”

Hatch looked around the messy room, then walked to the side of Quentin's bed. “I think you know what would bring me to your room at three in the morning.”

Quentin sat up. “No, sir.”

Hatch sighed a little. “No, I didn't think you would be eager to confess your crime.” He sat on the side of Quentin's bed. “So if you are insistent on playing this little game, I'll oblige you. I know what you did, Quentin. Unfortunately, Tara's powers don't work through video.”

“I don't follow, sir,” Quentin said.

“Of course you do. You know exactly what I'm talking about. I trusted you. I made you a king, and you betrayed me.”

Quentin stared into Hatch's eyes for a moment, then shouted, “Guards!”

An amused grin crossed Hatch's face. “How optimistic of you. And pathetic. You actually thought that your guards would be loyal to you in the face of certain death? No, no one will be coming to your aid.” His eyes narrowed. “I've taught you thousands of lessons, and now you have taught me one. There is no loyalty. Not even between us. You've shown me that.”

“Sir, I don't know what you're—”

Hatch slapped Quentin hard enough to knock him back into his bed. A thin stream of blood dripped from his nose. “Quit lying to me! Tell me the truth. Tell me that you escorted Welch off the ship. Tell me now!”

Quentin held a hand to his stinging face. He was shaking with fear. “Yes. I saved him. He was like a father to me.”

Hatch stood, then grabbed Quentin by the foot and dragged him off the bed. Then he kicked him while Quentin tried to protect himself from the blows. “
I
am your father,” Hatch shouted. “And your king. And you turned on me. Your betrayal is worse than Welch's. And so your punishment will be worse as well.”

Quentin coughed up blood. “How could it possibly be worse?” he said bitterly.

“You should know better than that by now. Things can always be worse.”

Quentin, still on his back, feebly raised his hand to put out the power, but nothing happened.

Hatch shook his head. “And to think I had so much hope for you. Foolish, stupid boy. You didn't think I would be prepared for that? We have a new invention just for you. That slight headache you feel . . . that's me. The RESAT darts were too cumbersome. Too unreliable. So we invented this.” Hatch brought out a small hand remote about the size of a bar of soap. “The scientists who invented it named it the RESAT 2.0, but I renamed it the RAVE. It's a remarkable improvement. I just slightly turn the knob . . .”

Quentin screamed out in pain.

“Think of it as a handheld version of Nichelle. We created it based on her powers. Do you remember her? She's one of the losers you let escape.” He turned the dial up more, and Quentin screamed out even louder.

“Please, stop. Please.”

“You're begging for mercy? Wasn't it you who said whoever helped Welch is a traitor and deserves the same punishment? You, of all people, should know that there is no mercy for kings. Kings are on thrones or in graves. There are no exceptions.”

“Then kill me,” Quentin said.

“Quick death would fall under the category of mercy. An example must be made of you. We will build a special monkey cage just for you, and that is where you will spend the rest of your life.”

“Please. I'll do whatever you want.”

“What I want is for you to not have betrayed me, but it's too late for that. Bad eggs don't get good again.” He turned back toward the door. “Guards.”