|
Sub-Electron Amplifier
Many years after Shere Khan's rise to power as head of Khan
Industries, Chairman Khan decided to hold an important meeting
with his cabinet of executives. His proposal was a highly
intriguing one — to divert resources from all divisions
of Khan Industries and Khan Enterprises to the development
of a brand-new, ultra top-secret, super-efficient power source
to run his businesses. But the demands were much greater than
just that. Shere Khan demanded a power source that was limitless;
one that never deteriorated with use but could be used indefinitely.
Not only would this reduce business expenses, but it would
also benefit the new Khan Power division, whose rapid growth
begged for such an innovation. Skeptics and scoffers though they might have been, Khan's
chief executives knew their chairman — Shere Khan always
got what he wanted.
To that end, Khan Industries allocated a staggering amount
of funds and manpower to begin development on this highly
top-secret project. Several years passed in intensive labor
and research conducted by the brightest scientists in Khan's
employ. The finished product — the result of millions
of dollars worth of time and capital — exceeded anyone's
wildest expectations.
Khan's creation is a miracle of modern science, almost magical
in its far cry from the state of modern technology. It is
scientifically termed a "Sub-Electron Amplifier",
designed to excite the power levels of elementary
particles far beyond their normal capacity. The result is
a massive discharge of pure energy with no change whatsoever
in the composition of the stone itself. This phenomenon makes
the sub-electron amplifier the ultimate power source —
one that never drains or depletes.
However, such awesome power is useless if it cannot be controlled
safely without risk of energy spills or overloads. The faceted
design of the stone, though aesthetically pleasing, is shaped
according to exact scientific specifications that prevent
it from generating energy spontaneously. Despite the sub-electron
amplifier's outward resemblance to a jewel, its actual atomic
composition differs totally from that of precious gems. A
person with a trained eye can tell the difference, but only
one who understands the stone's true purpose can comprehend
its astronomical value.
|
SUB-ELECTRON AMPLIFICATION
|
|
|
Known to only a few of the most learned
and intelligent scientific minds in the world (and understood
by even fewer), the process called sub-electron amplification
is a fascinating and equally baffling miracle of science.
Even Shere Khan's own researchers, responsible for development
of a new limitless power technology, could little grasp
what they had accomplished. To comprehend the enormous
value of their efforts, one must first have a basic
understanding of sub-electron amplification.
Dr. Debolt, lead scientist of the Khan
project, has identified the basic principles that govern
sub-electron amplification. The atomic-particle structure
of the stone — a specially composed electrical
alloy developed by Khan's scientists — consists
of a certain balance of electrons and ion particles.
The particles within the stone, while relatively inactive,
possess a certain degree of instability that can be
easily triggered by outside impulses.
Sub-electron amplification begins when an external force
stimulates the particles into motion. Stimulation of
the particles modifies the stone's internal energy to
stimulate even more particles. In milliseconds, within
the atomic structure of the stone, the mutual acceleration
of the particles causes them to reach high levels of
activity that build sub-electron particles to a supercharged
or amplified state. Electrical discharge occurs when
another object touches the stone. Upon discharge of
the energy, the sub-electron particles equalize and
the stone returns to its original state.
This process can be triggered in two
ways. A sharp impact to the stone, such as bouncing
it off the floor, causes vibrations that excite the
particles and begin sub-electron amplification. This
method produces a great deal of unstable energy which
dissipates over a period of time if not discharged.
Electrical stimulation, however, involves running a
fairly small current through the stone from pole to
pole. Not only does electrical stimulation provide a
more controllable way of generating power, but the priming
current can be calibrated so that the desired level
of electricity is released by the stone upon discharge.
When dormant, the stone can be handled
with bare hands. However, it is dangerous to touch the
stone bare-handed when it is glowing — this usually
indicates that the stone is carrying a charge or that
sub-electron amplification is taking place. If stimulation
ceases and discharge does not occur, the stone will
slowly dissipate the energy it contains. The safest
way for one to prevent accidental electric shock is
to wear rubber gloves when handling the stone. For transport
purposes, the stone should be stored in containers made
of non-electroconductive materials (such as wood) lined
with an insulating layer.
Certain substances can be potentially hazardous to the
stone — the most devastating of which is water.
Immersion in water excites the particles to a hyperactive
energy state. This causes a freak chain reaction in
which massive amounts of pure energy are generated, resulting in a violent explosion that obliterates
the stone and anything nearby.
|
|
|
After the final tests on the sub-electron amplifier were
successfully completed, the stone was to be transported to
Khan Tower in Cape Suzette for a personal inspection by Shere
Khan himself. Khan Flight 127 — the plane carrying the
stone — never reached its destination. Hijacked by Air
Pirates enroute to Cape Suzette, the pilot had no choice but
to hand over the sub-electron amplifier to Don Karnage and
his men. The stone changed hands quite a few times over the
next couple of days, but it was ultimately reclaimed by the Pirates
as the power source for their infamous lightning gun during
the historic Attack on Cape Suzette.
Unfortunately, when the pirate weapon was knocked off its
platform by the efforts of a heroic pilot named Baloo, the
stone went down with it. Plunged into the Cape Suzette bay,
the sub-electron amplifier's contact with the water produced
a volatile chain reaction that obliterated the lightning gun
as well as the stone itself.
Shere Khan has indicated no immediate plans to create a second
stone, probably due to the waste of precious funds and work-hours
in developing the first. However, if the project is ever taken
up again in the future, one can be sure that Khan will take
even greater security measures to guarantee that his Sub-Electron
Amplifier never suffers the same unfortunate fate.
|
SUB-ELECTRON AMPLIFIER
|
|
|
Model: Khan Industries' Sub-Electron Amplifier
Type: Power source
Cost: Not available for sale
Availability: 4, X (rare, illegal)
Notes: The sub-electron amplifier, or "stone,"
can create unlimited amounts of electricity. Bouncing
the stone against a hard surface generates electrical
power which causes 3D damage; running a current through
the stone generates power which causes 6D damage. The
stone discharges its energy when touched, otherwise
it returns to normal in five rounds (25 seconds). (Against
characters this is treated as character-scale stun damage.) Ordinary
electronics can be damaged severely by the stone's energy,
while materials such as rubber and wood remain unaffected.
Immersing the stone in water initiates a chain reaction,
rapidly culminating in an explosion that destroys the
stone and causes 10D damage within a 300-foot radius.
|
| |
|
