Power Play (a WW Story)
Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2024 10:02 am
I. THE PROPOSAL
Somewhere in the Middle East, ia short time ago . .. . Sheikhs in keffiyehs sit around a large conference room, lamenting the future of their oil supplies and market value of same. An advisor in a sharp suit is presenting to the assembly. “No matter how carefully we adjust our supply, our leverage is slipping from our grasp. Market demand is tumbling. We cannot expect continued consumption by the West as everyone goes electric. “ Graphs show demand falling off a cliff over the next decade. “Whatever we think of our prospects today, the future is bleak. We’ve been looking for an answer, in vain. But today we have a visitor who claims the can blaze a new path forward “ “Who is our savior, sent to deliver us?,” is asked to laughter.
In walks a narrow, distinguished, elder figure, wearing a white lab coat and carrying projector and briefcase. The new entrant is the portrait of a wisened professor — one whose impeccable manners are accompanied by an air of condescension. He answers the question posed, “My name is Arthur Chapman, but you can call me ‘the Professor.’ My doctorate is in physics, my specialty is in lasers, and my focus today is on helping you mine a resource that is beyond your wildest imaginings.” “Chapman? Are we really so desperate? This man is a failed, discredited crank. We seek real solutions to our problems, Professor, not a madman’s ravings.” More laughter. “Indeed, I’m here because I’ve found your solution,” Chapman responds as he turns on his projector. “Gentlemen: What if I showed you how to beat the United States at its own game, how to develop electric cars that need never recharge.” “This is a fantasy,” someone interjects. Chapman retorts: “No, it is wondrous, no doubt, but it is not fantasy.'" An image of Wonder Woman, hands on hips, goes up on the projector screen. “I can deliver you a power source like no other — bottomless in its reserves and celestial in its dimensions. Unlike anything else on our planet, her power is perpetual, eternal, undimmed The United States claims Wonder Woman as its own but it has yet to begin tapping all that she offers. With my assistance, you can claim as your own what is hiding in plain sight. And by channeling what she exudes, you can build an electric fleet that will be the envy of all the world.”
The skeptical listener interjects. “This is worse than fantasy., Professor It is playing with fire — worse even than building volcanos. Have you learned nothing from your misadventures?” “To the contrary, I have learned everything,” answers Chapman. “The failures then were failures of will, not of science. AndI I beheld Wonder Woman absorbing and emitting power in ways that I’d never before thought possible. Be assured that I’ve learned, and what I’ve learned I can teach you. To deliver, all I’d need is a small squadron of your trusted elite and some relatively modest investments -- not much beyond 9 digits -- towards acquiring and exploiting this singular power source. Now, if you’ll kindly hold any further questions until the end, I can explain the particulars.” Attention around the room is now rapt and faces are serious as Chapman continues . . . .
II. THE CONFERENCE
At the US Convention for Electric Cars in Las Vegas, Nevada, the Professor converses discreetly with his delegation’s security head, Farouk, a sinister-looking figure who bristles with menace and ill intent. Farouk has the sleek, hardened physique of elite military and the eyes of a killer — one who enjoys his work. Chapman asks him in confidential tones: “Is our patsy set to be let loose.” Farouk: “Yes, he knows what we want him to know and only that — just enough to play his part, unwittingly. All else is ready.” “Good, and take care not to underestimate our target,” says Chapman. “She’s more formidable and resourceful than you can possibly imagine.” Farouk smiles: “You’ve given us all we need. She has strength, I know, but she’s just a woman, after all, and she will fall to my men. Your job will be to suck her dry. Once you’ve finished, however, we’ll know how to make her wet.” Farouk grins an evil grin. The Professor finds that distasteful and out of place: “Focus on the task at hand and never boast of future exploits, especially not in this instance. Many have tried and failed at what we’ll be attempting. Take great care.”
A sign hanging over the main room announces Wonder Woman as the conference’s keynote speaker at the Vegas convention trumpeting the bright future of electric cars. She is finishing her address and extolling the promise of electric cars and their environmental virtues. “My upbringing instilled in me the utmost reverence for all the natural blessings we have from Mother Gaea. So I couldn’t be prouder t to support this industry and all the promise it holds for the environment in our country and abroad. Indeed, I myself am working with NASA to minimize my fleet’s carbon footprint, most recently by retrofitting the invisible jet.” The entire crowd is riveted by her — more so by her appearance than by her words. No one can help but marvel at her red, white and blue costume, embellished with gold, and at the ravishing physique it reveals. Her beauty is mesmerizing and jaw-dropping for men and women alike; it leaves the assembly under her spell and hanging on her every word and gesture.
Afterwards, three nerdy, bookish, high-school seniors from her local fan club come fawning and presenting her with flowers, the Nevada state flag, a pin, and a replica of her belt for her to sign as a memento. They introduce themselves as Bobby, Lucy, and Raul, say they idolized her growing up and remain her biggest fans; they plan to become engineers and hope to help combat global warming, and have formed their own local club, They’ve been eagerly awaiting her speech and doing heir best to recreate the belt. “We know you can’t part with yours, so we came up with the next best thing. Nobody else can have yours and nobody else can have ours with your autograph!” She beams, gets their names, and gladly autographs the belt. “Electric vehicles fill me with hope for our future, but meeting such promising young students from your generation fills me with that much more!” They’re awed by their idol. But their conversation is interrupted by a loud commotion outside, which Wonder Woman runs to investigate.
Outside, Wonder Woman comes to the rescue of a sharply-dressed, older man who’s being strong-armed into a black SUV. She hurls his attackers this way and that, then easily deflects fire from a machine gun firing out of the SUV. When the gunner turns his sights on the would-be kidnappee, Wonder Woman leaps in front of him to defect bullets meant for the target. The failed attackers take the opening to scramble inside and the SUV peels away before Wonder Woman can catch its occupants.
With the attempt failed and the SUV disappearing, Wonder Woman turns to the victim and asks why they’re after him, but he refuses to answer. So she uses the lasso on him and asks: “What are you doing here?” He answers: “My colleagues sent me to the conference to observe and report on the latest developments with electric cars.” Wonder Woman then asks: "Who is after you." He answers: “My employers.” Wonder Woman: “Why?” The man: “Last night, I stumbled upon a slide presentation outlining an illicit plan for us to steal an invaluable resource from American soil in order to power a new line of electric cars. It wasn’t meant tor my eyes and our head of security asked me to return home immediately, knowing I’d never take part in this. I now see he wasn’t merely asking.” “What resource are they after?,” asks Wonder Woman. “I’m in the dark on specifics,” he answers. She asks: “Where could they be taking it?” The man: “To a factory they’ve built in the dessert, on Canyon Drive” “How can I get in?,” she asks. “It’s a fortress,’ he tells her. “It has layers upon layers of securities and alarms. The only vulnerability is the skylight,” he concludes.
Having extracted all the information she can, Wonder Woman thanks him: “You’ve been very helpful. These officers will keep your safe.” Wonder Woman tells she police that the whistleblower needs protection, not interrogation, as he’s shared all he knows; she leaves him under their guard. The three students have overheard all this and say they know where the facility is and offer to show Wonder Woman the way on their bicycles.
Wonder Woman spins and, in a dazzling flash, changes into her skin-tight blue bodysuit, then gets on her motorcycle. Her every curve is plainly visible to Bobby, Lucy, and Raul as they ride alongside and the trio can’t help but steal glances at her. They’ve never seen such a sight up close dnd her actual appearance far surpasses what they’ve seen in wall posters and news coverage.
Once they arrive at the facility, Wonder Woman instructs her young, timid companions to go home and take her presents with them for safekeeping, saying “I’ve arranged a night-time tour of the facility and it’s limited to one person.” The seniors ask whether they can provide back-up for Wonder Woman in case there’s danger. She laughs and says, “If these men truly are breaking our laws and stealing our secrets, they’re the ones who have everything to fear: They’ll face the wrath of not only the United States but an avenging Amazon. Please trust that I’ve nothing to fear from them. They’ll soon be answering to the police and affording proof of what you already know: Crime never pays.” They nod their heads in unison and all promise to do as she says. When she departs, however, they hide to watch from cover as she spins into her traditional costume in a dazzling flash of light. She looks spectacular as she stealthily approaches the facility with speed, beauty and grace.
Somewhere in the Middle East, ia short time ago . .. . Sheikhs in keffiyehs sit around a large conference room, lamenting the future of their oil supplies and market value of same. An advisor in a sharp suit is presenting to the assembly. “No matter how carefully we adjust our supply, our leverage is slipping from our grasp. Market demand is tumbling. We cannot expect continued consumption by the West as everyone goes electric. “ Graphs show demand falling off a cliff over the next decade. “Whatever we think of our prospects today, the future is bleak. We’ve been looking for an answer, in vain. But today we have a visitor who claims the can blaze a new path forward “ “Who is our savior, sent to deliver us?,” is asked to laughter.
In walks a narrow, distinguished, elder figure, wearing a white lab coat and carrying projector and briefcase. The new entrant is the portrait of a wisened professor — one whose impeccable manners are accompanied by an air of condescension. He answers the question posed, “My name is Arthur Chapman, but you can call me ‘the Professor.’ My doctorate is in physics, my specialty is in lasers, and my focus today is on helping you mine a resource that is beyond your wildest imaginings.” “Chapman? Are we really so desperate? This man is a failed, discredited crank. We seek real solutions to our problems, Professor, not a madman’s ravings.” More laughter. “Indeed, I’m here because I’ve found your solution,” Chapman responds as he turns on his projector. “Gentlemen: What if I showed you how to beat the United States at its own game, how to develop electric cars that need never recharge.” “This is a fantasy,” someone interjects. Chapman retorts: “No, it is wondrous, no doubt, but it is not fantasy.'" An image of Wonder Woman, hands on hips, goes up on the projector screen. “I can deliver you a power source like no other — bottomless in its reserves and celestial in its dimensions. Unlike anything else on our planet, her power is perpetual, eternal, undimmed The United States claims Wonder Woman as its own but it has yet to begin tapping all that she offers. With my assistance, you can claim as your own what is hiding in plain sight. And by channeling what she exudes, you can build an electric fleet that will be the envy of all the world.”
The skeptical listener interjects. “This is worse than fantasy., Professor It is playing with fire — worse even than building volcanos. Have you learned nothing from your misadventures?” “To the contrary, I have learned everything,” answers Chapman. “The failures then were failures of will, not of science. AndI I beheld Wonder Woman absorbing and emitting power in ways that I’d never before thought possible. Be assured that I’ve learned, and what I’ve learned I can teach you. To deliver, all I’d need is a small squadron of your trusted elite and some relatively modest investments -- not much beyond 9 digits -- towards acquiring and exploiting this singular power source. Now, if you’ll kindly hold any further questions until the end, I can explain the particulars.” Attention around the room is now rapt and faces are serious as Chapman continues . . . .
II. THE CONFERENCE
At the US Convention for Electric Cars in Las Vegas, Nevada, the Professor converses discreetly with his delegation’s security head, Farouk, a sinister-looking figure who bristles with menace and ill intent. Farouk has the sleek, hardened physique of elite military and the eyes of a killer — one who enjoys his work. Chapman asks him in confidential tones: “Is our patsy set to be let loose.” Farouk: “Yes, he knows what we want him to know and only that — just enough to play his part, unwittingly. All else is ready.” “Good, and take care not to underestimate our target,” says Chapman. “She’s more formidable and resourceful than you can possibly imagine.” Farouk smiles: “You’ve given us all we need. She has strength, I know, but she’s just a woman, after all, and she will fall to my men. Your job will be to suck her dry. Once you’ve finished, however, we’ll know how to make her wet.” Farouk grins an evil grin. The Professor finds that distasteful and out of place: “Focus on the task at hand and never boast of future exploits, especially not in this instance. Many have tried and failed at what we’ll be attempting. Take great care.”
A sign hanging over the main room announces Wonder Woman as the conference’s keynote speaker at the Vegas convention trumpeting the bright future of electric cars. She is finishing her address and extolling the promise of electric cars and their environmental virtues. “My upbringing instilled in me the utmost reverence for all the natural blessings we have from Mother Gaea. So I couldn’t be prouder t to support this industry and all the promise it holds for the environment in our country and abroad. Indeed, I myself am working with NASA to minimize my fleet’s carbon footprint, most recently by retrofitting the invisible jet.” The entire crowd is riveted by her — more so by her appearance than by her words. No one can help but marvel at her red, white and blue costume, embellished with gold, and at the ravishing physique it reveals. Her beauty is mesmerizing and jaw-dropping for men and women alike; it leaves the assembly under her spell and hanging on her every word and gesture.
Afterwards, three nerdy, bookish, high-school seniors from her local fan club come fawning and presenting her with flowers, the Nevada state flag, a pin, and a replica of her belt for her to sign as a memento. They introduce themselves as Bobby, Lucy, and Raul, say they idolized her growing up and remain her biggest fans; they plan to become engineers and hope to help combat global warming, and have formed their own local club, They’ve been eagerly awaiting her speech and doing heir best to recreate the belt. “We know you can’t part with yours, so we came up with the next best thing. Nobody else can have yours and nobody else can have ours with your autograph!” She beams, gets their names, and gladly autographs the belt. “Electric vehicles fill me with hope for our future, but meeting such promising young students from your generation fills me with that much more!” They’re awed by their idol. But their conversation is interrupted by a loud commotion outside, which Wonder Woman runs to investigate.
Outside, Wonder Woman comes to the rescue of a sharply-dressed, older man who’s being strong-armed into a black SUV. She hurls his attackers this way and that, then easily deflects fire from a machine gun firing out of the SUV. When the gunner turns his sights on the would-be kidnappee, Wonder Woman leaps in front of him to defect bullets meant for the target. The failed attackers take the opening to scramble inside and the SUV peels away before Wonder Woman can catch its occupants.
With the attempt failed and the SUV disappearing, Wonder Woman turns to the victim and asks why they’re after him, but he refuses to answer. So she uses the lasso on him and asks: “What are you doing here?” He answers: “My colleagues sent me to the conference to observe and report on the latest developments with electric cars.” Wonder Woman then asks: "Who is after you." He answers: “My employers.” Wonder Woman: “Why?” The man: “Last night, I stumbled upon a slide presentation outlining an illicit plan for us to steal an invaluable resource from American soil in order to power a new line of electric cars. It wasn’t meant tor my eyes and our head of security asked me to return home immediately, knowing I’d never take part in this. I now see he wasn’t merely asking.” “What resource are they after?,” asks Wonder Woman. “I’m in the dark on specifics,” he answers. She asks: “Where could they be taking it?” The man: “To a factory they’ve built in the dessert, on Canyon Drive” “How can I get in?,” she asks. “It’s a fortress,’ he tells her. “It has layers upon layers of securities and alarms. The only vulnerability is the skylight,” he concludes.
Having extracted all the information she can, Wonder Woman thanks him: “You’ve been very helpful. These officers will keep your safe.” Wonder Woman tells she police that the whistleblower needs protection, not interrogation, as he’s shared all he knows; she leaves him under their guard. The three students have overheard all this and say they know where the facility is and offer to show Wonder Woman the way on their bicycles.
Wonder Woman spins and, in a dazzling flash, changes into her skin-tight blue bodysuit, then gets on her motorcycle. Her every curve is plainly visible to Bobby, Lucy, and Raul as they ride alongside and the trio can’t help but steal glances at her. They’ve never seen such a sight up close dnd her actual appearance far surpasses what they’ve seen in wall posters and news coverage.
Once they arrive at the facility, Wonder Woman instructs her young, timid companions to go home and take her presents with them for safekeeping, saying “I’ve arranged a night-time tour of the facility and it’s limited to one person.” The seniors ask whether they can provide back-up for Wonder Woman in case there’s danger. She laughs and says, “If these men truly are breaking our laws and stealing our secrets, they’re the ones who have everything to fear: They’ll face the wrath of not only the United States but an avenging Amazon. Please trust that I’ve nothing to fear from them. They’ll soon be answering to the police and affording proof of what you already know: Crime never pays.” They nod their heads in unison and all promise to do as she says. When she departs, however, they hide to watch from cover as she spins into her traditional costume in a dazzling flash of light. She looks spectacular as she stealthily approaches the facility with speed, beauty and grace.