Tom Swift, electrical and genetic engineer, and great-great grandson of Tom Swift, the inventor who developed the first electronic rifle and pioneered space travel. Tom brings a youthful enthusiasm and rich genetic legacy to his work.
"P-Sis, this is Dr. Tom Swift." Koi introduced them. "The 3rd." P-Sis chortled and nodded. She got the pop culture reference and though it was cute. "That's good, Koi," P-Sis said. "Not your generation, but I appreciate you subtly pointing out my age with the reference. But it wasn't my generation either, more my fathers." Koi and Tom looked at her. "Tom Swift...as in, Tom A. Swift Electronic Rifle...TASER..." "Right." Koi and Tom answered in unison. "He is my great grandfather. Most people thought he was a fictional character." "I know. Next you'll tell me Tesla's grand kid is working on some initiative." Tom turned to Koi. "She knows Billy T?" "Tommy Tesla is working on the Firefly program." Koi said to P-Sis without a hint of a smile. "Bulls..." P-Sis stopped when she realized they were serious "Dr. Swift is going to show you how our new electronic rifle works." *** They sat in a car. Tom intently watching a man across Canal street, watching a bus disgorging tourists from the midwest. "What is that? Oh want, I know. It's your famous electronic rifle." "Actually it's a magnetic pulse rifle." She reached over and touched the small cell phone sized unit. "It shuts the brain off." She looked him a question. "Literally. It's a massive influx of energy that short circuits the brain." Tom made a few adjustments to the settings. "We don't like to use it because we don't have the data on long term effects yet." "Who cares? This is used on thugs, right?" "I meant us. We have shielding on it but it's still a substantial dosage." "Sort of like cell phones?" "Cell phones are inadequate. The gauss kicked off by those and microwaves will slowly fry your cells." "Is that why Koi doesn't allow them in the building?" "FDA recommends that they be 30" away from your body. I suspect at some point they will be labeled a carcinogenic...just like cigarettes. They should have a warning." Koi stared at her cell phone and turned it off. "That's who we want." Swift pointed at the man. "I want you to walk past him and into the alley. Pretend you're talking on your cell phone and don't look at him." "He'll be on me like a jackal on a piece of meat." "What kind of meat?" "Huh?" "It would depend on what kind of meat," Swift said. "Jackals are notorious for turning their nose up at .... "I know what your point is." Tom exited the car and turned to P-Sis. "Don't worry. I'll be right behind you." "What are we testing?"