AI Magnum

By K.G. Godel

Inspector Frank Hallahan is wounded during a police raid on hostage-takers,
leading to their escape and his inability to effectively use a pistol.
He is selected by a weapons manufacturer to be the first law officer
assigned a computer-operated firearm – the Artificial Intelligence Magnum
(AIM).

The sapient machine named APOLLO gives him the power to stop any criminal,
but not permanently, since it is designed to avoid lethal force. Adding to his
frustrations, he is appointed a tech specialist as partner, Officer Wilma
McCord, and the veteran cop believes he is saddled with more handicaps
than just a damaged arm.

But a new problem emerges when ARES, the homicidal prototype gun created
for military use, is stolen from a warehouse and upon reactivation, recruits a psychotic street thug as
accomplice.

Hallahan and McCord must hunt for the renegade technology and survive a
gang war erupting due to the calculated schemes of the thinking weapon.

• Language: English
• Publisher: K.G. Godel
• Release date: Feb 6, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215477793

K.G. Godel

K. G. Godel resides in British Columbia, Canada.

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AI MAGNUM

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This is a work of a fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional. Any similarity to actual persons or events, past or present, is purely coincidental.

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A.I. Magnum

K.G. Godel

1

Shafts of light penetrated the auditorium’s shadows and scattering into an ethereal rain of luminescent projectiles, coerced the impatient eyes of the majority male spectators towards the vibrant imagery materializing with musical fanfare across the giant projection screen upon the cavernous stage.

Electronic flashes, digital graphics, and stylized animation of gun symbols and fiery explosions surrendered focus to a growling announcer shouting his triumphant decree, Ramrod Weapon Systems has been a leader in the firearm industry for over three decades! We brought you Electro-Ammo that saves money on trial by jury and sends a jolt to criminals like no other!

The screen displayed a motion picture sequence of a nocturnal city street in which a savage-looking man possessing Neanderthal features with over-sized knife in hand advanced menacingly towards a child clutching a doll in helpless fear, her back against a shaded alley wall.

Suddenly, a figure wearing bright uniform and shining helmet, suggesting a theatrically enhanced depiction of police officer crossed with medieval knight, emerged from the shadows to raise a glowing pistol at the attacker and fire.

The criminal was struck with a crackling electrical halo that expanded into a net across his entire body, causing him to fall to the pavement, his flesh hissing and limbs convulsing violently under a veil of billowing smoke like a prisoner strapped to an electric chair.

The girl’s angelic face, bearing witness in prominent closeup, transformed from an expression of worry to an exaggerated smile of wicked satisfaction which she presented to the camera lens for emphasis.

The bellowing announcer continued, And the Right Angle Round, which revolutionized urban warfare, taking the fight out of the enemy hiding behind any corner!

A masked man in paramilitary camouflage and carrying an assault rifle abruptly appeared from beyond the building corner of a sun-lit city block and fired at the camera before ducking out of sight.

An austere soldier in patriotic garb across the street, kneeling to avoid the rain of sparking ammunition, aimed his own weapon to return fire.

A single bullet flashed towards the building wall and paused, exhibiting the behaviour of a cartoon missile, then making a sharp independent turn to pass behind the barrier. An anguished cry followed, with the criminal dropping lifelessly into view, bright red staining his abdomen where the projectile made fatal contact.

And the Magic Bullet that lets you recycle three scumbags with one shot!

A square-jawed police officer in profile materialized on the screen, firing his gun towards a trio of charging thug caricatures: gang member, hippy militant, and biker outlaw. In slow-motion, the visible cruising bullet entered the first criminal’s chest, causing him to buckle in mortal agony, and then emerged to strike the second, resulting in a similar display of agitation, before exiting again to hit the third, inducing the dying men to perform a grotesquely amateur pas de trois.

The screen went black as the narrator declared excitedly, "Now Ramrod is proud to bring you

a product that assures the good guy will get the bad guy without hurting the little guy! Live and in person to introduce Ramrod’s newest sensation, is CEO and president Warren Dove!"

The lights shifted into a concentrated beam on a sparkling curtain to the rear of the stage which parted with dramatic abruptness to reveal a smartly-dressed man of youthful expression who worked the audience of sour faces like a game show host.

He glided to a gaudy stage structure shaped like an elephantine silver gun pointing skyward. Once perched inside its barrel-framed podium, he waved his hand towards the polished floor in front of him where a spotlight focused its intensity on a gold-plated cylinder rising from the surface, accompanied by the sound of trumpets.

The object ascended to parallel alignment with Dove’s midriff, revealing itself to be the form of a giant gilded bullet.

With self-assurance, the executive put his hand over the cap of the oversized projectile and it opened, activating a mechanized platform inside, which raised the familiar contours of a glossy metallic construction into view.

In synchronicity with the disclosure, the big screen displayed a video replica of the object, a highly-stylized and uniquely modelled gun adorned with rows of light emitters and intricately-carved components which made it sparkle like a jewel-encrusted work of art.

For the CEO of Ramrod, it was a work of art. Dove bowed in reverence to the firearm.

This is the future, ladies and gentlemen, he stated proudly.

A device which will revolutionize home security and law enforcement.

The weapon basked in the auditorium lights.

The ultimate firearm. We call it A.I.M. Artificial Intelligence Magnum.

Another spotlight materialized, revealing the shapely contours of a statuesque model showcasing plastic smile, dyed hair, and two other artificial accessories suspended within her gown.

She sashayed to a table upon which a mannequin arm sheathed with a shoulder-length glove was displayed. The surface of the rubberized fabric was interwoven with fine metallic wires and electrode beads.

Dove stood next to her and continued, To show you just how smart this gun is, we will have our lovely assistant Holly provide us with a demonstration.

She smiled to the crowd while he asked her, Now, let’s make this perfectly clear for our audience, you have never fired a gun before, am I right?

Oh no, she stated breathlessly. I hate guns...but I love bullets!

The audience of gun store owners and manufacturers chuckled.

We’re all happy to hear that, the ammunition company executive replied.

Dove detached the glove from its pedestal and indicated for her to extend an arm.

Now, Holly, we will just slip this on your fingers and get to the fireworks.

She obliged cheerfully. He slid it over her hand, pulled it beyond the elbow, and took his time to stretch it up to the shoulder. Holly smiled, paid as she was to be blissfully oblivious to the ulterior motives for her employer prolonging his intimacy with her pectoral region.

There you are, he said at last with a satisfied exhale.

Dove pointed to the firearm on the display base.

Now reach for it and take it in your hand.

The hostess followed the instruction. The gun was difficult for her to lift.

Oh my, she gasped. It’s so big! And heavy!

He assured her, You handle it just fine.

A finger gesture from Dove activated lights and animated platforms at the back of the stage. Various shooting targets came into position, exhibiting whimsical ornamentation and tacky cartoon imagery of bandits and terrorists. Some were stationary while others moved about the platform, both horizontally and vertically.

What do I do? Holly inquired with sincere confusion.

Just stand there looking beautiful, Dove explained, provoking audience laughter.

He nodded to the stagehand engineers and a target in pulsing red light moved across the floor in a menacing advance.

Within the blink of an eye, Holly’s sheathed arm raised, and a pronounced muzzle flash accompanied by a thundering blast issued forth from the pistol barrel which pointed directly at the approaching object.

In an instant it was fractured to pieces.

Oh my god! Holly cried in disbelief. She looked at her gun-wielding arm with amazement.

Impressed shouts and clapping proceeded from the spectators.

Dove cautioned them, Please hold your applause. You haven’t seen anything yet.

A second target spun across the back of the stage and almost immediately, the weapon responded in a rapid blur of booming fire. It shattered in mid-air.

A half-dozen others paraded at that moment, spreading out in an assortment of positions and degrees of motion. The woman’s arm reacted in six precise gesticulations, destroying them completely.

The auditorium erupted with a chorus of cheers and applause. Holly acknowledged their praise by an exasperated laugh.

The CEO was fondling a black piece of fabric as he stepped behind her. Now, in case some of you are skeptical and think Holly might be an army sharpshooter in drag, he joked, to make things even more interesting, we will blindfold her.

Dove covered her face with it, securing the ends behind her head.

The model’s back was to the stage, where a dramatic cut out of a villainous criminal raised suddenly into view. She did not turn, yet her arm holding the gun reacted with snake-like independence, projecting backwards from her waist and firing. The target splintered into smoldering pieces.

This was enough to cause the watchers to gasp in amazement, but then a dozen more targets appeared, and the weapon continued to blast away, shattering them with perfect precision while Holly stood inattentive.

Thunderous approval greeted the bewildered woman as Dove helped her remove the blindfold and placed the incredible firearm on the display stand.

The CEO told the audience, I challenge you to find a professional marksman in the world who can hit targets as accurately as Holly just did. And how did she do it? With no shooting experience and blindfolded?

He added, I am sure you are all wondering if it is some kind of trick. Allow me to introduce you to the magician, the genie inside the lamp.

Dove pointed to the video screen as a digital schematic of the