[Third POV, Year 2001, Eleventh Loop, 18th of April, Stark Industries]
"So, no matter what creates it, sound is always made of waves. These waves move through matter, such as air, water, or the ground. They interact with the matter (and, in some cases, with each other) as they go. The animation below will show you the basics of sound waves and how they travel."
With that, our protagonist touched the right arrow key on the laptop keyboard, and in the projection appeared a short animation of what Adrian had just explained.
"Sound waves can pass through one another without much distortion or change. But in the right conditions, sound waves can change each other dramatically. For example, identical sound waves that are out of phase (their compressions and rarefactions are reversed) can cancel one another out. On the other hand, identical waves that are in phase combine their compressions and rarefactions, doubling their amplitude."
"Hey, I didn't come here for you to explain something I already know, kid. Stop the chit-chat and get to the point, alright?"
Tony quickly interrupted our protagonist, clearly unimpressed. He hadn't postponed a meeting with an actress just to sit through a classroom lecture on material he was already familiar with.
"Uh, sure, I'll do it next time."
Realizing that, Adrian decided it was better to load the savefile. He wanted to ensure he made the best possible first impression on Tony, to make sure he could get that valuable halo effect.
{SaveFile1 Loaded}
With better information at hand and having thought carefully about how to approach the meeting with Stark, our protagonist followed mechanically all the steps he had repeated over the last several days before loading the timeline, until he finally stood ready to make his presentation to Stark.
"I'm not going to bore you all, so I'll get straight to the point. The LRAD's job is to make sound — lots of sound. It produces a very loud sound that's audible over relatively long distances. While yes, it can be used to produce harm and be weaponized, my aim in creating it wasn't for that."
Taking out his phone, Tony pulled up the video of the LRAD testing — though he left the volume muted — and then showed his screen to Adrian, speaking casually.
"Straight to the point, I like that, kid. You get points for that. However, if you don't intend to make it or use it as a weapon, what value does it provide? A dangerously loud speaker?"
"Yes, exactly that."
"…Alright, proceed with the explanation, kid. You've got me hooked and everything."
With that encouragement, our protagonist continued, changing the projected image to one showing multiple suction cup–like transducers.
"The purpose will be explained later. So, instead of using one big moving device to make all this sound, the LRAD uses lots of little ones. A typical speaker uses a single rapidly moving diaphragm to make sound, but the LRAD uses an array of piezoelectric transducers. In addition to creating lots of volume, these devices are also relatively directional. The sound from an LRAD, in other words, doesn't disperse as much as sounds from typical speakers. While people behind or next to the device still hear the sound, it isn't as loud. But operators should definitely wear protection."
While Adrian kept explaining, Tony was typing something into his phone. It wasn't that he wasn't paying attention — in fact, he was listening to every word — but at the same time, he was instructing JARVIS via his phone to create a model of the LRAD, highlighting all the points Adrian was mentioning. The phone was effectively capturing Adrian's voice and recreating the device as an exact copy.
"Quite ingenious for someone your age… While imperfect in design, with a few tweaks, it could reduce costs, lower energy consumption, and boost the potency of the sonic beam."
Looking at the kid with a new glimmer of interest, Tony set down his phone and decided to give his full attention to what he now considered a somewhat smart kid — definitely not in his own league (cope), but still worth testing to see if the kid was just reading off a script.
"Alright, kid, let me ask you something. What is a piezoelectric material? What's a transducer? And what's the decibel threshold required to cause pain or damage to a human being?"
Prepared for the inevitable questions, our protagonist answered smoothly and without hesitation.
"A transducer is simply a device that converts one kind of energy into another. In this case, it transforms electrical impulses into sound. A piezoelectric material is a substance that's permanently electrically polarized — it has a positively charged side and a negatively charged side. When you apply pressure to it, it creates an electrical impulse. Conversely, if you apply an electrical charge, its molecules shift and it changes shape."
With that, he switched files to a video — this time playing the LRAD testing clip, but with the volume lowered.
"The general threshold of pain is around 130 dB, though it varies depending on the individual's tolerance. At present, the LRAD is capable of emitting up to a maximum of 162 decibels."
"And how did you make it so the sound is less audible outside the main beam, kid?"
"An LRAD device uses the phase of the sound waves, the size of the device, and the properties of air to create more directional sound. The outer transducers aren't completely in phase with the inner transducers. The sound waves interact with each other, canceling out some of the outermost waves and making the sound less audible outside the beam. There's also the specific shape of the device and parametrically generated waves."
Clap clap clap.
Suddenly, Tony clapped three times, a smirk playing on his lips as he spoke again in a more lighthearted, amused tone.
"Color me impressed, kid. Alright, two more questions, and I'll decide whether I want to make a deal with you directly. First: What other ways do you think sound could be used at a similar or even higher technological level? And second: What was your purpose in making the LRAD? By the way — good naming sense. Good way of shortening Long Range Acoustic Device. Simple but effective."
Closing his eyes, our protagonist began to think. He didn't need to invent a new use for sound; the challenge was whether or not to reveal it to a known weapons manufacturer.
After a few seconds of consideration, he closed the video and pulled a camera from his bag — the same one used to record both the LRAD and Sonic Taser testing.
"I did think of another way to use sound. However, I don't plan on commercializing it. Please take a look at the next video I'll play."
Connecting the camera to the laptop, Adrian navigated to the folder containing the videos and selected the Sonic Taser testing footage.
"I call it the Sonic Taser. But like I said, I won't be allowing this one to be commercialized."
Hearing the name of the device, Tony kept his expression cool, though internally, his curiosity deepened.
'And here I thought he was some kind of good Samaritan when he said he didn't plan to weaponize the LRAD. At least this is better. He could be a useful assistant, even if he's just a kid.'
Of course, Tony wasn't the only one in the room. Obadiah raised an eyebrow at the name of the device, feeling a surge of interest. The researcher stood there, caught somewhere between disbelief and amazement at the fact that a kid had made not just one, but two devices. Edwin, however, had the most dramatic reaction — snapping his head toward his son with wide, startled eyes. He hadn't expected Adrian to reveal the Sonic Taser.
With that, the video began to play, continuing until the point where the middle-aged man in the footage abruptly collapsed, rendered unable to move. The room collectively shifted in mild discomfort at the sound playing in the video.
The researcher was the first to react, quickly exclaiming aloud.
"Did you just kill that man?!"
Tony shot a brief side glance at the researcher but turned his focus back to the kid, waiting quietly for an explanation.
"No. If I had killed that man, I wouldn't name the device Sonic Taser — I'd probably call it something like Killer Pitch. It's non-lethal. What it does is remove the ability to move from those who hear the sound—"
"A high-pitched noise that immobilizes whoever hears it. Of course, it can be blocked by using headphones or sound-canceling headgear, but it's not like people walk around carrying that all the time. You know what, kid? I can say you definitely have potential in this industry."
Standing up from his chair, Tony approached Adrian, pulling out his phone once again.
"I'll use the email you used to reply to the meeting request to contact you. Answer the last question, and then I'll leave you with Obadiah to figure out how you want to handle the LRAD."
"My purpose with the LRAD came from a maritime standpoint — to communicate and hail approaching vessels or individuals, particularly when radio communication fails or proves ineffective. Also, to deter potential threats, such as pirates or rioters, by issuing warnings or instructions. Of course, it can be used for much more, but those were the main intentions I had when designing it."
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Author note: In exchange for the info dump chapter i made it longer.
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