If power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely, to whom do you entrust absolute power?

That question provided the dilemma for the characters in THE ARTIFACT. Captain Solomon Carrasco finds himself in the unenviable position of having to retrieve a curious alien artifact from its hiding place on a distant moon. The problem is, the artifact, called the "Satan Sword," gives its possessor absolute power over time, energy, and space. With it, a person can see inside any room, destroy whole solar systems, or move an atom. He who possesses the Satan Sword is invulnerable. So, just who do you trust with such awesome power? A government? A group? A single individual? Is anyone beyond temptation?

Over the years readers have asked about the Brotherhood and if it had any relationship to Freemasonry. The answer is yes. At the time I wrote the story, I was wondering what a utopian interpretation of Masonic ideals might be like if extrapolated into the future. Sol is the best of that world, and takes his vows very seriously. THE ARTIFACT is set prior to the events in the SPIDER TRILOGY, which gives the reader a concept of just what the Brotherhood was, and why a lot of people wanted them to go away.

Solomon Carrasco, in the sentient Brotherhood ship Boaz, must not only retrieve the Satan Sword, but do so while carrying a contingent of hostile and distrusting diplomats. In the end, Solomon must decide if he will use absolute power to save himself, those depending upon him, and his crew. It's an interesting moral dilemma. What would you do?