Free Shadow Seed 1: The Misbegotten by Richard M. Heredia Page A

open?” countered Ramona.
    Estefan laughed to himself.  No one ever said Ramona was stupid.
    “He seems to think that’s exactly what it is,” retorted Flavia, gesturing to the Keeper sitting beside her.
    “But even if there’s a shred of truth to it all, the very idea of something as powerful as the Shadow Spark alone would force our rivals to go after it.  In fact, just about every organization I can think of, would go after it – the other members of the Board, local governments, the Agencies, even legitimate businessmen would all want a piece of it.  That’s not mentioning all the undesirables on the other side of the tracks.  Pirates, raiders, Mercs, smugglers, buccaneers and Trû-Knights are all going to want a piece of the action.  It won’t be long before the Clans and the Brotherhood, and the Yaku Alliance will be rampaging across the Solar System, looking for their share as well.  Everyone will be going after it.  It won’t stay secret for long.  Your little escapade on the streets of Free Town is proof enough already.
    “So, in a sense, the prudent thing to do is get the jump on everyone and see if this lead bears any fruit,” finished Leda, picking at her nails as she went along.
    Katie grunted.  “It would have to be under the strictest of security and the Synod in its entirety will accompany the Keeper wherever he goes.  Over that, I will have no argument.”  She might be small for a woman, but once she put her foot down, very few had the strength, or the will, to budge it.
    Estefan sighed, knowing full well she wouldn’t back down this time.  She would do whatever it took to be by his side.  That was one of the reasons he couldn’t mitigate the reward over the risk.  All the money in the world wasn’t worth shit to him, if one of his wives were hurt or killed.  He would never risk them.
    “If it is a lie, then it’ll be one helluva shit storm,” commented Ruby.  Some of her earlier frustration had quelled with Flavia’s exhaustive explanation of what had occurred since her and Estefan had left the Moon.
    “If it’s the truth, it’ll be an ever bigger shit storm,” added Mena, always one to cut through the bullshit.  “Either way, we have to find out the validity of this Shadow Spark claim.  There seems to be no way around it.”
    “And if it is true, we’re the only ones that can adequately safeguard it from this Destro-Mancer character,” pointed Flavia, stating some of the same opinion she had voiced to Estefan an hour earlier.
    “This is assuming the Celeste exists at all,” piped in Estefan for the first time, leaning his chin against the palm of his right hand, his elbow upon the hand rest of his chair.
    “What makes you think he doesn’t?” asked Ramona, uncrossing her legs and then re-crossing them in the opposite manner, her hands resting upon the upper thigh.
    Estefan shrugged.  “I don’t know one way or the other, but I will not assume he does just because it fits nicely into the overall story.  What if the good doctor and the Muslim people he represents have another reason for wanting the Shadow Spark off their planet?”
    “Like what?” wondered Tirza, her tiny brow furling at the growing complexity of the problem before them.
    Estefan stood suddenly, making his chair squeal in agony.  He paused to adjust the Grav-sensors on his suit, nullifying some more of his tremendous weight.  Then, peered back at the group, “There are so many answers to a question of that nature, we could be here all day , spinning our wheels, and still not figure out what we should do.”  He paused to hold up his hand when a few of them began to speak at the same time.  “The question that must be addressed is not one of specifics regarding this detail or that.  The real question is a much bigger one and it’s infinitely simpler.  I will not sit here all day arguing, because its’ answer is a merely a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’.”
    They were silent, waiting