Shadow Seed 1: The Misbegotten (34 page)

“May the Arch-Empathist begin her inspection,” called out Katie as Ramona walked around the “boomerang” and approached those on the righ
t side of the “arrow”.

As one, each of the remaining women
of the Synod un-holstered, unsheathed or activated her weapon of choice.

Above, upon the raised Seat of the Keeper, Flavia placed a protective arm around Estefan’s waist, applying pressure, forcing him back a pace.  She immediately inserted herself between him and those in front of them.  She needed no weapon.  She was the weapon.  She didn’t tense a single muscle.

Ramona approached Johan, Estefan’s brother.  Though the bond between him and the Keeper had been forged since his birth, regardless that she’d known him for more years than she could account, Ramona would subject him to the same scrutiny she would’ve applied to any stranger.

In this century, the Synod had learned the hard way how even the most trusted could be manipulated to betray.  Sometimes they didn’t even know they were actually doing it to begin with.  Anyone could be infected with malicious implants or duplicated down to their
nucleotides.  It was impossible to discern sometimes and only an Empathist could detect anomalies that small within a given person.  That’s why Ramona’s talent was a critical aspect of maintaining security.  She was one of the most powerful Empathists to have lived.  If there was a flaw anywhere with anyone of the High Command, she would weed it out in seconds.

She stepped up to Johan, s
taring directly into his eyes.

He forced himself to return her gaze, though it was difficult for him to do so, already he could feel her mind sending prickling, electrical charges along the expanse o
f his skull.

She was bringing her Mutation to bear.  She was going to use it on Johan.

He steeled himself.  His fists clenched at either side, he jaw was clamped shut, the tendons within his neck taunt.  Though she had done this to him countless times, every time was new, every time was a small violation of the innermost portions of him, portions he knew she could see, she was exploiting.  He forced himself to smile at her.  Sometimes that made things better, she was less intrusive when aware he was friendly, but she ignored his grin, her eyes were lost.  Her mind was elsewhere, no longer in the physical world, but in a universe of brain waves and human intent, all moving at the speed of light.

Her nostrils flared, seeming to fill with him.  Her eyes locked upon his own, though she wasn’t actually “looking” at him.  She stepped closer, her fingertips brushi
ng alongside each of his hips.

Jolene stiffened at his side, but didn’t move any more
than that, forcing her gaze away from them.  The silence began to deepen and soon only Johan’s throaty breathing was all they could hear.

Ramona’s hand trailed up Johan’s left side to his shoulder, then traced along his collarbones to the other shoulder.  She moved along side of him, her movements more fluid than normal, her own hips swaying, and the lids of her eyes fluttered in the grip of her Mutation.

Suddenly, her hand shot out, he index finger tracing along his brow.  “A new ‘Swarm, brother?” she asked, her voice deeper, more rich, than normal.

Johan’s eyes flicked her way.  “T-the l-latest from ExTech,” he replied with a shudder.  “Jackie had it upgraded before Jollie and I left for the Kuiper Belt.”  He peered
, involuntarily, at his daughter who stood naked with her back to him across the conference table, awaiting her inspection.  “It helped greatly with the dis-,” he began.

Ramona cut him off.  “I’m sure it did, brother.  I’m sure it did.”  She clutched the sides of his shoulders with both hands.  “I’m glad it is
you
who has come to visit us,” she whispered in his ear, and then she reached around him and gave him a quick, but fierce hug.  A moment later, she broke all contact with him, turning upon a heel.  “Bring the White Robe for my brother,” she commanded as Ruby brought forth a robe, so brilliant it shone.  Moreso, when bathed in the bright lights of the Sacristy.

Ruby helped Johan get into the thick garment, carefully folding each side, one within the other, and tied it with an intricate knot known only to the Synod, signifying he had passed inspection.  “Nice to see you again, Johan,” she said through a thin smile as they clasped palms in greeting.

He nodded and took his seat, leaving his feet bare, pointedly peering away from those who had yet to pass the Empathists’ screening.

Ramona stepped up to Jolene, repeating the process as she had with Johan.  The smaller woman flinched under the touch of Ramona’s mind, but seemed to get control swiftly,
only her slower, more ragged breathing gave any indication the Empathist was doing something to her.  Ramona’s eyes glossed over as she delved into Jolene, an expression of familiarity spreading across her face.  She began to move in a similar fashion as she had with the woman’s husband - when she abruptly went as still as a statue.  The Empathists’ orbs were her own in an instant as her hand jerked toward the others’ lower abdomen, cupping, searching.

Jolene gasped with shock, trying with every ounce of will to remain still, but her hand grabbed Ramona’s
, about the wrist, but she was helpless before the Empathist.

Ramona turned her hand, her wrist turning within Jolene’s limp grip, so that her fingers were pointed downward.  Her palm was still upon the bottom of the others’ tummy.  Johan’s wife tried to stop the larger woman, but the Empathist was too adroit.
  In a flash of combined movement, Ramona slid around her, her other arm grabbing Jolene about the shoulders from behind, pinning Jolene against the front of her body.  Ramona’s fingers squirmed over the other woman’s sex.  “What is this, sister?!?” she demanded.

Before anyone could move, or even speak, Flavia vaulted from the Keeper’s Seat to land soundlessly upon the “boomerang” table.  There should’ve been a resounding thud, but
there wasn’t.  When Flavia wished for the absence of sound, there was absolutely… no sound to be heard.

The Keeper’s Guardian stood, poised, ready for Jolene to make a move, any move, while the rest of the Synod quickly fanned out, weapons charged, rounds chambered.

Above them all, Estefan watched with an angry expression growing about his face.

Jolene wiggled and writhed in Ramona’s obscene clutch, mewling
, defiled in her own mind.

“Why are you changed here, sister?  Answer my question or the protocol will be enacted!” beseeched the Empathist in earnest.

“I-I-I, w-we we we had ha-…  We wanted another-,” she tried, but made little sense.

Flavia was about to move toward them when Ramona went stiffened again, but for no more than an instant; enough to stop the Guardian in her tracks though.

Ramona spun the smaller woman round to stare into her eyes and then gave her a crushing hug.

The others, those allowed to move, shifted upon their feet and exchanged troubled looks.

“Explain this, Ramona,” ordered Flavia quietly, though there was no mistaking the threat in her tone.

The Empathist came away from Jolene.  “Our brother and sister are trying for another baby.  Jolene has begun cellular reconstruction to make this endeavor a possibility,” she said beaming like a child, presenting the naked Jolene like a product on a commercial.

There was collective sigh of relief, clearly audible about the chamber.  Estefan shook his head and smiled weightily at his brother when they gazed upon one another.  He really didn’t want to think what would’ve happened if someone had implanted something nasty within his long-time sister-in-law.  He quivered with dread at the thought.

The remainder of the inspection went without incident.  The only deviation from the norm was the short conversation between Ramona and Jacob.  She had waved slightly toward his manhood with her middle finger at the peak of her scrutiny of him.  He had jerked as if she
’d touched him.  His eyes were hooded and a tiny slice of the old Jacob flashed beneath them.   She had whispered to him his time of mourning had long passed, it was time to put the death of his wife behind him and use the precious Gift he had been given.

“What, a big dick?” he had joked with her.

“No, long life,” she had replied at once and then looked down, pursing her lips in consideration of him, “And, cousin, if it is at all big, then make good use of it – the Aegis Synod is always in need of more children.”

Seeing she was serious.  She hadn’t risen to meet his jibe, he had ducked his head, suddenly uncomfortable.  “I don’t
know.  I don’t know,” was all he could manage to say.

“Think on it, Jake.”

He had said he would and Ramona had moved on…

Now, the High Command was seated once more about the “arrow” dressed in long, flowing robes of white and matching slippers of downy material.  Their crimson ones and sandals had been taken away by Tidy-bots
the moment the inspection was completed.

Estefan cleared his throat as he walked from the protection of his seat to the main level of the Sacristy
.  He had nothing to fear of his guests now.  He preferred to walk among them, rather than address them coolly from above.

“Brother, sister, sons, daughters, grandchildren and cousins, my wives and I greet you, and welcome you to Luna Prime.”  There were nods around.  “I know there have been hints and rumors and innuendo regarding my recent trip to Angel Free Town, especially since it was announced my Synod was to disperse to undisclosed locations about the Sixteen Worlds.  You all know this to be highly irregular and only enacted during times of great uncertainty.   I assume are capable enough to have deduced something of some magnitude has come to the attention of our illustrious organization,” he started, his hands clasped behind his back.  “It would be stupid of me to think otherwise, because I employ only the very top of frothing mass that our Combined Race has become.  Only the strongest and the brightest win the chance to sit at these tables.  Only the long-time loyal and dedicated remain, and since many of you have trudged alongside me for more than years than I care to recall, I will not hide behind secrecy in the hopes the truth of this matter won’t leak.  With a band such as you such a leak is inevitable.  It would be a gross waste of time and effort to attempt such futility, so I will not try, but that doesn’t mean particular safeguards won’t be put in place to ensure this knowledge stays within those gathered here today.

“Reyna?” he said, calling to his Neuro-Nanoswarm.

“Yes, my love,” boomed the voice of his long-dead
girlfriend throughout the entire chamber.  The Sacristy was the Home Node of Estefan’s ‘Swarm.  It was where her fundaments were housed, restored and backed-up.  One could say the entire Sacristy itself was one gigantic Neuro-Nanoswarm, the largest, most intelligent ever constructed.

“Bring up the Silencing Shield and formulate a Medical-bot please,” he asked politely.

Those of the High Command glanced about nervously, for the Shield was rarely engaged, and, not once, had a Medical-bot ever been summoned to a Gathering.  Something monumentous was about to reveal itself.  Each of them could feel it.

Back about the “boomerang”
table once more, the Aegis Synod could’ve been etched in stone.  Including Flavia, who had taken her assigned seat, once she’d known the Keeper wasn’t in immediate danger.

“Do not be alarmed,” he assured them.  “I would never subject any of you to measures as severe as this, if I wasn’t prepared to have my beloved Synod undergo the very same.”  He motioned with his hand.  “Ladies, if y
ou would be so kind as to show our colleagues what lies behind your left ear, I would appreciate it.”

To a one, his eight wives stood and began to make their way about the Sacristy.  It was a welcomed distraction to the sudden shimmer growing about them, extending around both tables and the Keeper’s Seat.  It stretched from floor to ceiling, surrounding them entirely, effectively cutting them off from the outside world.

At the same time, an intricate robotic device began to take form near the bottom of the stairs at the left of Estefan’s vaulted chair.  It was dark as polished obsidian with an icosahedron-shaped middle, each of its twenty facets affixed with either an LCD screen of some sort, various sensors or an appendage, some so bizarre in appearance it was difficult to imagine their medical purpose.  As the High Command and the Synod mingled amongst each other, Estefan’s wives showing them the tiny incision they each had behind their ears, the Medical-bot thrummed to life and began to float on its’ Grav-sensors toward the Keeper.

“What you are looking at is a small incision wherein was slipped an even smaller Nano-chip
.  It has been implanted along a ridge in the skull, encircling the delicate sensory that allows one to hear.  This device is something just developed by one of Jacqueline’s many teams at ExTech and consists of a programmable send/receive unit, six, three-inch-long copper filaments and six very small, Diatainium shape-charges.”  Estefan stopped motioning for his wives to return to their respective seats.

“You’ve implanted a Spider-Swarm on their skulls?” asked Johan’s daughter, astounded by what she had just heard.

“Precisely that, my dear niece,” retorted the Keeper with a pointed finger in her direction.