Read The Shadow of the Progenitors: A Transforms Novel (The Cause Book 1) for Free Online Page B

with’, I wanted to say to Haggerty.  ‘Lori, you’re a Focus, why are you acting like an Arm?’ I wanted to say to Lori.  This was severely screwy, even on a day filled with the severely screwy.
    Lori sat down, ever so much the junior Arm humbled by a dominant superior.
    “Madam Arm, may I ask your goal in this?” Guru Shadow said.  The senior Crow appeared worried, not by Lori’s challenge, which amused him, but by this whole arrangement.  As always in a social situation he hid his power and presence, appearing as a calm and contained normal young man, with dark hair and an olive complexion.
    “My goal?”  Haggerty shrugged and turned to me.  “Carol, do you have a better way of saying what I want?”  She thought ‘push the Cause’ and ‘do the research’ said it all.
    “Yes, ma’am,” I said.  If there was anyone in the audience who hadn’t caught the dominance fight and its aftermath, well, now they knew.  “The goal of the Cause, from an Arm’s perspective, is to grab the right to research and spread new Transform techniques and technologies.  Because of those who oppose us, the more tangible effect of this effort will be a necessary Transform ‘revolution’ against those of the old guard who block the research and the dissemination of research results.”
    Tonya and Shadow exchanged glances.  “This is extremely hazardous, if not suicidal,” Tonya said.  “The first Focuses, and perhaps the Council, will attempt to stop you, both politically and militarily.”  Focus Keistermann, the president of the Focus Council, continued to knit, giving no indication of her support or objections to Tonya’s point.
    “The senior Gurus among the Crows, save for myself, will also oppose this,” Shadow said.  “Madam Arm, is this what you want?”
    “Bring it on,” Haggerty said.  She stood up straighter and I swear puffed out her chest.  Some people thought Haggerty’s penchant for making friends with many other Major Transforms, including other Arms, made her weak.  Those people were sorely mistaken.  She was the strongest of us all.  Or at least so I thought, that day.
    “Do you speak for Arm Keaton on this subject?” Tonya said.  As the boss Arm, Keaton’s position was critical.
    “Certainly not,” Haggerty said.  She turned to me and motioned for me to explain.
    “Arm Keaton has been pushing us in this direction for years,” I said.  And I had been the one arguing against such a course.  Silly me.  Amy and Stacy in agreement.  The world shuddered.  “She wants us to go much farther, if possible, than a mere ‘revolution’.  All of the senior Arms save myself have argued in favor of ignoring the restrictions of the senior Focuses and Crows on the subject of research and information dissemination.  Today I find myself convinced otherwise” I displayed the bruises on my arms “and I’m now on board as well.”  I took a deep breath and met the eyes of as many people in the audience as I could.  “Until today, the Cause had been based on suppositions, hope, and dusty theories.  The fact we now know we’re right not only proves the Cause to be correct, but also gives us a psychological edge over our opponents.  Why?  Now we know they’re wrong. ”  Now I knew I was wrong.
    Hope.  Despite the humiliation involved in changing my mind, I now did have hope.  And, yes, I was an Arm and I relished the idea of a good fight.  I had quite a few first Focuses I wouldn’t mind torturing to a slow agonizing death.  Focus Adkins of Detroit, for one.
    “If we agree to this, there’s one thing I and the other Arms are going to want, as a price of our participation,” I said.  I wasn’t stepping on Amy’s toes or even Keaton’s toes.  This was one of the few things all the senior Arms agreed on.  “We don’t want to hear any whining about the danger.  If we agree to this we will be threatened, and people will die.  Enter into this understanding the