X Marks the Asteroid

Ralph Unterzuyder, a charismatic lawyer who’s secretly using the alias Carruthers Straley, has inherited a tangled legacy. His ancestors lie in suspended animation on a distant asteroid, their location hinted at by a cryptic map and a promise of a massive reward that has been accruing for decades. When the rumor of the map reaches the seedy underworld of Marsport, Bigger Bailes—a smooth‑talking fixer with his own agenda—confronts Ralph, offering a dangerous partnership that could turn his settlers into unwitting allies.

The story unfolds in the bustling corridors of space‑colonized cities, where old Earth books, hidden clues, and interplanetary intrigue intersect. As Ralph navigates rival factions, covert identities, and the lure of a fortune that could free his family’s name, he must decide whether to chase the asteroid’s secret or protect the people he’s gathered around him. The first act sets the stage for a chase across the solar system, blending classic pulp adventure with a fresh, off‑world twist.