Page 64 of The Syphon King

Bart stood and strode to the other wall, sliding a curtain away from his large dry erase board with gusto. “I should start off by saying all credit goes to 8-Bits’ AL and Big G, the masterminds behind this work of data-art.” He picked up a marker and raked a hand through disheveled hair. “That’s what this is, pure and simple,” he said, yanking off the cap.

“Alright then.” He aimed the marker at the board, glancing over his shoulder. “We’ve blocked off every topic of news. Hecircled the first box. “This is old news.” He stepped right and circled the next box. “This isnewnews.” He slid over several more feet and circled the final box. “And this...” he starred each line of data “...is where our beloved AL and Big G shined.”

He pointed to the first starred item. “The attacksaresystematic and deliberate.” He crossed it out. “That was a no shitter.”

He pointed to the next item. “Now this is where shit gets interesting.” He underlined the data twice. “Going back six months, we found heavy media traffic that nearlymirrorsthese attacks...beforethey ever happen.” He angled his body toward the audience. “We think these sonsofbitches—whoever they are—piggybacked on current conspiracy theories and gave their little mayhem party ready-made suspects, scapegoats, and narratives—all tied up with a neat bow.” He spread his arms wide. “Question is why?” He searched all their faces with raised brows before spinning to the board and drawing three large question marks. “Why are they doing this, what is their intention, and what is their end game?” He set the marker down and regarded them. “That’s where we’re at with that.”

“So, we wait and collect more data to hopefully arrive at that answer,” Jek capped as Bart made his way back to the table.

“What he said,” Bart agreed.

“What about your side?” Bishop wondered. “Anything we’d love to hear?”

“Well,” Nidev began, his expression odd enough to make Bishop uncomfortable. “Something interesting was discovered when Nitro bit Vex.”

“Shit,” Bishop muttered.

“It was consensual,” Nidev hurried. “We’ve been working with Lesion and our own medical research team to learn as much as we can with his condition that seems to be an anomaly.”

“You say that like it’s a good thing.”

“Oh, it is,” he assured. “It means it can’t be duplicated.”

“Well, thank fuck,” Bishop said, still not seeing their light.

“It makes his...condition unique and that can be used in an advantageous way. As I’ve said, he bit Vex and it would seem that Vex’s gifts were amplified with his saliva and in turn, Vex’s blood gave Nitro his gifts for a period of time.”

Various versions of ‘holy shit’ passed around the room at that news.

“And so, we’re thinking...if our gifts are capable of being unlocked, we’d like totry this method since many of the Kings are not ready for bonding with a woman. And it’s been our experience when these conditions exist in a union, nothing good comes of it.”

Bishop realized it was out of his jurisdiction. “I trust the Kings to do what’s best in this regard. It’s surely not my place to insist on unions with the Kings. What’s mine is yours but in regard to Nitro, it’s strictly up to him if he wants to participate in this experiment.”

“I do,” he declared, like he’d given it lots of thought and didn’t just want to but craved.

“Don’t fucking make me sorry I agreed,” Bishop said on a tired sigh.

“We’ll take full responsibility,” Nidev assured while Bishop shook his head at the feeling he had. Like maybe the universe had just copped a slow, shit-eating grin.

“Anybody have a word of caution gnawing in their gut about this, speak now,” Bishop tossed onto the table.

He eyed Seer, hoping he’d havesomething.

“If it works,” Ruckus said. “We should keep it for consideration with others who are gifted as well.”

That’s right. The Kings weren’t the only gifted. “We’ll keep it in our bag of tricks should things get shittier than they’re currently forecasting,” Bishop said.

“Smart,” Seer said, surprising him. “I have to wonder what would happen ifZodakparticipated in this experiment.”

“Funny you say that,” Nitro said with that lusty bat-gaze and half-cocked grin. “I fantasized theverysame thing.”

“Just remember you have another half that needs to be considered with this,” Bishop warned. “She needs to be on board with it.”

“She’ll be fine,” he said.

Bishop eyed him, not liking what was in his gut. “I’ll take that in the form of a written consent. And no, that’snota joke.”

He surrendered with both hands up, his gaze locked on him. “As you wish, My Eveque.”

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