Page 7 of Swamp Kings 1

“What if they malfunction?” Sophia wondered, the alarm not missed.

“They aren’t supposed to be able to,” Beth said.

“You sound as sure as a gator in a gunfight,” Mah-Mah muttered.

“Bishop has his concerns,” Beth admitted lowly.

“You said there’s five robots,” Maggie reminded.

“Right,” Beth said, looking over the sheet. “Kaphas!”

“Ohhh, thesenames,” Phelony marveled.

“What’s his story?” Tegan urged.

“That one’s a tangled-up mess. From what I understand, he was part of a man who had five literal men living in him.”

“What thehell,” Mah-Mah cried with a single laugh of disbelief.

“I know,” Beth seemed to agree. “But given there are actualrobotsable tomatewith human women makesanythingseem plausible. He’s with a nun named Celeste. Before he had a body, they put him in a suit of armor.”

“A suit of armor!” Tully balked for allof them. “What on earth for?”

“To punish him for lying about Butterfly being pregnant!” Beth said.

“And why on earth he do that?” Tegan asked, confused.

“I don’t know that one, but I definitely intend to find out.”

“We need to find us asource,” Juliette muttered. “One that knows all and willtellall.”

“Agreed,” Beth said.

“Maybe the Quantum Queen,” Maggie said. “Oh, I want totouchall of them.”

“Yesssss, girl,” Tegan drawled, eagerly. “I’ll bring your paper and pencils.”

“Maybe I can… touch them.”

All eyes turned to Shank’s pretty Sophie.

“Hell to the yeah,” Juliette approved before looking at Beth. “And maybe you can just ask any one of themrealnicely with your Wonder Words.”

Beth’s laugh shot out before her breath sucked in. “I forgot about the baby!”

“Tell us girl,” Tegan hurried.

“I mentioned the Handy one lied.”

“The who one?” Juliette asked.

“Kaphas,” she corrected. “He was Handy before he got his new body.”

“Mercy, I’ma need me a valium,” Mah-Mah cried, getting a round of laughs.

“So Kaphas had a baby?” Cherie pressed.

“No, Butterfly.”

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