Page 65 of Swamp Kings 2

Bishop’s heart hammered as he eyed the building then gripped Fetch’s shoulder.

His blue eyes met his and he opened for him, allowing him to see what they saw. Along the building, numbers, frequencies, and density equations flickered on and over the structure. This was purely AI technology builtinto their eyes, he realized. It was picking up the composition of darkness within the walls, but it wasn’t just malevolence. There was a series of charges set in meticulous patterns, organized like circuitry, ready to be detonated. His gaze moved to the heat signatures inside moving about, and Fathom suddenly marked the differences in the those of the women and children.

Just as Beth had said.

Fin outlined the malevolence in the other shapes, volatile clusters rigged with triggers. Human bombs?

“They use their malevolence as weapons of control,” the triplets said. “Terror, pain, and the fear of both.”

“So, standard, wicked protocol,” Bishop muttered, his own gifts engaged now, defining structural data on a creative level. He studied the information, seeing how to change shit into anything he might want. Fucking useless while having nothing to do that with.

“The hostages are human shields,” Zodak muttered as he performed his own scans without his ocular gates. “Guards over small groups scattered everywhere.”

“Fucking great,” Bishop said.

Seer shook his head, eyeing him. “The moment they’re aware they’re being taken out, those hostages become leverage.”

“It’ll have to be a single attack,” Fathom said. “From a central location.”

Bishop looked at him. “Tell me.”

“Zodak can perform a large-scale syphon by using me as an energy source.”

“What about the bombs in the wall?” Bishop remembered.

“And the risk of him absorbing that much malevolence,” Seer added.

“Fin and I can restrain him for a safe discharge.”

“And if it’s not enough?” Seer wondered.

“Then you will do what you are here to do, brother,” Zodak said.

“And I could easily dismantle the bombs, if I had ten of me,” Bishop said, uselessly.

Fathom said, “I’ll dismantle the bombs first. Fry the circuitry and freeze the triggers. One burst.” His icy blue eyes flickered with a bright flash, likehe was giving Bishop a preview.

“So, Syphon syphons all this bullshit in one go, and then what?” Bishop asked.

All eyes were on the triplets and Fetch shrugged. “Guess we’ll let them decide when we get to it.”

“Them who?” Seer whispered.

“The victims.”

Bishop glanced at Seer, finding the samefuck yeahagreement on his face. He checked on the rig, wondering where Spook was. They needed to move before they were detected. “Let’s do it. Where’s that central location you mentioned?”

Fathom got old school and lowered to the ground, drawing a perimeter with his finger. “We’ve got seven buildings,” he said, pointing each one out. “These here have cells, each guarded by at least one foul soul-sack. These here must be their human crypts for sleeping.” He moved his finger to the right. “Here would be a good spot. We come around this side, take out any threats.” He looked up at Zodak. “How long will this take you?”

“With enough power, a single blast will stun as it sets syphoning anchors in their minds. Once the anchors are set, a steadypower supply will do enough of the job in the first ten seconds. Some will require more time than others.”

“Ten seconds,” Fathom murmured, rising.

“Can you sustain that?” Bishop wondered, hearing a tone.

“I can but will likely require recharging after.”

“I’ll carry you to safety, sweetheart,” Fetch said.

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