Page 83 of Swamp Kings 2

“People are surrounding the rig,” Fin said.

“Get them off,” Bishop ordered.

“They’re desperate civilians,” Fathom said.

“Then do it fucking nicely!” Bishop said. “Non-lethal.”

“We’re programed to protectandhelp the innocent,” Fathom reiterated.

“He means wehaveto help them,” Fetch further explained, sounding pissed about it.

“How did you manage last time we crossed innocent civilians?” Bishop half yelled.

“By helping them,” Fetch shot back. “If your wife hadn’t ordered it, we would have.”

“What are you saying we’re supposed to do,” Bishop demanded, “there’s hundreds of people out there, we can’t help all of them!”

“Call the Kings,” Fin ordered. “Tell them to send their extraction team.”

Bishop fumbled his phone.

“I got it Eveque,” Spook called, phone already on his ear. “8-Bit, send the extraction team, we ran into a fucking Chaos Point. You have our location? Good.” He hung up and hurried to the window as the rig shook.

“How long, Spook,” Bishop asked. “Fetch, what’s up with those convoys.”

“Fifteen minutes,” Spook called.

“Convoys are military,” Fetch said.

“Is this an aid operation or a riot containment?” Bishop called out as he sped walked toward the women. “I need to know you’re planning, what you can and cannot do so I know what I need to do,” he yelled over his shoulder.

“What’s happening?” Beth gasped, quickly exiting the bedroom and shutting the door.

“We’ve sent for the extraction team. You and Maggie will stay in this room with the girl and Zodak. I’m going to see if wecan find another way out of here.”

“There’s people everywhere,” she whispered. “What’s wrong with them, what happened?”

“I don’t know. Just lock the fucking door!”

Bishop turned, eyeing the people climbing the rig, hitting the windows with sticks and whatever they could find, some with their fucking heads.

Fetch looked up, scanning the roof.

“Why are they like this, what’s happening?” Bishop asked.

“Fin detected scopolamine in their blood,” he said, scanning the walls and floor before eyeing him. “A drug that causes confusion and hallucinations. It’s potent when inhaled and isn’t something readily available outside of military use. And Fathom determined the convoys aren’t coming to deliver aid.”

“What are they coming for?” Bishop demanded as Fathom and Fin grabbed hold of each other’s arms.

“We don't know!” Fetch yelled, clearly pissed over that. “Some of our defenses remain dormant until in combat.”

“Fuck,” Bishop whispered, looking around for some fucking answer. “Spook,” he yelled. “ETA!” He turned to Fetch. “What are you going to do?”

“We have to fight them,” he said, glaring at him like he didn’t like his options.

“Can’t you fucking override that directive? There aren’t enough of us!”

“Brother!” he shot out, his breaths thick as he eyed him. “I am not a Quantum Architect. But even if I were, we’re out of time.”

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