The Beloved Hack Hunk #3
He handed the jug back to Bullets and took the napkin he held out and wiped his mouth, realizing how fucked up everything was.
Not just the dire situation but him as a man, as a husband, as a father.
As a fucking human. He wanted to quantum architect everything back to normal, but the storm demanded a lot more than the usual humanity.
“For such a time as this brother.”
Seer’s low words right behind him got intercepted by his ever-growing panic. It understood Seer perfectly. There was no time to debate or lament his condition or the crazy direction it was leading all of them. There was only time to leverage every ounce of it that he could.
“I need quick, thorough reports from each of you,” Bishop said. “Everything you know. In Hatch order. Go,” he said, pointing to Nitro.
“In regard to threats, nothing I’m aware of other than what Bacon reported.”
“Take a team of men and arrest them for trespassing. Hold them for interrogation,” Bishop ordered. He looked at Seer. “Who saw 8-Bit last?”
“He was with us in the parking lot with Sinrik,” Hurricane said. “He took off from there. Said he was going check on Cat.”
“Any reply from him yet?” he asked Spook.
He pulled his phone out and looked. “Negative.”
Fuck. “Soon as we’re done here, I want you to go find him,” he said to Spook not liking the bad feeling he had. “Anything to report?” he asked Bullets now.
“Kaj has his men on our boundaries. Everything’s calm now but we’re all fondling our bullets and holding our breath.”
He looked at Traps next.
“Nothing of critical relevance in my Hatch,” he announced.
Hurricane volunteered, “Calm before the storm in my swamps. But those nuns dispatched there leave no stone unturned in regard to prep. They’ve visited every family and delivered little how-to booklets covering responsibilities regarding the incoming families.”
Bishop had wondered more than once why the hell there was two-hundred nuns in his swamp and now he knew. This job would surely require their skills.
He looked at Bacon now who raised both hands in surrender. “Not gonna lie, I’m a little concerned about my calculations regarding rations. I ran them by Quantum but then heard about his uh… shortage episode.”
Well, fuck.
“I’m sure it’s fine,” Bishop said, sure of the exact opposite. Too fucking late now. “Worst case scenario, we still know how to fish and hunt.”
“If it makes you feel better, Tully ran the numbers and says they’re perfect,” Lesion said. “I’ve never found her to be wrong when it comes to her calculations.”
Bishop remembered her little quirk, wondering if Lesion found a way to enhance that. “Good to hear,” Bishop said. “Anything else?”
“Nothing immediately of dire consequence.”
“My Hatch is fine,” Shank said, “but Rukem thinks Nidev is hiding something.”
Bishop’s adrenalin pinged as he regarded him. “And?”
“Said he reminds him of a cool-headed psychopath trying to hide his deviances.”
“Well, he’s been bitten and now has a woman,” Nitro reminded, like both explained his psychopathy to a T.
“King Tut’s probably just paranoid,” Shank said. “Everybody is suspicious to him.”
“Also bitten and has a woman,” Nitro called, like they were playing explain that illness.
“King Rukem’s hunch is correct.”
All eyes turned to Seer. “I shook Nidev’s hand before leaving earlier and saw he is indeed hiding something of great relevance.”
“Like what?” Bishop demanded.
“He’s seen a coin,” Seer said. “And never told anybody.”
Holy fuck murmurs broke out. “Did you see the coin?” Bishop asked, his pulse hammering.
“Yes and no. I saw it but wasn’t allowed to see what was on it. Just like before when I had the vision of the coins. They’re all intended for the King it’s revealed to only.”
“Why the fuck would he hide something like that?” Bishop wondered.
“And King Rukem’s deduction regarding his behavior is accurate. He is hiding deviances. All borne of the bat bite.”
“Called it,” Nitro muttered.
Bishop pulled his phone out and put his back to the room. “Ma Petite?” he whispered.
“What? I’m here, I’ve been here, are you okay?”
He’d waken his tired angel. “I need to use the phone for a minute. I’m putting you on hold, oui?”
“Oh… no, no, I can hang up and you can call me back.”
“You sure my angel?”
“So sure, yes, I promise, I’m fine.”
“I’ll call you in five.”
“Okay, I’ll be here, take as long as you need.”
Bishop hung up and found Nidev’s number and hit it.
“Marsh King,” he answered, crisp and cool.
“We need to all meet. How soon can you gather your Kings?”
“Immediately.”
“Good. See you in one hour.”
Bishop hung up before the King could get a word in and turned to the room.
He passed his gaze over every sober face locked on his.
“We’re meeting with the North Kings in one hour.
Everything gets laid out on the table. We measure the situation, we count the cost and we gather whatever we need to secure this swamp and the families in it. Including the ones we’re rescuing.”
He looked at Seer, checking his gaze for any kind of signal. He gave a single, agreeing nod, loosening something in Bishop. More than ever, he was the north star he needed.
“We’ll take our Swamp Dragons,” Bishop said, headed for the door, ready to see his angel. “Text me any questions you have.”