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Quantum suddenly returned to his seat and looked around at all of them. “Listen carefully,” he began, his tone strict. “Inthiscoming week, the following will happen. Increased public panic as trust in government and law enforcementrapidlydeteriorates. Violent crimes and looting will surge alongside nationwide protests. The existing clashes between supporters of vigilante justice and those demanding law and order will grow. Cities will become battlegrounds; public services will begin to collapse, communities will fragment as people seek safety in isolation or small groups. Byone month, states and regions will start acting independently, leading to conflicts over resources and control.Militiagroups and local warlords will emerge, enforcing their own rules and mass displacement will occur as people flee conflict zones, creating a refugee crisis. The national infrastructure that exists—willfail. Power outages, food shortages, communication breakdowns, health crises due to lack of medical care and sanitation.Anarchywillsoonreign. There is no preventingorstopping this, it’s too far advanced. And these vigilantes, whoever they are, clearly have an end plan in mind. But before we can even care about what that might be, we’ll need to shelter the innocent caught in the coming hell-fire.”
“Andhowdo we do that?” Dr. Harlow mutter-wondered.
“The Creole Kings and the Marsh Kings are a step ahead of this curve. Their swamps offer natural protection that no other location in the US can. It’s remote, difficult to navigate for outsiders, and they’ve already started the groundwork. We can build and fortify our defenses, create a safe haven for those in need, and coordinate our efforts to protect the innocent. If the Creole Kings and Marsh Kings see fit to have us join them, we’ll begin moving our headquarters to the swamps immediately.”
“The Creole Kings agree,” Nidev assured. “My Marsh Brothers?”
“Oui,” Bishop said firmly. “Come on down.”
“We’ll leave it to our swamp Kings to determine where our new headquarters would best be situated,” Quantum said. “Meanwhile, we’ll make preparations to have everything relocated.”
Seer’s head was officially spinning while his adrenalin created a steady heartbeat in his blood. He looked at Zodak’s lowered head, wondering if he was thinking the same thing. The vision he’d had of them was here. It was time.
It seemed in less than five minutes, the world fell completely apart. Now came operation Swamp Ark with the Quantum Kings on their side. Just as little Eve saw.
****
“NEVER A DULL FUCKIN’moment,” Harlow muttered, hurrying to the lab. “We got apocalypses in one room and brothers dying in a fuckin’ nother.”
He opened the door and paused at finding Kaphas fully dressed, talking to Quantum and the rest of his brothers.
“Is this a pre-death party?” And where was Celeste? Dare he ask?
“Kaphas’ growth phase came early,” Atlas informed.
“He was done with it when I arrived,” Quantum added.
“You shittin’?” Harlow said, realizing all the changes in Kaphas. His grin grew the closer he got till he was laughing and grabbing his shoulder now much bigger than the day before. “And you can grow hair on your face,” he said, as the odd urge to hug him skipped through his muscles like a kid. “Died and raised again from the dead before I can blink a fuckin’ eye.” He regarded Kult then Kaphas again. “Here’s to hoping you’re the last holy fuck going down today.”
The door opened and they turned.
“Maybe three more holy fucks,” Pain said as Fetch, Fathom, and Fin entered.
“What the hell happened to you?” Kult asked Fathom.
The being’s smile added that other holy fuck. “I linked.”
They all stared at him, and Harlow had to ask Quantum. “Is he...fuckin’glowing?”
“I need you in the lab,” Quantum urged.
Yes. Harlow also wanted to see what kind of new powers his link produced. “And where is your wife? We’ll need her in here as well.” Since Fetch’s link with Rowan created a semi-she version of him in human form, they were excited to see what would happen with the other two who were taking their sweet time completing their link. They’d wondered how the female would be affected but never dreamed the program would enable the soldier to gift her his ability to protect her.
Fucking genius.
Fetch held up ahold onfinger, coming to stand next to Kaphas as he angled his head, scanning his larger body, nodding. “Before we do all that, we were hoping to take our little brother on a date.”
“A date?” literally all of them echoed.
“A birthday gift,” Fathom said.
“Our wives are inviting Celeste,” Fin said.
Harlow laughed at the instant perk in Kaphas.
“Well, his female reflexes are intact.”
“You have the chill chip,” Kaphas said. “You can learn anything you need with it.”
