Apocalyptic Rebirth: With a repairman system space, she rises again.-Chapter 413: Taking over Westbrook.

Nimo Fawk never thought that she would see Dwayne Newsom on her doorstep at 5:30 a.m.! She had familiarized herself with every inch of his frame that she recognized his silhouette in the dim light with ease.

He was leaning against one of the pillars, arms crossed on his chest.

"Dwayne..." she called out tentatively, removing the earphones in her ear. "I know it is you, but I still feel the need to ask if it is you." She pinched her leggings nervously.

She was dressed in the same workout outfit from the day before. Could he smell the dry sweat from the previous workout?

He pushed away from the pillar and reached her after covering three long strides. Dwayne stopped directly in front her and looked down into her shaky eyes. "I make you cream."

Nimo grimaced. She had been dreading that little bit of the conversation she had with Sunshine reaching his ears. She was grateful for the darkness which hid the blush of embarrassment on her cheeks.

"Excuse me. I will be in my house for the rest of the apocalypse." She held her head high, turned back and ran into the house.

Dwayne heard the clicking and beeping as the door was locked from the inside. His lips curved into an amused smile and then a laugh.

He walked to his truck slowly, laughing louder when he noticed movement behind the window in the living room.

****

The bed was too warm to escape, at least that was Sunshine’s first thought when she opened her eyes. Much as she reminded herself not to get used to sleeping for more than five hours a night, sometimes, she indulged and did more than that. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

It was 9:06 a.m., very late according to her internal alarm clock! She opened her eyes, and gasped. "System why didn’t you wake me up?"

[For the same reason your husband did not wake you up. You need to sleep.]

"There is no sleep in the apocalypse." She replied hastily, "you oversleep, you die."

She sprung out of bed and hurried off to the bathroom to take a two-minute shower and brush her teeth. After dressing up, Day drove her straight to the command center.

It was already busy with all the regular workers at their desks for their shifts. Half of the screens were showing footage from Westbrook town. The giant mutated snake_ the horned serpent that had once terrorized Westbrook lay coiled in the ruins. Its massive body shredded, leaking blackened blood that steamed on contact with the ground.

The crocodylus, now lay in pieces_ its limbs ripped apart, its thick hide torn open like soft paper.

The snake had won.

But barely.

"Look at that," Sunshine muttered, "Those two did all the hard work for us. Now we can go and reap the benefits."

The serpent still had breath, its sides rose and fell in shallow, trembling motions. Even from the drone’s high vantage point, the tremors were visible. It was hurt badly_ broken scales, snapped side of the head, one eye completely missing, its tongue dragging weakly from its mouth.

"It killed the crocodylus..." Carson said, impressed. "But the crocodylus gave as much it received in brutality. I was here with Elio and other soldiers. We watched the whole thing." He shook his head. "They just didn’t seem to stop or run out of strength. I have never seen anything like it."

"Because things like this did not exist ten months ago." Hades said, strolling in casually.

Sunshine smiled at him. "Now is the perfect time for us to take over Westbrook."

Hades had considered the suggestion for exactly three seconds before agreeing. The town was half abandoned_ most residents had fled during the battle of the beasts. And those who hadn’t were probably hiding in basements, praying the snake wouldn’t slam anymore buildings.

The town was vulnerable and open. People were injured and afraid. It was a perfect opportunity, one not to be missed.

Carson communicated Sunshine’s instructions.

Within twenty minutes, ten squads were rolling out in trucks and minutes later, they rolled into the ruined town.

"Attention Westbrook," Sunshine announced through the radio that was connected to the drone speakers, that were spreading out over the town. "This is Sunshine Quinn of Fortress Four. Westbrook town is officially part of our territory. If you don’t want to join us, you have one hour to leave. If you stay, you follow our leadership. If you resist, we will treat you like an enemy. This is for the safety of those who wish to live in peace and survive the apocalypse."

Within moments, the broadcast had reached all corners of Westbrook. The ones that were still standing and the ones that were ruined.

Some people poured out of hiding_ frantic, panicked and begging for help. Some fled while others shouted curses.

One man threw a rotten apple at one of the trucks. "Where were you when the beasts were destroying the town?"

He was not the only one that was angry because no help had come at their most desperate moment. However, beneath the anger was a desire to survive so most residents stayed.

Among the fleeing trucks was a refrigeration truck that was formerly used to transport sea food. The driver had her face covered. She did not seek recognition because she was none other than Fifi Quinn.

Her truck was jam-packed with her loyal men in the back, all armed with stolen guns. Several children sat huddled in the back_ children she had been selling like livestock.

To her, child trafficking wasn’t a crime; it was a business. A profitable one. She never cared where the children were taken_ whether to predators, cannibals, or sweatshop owners. All she cared about was money.

And now that Fortress Four was taking over, she knew she couldn’t stay in Westbrook any longer. As her truck exited the town speedily, she twisted around one last time to glare at the town she hoped would crumble without her presence.

"You just wait, Suni," she hissed. "You witch. I’ll kill you. Better yet_ I’ll take those little idiots and sell them. They will make good broth."

She continued to mutter curses for being forced to abandon her business center. She had been gaining power here slowly.

Fifi Quinn had been the reason the superhumans in Westbrook attacked Fortress Four trucks. When the trucks with supplies and help arrived, she was the one who whispered poison into Derone’s ear.

Derone was the figurehead in Westbrook. She had told him that the Quinns were not to be trusted, that they would steal from them and enslave everyone.

"How do you think we Quinns became rich? By taking over other people’s companies." She had said to him.

And Derone, who had his suspicions, believed her lies. Because of her, he ordered his people to attack the arriving trucks.

Because of her, Westbrook had rejected safety.

Because of her, the town had suffered. But she did not care, and she felt no ounce of guilt.

"Derone will not be pleased that we have left without giving him a heads up." One of the men next to her said.

His name was Isaac Barta, he was Derone’s cousin.

Fifi snorted. "He has outlived his usefulness. We have taken weapons and supplies. That is enough for us to start over somewhere else."

"But where?" Barta asked

Fifi touched her pocket. She had stolen Derone’s map which had all the green and red zones marked. She had also stolen the radio he kept close, the radio through which Sunshine and Lisha broadcasted updates and advise.

With those things, she would thrive. And someday, she would return and do to Sunshine what the snake had done to the crocodylus.