Apocalyptic Rebirth: With a repairman system space, she rises again.-Chapter 423: Ala Steward.

The fireflies were all anyone talked about the next morning. Even though cell phones were mostly useless, the camera function was still used in the apocalypse. People had recorded the mass migration and others had taken pictures.

As people jogged, stretched, and worked out around the base, those who had seen the glowing display teased those who had been asleep, rubbing it in with dramatic reenactments and exaggerated hand gestures.

Pictures and videos were being swapped for meager resources and small amounts of cash.

As for Sheldon, the most crooked but quickest of the billionaires, he had found a way to print the images on the back of shirts that were being sold for twenty to one hundred dollars.

They had a single slogan: "I survived the apocalypse and all I have as proof is this firefly shirt."

Amazingly, people were actually buying the shirts. Kids and teenagers Sheldon had hired were hawking them around the base to those that were awake.

Among the unfortunate sleepers that missed the great view were the Quinn children. The moment they heard all about it, they were filled with regret for every second of peaceful slumber they had enjoyed.

Castiel blinked at Sunshine with that innocent look which often tugged at her heartstrings. "Mommy you will make them come back, right?"

As she wiped his body that was wet from a bath, Sunshine wondered how her youngest son thought she could pull that off. "I have a video. I will show it to you during breakfast."

He hugged her, secretly hiding a pout.

As promised, when they gathered around the table with bowls of cereal, she played the video for them. They watched the glittery swarm dance across the night sky.

Earl complained the loudest. "Why didn’t anyone wake me up?" he demanded, crossing his arms. "It is not fair! From now on, bedtime is extended. I am a young adult I need to start sleeping at ten at least."

Sunshine raised an eyebrow. "You cried last week because White drunk the last juice box in the fridge."

Earl looked offended. "It was mango nectar, not ordinary juice. And my tears were practical, I tripped and fell."

Castiel, still staring dreamily at the shimmering video, sighed. "I wish you could have kept one for me mommy."

White purred as if in agreement.

Ariel snapped his head around, horrified. "Why would you want to keep a glowing creature that flies and is mutated? That is not logical."

Sunshine nodded firmly. "Ariel is right. They’re beautiful but not household pets. Also, they are actually poisonous."

Castiel shrugged sadly, accepting his defeat. It was Saturday and therefore, no school, the older Quinn kids had activities planned. But Castiel, did not.

So, he blinked Sunshine with hopeful eyes. "Can I spend the day with you mommy?"

Sunshine’s face softened, but she shook her head. "I have a fully packed day, champ. I’m sorry."

Castiel nodded, visibly disappointed, but resilient_ because he had a backup idea. "Then... can I visit the red-haired ghost girl? I told everyone in my class about her and they called me a liar."

Immediately, Earl and Ariel raised their hands. "We want to see her too!"

Sunshine stared at them, closed her eyes slowly, and exhaled the sigh of a mother who already knew resistance was futile. "I was going to visit the Stewards anyway... fine. All of us can visit her."

Earl pumped his fist in victory. Ariel tried to act mature but smiled like he’d won a lottery. White, wagged his tail, sensing adventure.

"And she is not a ghost." Sunshine added as a last minute thought.

"Where is dad?" Castiel asked, gesturing at the empty chair.

"Training." Sunshine replied.

That answer was enough. They all turned their attention to breakfast. Between eating, Sunshine answered more childish, curious questions about fireflies.

"Do we have to close the window when we see the fireflies?"

"Can they burn my fingers if I touch them?"

"Can we eat them?"

"Who do you like more, me or fireflies?"

"If one bites me, can I become superhuman?"

After breakfast, the entire Quinn family_ including White, arrived at the Stewards’ home.

The Stewards had just finished breakfast and were doing dishes in the kitchen as a family.

Leah opened the door and greeted them warmly, Dominic following behind her with a dishtowel over his shoulder.

But the Quinn boys were looking for only one person: Aladora.

When the little girl stepped into view, the boys froze mid-greeting. She looked completely different. Her once ghostly appearance was gone. Her hair was now a soft black, held up by a large bow. Her eyes a warm brown and she was wearing a fitting blue floral dress.

She didn’t look like a whisper from the underworld anymore_ she looked like a child.

Leah cleared her throat. "Boys, this is our daughter."

Ariel stepped forward politely. "Hi, Aladora."

The girl blinked, unbothered and expressionless. "My name is Ala Steward." Aladora Agora was a thing of the past.

The Quinn family exchanged glances instantly. Sunshine understood it immediately. The change of identity was protection. If dangerous people ever came searching for the girl, they wouldn’t find her with ease, it was a smart move.

Earl looked at Sunshine, frowning. He was certain that she said the girl was named Aladora.

Ariel nodded slowly.

Castiel whispered, "Is this someone else?"

The boys greeted her again, this time using the new name. "Hi, Ala!"

Ala stared at them... and then smiled. It was the practiced smile of someone that wanted to fit in. There was no genuine warmth in it.

Earl jumped back slightly. "Why are you smiling like that?"

Ala answered seriously, "My mother told me to be polite and blend in as much as possible." Then she pointed toward the hallway. "Do you want to see my new room?"

Earl shook his head.

Sunshine pushed the boys forward anyway. "You wanted to see her so go ahead."

The boys followed her slowly. Ala walked with the posture of a thirty-year-old librarian_ straight back, careful steps, observing everything and frowning at anything that seemed out of place, even pausing to correct it.

Ariel whispered loudly as they walked away, "How old are you, anyway?"

Ala replied without hesitation, "Almost four."

Ariel scoffed. "Lies. Four year olds act like Cass. You are four, going on forty."

The adults burst into laughter.

Dominic shook his head. "Ariel is right about one thing_ she acts way older than her age."

Leah sighed. "She’s still a closed book. We’re trying to open pages one at a time. She sleeps with us at night because she wakes up crying." She sighed again. "She eats like a scared mouse. I hate that the people that put fear into this child."

Sunshine watched the Stewards talk about Ala and she smiled softly. It was nice to see them having something other than vengeance on their minds. She reached into her bag and pulled out a folder. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

"Dominic, I need you to supervise the junior squads as they go from town to town. They will be handing out flyers with Moon’s picture."

Dominic straightened instantly. "Of course. No problem."

Sunshine continued, "And there’s more. They’re also handing out flyers of Fifi Quinn."

Dominic, who had been about to pet White, snapped his head up. "One of your own"

Sunshine shook her head. "Not ours. She is a criminal, a child trafficker. She kidnapped and smuggled children out of Westbrook town We need every eye looking for her."

Leah’s face fell with sadness. "Why is it that children seem to be suffering the most in this apocalypse? How will we find these monsters that are hurting them?"

Sunshine looked at the flyers on the table of Moon and Fifi. "We will find a way. As for Fifi and Moon, I have put a thirty million bounty on each of their heads."

Dominic’s mouth dropped open before he let out a cheer. "Thirty million? Sunshine that is a lot of money. I am sure everyone will be on the look out for them now."

Leah shrugged. "Good. Let them scramble. Someone will find something."

"And when they do..." Sunshine said in a cold whisper. She left her words unfinished. But they got the message.