Apocalyptic Rebirth: With a repairman system space, she rises again.-Chapter 432: Prisoner transfer.

The council withdrew for deliberation. Nine and Sunshine remained in their respective seats, pondering on the decisions they had made and the actions which landed them where they were. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

The trial was broadcast to all repairmen on different worlds. Some were gathered in groups, most where on their own.

Many were on shared video calls, talking about the outcome they thought they would witness.

"They will be fired for sure."

"That hammer is getting confiscated. It was meant for repair, not frivolous battle."

"I bet they will make them repair the shittiest crap on the shittiest world for a month."

"I have had rumors about prison."

Meanwhile, the council struggled to come to a fitting punishment. All the crimes seemed rather small.

"They did endanger other repairmen, but it was mostly harmless."

"They destroyed property, but they are repairmen and they can fix it."

Vortan was part of the council and he was looking at the three page essay the cook had written about her soup. "They wasted good stew."

For the reading of the verdict, the rest of the council did not return, only Vortan.

"Stand up." He gestured to Sunshine and Nine.

"Sunshine, Nine, --your behavior was embarrassing, reckless, childish. Frankly, I wish I could hide my head and not have to admit to anyone that I am your supervisor. You will both," Vortan paused for dramatic effect. "be assigned to mandatory cooperation duty until you have learned to work together in harmony. For the next one year, you will be assigned one task a week. During that time, you will clean together, fix things together, eat together and if one of you sneezes, the other will hand over a tissue."

Many repairmen gasped.

Nine’s mandibles dropped open. "You can’t do that to me. It is torture. I voluntarily choose a physical punishment. Rip one of my wings out."

Once again, repairmen gasped. Even Sunshine.

But then she also voiced her reluctance. "I can’t work with him. He complains about my music but his mandibles won’t shut up. That punishment is worse than being imprisoned."

Vortan smirked. "Exactly." He waved his hand. "You are both dismissed. Compensation is mandatory, you will receive emails with the figures you are expected to pay. And the cook expects an apology."

He vanished before they could argue.

They also vanished before picking another fight with each other.

Sunshine found Hades and Ariel waiting in the living room. It was 10:30 in the night. Earl, Castiel and White were in bed.

Hunter and Tank were also in the living room, waiting for their master.

Two humans sighed in relief when they saw her.

"What’s the verdict?" Hades asked as he hurried to embrace her.

"Mandatory cooperation duty with the bug." She replied with a whine, sinking into Hades’ arms.

Ariel patted his chest. "Good. That is better than prison."

Sunshine broke away from Hades to hug Ariel and carry him off to bed first. He did not struggle, like he normally would have done.

"Mom, did you record the proceedings? I would love...."

"To watch and learn." She cut him off with a smile. "Of course I recorded it all for you. But you can only watch it at home and you cannot share it with outsiders."

He yawned. "Yes mom," he replied in a soft tired voice.

Later in bed, Hades embraced Sunshine tightly, as if he was afraid that she would vanish again. Pulled into a prison in a world he could not reach.

"Suni," he said softly, "promise me that you will behave out there from now on. I know you have a strong mind, a will of steel and the abilities to match. But, I beg you. Please hold back when you can. I don’t want to lose you." His voice had a plea.

There was fear within. He could not imagine life without her.

"Suni.." he raised his head, asking for a response.

In response, Sunshine snored softly.

*****

Early the next morning, Major Grayson’s voice crackled through Sunshine’s radio, interrupting her lesson with Castiel. Of all her sons, he was the only one genuinely interested in learning how to repair things. Or he simply liked breaking them apart.

"I am here Grayson." She took her eyes off Castiel who was smashing an old light moon she had found in the scrap from Boulder Creek.

"Ma’am, the prisoners are ready for transfer." he shared.

Sunshine wiped grease from her hands, glanced at Tank. "Watch him."

He nodded.

She gestured at Hunter to get up. "I’m on my way."

They were driven straight to the base of the mountain where the prison bus waited between two armored vehicles, engines rumbling impatiently.

She didn’t waste time with pleasantries or instructions. Sunshine and Hunter inspected the bus and then the convoy set off.

By the time they reached the Prison Base, the sun had appeared slightly in the sky, casting long shadows against the newly raised walls. They had been built with thick concrete reinforced with metal plating and topped with barbed wire that faintly hummed with electricity, a warning in sound and sight.

The massive gate opened the moment the trucks approached, almost too quickly, like the base itself was eager not to keep Sunshine waiting for long. The vehicles were subjected to another inspection before finally being allowed into the parking area.

Mayor Townsend, the acting prison warden and a man fueled entirely by ambition and nerves, was already there, anxiously waiting while pretending very hard to be patient.

He bounced lightly on his feet, adjusted his uniform again, then again, then checked his boots as if they might betray him at any moment. All he wanted was to please Sunshine, because pleasing her meant promotion, and promotion meant power.

When the vehicles parked, he immediately began waving both arms with wild enthusiasm, a whistle clenched between his teeth that he blew sharply as he pointed exaggeratedly at parking spots the drivers had already chosen.

"Over there, yes, yes, perfect, absolutely perfect!" he called out, nodding furiously as if success depended on the angle of the tires.

Nala burst out laughing. "Why is he dressed like a cartoon park ranger? Did Sunshine choose that uniform? " she asked.

"And why is he moving like he’s directing airplanes?" Greg leaned forward, squinting.

"Have you seen the hat? Looks like he is about to go on a safari." Phillip sniggered.

The superhumans and security squad stepped off the vehicles first, disciplined and alert. Mayor Townsend nearly tripped over his own feet rushing toward Sunshine.

He saluted too fast, dropped his hand awkwardly, then saluted again. "Mrs Quinn, welcome! Everything is ready. Construction is complete, the facilities are secure, the cells are reinforced, and I can assure you the prisoners will be very comfortable." He smiled wide, eyes bright, hands clasped like a student awaiting praise.

Sunshine barely glanced at him. "You are doing well....for now Townsend. Bring the prisoners out," she said flatly.

Townsend nodded so hard his whistle bounced against his chin. "Of course, immediately, right away."

The bus doors opened and the prisoners were dragged out, tape sealed over their mouths, hands cuffed tightly.

Sunshine had not seen the tape during her inspection. She looked at the superhumans, blinking curiously.

Phillip sighed and explained, "They wouldn’t stop whining and making threats."

Sunshine nodded. "Good call."

Townsend puffed up, clearly sensing a moment to assert authority. He looked at the prisoners as they were ordered to form a line. "I’ve heard there are superhumans among you," he announced loudly. "But you should understand that every guard here is stronger than you. We are also superhuman."

To punctuate his point, he raised his hands and released fire above their heads. The flame wavered dangerously, unstable and poorly controlled.

The prisoners panicked and scattered, and the fire dipped suddenly, torching the edge of one guard’s hair.

"Sir!" the guard yelled. "Your abilities have become a danger to us all!" The warden had only awakened three days ago. He had barely trained his abilities but kept acting like an expert.

He was a danger to himself and everyone.

Townsend froze. This was an embarrassment, he cleared his throat, and said stiffly, "Apologies, Dawson."

Sunshine pressed her lips together, trying not to laugh. The others didn’t even try.

Dawson covered his singed hair and glared at them. "Glad you all find it funny."

Townsend waved a hand dismissively, eager to regain control. "Remove the tape," he ordered the guards. "Anyone who talks nonsense will be barbecued."

The tape came off, and immediately the first woman spat at Sunshine’s boots. "What did you do to us?" she demanded. "You stole our abilities you bitch!"

Townsend gasped dramatically. "How dare you!" He hurled a ball of fire toward her, but it slammed into an ice wall that formed instantly in front of Sunshine.

The temperature dropped sharply, her gaze was enough to warn Townsend from misusing his ability.