Apocalyptic Rebirth: With a repairman system space, she rises again.-Chapter 433: Townsend’s plans.

The woman prisoner stumbled back, fear cracking through her rage.

Sunshine stepped forward. "You attacked us, robbed, killed and did many other things that harmed the innocent. Taking your abilities was a temporary measure. If you do not reform," she said calmly, "I will suppress your powers for good."

The prisoners murmured among themselves.

"It’s not fair," someone whispered.

"Yes, its not fair." Another chimed in.

Townsend let out a sharp laugh. "Fair?" he scoffed. "Was it fair when you were selling other people’s children? You are animals. Now strip and bend over, we must check you for contraband."

Sunshine cleared her throat loudly. "Mayor," she hissed.

Townsend flinched. This was how it was done in the movies.

"Public place," Sunshine added. "Follow procedure. You seem to be a little too excited."

He grinned, then nodded rapidly. "Yes, yes, of course. My apologies." Then he looked at the prison guards and bellowed, "Take them inside and follow procedure."

The prisoners were marched toward the reception area for registration, chains clinking as they disappeared inside.

Townsend turned back to Sunshine, smoothing his uniform. "I think that went quite well, don’t you? Discipline, authority, order. I’ve been doing my absolute best to get used to my new role."

Sunshine almost rolled her eyes. "Paula. Where is she?"

Townsend straightened. "Medic bay. She’s been... excellent, actually. Helpful. No trouble at all."

Sunshine frowned slightly. "That’s surprising."

Townsend nodded eagerly. "Very surprising, yes. Should I call her?"

"Yes," Sunshine said.

Townsend called the medic bay and requested for Paula’s presence. Paula came moments later, she wore an apron and gloves, her posture reserved but her eyes alert.

Sunshine studied her carefully. "Do you want to return to the Drift Lands?"

Paula scoffed softly. "Without my abilities? I wouldn’t survive the journey." Besides, why were they suddenly willing to let her go? What was the catch?

Sunshine said, "The suppressant I gave you will soon wear off. Your abilities will return soon."

Paula stared at her, and then her eyes moved to her hands. A lone tear slipped down her left eye. Getting her wind control abilities back was a dream come true. But then, disbelief gave way to a frown. Home suddenly felt impossibly far. Dangerous. Uncertain. Even if her abilities were returned, there was no guarantee that she would survive the journey.

Life was not bad at all here in Fortress four. They ate better and had fresh water, there was a bubble and so much security. Best of all, they seemed to have so many special gadgets and technology that would help her survive the apocalypse.

As for her family, she would find a way of communicating them and telling them to move here. Until then, she was staying put.

"Actually," she said slowly, "I would like to stay longer."

Sunshine was surprised, but she had no plans to dig into Paula’s motives. "Suit yourself." If she stayed back, maybe she would recall what she had seen in the mist and tell them about it.

Townsend didn’t even pretend to hesitate. He stepped closer to Sunshine, lowering his voice like they were co-conspirators.

"I overheard bits and pieces of your conversation," he said. "What caught my attention is the suppressant."

Sunshine turned slowly, already sensing where this was going. "And?" she asked.

Townsend cleared his throat. "I just wanted to know if you plan to administer it monthly. Like a vaccine, I need to set up schedules and everything."

Sunshine let out a quiet breath, halfway between a sigh and a laugh. "No," she said. "Paula’s case is different. She was never really a prisoner. I always planned to send her away."

Townsend frowned. "So what about the real prisoners? I....."

"The suppressant in their bodies remains active for a year," Sunshine cut in.

Townsend shook his head vigorously. "A year! Just a year! I don’t agree with that at all. These are dangerous people. Bad people. Their abilities should be suppressed permanently."

Sunshine stared at him, her eyes cool and unreadable. "Some decisions seem simple but are actually complicated. I’ll raise it at the committee meeting," She stopped and looked at her watch. Actually there is one which starts in one hour."

Townsend opened his mouth again but Sunshine was already turning away.

"We’re heading back to base." She announced. "Those who do not have business here should report to their respective jobs."

Townsend was left standing there with his opinions and nowhere to shove them.

"Sir, are you just going to let boss lady leave like that? I thought you would ask for a promotion or something now that you are a superhuman." Mister Gates, Townsend’s new assistant moved closer and said to him.

He was Darcy Gates, a thin tall freckle faced superhuman with a super hearing ability. Townsend had chosen him out of many applicants because of that ability.

It was an advantage when one was running a prison.

Townsend’s lowered his hat, shaking his head. "When I was a mayor, people often asked me why I did not aim higher. I could have run for congress or some other high ranking position. But I always turned them down. Do you know why Gates?"

Gates shook his head.

"Because..." Townsend spread his hand out. "As mayor of a town, I was the overlord in the town and that was enough to satisfy me. Just like now, I am the overlord of the prison base. Someone else can worry about food, seasons changing, mutant and mutated beasts or the apocalypse at large. I just need to watch over this prison, earn a good salary and hold a smidge of power in my hands."

Actually, Townsend just wanted to preserve his life. If he was moved to the main base because he was a superhuman, he would have to join the squads and go out and fight.

He did not have the desire to do so. Life was good where he was. "Aren’t we living a good life right now Gates?"

"I think so." Gates said after pondering on his boss’s response.

Townsend had no big ambitions. As long as he kept his position as the prison warden, all was well. He just needed to make sure that no prisoner outranked him in strength.

So, the prisoners needed to be ordinary humans or suppressed superhumans. And that was for as long as they were guests in his prison. They could not be allowed to regain their abilities.

He grinned slyly, "Gates, get me sister Anna on the walkie-talkie."

*****

Sunshine walked straight into the command center, the smell of food hitting her before the noise did. Most of the members of the committee were already seated, breakfast laid out like a map of the world. They had everything from bagels, tropical fruit, muffins, miso soup and dumplings.

Five different brand of coffee from five different countries. Each pot had a sticker of a flag of the country it was representing.

Sunshine eyed it all with a frown. It was exaggerated. Most of those countries would not even exist after the apocalypse.

Hades came to her before she could berate the creator of the buffet. "From the look on your face, you hate this. Before you blame me or Lisha, I will give up the identity of the culprit. It is Ariel Quinn. He is celebrating your narrow escape from imprisonment. I say we let him have it." he said pleasantly, sliding a cup of coffee toward her. "It is civet."

Sunshine took the cup. "Thank you champ," she muttered.

"I thought I was sweetie." He feigned a pout.

She flicked the tip of his nose, smiling fondly. "You are everything."

Warren rolled his eyes.

As plates clinked and people settled, the meeting began.

Major Elio cleared his throat. "First issue," he said. "Howard Shaw."

Several people groaned. He was one of the people that had come with the billionaires group_ a nephew to Sheldon. Like his uncle, he was an ’ass’ that believed that having money made him invincible.

"Again?" Leah muttered.

Elio nodded. "He has turned into the base bully. Verbal threats. Intimidation."

Sister Anna leaned forward. "I can speak to him," she said quickly. "Counsel him."

Father Nicodemus shook his head. "I already did that," he said. "Last time he was released from the base prison."

Sunshine looked up. "Last time?" she asked. "How many times has he been imprisoned?"

Elio answered without hesitation. "Four."

Sunshine didn’t even blink. She set her cup down. "Then transfer him out. Send him to another town. If he continues to misbehave then his options are expulsion from Fortress four or prison base, permanently."

The room went silent.

Sister Anna gasped. "That’s harsh."

Sunshine laughed once, sharp and humorless. "You wouldn’t say that if you were one of his victims, Sister."

Sister Anna opened her mouth, then closed it.

Sunshine leaned back. "Next."

Lisha lifted her hand. "Zulu passed something on to me," she said carefully. "Tracy Kingsley is planning to open an apocalypse tour company."