Apocalyptic Rebirth: With a repairman system space, she rises again.-Chapter 498: The surviver who defied all odds returns.

It was a hot afternoon, the kind where the sun behaved like it had a personal vendetta against everyone still alive. People were either dressed like they had appointments at the beach or decked out in solar bodysuits in and near Fortress four.

But that was not what made the day special. Today marked the anniversary of the apocalypse--twelve months since the sky ripped open and changed the world forever. That was also not what made this day special at least, not to Earl Quinn who was finally turning eight.

For him, this was the day he was getting a cellphone. He did not care about a cake, a party or other gifts like the shoes his mother had given him which could make him the first player to be drafted in a basketball league or the medical books on the biology of Noxians....whoever they were.

He just wanted a cellphone.

Sunshine smiled knowingly as the little purple haired boy who had insisted on wearing a doctor’s gown followed her wherever she went.

They stopped at the training center for superhumans, and everyone giggled.

"Phone," Leah asked.

"Phone." Sunshine nodded.

"Phone." Earl confirmed.

Tracy Kingsley frowned, she did not understand what they meant. "This base gets weirder every day." she muttered just before turning to Bob, in a tiny crimson solar bodysuit and small crimson UV hat to match. Even his paws were covered with small golden booties. "Bob, no sleeping on the tread mill. If you take twenty steps today, I will let you eat mutated beef, the most expensive one."

****

That same afternoon, a big truck rolled up to the towering gates of Westbrook Town, steam coming from the wheels. It led a convoy of survivors that were tired, hungry and thirsty. They had come a long way to get where they were and now, they were worried that the journey would end up being a fruitless one.

The steel wall did not look very welcoming.

Carlos wiped sweat from his brow and muttered, "Poncho, are you absolutely sure you know the people who own this place, because these walls look like they bite, they will not just allow us in."

Noah leaned halfway out the window, eyes wide, staring like a kid pressed against ice cream-shop glass at a place that looked unfairly untouched by the apocalypse_ clean roads led to the gates, the walls rising high and proud, and above them a pink bubble of some kind that was too big to have been blown by ordinary lips.

Which was what Poncho claimed.

"Looks like they have expanded since I was last here. If there is a pink bubble and it’s called Fortress four, the Quinns still own this place," Poncho said, killing the engine behind a jeep truck and squinting up at the guards outside through a binocular.

Sheriff Oliver Wayne let out a snort, "The Quinns? The rich folks? You expect us to believe they know someone like you? You don’t exactly look like you walk within the same circles."

On hearing his words Poncho shot back, stepping out before slamming the door, "Don’t talk like you know me, Sheriff. I don’t know why you had to sit in my truck and make snarky comments all through the journey."

"Because I don’t trust arms dealers." The sheriff replied easily. "You are a criminal, and the apocalypse has not changed it." It had just amplified it.

Meanwhile around them, a long, painful line of vehicles crawled forward only to be waved away, families on foot clutching lightly packed bags, hope drained from their faces the moment guards pointed them toward exit routes, and the air felt heavy with rejection until it was finally Poncho’s turn.

A soldier decked out in full gear approached him and spoke clearly. "State your name and your business here. If you seek help, turn around and follow where the rest of the survivors are going. It is also part of our new territory so you will find help there. "

"Ponchinello Delgado. My family lives inside the walls. I am a resident that does business outside for Mr. and Mrs. Quinn." He showed his thermal band, putting it around his right wrist.

He earned himself a slow, suspicious eyebrow raise from Troy at the gate who said, "Wait here," before disappearing into gates, leaving Poncho’s people to stare in fear.

A shadow passed above, and everyone squatted down in fear. But when they looked up, they were astounded. Figures in sleek flying robot suits were hovering above them. Superhumans were patrolling tower tops with calm confidence.

A woman with a gun around her chest was leaning against the gate, casually scrolling through a cellphone like the world hadn’t ended.

Carlos whispered, half-awed and half-offended, "They have signal... how is this possible!"

Noah breathed, "They look... normal,"

"How did you expect them to look?" Poncho quizzed.

Troy returned with Raydon beside him and delivered the blow, "Ponchinello Delgado, you’re cleared, but your companions are not."

Panic rippled instantly through the group as gasps broke out and someone whispered, "You can’t leave us,"

Poncho planted his feet and said, voice steady but eyes burning, "Then I’m not going in either, I don’t leave my people outside to die."

The words were followed by a tense silence that even the humming shield seemed to notice, before Poncho added, "Call Sunshine Quinn, tell her Poncho is here and he has friends and news."

Troy and Raydon exchanged a look that said this just got above their pay grade, and as Troy lifted the comm, Carlos muttered under his breath, trying and failing to joke, "Well... either we’re about to get rescued or escorted out by people who can fly."

The Sheriff shook his head, all hope lost. "I have a bad feeling. I knew he was blowing hot air."

But there was nothing to do but wait.

****

Sunshine was elbow-deep in birthday cake, arguing with Tank over the shape which was supposed to be a skull, a brain and a scalpel on top. So... not the typical birthday cake.

"The skull is off, and it should be white, not green." Tank complained for the tenth time. "You are ruining it, Foreman Sunshine."

Sunshine snorted. "He wanted a cake personally baked by me and that is what I am going to deliver. The details don’t need to be perfect."

The system made a ding and she winced, expecting it to offer cake decoration advise again.

[Host, door to another world opens in two days.

World designation: Tenebra Expanse.

Are you interested?] 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Sunshine threw both hands in the air like someone who had already lost the argument, muttering, "Do I ever have a choice?"

[Yes, you do. That is why I always ask.]

"Uh-huh. Fine, as long as I’m not eaten or made to walk up-side down," She huffed as Tank snatched the cake and ran out of the kitchen with it.

The system replied with infuriating calm, [Every world has its dangers. Because human biology is weaker than most, you will be granted a pass to travel with one companion from now on. For extra companions, you must pay a designated travel fare.]

She shook her head, smiling despite herself, "Understood, story of my life. Pay for everything. If you could, you would charge me for the air I breathe."

[I do, whenever you use a breathing mask acquired from my mall.]

A call made her pause her response to the system. It was because it was coming from the Westbrook wall gate tower. She answered it with a frown.

"Ponchinello Delgado is at the gate." A comms officer shared.

Sunshine was shocked. "He survived the winter!"

"Yes ma’am, and he has come with some friends. He is asking for you. He says he has information, but he won’t come in without his friends. Should we scoop him up and drop him inside? Major Elio can do it. He is activating his suit and ready to go."