Apocalyptic Rebirth: With a repairman system space, she rises again.-Chapter 499: Tales of survival.

To Sunshine, that sounded like something unnecessary. Poncho was business partner. And he always paid for the people he brought along with him.

"That will not be necessary officer. Let him in," Sunshine answered. "But his friends are not allowed on the mountain. Take them to the decontamination center first, have medics examine them and then take them to one of the empty communal housing in Westbrook or a house."

Then she made orders for Poncho’s family to be brought to the information center of the inner wall, she wanted to deliver the news of his return herself, especially to Pico, his son.

As soon as she ended the call, she left the house and walked to the information center. The Delgado’s had all gathered and they were anxious. This, very much felt like being called into the principal’s office!

"I have great news." She said to them with a smile. "Poncho is back."

There were some gasps. His wife broke down, drawing the curiosity of idlers in the center who were sitting on benches, gossiping and sipping cold drinks.

"I knew they would be thrown out of the first wall eventually." Someone whispered. "They don’t belong here."

"Less gossip and more usefulness ladies," Sunshine shouted. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

The idlers scrambled.

Sunshine continued to reassure the Delgado’s and waited with them for an hour until Poncho finally appeared before them personally. He was met with joyful screams. Some people froze in shock like they didn’t trust their eyes.

His grandma laughed hysterically and said, "He’s real, I cannot believe my grandson is here."

Poncho stepped forward slowly, eyes scanning his family until he spotted Rosario who was holding a baby. His heart almost exploded. He forgot the world existed, walked straight to her with a broken smile and a whisper of her name.

As he reached in for a hug, Rosario raised her hand and slapped him so hard the sound echoed and silenced everyone.

Zulu squeaked, watching from afar, muttered, "Mama mia!... what a grand way to welcome a husband home." The bird was excited because it had a scandal to share during the night broadcast.

The baby was startled and began to wail while Poncho stood there, stunned before his wife shouted through tears, "That was for all the tears I cried because I thought you were dead." Then, she pulled him into a fierce embrace.

Just when it seemed like they were settling in, Poncho was punched by his daughter...the baby!

Sunshine shook her head. She wondered which family reunion had been more dramatic. The Quinns or the Delgado’s.

Poncho laughed and he reached out with hands that had crushed skulls, pulled triggers and swung blades but now trembled like a little boy’s. "Come here, come here, don’t look at me like you do not know me. I am your papa." he muttered softly as Rosario placed the baby into his arms.

The big bundle blinked up at him with utter indifference clenching two fists.

Rosario sniffed and laughed at the same time and said, "You’re holding her like she’s made of glass."

Poncho huffed, "She is may not be made of glass, but she is very delicate. But that punch, little missy is as strong as her papa. She will be a fighter this one, trouble too from the storm in her eyes. I will have to keep a close eye on the new princess."

Rosario wiped her eyes and told him, "Her name is Petrona."

Poncho froze, his lips parting as if the name itself had struck him, "Petrona Delgado." he repeated, tasting it slowly, then bent and kissed the baby’s forehead, tears instantly fogging his vision, steaming hot as they slid down his cheeks. "I don’t know why you named her after a rock. She is too pretty and soft."

A handful of people snorted. He would be in for a shock when he discovered that her favorite toys were dirt, stones and rocks.

"I missed you all so much," he whispered, voice cracking, "I had some close calls out there and thought I would not make it back."

Pico wrapped his arms around Poncho from behind, squeezing hard like he was afraid his father might vanish again, "I missed you too papa," he said, his voice rough, "Mom yelled at me for three weeks straight because I kept trying to sign up with the adult squads, hoping for an opportunity to go out and find you."

Rosario smacked Pico lightly on the arm and said, "I did not yell."

Pico laughed through his tears, "You threw a shoe, Mom!"

A laugh came from Poncho, a broken sound that turned into a cough, "I told you not to give your mom a hard time." he said,

"I was a good boy; I even joined the kid squad. I am Ariel Quinn’s third in command. Ask Mrs. Quinn, she is over there,"

Poncho’s eyes drifted past them and landed on Sunshine standing a short distance away, arms crossed, watching with that half-smile she wore when she was pleased but pretending not to be.

Poncho carefully handed Petrona back to Rosario, wiped his face with his sleeve, and walked toward Sunshine, "Boss," he greeted.

Sunshine replied, "Poncho," both smiling like a survivor recognizing another survivor. She tilted her head and asked, "So, did you find what you were looking for out there?"

Poncho snorted loudly, "Money? Yes." he said, scoffing, "But seeing my daughter makes me regret the choice I made. I should have been here when she was born."

Sunshine chuckled and waved a hand, "Well, no risk_ no gain. You wanted to make sure her life would be comfortable during and after the apocalypse. What does the world look like now?"

Poncho exhaled, "Ugly. I fought things that should not exist. Things that spit, crawl, glow, and scream, I made money, yeah, but I lost most of it in the Redway basin."

Then his gaze slid toward the five people huddled nearby, clinging to each other despite the heat, like wet chickens left out in the sun.

Sunshine followed his look and hummed thoughtfully. "I told the guards to leave your friends in Westbrook."

Poncho scratched the back of his neck and said, "I’m sorry for showing up with...people."

Sunshine smirked, "Well, you always do," he sighed.

"I couldn’t just leave them out there boss," then added quickly, "There are superhumans among them, and a Sheriff, real annoying one, badge and all. Stubborn as a mule but useful, they’re ready to work for their stay. They can pay rent in work or cash."

Sunshine studied the five men, then nodded, "As long as they don’t destabilize the peace, they’re welcome."

Poncho visibly sagged with relief, "Thank you. I brought more that were left in Westbrook. Do you have space?"

She nodded, "The apocalypse had dwindled populations. We have space but housing will depend on what they can do. And you are in charge of them so make sure they behave."

Poncho nodded vigorously, "I’ll threaten them if I have to."

Sunshine smiled, "Welcome home. Now where is that information you had for me?"

And just like that Poncho’s bravado cracked again, cold sweat breaking across his brow "We were attacked by some freaky mutated fish. Real smart too. Those mutated walking fish almost ended all of us."

Sunshine blinked, "Walking fish?"

He scoffed and shook his head, "Sounds ridiculous but I saw them. They travel in groups, like gangs. And they can carry weapons with their fins."

"Tell me more." Sunshine said, suddenly interested,

He stared at her, "They were strange. Clever too."

Sunshine folded her arms, "Go on,"

Poncho launched into it, hands waving wildly, "They had legs.....sort of, tails split, and those long slicing tongues that snapped out like whips, and their ears were hidden, like the devil didn’t want them to hear us beg for mercy."

Sunshine frowned, she had not encountered anything like that before. Fish did not walk on land in her last life. "How did you survive."

Poncho hesitated, then said, "It gets more interesting. We were all toast but a strange pyrokinetic showed up. He wore a mask and laughed while burning them. He turned them all to ash. It was like a cloud of fire covered half of the town...I have never seen anything like it."

Sunshine said softly, "That powerful?" Poncho nodded, "Too powerful," then winced, "I remember something else. He had a glowing pendant around his neck. Some kind of blue diamond."

Sunshine went still, the humor draining from her face, her thoughts racing as she concluded what that meant. What were the odds that a very powerful superhuman had a blue diamond pendant that glowed?