Apocalyptic Rebirth: With a repairman system space, she rises again.-Chapter 517: Demand for Joy and Sheldon!

Sunshine headed for the exit, the weight of thousands of eyes_ human and mechanical_ following her. She was not alone, a team of six people in exo suits had been chosen to accompany her, Tank and Hunter brought the number to eight.

It was a show of force strong enough to frighten even the strongest superhuman in Emily’s group. Sunshine thought it was overkill, but she had no choice. It was the only way Hades would allow her to go outside.

Outside, the air felt heavier, the wind was hot, every blast irritating. The large iron gate hissed as it was partially opened, just enough for Sunshine and her people to step through. They walked slowly, confidently, as if they had all the time in the world and all immunity against any danger.

Lord Emily Stafford stood tall despite her size, chin lifted with practiced arrogance. Her gaze run over the fortress four team, her gaze landed on the tallest woman in the group: Nimo. "Are you the leader?"

Nimo shook her head and pointed at Sunshine. "No, your highness, she is."

A frown formed on Emily’s face; confusion pooled in her eyes. "Are you certain? She!" She paused, studying Sunshine. "You are the ruler?"

Sunshine smiled pleasantly. "If she said I am, then I am. I am used to this reaction."

"Can you blame them?" Emily said. "You are on the skinny side; your hair is purple! And you are much younger than I expected. You look like the kind of woman that would be begging for protection, not offering it."

Sunshine chuckled derisively. "And yet, I have built this Fortress and proved that size, gender and age have nothing to do with ability."

Over the comms, Sunshine heard Lisha shouting, ’You go girl.’

Emily cleared her throat." What do you prefer I call you?" She paused. "Ice witch, fourth queen, eighth king.....you seem to have many names."

"I prefer Sunshine, but lately when people hear the word itself, they glare because the sun is trying to burn us all. So, if you must call me something from one of the names you have mentioned.... ice witch will have to do." Sunshine answered slowly, with a mysterious smile.

Emily replied with a scoff, she seemed undaunted_ her companions on the other hand, not so much. Dr Ramesh was visibly trembling, especially the umbrella he was holding over Emily’s head.

Sunshine’s face sharpened with resolve. "You brought armed people to my doorstep. I see this as a declaration of war. I hope you know that we are more than prepared if you decide to engage us. And I must warn you that if it comes down to a fight, you will lose." Her lips curled upward, in a sinister way, "badly. There will not be enough of you left to bury."

A few soldiers behind Emily shifted, murmuring their discomfort. A few thought that now was the time to attack, before Sunshine and her people raised their weapons.

Emily raised a hand, silencing them. "I said that I was here to talk not to start a war. I am no fool. I understand that a visitor is often at a disadvantage on another’s home ground."

Sunshine nodded once. "Glad to know you have a working brain. So, what can I do for you? Get straight to the point. These are hard times; it is not wise for one to be outside for too long."

"You are harboring one of my people," Emily said hastily. "Joy, is her name. She has black wings. Don’t try to deny it, those who came here for your open market saw her being handcuffed by an aerokinetic and taken into your base."

Sunshine tilted her head. "Ah. So, she belongs to someone and that someone is you?"

Emily’s lips thinned. "Yes, she belongs to me. Release her, and this ends peacefully."

Sunshine crossed her arms. "She infiltrated my base. Lied. Spied. You’re asking me to hand her back like a borrowed coat."

Emily let out a loud sigh. "You have my sincerest apologies. She did the spying on her own, I guess curiosity led her to it but be rest assured that I will punish her accordingly."

Sunshine let out a sharp scoff that carried clearly across the space between them, the sound half disbelief and half exhaustion. Emily was a little too confident, behaving as if she had everything under her control.

Emily twisted her lips, clearly enjoying herself far too much, and lifted her chin. "Oh, I’m not finished," Emily said smoothly. "I have one more demand."

Sunshine’s eyes narrowed. "You people always do. Go on, unburden yourself."

Emily smiled thinly. "I want Sheldon Hopkins handed over to me."

Sunshine blinked once.

Then twice.

"Sheldon?" She closed her eyes briefly, rubbing her forehead as if this was a migraine manifesting in real time. "You dragged all these armed people to my gates... for Sheldon?"

"Mostly Joy.....but I also want Sheldon as a bonus." Emily answered. "He is a menace, I will be helping you get rid of a pest, believe me."

Somewhere behind her, inside the walls, Sheldon sneezed violently. He was outside the command center, lounging in his special chair, smoking a cigar and enjoying a refill of his Appletini.

Sunshine opened her eyes and looked back at Emily. "Why Sheldon?"

Emily’s pleasant expression evaporated. "Because Sheldon Hopkins destroyed my family. He caused the downfall of the Stafford’s."

That made Sunshine pause. "Really? That is not what the papers said," she said carefully.

Emily’s voice hardened. "Of course they did not say that! Because Sheldon pulled the strings, he played dirty. Manipulated markets. Spread false instability. Accelerated the collapse of the Stafford holdings so he could buy our properties for scraps."

Sunshine’s stomach sank as realization clicked into place like a badly timed puzzle piece. Sheldon had mentioned acquiring Stafford pharmaceutical company. Casually. Like buying groceries. He had left a detail out of the story. "Ah," Sunshine muttered. "That explains your anger when you mention his name. He did not mention to me that he knew you."

Emily laughed, sharp and bitter. "Of course he didn’t tell you. He is a bastard, an arrogant, thieving one. He is not deserving of your protection. Hand him over and I will be on my way. You and I can remain friends, each minding their business in their territory." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Sunshine exhaled slowly, then louder, a long sigh that carried years of leadership fatigue in it. "I’m going to talk to my people," she said. "I’ll get back to you."

Emily sneered openly. "I thought you were the leader."

Sunshine’s smile returned, but this one was razor-edged. "I am," she said. "And leaders who don’t listen to the advice and opinions of the people they lead tend to be overthrown. Most end up in exile or they die."

Dr Ramesh nodded in agreement_ not for long though because he did not want Emily to notice.

Emily studied her for a long moment, then nodded curtly. "Two hours," she said. "That’s all you get and then I will not be so friendly anymore."

Sunshine turned without another word and walked back through the gates, the metal sealing shut behind her with a deep, resonant thud.