Apocalyptic Rebirth: With a repairman system space, she rises again.-Chapter 554: Blood for bone.

A thick blanket of heat covered Fortress Four long before the sun even dared to break over the horizon. It was a heavy, wet warmth that turned the air into a physical weight. Down in the compounds in all the walls, the cryokinetics were already sweating through their shifts.

They worked in rhythmic bursts, staging massive chunks of ice near the advanced network of trenches. As the ice succumbed to the morning temperature, the melting water hissed into the channels, flowing back into the reservoirs and ponds, water was not a problem at fortress four.

Inside the residential blocks, the heat was an uninvited guest. Most people spent the night tossing and turning in their solar suits_ those with the advanced heat suits enjoyed their sleep better than others.

They all agreed on one thing, the situation inside was better than outside.

Sunshine was one of the lucky ones. Being a cryokinetic, her body was always cool. Even in the scorching heat, the room felt perfectly fine. To Hades, she was better than any mechanical cooling system. He spent the night glued to her side, his skin cooled by hers. He didn’t need a fan or a heat suit; he just needed his wife.

So, while others woke up early to wipe their bodies with ice cold water, Sunshine was sleeping in. She was having a good dream too because she had a smile on her face. Every once in a while, she made smacking sounds with her mouth.

The peaceful silence was shattered by a sharp, rhythmic clack-clack-clack. It was a pecking sound, insistent and annoying, coming from the bedroom window.

Sunshine let out a low, predatory growl as she was pulled out of sleep involuntarily. "Heaven help me, I’m about to commit murder. If another idiot is attacking, I am going to rip them to shreds. Even if it is a watcher."

"It could be one of those harmless mutated birds," Hades mumbled into his pillow, his voice thick with sleep. "Or Zulu, she has no concept of boundaries." The parrot was one of the only visitors that liked to visit them by way of the bedroom window. His wife had talked to Zulu about boundaries, but the parrot did not really understand what it meant.

Sunshine kicked off the sheets and made a beeline for the window. She threw it open, and the hot air rushed in, followed by a very impatient parrot.

"Zulu? Don’t you think it’s a little early for whatever this is? Don’t birds sleep?" Sunshine complained, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

"Called it." Hades shouted.

"Not a competition." She shouted back in an agitated voice.

Zulu didn’t apologize. Instead, the bird tilted its head from side to side with frantic speed, her beady eyes scanning the room. She didn’t wait for an invite; she flew straight past Sunshine and perched herself on the edge of the mahogany dresser. Suddenly, the bird snapped her wings upward, covering her eyes.

"Gawk! My eyes! Cover up, Quinn!" Zulu squeaked. "You are married! I do not know why you are still thirst-trapping at five in the morning? I am a lady first of all and secondly I have standards."

Hades, who was sitting up and stretching, rolled his eyes. He had a bed sheet draped over his lap, leaving only his muscular chest exposed. In what way had he offended Zulu’s lady eyes?

"Thirst-trapping is for photos, Zulu. I see you’ve been spending too much time listening to the teenagers in the entertainment troops or Jon’s ice cream parlor," Hades retorted, reaching for a charcoal-gray vest. "I’m in my own bedroom. I’m allowed to exist without a shirt."

"Tell that to my sore retinas," Zulu grumbled, finally lowering her wings once Hades was dressed. And in the parrot’s opinion, he was not even dressed appropriately because his biceps were exposed.

"For a parrot that ogles at my brother often, you sure do like to pretend to be a lady." Hades mumbled.

Sunshine sat at the edge of the bed, her expression turning serious. "Alright, Zulu. You’ve had your fun. What is it that couldn’t wait? It better be world-ending news or else I will end you."

The parrot puffed out its chest. Sunshine knew that look. It had something to say--something important. But it would cost. "Zulu, I swear, if you’re here to negotiate for something stupid..."

"I am a professional!" Zulu interrupted with a squawk. "But since you mentioned it, the animals are suffering Sunshine. Humans get these fancy heat suits, but what do the dogs get? Panting. What do the birds get? Dry beaks. I want more ice blocks stationed around the pet care center. Bob gets a heat suit and I don’t? I do more for this base than that fat, lazy, cat. The animals are demanding for suits and more booties. Also, someone needs to deal with Ariel Quinn."

Hades let out a soft chuckle. "What did my son do now?"

"What hasn’t he done? He’s too stingy with the supplies!" Zulu complained. "He’s making it impossible for me to get my favorite sunflower and melon seeds from the stores. He says they’re ’rationed.’ Who is eating sunflower seeds other than me? I hope that during his suspension, you pick a more understanding manager. I know a lot of people that would not be too unhappy if he doesn’t return to his job as supply manager."

Sunshine winced. Ariel was the best store manager they had_ meticulous and honest_ but he was also a stickler for the rules. It did not make him popular. "Ariel isn’t going anywhere, Zulu, not even if the kids’ squad is suspended. But I’ll talk to him. I’ll make sure you get your seeds. Now, you seem to have information on the Watchers. Talk." 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

The humor drained from the room. Zulu’s posture changed; she went still, her head cocking to the side as if she were replaying a recording in her mind.

"I flew out towards the hogback," Zulu narrated, her voice dropping an octave. "The watchers were talking about some devices that they brought here and elsewhere. They said they dropped them on purpose. They called humans stupid and selfish. They said they don’t even need to attack us because the humans will use those devices to wipe themselves out. They would just sit back and watch the fun."

The words hung in the air, heavy and cold despite the morning heat. The mystery of the orange device was no longer just a curiosity; it was a confirmed weapon of war.

Hades leaned forward, his hands clasping together. "Did they say what the devices actually do? Are they bombs? Transmitters?"

Zulu shook her head. "No. But they are still furious, Quinn. They kept talking about the severed leg. They are angry that the human managed to cause them such a loss. They plan to make the base pay for that insult. They want blood for the bone."