Apocalyptic Rebirth: With a repairman system space, she rises again.-Chapter 614: A King’s proposal.

Sunshine bowed her head and shouted. "Thank you, Your Highness," Her voice was trembling with excitement. She bowed low again, almost breaking her back. Nine did the same, his forehead clunking against the floor as he slipped and fell in a stupid funny way.

"Don’t thank me Sunshine Raine," the King said, turning to face her. "I should be the one thinking you my dear. You do not know what you did for me and my people."

His words almost made her wince. This would have been an amazing moment if not for that little axe dangling over her head. To keep everyone from noticing how nervous she was, she pulled Nine up, helping her partner to his feet. Secretly, she squeezed his arm, warning him to stay still and silent.

The King signaled at his right-hand man to go ahead and do as instructed.

Kael, stepped forward with the grace of a predator. He reached into a sleek, charcoal-grey bag and pulled out a document that shimmered with the official holographic seal of the Glacian Crown. He handed it to Commander Melvin, who took it as if it were a live thermal detonator.

As Kael retreated to his post behind the King’s shoulder, the King leaned back, his eyes sparkling with a cold, mischievous light.

"Commander Melvin," the King began, his voice smooth as silk. "That document is a formal proposal. I am requesting_ no, I am designating_ Sunshine Raine, granddaughter of Maximus Raine, as the sole Repairman for all high-level technical maintenance within the Royal Palace of the Glacian Territory."

The silence lasted for exactly two seconds before the tribunal exploded.

"Absolute madness!" shouted a council member from a side screen. "Your Highness, with all due respect, such a post is reserved for Grandmasters! Those who have served for many years and have passed through all the stages of becoming a true and complete Repairman!"

"She’s a Junior!" another yelled. "Well, an Expert now, but still! It’s unheard of! It’s like asking a bicycle mechanic to tune a star ship’s warp drive!"

"One that cheated her way in, and now using favors to climb to higher positions." The veiled alien said. "Melvin, you cannot allow this to pass."

Commander Melvin looked down at the document, his eyes darting back and forth. "Your Highness... Sunshine is... she’s talented, yes. But she just reached Expert status today. And frankly, between us, she didn’t exactly follow the curriculum to get there. She’s still learning. She hasn’t even passed the advanced level. I hope that you can re-think this decision."

The King didn’t blink. "You gave her a promotion. Just moments ago. Are you telling me, Commander, that the Universal Repairmen Council gives promotions based on a whim? Or are you reluctant to admit she is highly capable, because she is.

As for learning, there is something called ’on the job training’ she can learn as she goes along. Maximus certainly did that and he excelled. I want someone that thinks out of the box.... like him and me."

Melvin opened his mouth, then closed it. He was caught in a classic bureaucratic pinch. If he said she wasn’t capable, he’d have to admit he’d promoted her but had no intention of assigning her jobs worth that rank. If he said she was capable, he’d have to give the King what he wanted.

Suddenly, the council member with the white veil stepped forward. She reached up and pulled the fabric back, revealing a face as pale as freshly fallen snow. She was strikingly beautiful_ almond-shaped eyes that looked like frozen amber and lips the color of crushed strawberries_ but her expression was pure ice.

"The girl is not reliable," the woman stated, her voice clipping every syllable. "She comes from a highly unstable world. Her psychological profile suggests a... let’s call it a ’hero complex’ that borders on the suicidal. She is a liability to the Crown and to us. One of these days, she will get herself killed with her antics."

Sunshine felt a flush of heat rise to her cheeks. She was tired of being talked about like she was a faulty piece of hardware. She took a step forward, ignoring the frantic tugging of Nine’s claw on her sleeve.

"Excuse me," Sunshine said, her voice ringing out. "With all due respect, I’m right here and I don’t have a hero complex. And for the record, I’m very capable and available to help Glacis. I am not the kind to cut off resources and learning opportunities for other repairmen. What I can’t fix, I will forward. If the King calls and I’m busy with another repair, then I will happily recommend a capable replacement."

Nine, seeing an opening and fueled by the fifty million coins currently sitting at his feet, shot his hand into the air so fast it made a whistling sound. "Like me!" he chirped, his mandibles clicking with excitement. "I am very capable! I am excellent and I think out of the box just like Sunshine."

Vortan groaned.

The pale alien stared at Nine as if he were a particularly disgusting smear on a microscope slide. "You have got to be kidding me. Repairmen are supposed to move by the book! This thinking out of the box nonsense will ruin us. Does anyone here remember that Maximus blew up half of the Saccharis Star with this out of the box nonsense? They don’t do business with us to date!"

The council erupted again, a cacophony of voices arguing over "prestige," "protocol," and "the integrity of the craft." But then, a voice cut through the noise. It was the insectoid council member, a massive creature with iridescent wings tucked neatly against his back. He had been silent the entire session, but when he spoke, the room went still.

"It is not," the insectoid said slowly, "against any code. The King is a sovereign ruler whom we rely on for many things. If he wishes to contract a specific individual, and that individual is an employee of this organization in good standing_ which she is_ there is no rule to deny him. This has happened before with Maximus, despite the Saccharis incident."

Nine let out a small, muffled "Whoop! we are in."

"At least Maximus was a grandmaster!" The white alien reminded them.

The insectoid turned his multi-faceted eyes toward the King. "All I request your highness, is that Sunshine should have a steady backup. Someone she trusts. Someone like... Repairman Nine." He gestured toward the trembling insectoid on the floor. "They have worked together many times. They make an excellent team. One provides the grit; the other provides the... sensory warnings."

"Sensory warnings?" Nine whispered to Sunshine. "Is that a nice way of saying I talk a lot?"

"Basically," Sunshine whispered back.

The argument shifted instantly. Now, the council was accusing the insectoid member of playing favorites because Nine was from his race. "You just want one of your own kind in the Glacis palace!" the red-skinned officer accused. "Think of the prestige! The influence! Why can’t it be someone else?"