Apocalyptic Rebirth: With a repairman system space, she rises again.-Chapter 616: A promotion to sister.

The King’s expression darkened. A cold frost began to creep along the railing of the walkway as his mood dipped. "The Noxians. If they are responsible for bringing those horrors to my doorstep, I will not just declare war. I will wipe them from the star charts. I will turn their home world into a block of ice."

Sunshine saw the fire_ or rather, the ice in the King’s eyes. She knew that a direct war would cost millions of lives of the Glacians.

"Your Highness," She said softly, "if that day ever comes... you won’t have to lift a finger. I know a secret. One the Noxians have been hiding. If the Mosotoys ever found out how the Noxians have been skimming, the Mosotoys would finish them off for you. You could just sit back and watch the fireworks."

Nine blinked rapidly, his eyes clicking as he tried to process the sheer level of cosmic blackmail Sunshine had just hinted at. "Wait, what? We know a secret. Since when do we_ " he stopped, it had to be the reason she was wanted by the Noxians. If it was the case, they would stop at nothing to kill her.

In a way, what she was doing was justified as well. She intended to use someone else to wipe them out. For once, Nine realized just how scary Sunshine was. No--diabolical was the right word to describe her.

The King let out a booming laugh that startled a passing group of new repairmen recruits. He reached out and patted Sunshine on the back with a hand that felt like a heavy slab of marble. "You sound almost believable dear, but I doubt you know anything dark about them. Even my best spies could not get leverage on them."

"Believe her your highness. She has a nose for finding out things she shouldn’t know." Nine assured him.

They stopped in front of a heavily guarded room near the royal docking bay. Two elite Glacian guards, stood at attention.

"In that case, I will be reaching out for you. Now, I didn’t just come here to bail you out of a trial," the King said. He gestured to Vaelor, who produced a small, temperature-controlled canister. "I brought the Levias marrow extract you requested for your personal projects, there dozens of these in there. And my daughter, the Princess, sent a message that she enjoyed your shopping recommendations _ she insisted I bring you these."

He handed her a basket of Glacian snacks_ shimmering, crystalline treats that looked like pearls and oysters.

Sunshine felt a lump in her throat. She wasn’t used to strangers doing things for her without a bill attached. "Thank you, Your Highness. Truly."

She reached into her space as she spoke, "I don’t have much, but... these are from Earth. My home world."

She pulled out some oranges, chocolates and a bag of dried honey-crisp apples. The King took one, smelling the citrus with a look of genuine wonder. "Fruits from earth" he whispered. "I shall cherish these."

"Oh..and some Coconut beans. They may not be the ones my grandfather used to give you but they are just as good." She waved her hand and whole box appeared at the King’s feet.

His eyes lit up. "I knew I liked you Raine."

Guards collected everything.

Vaelor stepped forward, his hands weaving a complex pattern in the air. A shimmering blue portal began to tear open, showing a glimpse of the blue peaks of the Glacian capital. With a final nod, the King and his entourage stepped through, and the rift closed with a soft pop.

Nine waited until the King was gone before he let out a silent, high-pitched scream of pure joy. He started tapping Sunshine playfully on the shoulder, his many legs dancing a little jig.

"Did you see them?" Nine hissed, pointing at the groups of repairmen and officials staring at them from the balconies. "Look at their faces! They are dying of jealousy! We’re the Royal Repairmen! We’re rich! For life!"

Sunshine chuckled, leaning against a pillar as they began the long walk back toward the repairmen quarters. "I don’t think it’s jealousy, Nine. I think it’s curiosity. They’re wondering how two bottom-tier mechanics managed to set the council building on fire without using a match."

"Whatever!" Nine waved a claw dismissively. "It feels like winning."

They found a quiet spot under the shade of a synthetic holographic plant that mimicked the rustling of leaves. They sat down on the cool grass, and Sunshine finally let the adrenaline drain out of her.

She looked at Nine. "You know... for a minute there, back in the chamber... I thought you might have sold me out. To save your own thorax."

Nine froze.

He looked at her, his large, multifaceted eyes reflecting the afternoon sun. He stood up and shouted, "Never! How could you even think that? You are my sister, Sunshine Raine Rathunn! We have bled together! Well, I bled, and you punched me, but it was a bonding experience!"

Sunshine burst out laughing, the sound echoing through the quiet park. "Nine, we have been friends for barely a week. You’ve promoted me to sister already?"

"Time is relative!" Nine argued, sitting back down with a huff. "In insectoid culture, a week of near-death experiences is equivalent to a twenty-year marriage. You’re stuck with me now."

He leaned in, his voice dropping to a whisper. "But seriously... the Noxians. You were lying about the secret, right? To impress the King? You don’t actually know a way to make the Mosotoys wipe them out?" 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Sunshine didn’t answer. She just popped a piece of a sweet aqua-comb_ one of the Princess’s snacks_ into her mouth. It tasted like cold honey and rain. She chewed slowly, watching the clouds drift over the station.

"Sunshine?" Nine prodded. "The Noxians? Hello?"

"Focus on the food, Nine," she teased.

Her eyes moved to the small, sleek device hanging around Nine’s neck_ his voice vocoder. It was the latest model, it translated his clicks and trills into perfect, albeit high-pitched, human speech.

"I need one of those," she said, gesturing to the collar. "A high-fidelity one. If I’m going to give it to my bear."

Nine nodded. "The Repair Mall. Level 2. Shop number 358. It’s run by a guy named Friz. He’s grumpy, but he has the best black-market vocoders."

"Black market.... are you insane by dangling that around the council?" Sunshine whispered.

He stood up, brushing the grass off his chitin. "No one buys these new, they cost as much as a new spaceship....it is cheaper on the black market."

"Okay." Sunshine said, it was time to part ways. "Nine, help me find out what you can about Xylos. That reminds me, you said you knew something. What was it?"