Apocalyptic Rebirth: With a repairman system space, she rises again. - Chapter 331

Chapter 331: It couldn’t get any worse!
Elio held his hand up for he could see some soldiers already on the move. “Do we have a ball or balls?”

“Ball!” Phillip exclaimed.

The word was mumbled by everyone, confusion in their eyes.

Sunshine did not stand around wondering what the major wanted. His extraordinary eyes had probably seen something the others had not. So, she went back into the car and returned with five tennis balls, taken from her space.

“Will these do or do you need something bigger?” She asked him.

Major Elio took one. “These will do just fine.” He pushed one leg back, stationing himself like a pitcher playing baseball. With calculated aim, he threw one ball out.

An explosion rocked the ground.

He took another ball and threw it to the ground, and the same thing happened. Two more balls and two more bangs.

“How does he keep getting it right?” O’Toole whispered to Sunshine.

She shrugged. “Luck.”

O’Toole snorted. “Luck my ass.”

Major Elio waved his hand. “Let’s move.”

Father Nicodemus and Philip went ahead first with two others that were using fire to melt the snow. The squads advanced behind them, stepping over partially and fully frozen rat carcasses. The mines had actually played a role in saving the base from the worst of the invasion.

As they forged forward, Sunshine decided to borrow the idea of planting mines in the ground outside Fortress four. Sheldon had seemed like a mad man for doing it but it had its advantages. But she would use more advanced explosives, not crude ones.

“Stop.” Major Elio ordered and he looked up.

His gaze lingered on the tallest watch tower. He could also see the watchers and the cracks that were forming where the glue on the bubble shield had failed.

“There are people in watchtowers with weapons, watching us.” He said.

Sunshine’s fingers tightened around the radio that Jon had given her, the static hissing loudly. She put the radio to her mouth and said, “This is Sunshine Quinn,” she announced, voice amplified by authority. “I demand to speak to the person in charge. We are here on behalf of the owner of this base to bring aid and supplies.”

No response.

Only a whisper of static.

She waited a few beats before repeating herself, firmer this time.

Still no response.

The squads behind her shifted, some already caressing the triggers of their weapons. They didn’t seem like people that wanted to talk it out.

Something else made the even more nervous. As if the watchers could sense doom, Pink and her group arrived in a large number, joining the original watchers of Sheldon’s base.

Pink squealed loudly and stomped her foot. A part of the wall around the base collapsed.

Sunshine snorted. Was the watcher being helpful or were the birds simply excited to see bloodshed finally?

“They are not responding.” Major told her. “I don’t think we are going to resolve this peacefully.”

Sunshine exhaled sharply and gave Major Elio a sharp nod. He raised the mega phone and began to bark commands. His voice booming through the howling wind.

“Attention residents of Sheldon’s base, if you do not cooperate, the bubble shield will be retracted. Surrender peacefully, open the gates and no harm will come to you. Failure to comply will resort in an immediate strike!”

The words rolled across the walls like thunder. Everyone waited for a reaction.

This time, a response came in the form of a stammering voice that crackled through the radio. “Th-this is mayor Townsend,” the man said trembling audibly. “You need to leave now….or_or the hostages will be killed.”

Sunshine closed her eyes briefly, jaw tightening. “Hostages!”

She looked at Elio and the others. The hostage situation was not exactly one they anticipated. Had Townsend lost his mind?

“Townsend,” Sunshine said coldly. “I am not negotiating with rebels. Either surrender now or we attack. If the bubble goes down, the watchers will tear all of you apart.”

Pink squealed, coincidentally. Or maybe not.

Sunshine did not know what to make of it.

Everyone looked at the watchers, wondering what mood they were in. O’Toole and some soldiers were already facing the back, just in case the watchers summoned something and caught the off guard.

“I will count to three and extract my bubble.” Sunshine declared. “Three, two…..”

“No! No, wait!” Townsend’s voice trembled with desperation. “It’s not me….” There was a scuffle and Townsend’s voice was lost.

“Seems like he is not in charge.” Elio guessed. His eyes were staring intensely through the walls, searching for the former mayor.

Then, gunshots rang out, sharp and close. The radio burst with static again. Everyone’s fingers tightened on their weapons.

“Townsend!” Sunshine barked. “What’s with the gunshots? What is going on?”

The mayor’s voice came again fractured and grasping. “The new leader of the base…..she_ she…”

Then a new voice cut through, female, smooth and venomous.

“Give me that, you pathetic worm,” the voice sneered.

Then in a mocking sing-song tone. “Oh Sunshine, yellow in color and said to be beautiful. I have not missed that commanding, irritating voice of yours.”

Sunshine bit her bottom lip. The voice was unmistakable. “Helena Drew.” She said, low and cold.

“The one and only,” Helena replied with false cheer. “You sound a bit tense. You should be, because you and your troll husband ruined my marriage and poisoned me. But don’t worry, relax, I don’t hate you anymore. We are both equals now, presidents of bases and I understand why you are so uptight. Ruling people that expect to be hand fed is a nightmare.”

Sunshine exhaled sharply. “What happened to Jon’s men?”

“Dead.” Helena laughed. “But it is their fault, they refused to adapt to the new changes. Don’t even think of breaching because the price will be paid by others. There are many hostages here to choose from including children.”

“Can this get any worse?” Philip groaned.

Rage flashed behind Sunshine’s eyes. “You’ve lost your damn mind Helena.”

“On the contrary, I have found it.” Helena said softly. “I see the world differently now that I have awakened.”

Her words struck like lightning. Sunshine’s stomach turned cold. Helena was a loud mouth but never one that was feared, for her to take control of the base, she had to have awakened strong or dangerous abilities.

Everyone was digesting the surprising news.

“You just had to say it.” Morris hissed at Philip.

Meanwhile Helena was laughing like the most desperate villain in the universe. “I bet you regret throwing me out now.”

“No, I regret not cutting your throat open and ripping out your vocal cords.” Sunshine replied.

Helena laughed again. “Oh Suni, you are cute. Let’s get down to business, I need supplies, Jon and that pervert Sheldon gave us scraps to live on.”

Sunshine scoffed softly. “I am not giving you squat.”

Helena’s laughter echoed through he radio, wild and echoing. “I had a feeling you would say that. I hear you like kids. Do you want the innocent wide eyed children to die Suni? You are a worse monster than I thought.”

Sunshine did not respond. She placed the radio in her pocket, her face hardening. “Break the wall, we are going in.”

Major Elio signaled the armored trucks. Engines came to life, the first wave of vehicles slammed into the outer wall_once_twice, until the thick concrete began to crumble. With a thunderous crash, the fortress wall gave way, sending dust and debris billowing into the air.

The rebels opened fire immediately, bullets clang on the soldier’s iron shirts, sparking harmlessly off the surface.

“They will run out of ammo soon.” Elio shouted over the chaos.

Behind the soldiers, Tank fired at the watchtowers, bringing them down.

Figures dashed out of what had been Sheldon’s residence. Three superhumans.

“Is that Frank Gadriel?” Philip asked. “And he is a pyrokinetic! Oh hell no.” He blasted a wave of flames at the man.

The battle erupted as superhumans clashed. Watchers flew into the base, stepping foot inside for the first time. And Sunshine raced into the house to find Helena Drew.

If anyone was taking out Mouthquake, it was her.