Apocalyptic Rebirth: With a repairman system space, she rises again. - Chapter 385

Chapter 385: The famous dinner guest.
Sunshine’s heartbeat thudded harder. Despite what the system said, she was fifty percent certain that the watchers were Xylas. “System, what are the odds of the prime core which is only found in the Xylas Domain appearing together with a creature that has similarity to the dwellers of that world?”

[Those odds are high in my opinion, host. The watchers could have a minor appearance just as some species on other worlds look like humans of this world.

They could also be a species that lives on Xylos Domain just like you have cats, dogs and other birds here.

They also could be a species that successfully broke into Xylos Domain and stole a stone but crashed and ended up on your world. It is not uncommon to see bandits attempting such a feat. The prime cores are the most sought after stones in the universe.]

Sunshine put her hands together. She could not discount what the system was saying. Maybe the watchers were Xylas or not, but what mattered was that at least, she was close enough to figuring out what they were.

Understanding this would be key to destroying them. The watchers had always been believed to be indestructible. Nothing they used—not bullets, not blades, not chemicals—had ever worked against them. Except for the dragonoids which they were now aware of.

They had probably already figured out how to deal with that.

But under their feet… it looked soft. Vulnerable. Penetrable.

Her hands curled slowly into fists. All she wanted to do was rid the world of the watcher plague and protect her people. Half of the problems they had would be solved if there were no watchers and no mist.

“System, what about the mist? Do you have any information on it?”

[You asked before and I told you that I would provide an answer when I had one. I still don’t have it, but I am searching.]

She nodded. “System,” she said, voice low and steady as iron, “find me something, a weapon, a device. Anything that can kill the watchers through those paws.”

[Yes host.]

The way she figured, it would keep everyone safe from being carried off. That alone would deter the watchers and their grand plan.

But what was it? There was truly a lot in her past life that she had not discovered. She wondered if Moon knew more about it.

***********

By evening, Rori Quinn’s household buzzed like a hive preparing for a festival. Everyone had pulled out their best clothes—not formal, but the kind of “best” you wore when meeting relatives who would absolutely judge you for showing up wrinkled. Even White wore his best overall which had been an expensive gift from grandma Rori.

The little bear was flashing smiles and paws in Tank’s arms like he was walking on a runway.

Meanwhile, Sunshine was experiencing discomfort because she had never dressed in something that cost sixty thousand dollars but Lisha had screamed about Haute Couture being the only acceptable garments.

Hades was the one that pulled out the animal print dress from his secret stash of outfits he had saved for her.

“I feel like we are overdressed.” She muttered, tugging on the dress which she thought was a little too tight.

“We will be the most under dressed people there, trust me.” Hades said, walking beside her, relaxed as always.

Sunshine scoffed. “You are dressed in baggy pants. What you all call fashion, I call a visual crime.”

Hades smiled. She had complained about the baggy suits, baggy suit pants and baggy jeans. But in his defense, Lisha had been his stylist for six years now.

“I think I am going to be sued by a bug.” She told him.

He laughed, wondering what else on the base was creating trouble for his wife.

The kids chattered excitedly around them. Castiel kept talking about how much cake he was going to eat and White made sounds as if agreeing with him.

When they reached the venue, and were welcomed into the warm house Sunshine blinked in surprise. The party was already in full swing.

“People are already here?” she whispered. “But we’re early!”

“Quinn-early isn’t normal-early, we both know that” Hades whispered back. “Now you don’t have to worry about everyone gawking at your dress.”

Before she could reply, loud laughter erupted from the living room. Real, chaotic, belly-deep laughter.

Sunshine already suspected who the center of attention was.

Sure enough, perched on a decorative lamp like a royal storyteller from the ancient days was Zulu, wings half-extended, telling a story with such exaggerated flair it looked like she might burst into interpretive dance at any moment. Everyone in the room, hung onto every word_ mesmerized.

“…and THEN,” Zulu squawked dramatically, “when Bob rushed into Lisha’s arms, Tracy wailed like her diamond ring fell in a sewage trench!”

The room exploded in laughter.

Even Sunshine chuckled. She remembered the real story. It had been much less dramatic. But the way Zulu delivered it was legendary.

The children rushed to the parrot like they were in a hurry to meet a celebrity.

“Zulu!”

“Zulu’s here!”

“Tell us the part where Bob kicked Mrs. Kingsley again!” Leo begged.

The parrot threw her head back proudly like a performer on stage with a million adoring fans.

And before Sunshine could walk over and join the rest, a hand grabbed her arm and yanked her aside.

It was Lisha and she did not seem happy, Sunshine could guess the reason why.

“Explain,” Lisha hissed, dragging her toward the hall like a parent confronting a child who brought home a porcupine as a pet.

Sarah blinked. “Explain what?”

“Why you invited that bird.” Lisha growled.

“I didn’t!” Sunshine lifted both hands. “Zulu invited herself. But yes…I knew she’d probably come only because she said so. I just couldn’t stop her.”

“Why not?” Lisha asked, folding her arms like a disappointed schoolteacher.

Sunshine leaned in. “Because I could not fly after her and she has information on the watchers. She used it as blackmail to score an invite.”

Lisha narrowed her eyes dangerously, took a deep breath, then reached for a glass of wine from a passing tray in Cathy’s hands. “I am not even surprised! She has been badmouthing me all day to anyone that cares to listen. Zulu is ruining my reputation Suni, she needs to be put in her place.” She sipped. Hard.

Then she glared at Zulu… and her grandfather across the room, who was laughing so hard he had tears in his eyes.

“At least Grandpa’s having fun,” Lisha muttered. “He baptized her today.”

Sunshine choked on air. “He what?”

“He named her Zulu Quinn,” Lisha said dryly. “A fucking potty mouthed parrot is now a member of the family. She gets the same privileges as us. How did we get to this Suni?”

Sunshine burst out laughing, earning a few stares from the hallway. “Lisha, sweetie. You will not win this battle, just let Zulu be.”

“In her dreams.” Lisha snapped.

Hades pulled Sunshine away. Then Hadrian stole her and seconds later, Richard also snatched her. Sunshine could only sigh. What made her so likeable?

Lisha showed up again and pulled her to the side to rant about Zulu again. By the time they rejoined everyone for dinner, the table was already full—steam rising from dishes, warm smells filling the room, and Zulu fluttering above it all like the self-appointed judge of cuisine.

“Ohhhh this is DELICIOUS,” Zulu announced as she landed on the back of Grandpa Quinn’s chair. “Unlike Lisha’s sandwiches. Those taste like wet feet!”

People snorted. Lisha glared daggers at the bird.

“And this chicken,” Zulu continued, “better than Lisha’s. Honestly anything is better than Lisha’s.”

Zulu paused long enough to shoot Lisha a look, then added sweetly, “But your earrings are…a brave choice for an aspiring Amazonian warrior.”

Hades kicked Sunshine under the table to stop her from laughing. It didn’t work.

Zulu complimented every Quinn except Lisha in the most suspiciously enthusiastic way possible. Sunshine could practically see the parrot sewing herself a tiny “Adopt Me” sign.

After dinner, the cake was cut, gifts were given out and people spread out in the living room for games. The kids started one of their favorite games: Shadow Toss.

It wasn’t complicated. Lights were dimmed, someone threw a glowing ball into the air, and everyone had to jump or dive to make their shadow catch it. Points went to whomsoever’s shadow grabbed it first.

Until Hadrian played.

He was mid-jump, arms stretched out, face determined, when suddenly—

POOF! He was gone.