Apocalyptic Rebirth: With a repairman system space, she rises again.-Chapter 643: A small fight between Quinn’s.

Nobody expected what happened next.

Pah!

Ariel slapped Earl on the back of his head.

Earl turned around and leaped on Ariel, and a fight started.

"Stop it," Sunshine shouted.

Hades stepped forward to separate them, but then Castiel jumped in for no reason at all. Before they could understand why, White decided that he wanted to participate as well, taking advantage of the opportunity to pinch Earl’s butt.

"Break it up." Hades bellowed.

Sunshine’s jaw dropped. How long had the bear been keeping that grudge? "If you continue, there will be no desert for the rest of your lives."

Three boys and one bear came to a stop.

She folded her arms, shaking her head. "Lie up according to your age."

They shuffled, with White standing at the very end as the youngest. It was funny because he was the biggest and tallest. A thing that always rubbed Castiel the wrong way because he was technically the big brother.

"Fighting, really!" Hades bellowed sternly.

Berry, sitting on Earl’s shoulder pointed to White, making squeaking noises of accusation.

"Shut up." Hades barked at her.

Earl touched Berry’s head.

Sunshine stepped in, as the calmer and more understanding motherly. voice of reason. "Boys, and girl..." her eyes flicked to Berry. "Fighting is not allowed in this house, especially among family members. So, no desert today and you are all going to scrub the indoor playground after breakfast. When you are finished, you will be on lunch duty, serving meals to other children in the second wall. Am I clear?"

"Yes mom." They answered.

White growled, Berry squeaked.

Then, Sunshine pointed a finger at Earl, her expression stern but loving. "Earl, listen to me do not play with mutant creatures, especially the watchers. Being a Beast Master isn’t like waving a magic wand. It is a great responsibility. Those animals that were just in our living room, they are basically domesticated. They’re used to humans.

Taming a wild, mutated beast out in the wastes is a completely different ballgame. That takes bravery nearing foolishness, focus, and a lot of luck. I don’t want you anywhere near a mutant until we know exactly what you can handle."

"Tell him, Purple!" Zulu shouted from the windowsill; her beak stuffed with seeds. "Listen to the lady! It’s all fun and games until a three-headed wolf decides your command is actually a dinner invitation." She swallowed a seed with a loud gulp. "Don’t worry, I’ll keep a sharp eye on the brat. For both our interests, of course. We must return order among the animals, with me as their leader of course. The boy should continue playing with needles and lizards."

"Am I clear?" Sunshine asked.

Earl nodded.

"Let us just have a good breakfast for now," Hades announced, sensing the need for a change of subject. "Before the kitchen gets reclaimed by a flock of pigeons."

They moved into the dining area, the smell of toasted protein blocks and synthetic tea filling the air. As she sat down, a familiar blue flicker appeared in her peripheral vision.

[Host, this is a reminder of the Monthly Repairmen Assembly commencing in 60 minutes. Attendance is mandatory.]

Sunshine groaned, leaning her head back. "Right, thank you System." She turned to Zulu, who was currently trying to dunk a seed into a water droplet on the table. "Hey, Zulu, I meant to ask. Have you gone to Silverdale yet? How is Jekyll doing? I do not want him being a menace to other animals and people."

Zulu paused, looking uncharacteristically somber. "Jekyll? Poor guy is traumatized. The tearing of the bubble shield during the Arcladon attack almost gave him a heart attack. One of those lightning strikes burned a bit of his comb. He’s currently hiding in the garden shed, questioning the meaning of life."

Hades was sure this was an exaggeration. But Zulu would say anything to keep her position.

"Poor thing," Sunshine said, feeling a pang of sympathy for the terrified rooster. "I will find something to help him"

"Oh, don’t you worry," Zulu said, puffing out his chest. "I’ve assigned Fluki to counsel him. They’re having a deep session right now."

Sunshine paused with her tea halfway to her mouth. "Fluki? Who on earth is Fluki?"

Zulu looked at her as if she had just asked what a tree was.

She let out a dramatic sigh. "Fluki is my better half, obviously. The most handsome male woodpecker in the entire sector. He’s got a beak that can tap out a rhythm that would make your heart skip a beat. Very sensitive. Very therapeutic. And most importantly he is the animal counselor."

The table went silent for a beat before Ariel burst out laughing, followed closely by Hades. Even Earl giggled into his juice.

"Your better half is a woodpecker?" Sunshine laughed, the stress of the morning finally breaking. "Zulu, I didn’t even know you were seeing anyone, let alone a therapist-woodpecker. Last I checked, Hadrian was your beloved."

Zulu flipped her wings dismissively. "That is the most absurd and incestuous thing I have ever heard. Hadrian is my brother; remember I am a Quinn too."

"Maybe you should stick to your species, parrot for a parrot." Hades suggested.

"That is why we are keeping our relationship low-key," Zulu said with a sniff, though he looked secretly pleased by the attention. "Too many judgmental creatures. Our love is forbidden, like some of those movies you humans watch often."

Sunshine finished her tea, the laughter lingering in the room. She looked at her family_ a family that she could do anything for. For them, she needed to find a way to end the apocalypse sooner than it did in her last life. The visit from the Arcladon’s was a wake up call. She reached across the table and squeezed Hades’ hand. "I am going for the repairmen assembly."

"Do not forget to demand for your grandfather’s money or gold.... whatever it is," Hades smiled.

She stood up, kissing Castiel on the top of his head. "Of course," she pointed at Earl. "Keep an eye on our second."

"Do not worry mom, I will be good." Earl said before she could say anything.

"No butt pinching." her finger moved between Earl and White.

As she turned to leave, a shift in the atmosphere caught her. The sun, which usually blazed with a competitive, punishing ferocity, had suddenly gone docile. The oppressive heat vanished, replaced by a light so thin and fragile it seemed to flicker like a dying bulb.

"Guys..." she whispered, her voice tight with a sudden chill. "I think the Dark Days are starting. This is way ahead of schedule."

The children scrambled to the window; their small faces pressed against the glass as they watched the sky lose its grip on the day.

Hades didn’t look up; he just waved her off with a steady hand. He and Tank already had the situation mapped out.

"Go," Hades commanded. "We’ve got this handled. You prepared all of us Quinn’s. We have got this."

Tank’s synthesized voice vibrated through the floorboards, rhythmic and certain. "We have 150 artificial suns in storage. That is a surplus of 40% over our maximum projected need. We also collected al lot of fear during the Arcladon attack. The prism will provide energy."

Sunshine took one last look at the failing sky, gave a sharp, uneasy nod, and vanished.