Apocalyptic Rebirth: With a repairman system space, she rises again.-Chapter 660: A very loud trap.

As the dust from the Walden convoy settled, Sunshine turned to her team. "Alright. Give it to me straight. What are we thinking?"

"It’s a trap," Carson said instantly, spitting on the ground. "It’s such a trap that it probably has ’TRAP’ written in neon lights on the dining table. Did you see how Howard was looking at us with one eye seeking vengeance? I knew I should have killed that bastard. Boss, no more evictions from the base. It has to be death."

Hades, however, was rubbing his chin, a dark glint in his eyes. "Oh, it’s definitely a trap. But it’s also an opportunity. If they’re ’handing over’ the territory, they’re opening the front door. It’s the fastest way to get our hands on that Prime Core without shedding blood.

Think about it, while we are eating or doing whatever they want to distract us with, Hadrian can lead a team of invisible superhumans and Hunter to grab the stone. When they are finished, we do what we must and seal up the whole city."

Father Nicodemus stepped forward, his brow furrowed in deep concern. "I do not like that man’s spirit. He has a... a bad aura, Sunshine. There is no truth in his tongue."

"I don’t care about his aura, Father," Sunshine said, her jaw tightening as she looked toward the horizon where the Walden’s territory was. "He could have an aura the color of a rainbow for all I care. But he’s sitting on the one thing that can cause problems within Babel. Whether he is lying or being truthful, I must go."

Father Nicodemus sighed. He could see the visions of bloodshed already.

"We are going to that dinner. And we are taking that Prime Core or destroying it. Tell the squads to prep for this." Sunshine ordered.

Hades and Sunshine went home to their children.

"Okay are we going out or staying in?" Sunshine shouted as they entered through the door. "No talk of rifts or cores, just family time. My mind needs to relax."

The children leaped on her as if she was a walking piece of candy, or their favorite toy.

"I want breakfast for dinner." Castiel declared.

"That is stupid." Ariel rolled his eyes.

"Berry says she wants fruit." Earl declared. "And not the cheap stuff."

"I want pizza." Ariel shouted.

White growled.

"Fish." Earl translated for the bear, very reluctantly.

The air in the home quickly became thick with the kind of tension that only a high-stakes democratic process could produce. Hades suggested they take a vote on the issue if it was hard making the decision.

The kids were in full campaign mode.

"I’m telling you, Westbrook is the only logical choice, Uncle Joe’s fruit bowls are the best." Earl argued, gesturing wildly at a map on the digital screen. "They just opened three new places. Mom provides all the fruit."

"I want donuts," Castiel chirped, bouncing on the sofa. "Round donuts with chocolate cream. Big as a wheel at Silverdale pastry hut. If you vote for my place, you get three free hugs."

Ariel, always the strategist, crossed his arms. "Westbrook has the variety. If we go to the base dining hall, we’re eating ’Nutri-Loaf’ again because the chef is ’experimenting.’ I vote Westbrook too."

Hades looked at Sunshine, a smirk playing on his lips. "Well, babe? It’s three against two. The little humans have staged a coup."

Sunshine laughed, throwing her hands up in mock defeat. "Fine! You win."

The trip was effortless. Within minutes, they were boarding one of the Fortress’s sleek tactical aircraft. The kids pressed their faces as they watched the towns below.

As they landed and stepped onto the bustling streets,

Ariel was vibrating with excitement. "Look at the new pizza hub! That one has a robot waiter made by Ala! Mom, where do we go?"

Sunshine ruffled his hair. "It’s your win, kiddo. Choose whatever you want."

Ariel scanned the block like a tactical scout until his eyes landed on a rustic-looking storefront with a massive glowing steer on the roof. "James’ Grill," he decided. "It’s right next to Sheldon’s Ice Cream Parlor and a pastry shop. Strategy, see? Main course, then immediate dessert access and they are next to the pizza hub which we can bring home."

Everyone agreed and that was where they went, to a dinner that mostly sold grilled foods and burgers. The interior was warm, smelling of charred oak and spiced beef. They settled into a large corner booth, the boys squabbling over who got the window seat while Hades ordered a round of drinks. For a moment, they weren’t the leaders of the most powerful base in the region; they were just a family out for dinner.

Then, the bell above the door chimed. Sunshine felt the shift in the room before she saw her. Across the restaurant, Amber appeared, looking far too polished for a casual Tuesday night. She had her two children in tow, and the moment her eyes locked onto the Quinn table, a predatory accidental smile spread across her face.

"Oh! Hades! Sunshine!" Amber called out, her voice cutting through the clatter of silverware. She nudged her kids forward. "Look, it’s your brothers! Go say hi!"

Ariel’s face fell instantly. "Not, again," he growled, his fork hovering over his appetizer.

The Harrington kids approached with stiff, awkward greetings. Hades and Sunshine offered polite, tight-lipped responses, but the atmosphere had already plummeted toward freezing. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

"This is just perfect," Amber gushed, sliding toward the end of their booth. "We should just join you! We’d be one big, happy family for the night. The kids would love it, wouldn’t they?"

The Quinn boys didn’t look like they would love it. In fact, they looked like they wanted to vanish.

"I have to go to the restroom," Ariel said suddenly, sliding out of the seat.

"Me too," Earl added, following close behind.

"I’m going too!" Castiel squeaked, scrambling after his brothers.

Sunshine watched them go, her jaw tightening. Their night_ their hard-won family time_ was being suffocated. She looked at Amber, who was already acting like she owned the table.

"Hades," Sunshine said, her voice low and steady. "I need to talk to Amber. Privately."

Hades didn’t hesitate. He placed his napkin firmly on the table and stood up. "I’ll go check on the boys. Make sure they actually made it to the restroom."

Once he was gone, Amber didn’t look bothered. She reached into her bag and pulled out two sets of thick, fluffy earmuffs, snapping them onto her children’s heads with a practiced flick. "There," she whispered. "Now we can have a real heart-to-heart without the little ones eavesdropping."