Chapter 749: Aliens at home.
As they sat down, the room exploded into conversation. Hades leaned toward the guests, his expression turning sincere. "I want to thank you both. Truly. Sunshine tells me how intense things get out there. Thank you for taking care of my wife when I cannot keep an eye on her."
Nine waved a hand dismissively while simultaneously grabbing a napkin. "Of course! Sunshine is like a sister to me. A very slow, two-legged, fragile sister who I constantly have to keep from walking into danger. It’s a full-time job, really."
Sunshine blinked, with dismay. It was the other way round! Nine was the bigger troublemaker between the two of them. But knowing her partner, no matter what she said, he would claim the opposite.
Vortan talked much less, nodding stiffly in acknowledgment of Hades’ thanks. He looked like he wasn’t quite sure what to do with a fork, but Nine had already completely blended in. Within minutes, the kids were out of their chairs, hovering around Nine, examining his many legs and head. He didn’t seem to mind at all; in fact, he tilted his head so they could poke at his shimmering antennae and gently touch the edges of his translucent wings.
"Do they vibrate?" Castiel asked, eyes wide.
"Only when I’m nervous or when I hear high-pitched singing," Nine joked. He nudged Sunshine with an elbow. "Hey, pass me that remaining doughnut. I need fuel if I’m going to deal with your young ones. Did you tell them yet? She’s going to become a supervisor!"
Hades paused, his fork halfway to his mouth. He looked at Vortan. "Is that true? What does that job actually entail?"
Vortan wiped his mouth precisely. "It is the standard procedure. All those who reach the Master level are automatically eligible to become supervisors. The position comes with very high pay_ enough to live in the upper rich galaxies comfortably_ but the responsibilities are demanding. You aren’t just fixing things anymore; you are responsible for the lives and mistakes of the repairmen under you. It is optional, but highly prestigious."
Nine scrambled to pull up a holographic display from his wrist unit. "Look at this!" he chirped, projecting a bright image into the air above the dinner table. It was the official Repairman ranking Board on a digital hall of fame. Right at the top, glowing in gold, was Sunshine’s face.
"That’s the board where the best of the best are showcased," Nine explained, his voice thick with pride. "The whole organization is in total chaos right now because of her. Sunshine climbed the levels so fast it broke their predicted timeline. She’s the youngest person to ever hit Master level. People are calling her genius in the hallways and others are worried that she found a way to cheat. As if that is even possible. They have no idea what kind of hell mode jobs she has been doing."
Sunshine laughed softly, feeling her cheeks heat up. It was incredibly touching to see Nine so happy for her; if you didn’t know better, you’d think he was the one who had leveled up. Having a friend who celebrated your wins more than his own was a rare treasure.
She watched as Nine started telling the kids a dramatized story about a "Giant Space Slug" they had encountered, using four of his arms to act out the slug’s wobbling movements. Even White was giggling uncontrollably as Nine gave him the best tickles of his life with his lower set of limbs.
Suddenly, a sharp chime vibrated in Sunshine’s pocket. At the same moment, Vortan’s gaze went sharp and focused.
"What is it?" Hades asked, sensing the shift in the air.
Sunshine pulled out her device and sighed. "I have to report to the High Office in an hour."
Vortan stood up, his posture returning to its rigid, professional state. "I received the same. Commander Melvin wants to see you personally."
Nine stopped tickling White, his antennae drooping slightly. "Commander Melvin? Oh, that’s the big boss." He told Hades. "This is it! He’s probably going to give you a star medal, a massive bonus, and officially offer you the supervisor seat."
But then, Nine paused. His large eyes flicked from Sunshine to Vortan. The excitement drained out of his face, replaced by a sudden, heavy sadness. "Wait... if she becomes a supervisor... does that mean she gets her own team? Does that mean Vortan isn’t your supervisor anymore? Does it mean... we won’t be partners?"
The silence that followed was heavy. The thought of their trio breaking up hadn’t really hit home until that moment. Nine looked like a lost puppy with too many legs.
"Hey, let’s not get ahead of ourselves," Sunshine said gently, reaching out to pat Nine’s arm. "We don’t know what the Commander wants yet. And Vortan said the supervisor thing is optional. I have too many responsibilities on my shoulders to take on more."
Hades stood up and placed a hand on Sunshine’s shoulder. "She’s right. But let’s be realistic_ this could also be about the Prime Core. A promotion might just be the cover story for a bigger mission after everything I have heard."
Sunshine nodded, her expression turning serious. "You’re probably right. We need to go."
She turned to the kids, who had clustered around Nine’s legs like he was a human-sized jungle gym. "Sorry, guys. The party has to take a rain check. We have to head out."
The disappointment in the room was palpable. "No! Uncle Nine hasn’t finished the slug story!" Ariel protested.
Nine knelt down, giving the kids a soft look. "Hey, don’t worry. I’ll come back regularly to check on you and to finish the story. Maybe I will even bring my kid’s next time. You guys could be best friends."
Sunshine and Vortan looked on horror. Nine had too many kids! They would fill up the entire apartment building!
"I won’t let him." Vortan assured Sunshine.
Nine gave White one last gentle tickle, making the bear squeal, before standing up and joining Sunshine and Vortan.
"Ready?" Vortan asked.
Sunshine took a deep breath, looking around at her family and then at her friends. The warmth of the morning was still with her, but the weight of the ’Master’ title was starting to feel real.
"Ready," she said.
With a final wave and a promise to be careful, the three of them vanished, leaving the empty table with crumbs and the quiet hum of the home behind as they prepared to face the Commander.