Chapter 750: That celebrity like feeling.
On getting to the headquarters of the repairman organization, Sunshine could feel the shift in the atmosphere immediately. It was like walking into a room where everyone had been talking about you right before you opened the door.
And when you did, they gawked, because they were awestruck. Or they parted like a sea, to give you a wide berth because no one was more important than you.
Fellow repairmen stopped mid-stride, tools hanging loosely in their hands, just to watch her pass. Some took her picture, as if she was rare royalty, they would never see in person again.
Some whispered behind their palms, their eyes shining with genuine admiration. Others leaned against the metallic walls, arms crossed, with unmistakable traces of envy darkening their expressions. To them, she was a glitch in the system_ a girl who had sprinted through a marathon while they were still lacing their shoes.
Nine, however, was in his element. He puffed out his chest, using all six legs to strut with an exaggerated bounce. He waved in every direction, laughing, pointing and soaking in all of the attention.
Someone whispered, "What’s he so excited about? He is not the one that has joined the big leagues."
Nine heard, and he didn’t care. "Do you see this, Sunshine? The stares? The whispers?" He waved two of his arms at a group of junior repairmen. "I feel like a celebrity. I should start charging for autographs and print some shirts. ’Nine Rathunn Raine: The Guy Whose Sister Is A Repair genius.’ It has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?"
Vortan let out a sharp, dry scoff and shook his head, his gaze fixed straight ahead. "No one wants your autograph or shirts, Nine. Try to maintain some semblance of dignity for crying out loud."
Sunshine didn’t let the attention go to her head. Every time someone caught her eye, she gave a small, polite wave or a nod. "Morning, Janix. Hi, Sarah," she called out, keeping her voice steady even though her heart was drumming against her ribs. She reached the elevator, and the doors hissed shut, cutting off the noise of the lobby.
The ride to the high office was silent. Nine filled the air with humming and taps of his feet. When the doors opened, the air felt thinner, colder. Vortan stepped forward and knocked once on the heavy, reinforced door.
"Enter," a voice boomed from within.
They stepped inside, and Sunshine froze immediately. Her eyes fell on someone she absolutely did not expect to see sitting in the commander’s inner sanctum: Zevran. The female council member was known for being manipulative and as cold as deep space, but today, a strange, sharp smile played on her lips.
Sunshine could not help wondering what the sly woman was cooking up now. Whatever it was, it was not going to be good.
"Congratulations, Sunshine Raine," Zevran said. The words felt oily and dirty in a disgusting way. "A Master level achievement at your age? Truly... unprecedented. You are tenacious just like your grandfather."
Her last words seemed to carry hatred, as if she had also hated Maximus.
Sunshine felt a chill run down her spine. "Thank you," she managed to say, though she hesitated, her instincts screaming that this kindness was obviously a mask.
As Zevran stood up to leave, she passed by Sunshine and tapped her on the shoulder. It was a light touch, but it felt like a brand from a hot iron. This made Sunshine even more wary. Zevran was up to something, but what?
Once the door clicked shut behind the council member, Commander Melvin let out a long, weary sigh. He looked at Vortan and Nine.
"Leave us," Melvin commanded. "I wish to speak with Sunshine Raine alone."
Vortan didn’t move immediately. He turned to Sunshine, his orange-tinted eyes searchingly deep. He gave her a singular, sharp nod_ a silent warning to watch every word, to tread as if the floor were made of glass. Then, he and a reluctant Nine exited the room.
"Sit," Melvin said, gesturing to a chair in the open area of the office. He didn’t stay behind his desk. He walked over and handed her a small, velvet-lined box.
Sunshine opened it. Inside sat a gleaming star, crafted from a rare, iridescent metal. She had seen these before. Vortan wore one on his lapel every day.
"This is the Master repairman’s badge," Melvin explained. "It is for easy identification and serves as a badge of honor of course. You have climbed a mountain few even dare to look at. Do not embarrass it."
Sunshine looked at the star, then back at him. She didn’t feel like a hero. She felt like a tired mother who had just finished a very long shift, and she was ready for her reward. "Thank you, Commander," she said casually, tucking the box away.
"The Elitope sky bridge!" Commander Melvin said, "I am impressed, many including grandmasters avoided that job because you have to fix it by hanging onto wires, upside down. Add the wind, electric storm and all the creatures....it was very tedious work. But you.....anyway, you are something else earthling."
"Thank you sir,"
Melvin pressed a tiny button, and an assistant entered through the door, handing Sunshine a thick envelope.
"What’s this?" she asked, her eyebrows knitting together.
"Documentation for your new status," Melvin said. "Specifically, the ’Next of Kin’ forms. You are now a high-value asset to the organization. Should anything happen to you, we need to know who inherits your estate and, more importantly, the repairman position. From what I understand, there are no other Raines. You have no offspring."
Sunshine felt a flash of heat in her chest. "I have children, Commander."
Melvin looked genuinely confused, leaning back. "Our health records and biological scans show you have never produced an offspring. The Raine bloodline ends with you from your family records or am I wrong?"
"You are wrong, I adopted my husband’s children," Sunshine corrected him sharply, her voice ringing in the quiet office. "But they are mine. There are no more Raines, and my next of kin will be Ariel Quinn."
The Commander’s expression soured. "Think carefully, Sunshine. This isn’t just about a bank account. This person would be the next repairman after you. Are you sure you want to thrust that burden onto this person?"