Chapter 208: The meeting.
With all the unending chaos that always swirled around their lives, Sunshine treasured mornings like this one. She had enjoyed one night of uninterrupted sleep by the kids, it was so rare that it felt like a gift. White was even more well behaved, sleeping peacefully through the night.
He had whined at around 6:00 a.m, so she woke up, fed him a medium sized bottle of milk and they both fell asleep again.
When she opened her eyes again, it was 8:30 a.m and the house was very still. Cathy had not come by to do housework and the kids were not making a ruckus as they were still at their grandmother’s house. She adored them but solo time now and then renewed her energy.
She had taken a bath and left the bedroom ten minutes to go to discover that her husband had returned. It was just them and they had the house to themselves so breakfast was rather peaceful.
It was simple and easy as they had prepared it together, each not wanting to give the other a hard time by asking for complicated meals. Sunshine had made the discovery that her husband was a terrible cook even with the help of Jo-Stride.
Although she had no idea why he had been taking cooking advise from a robot leg. When she recalled that the brain of the leg had once been in a coffee maker and then a grill, she understood why Jo-Stride thought he was a cooking expert.
So she had done most of the heavy lifting and chopped the vegetables while he stirred the pot, brushing past her with a charming smile and sneaking in kisses at every chance.
She had also patted his ass playfully every chance she got, laughing at his reaction every time he jumped up as if he was touched by a ghost.
When they sat down to eat, they fed each other slowly, laughing as if something so pleasant was happening around them.
The sweetness and warmth between them made her forget, just briefly, the weight of leadership that was pressing on her shoulders. It was truly nice just being an ordinary couple for a moment.
Breakfast was already over but none of them was willing to move just yet, despite the fact that Hades was yawning occasionally.
Rather than go to bed, he was playing with her fingers and biting them playfully while she giggled. Sunshine guessed that within minutes, they would be kissing.
She could see it in his eyes, his desire to devour her lips and maybe swallow her whole. That look was always reserved for the moments when they were alone.
Sparks tingled along her spine, and she licked her lips. She was looking forward to it, very much.
"Isn’t this nice?" He asked her softly while pushing forward.
She run a hand through her hair and smiled coyly.
Before she could reply, the beautiful moment of anticipation was shattered when Dwayne’s voice came through the walkie-talkie.
"Boss, everyone is here for the meeting and we are all waiting for you."
She sighed and so did Hades.
He roughly pulled the walkie-talkie, glaring at it as if he was willing it to explode. Then he said in a rough angry voice, "Coming."
They both sighed again and slowly stood up. Their duties were calling again.
****
The command center was full, the smell of tea and coffee wafted in the air but not strong enough to halt the tension of waiting voices.
The core management team of fortress four sat around a table in a conference room that was in the information center. There was some whispering now and then. Some where fidgeting, others stone faced ready for business.
"Good morning." Sunshine greeted as she strolled in, taking the head chair.
The others responded as Hades joined them and took his place beside Sunshine.
"Before we even start discussing this issue, let us watch this." She said quickly. Sunshine nodded at Lisha who switched on the screen.
The footage of the new comers rushing through the gates like wild beasts was played, they elbowed one another, trampling on the weak ones who had fallen in their path. The greed in their movements, the frantic disregard for everyone else, was disturbing.
Sunshine’s jaw tightened, now that she was seeing what happened clearly. It was not pleasant to watch and this could be seen on the faces of the rest of the people in the room. These were the kind of people that could do ruthless things to survive.
Some of them had even shoved down the very soldiers that were helping them. They stepped on them and ran inside without looking back.
"Holy mother of God!" Father Nicodemus said when the screen went black.
Then silence lingered until Warren broke it. "They should leave."
Hadrian nodded immediately, his voice rough. "It’s good that they showed their true colors. Selfish, dangerous. The base is all about cooperation and harmony. I understand that they were afraid and out of their minds but their behavior is telling an unpleasant story, especially the ones that shoved or stepped on the soldiers."
Dwayne chimed in. "People like these will decay the base from inside. They will take but not give, we do not need them living among us."
"I disagree." Sister Anna’s voice was calm yet charged with conviction.
Sunshine turned her gaze to the far side of the table where sister Anna sat, she wore trousers and a heavy fur coat, her veil draped over head despite a heavy hood covering it. "And what do you disagree with sister?"
"In times of chaos, reason leaves even the purest hearts." Sister Anna answered. "Fear makes us forget ourselves but that doesn’t define who we are."
Father Nicodemus adjusted his worn collar. "We have all had moments were we have not been our best selves. We have all acted out of desperation, these people were just being human."
Morris snorted from his end of the table, the talisman of the mountain god dangling from his neck. "Your faith blinds you and it will land us in trouble. There is no redemption for these people. The one named Alfred chose to stay back and save others. The others chose themselves over even the ones protecting them. What do you think they will do when faced with such a situation again? They are Damien Quinn’s in different skin. I say they leave."
Sunshine glanced at Hades, his eyes were narrowed, arms folded firmly across his chest. "What do you think?"
"They cannot stay here." He said firmly. "If they had not harmed the soldiers, I would have defended them. But, none of them has even tried to visit Alfred or the other woman that helped them....Nusra...I think. She lost her leg and not one of them has tried to visit a medic bay to check on her. They are just eating and sleeping."
"Actually, two of them asked about them." Hadrian mentioned.
"Nusra’s family members." Warren clarified.
Hadrian felt stupid for mentioning it. He had not known that they were Nusra’s family.
"Let us vote on it." Sunshine suggested. "Show of hands, who thinks they should leave?"
Eighty percent of the hands went up. The room pulsed with tension as the debate went on.
"Let us not forget that these people are weak, at least let us give them time to regain their strength." Father Nicodemus pleaded.
Sunshine turned to Dr Choi who sat quietly near Sister Anna with arms folded. "Doctor Choi, what is the health status of these people."
Dr. Choi adjusted his glasses, his expression neutral. "Most were dehydrated but the drink made out of the blue veiled orchids helped in restoring their energy. Their bodies have recovered, they can even travel long distances. Only three people are admitted in the medic baby. Alfred, Nusra and an old woman named Emmaline who is in a coma. The rest of them can be moved."
A murmur of relief spread around the table. "Then they leave. Now." Sunshine decided, pressing her palms across the table.