Chapter 145: Suppresing the baby’s powers.
The hospital trembled, equipment fell to the ground and people panicked as they tried to find ways to stabilize themselves.
"Now is a good time to feed her." Sunshine swooped in and took the baby from Dr. Choice. "Also, maybe finish up the surgery. Rosario’s belly is still open, and a part of her liver is damaged."
Cold mist stealthily poured from Sunshine’s breath, hitting the baby on the face. The baby seized to cry at once and it became curious instead.
Sunshine smiled. The baby reminded her of the sheep. They were all dominant until they sensed something more dominant.
"Be good." She whispered to the baby.
Nurse Kendall took the baby and wrapped her in a soft cloth. Sunshine took her and out, walking to the recovery room next door which happened to be empty.
"System, is there any milk in the restaurant section of the mall which is good for her?" she asked.
[There are fifty types of milk that are good for her, liquid and powder.]
"Buy me the cheapest." She said without wasting a moment.
The system did not respond for a moment and in that silence, Sunshine could almost hear the judgement coming from it over her choice. If it had a face, maybe it would be frowning.
"Do you have an opinion?" she asked.
[No.]
She laughed and rocked the baby, disappearing into the space with her. Her arrival coincided with the appearance of a large white unmarked can that had powdered milk. It came with the tiniest milk bottle she had ever seen. Its nipple was just perfect for a newborn.
"Is it safe for consumption?"
[Yes.]
"Thank you." She answered.
She carried the baby with one hand and mixed the milk. It was not her first time babysitting an awakened baby, she knew what to do. As she worked, she hummed a lullaby and continued to rock the infant.
Soon, the baby was feeding, and Sunshine left the space, proud of herself for what she considered a job well done.
But the job was not finished because she could still feel the tremors. They were small--but they were there. She would not always be around to control the baby. And it was an infant; it would throw tantrums at some point and ignore her.
If it saw her as a threat, it would even attempt to challenge or kill her. It was best to temporarily contain the baby’s powers. But how?
"System, is there a way to contain her powers for a while?"
[What you are asking for is a suppressant. There are many suppressants in many worlds that were specifically created for infants and emotionally unstable individuals. Do you wish to purchase one that suppresses the powers permanently?]
Sunshine pursed her lips. The silence in the room allowed her to think clearly. A permanent suppressor was not a good idea. It was not her decision to make because this was not her child.
If Castiel, Earl or Ariel awakened, she would not take it away from them. Why do it to another person’s child?
"Temporary." She said with sureness.
[A month, three, six, nine, twelve.....]
"A year." She answered. After the year, she would sit down with Rosario and discuss whether the suppression should continue or not. "Nothing too costly, as you know my financial reserves are not exactly endless."
[One Ember Dose purchased.]
A vial and syringe appeared on the bed next to Sunshine. The vial had a liquid which glowed like molten silver.
"Is it safe?"
[Quality is the goal of repairs. Every product chosen by this system is high quality no matter the cost.]
She placed the baby down and followed the instructions of the system, injecting the suppressant into the baby’s arm.
Instantly, the small tremors stopped. The charge in the air dropped and it felt lighter again. Sunshine could feel the energy in the baby folding or pulling inward, somewhere in her abdomen.
Even the flakes on her face and skin started to fall off. When Sunshine brushed them away, the baby looked completely normal and very sleepy.
She carried the child out of the recovery room, found a nurse and gave the child to her. She also handed her the milk powder and baby bottle.
"Distribute some of it to the other baby..... Emmy." Sunshine recalled the child that had just been brought to the base. "And bring the mother and child in for another checkup. I want the results sent to me. Make sure that thermal bands....." She stopped. The babies were too young for thermal bands. She would have find something else for them.
Sunshine dismissed the nurse. As the baby was taken to be placed in an incubator temporarily, she left the operating area and walked back out.
Doctor Choi was talking to Rosario’s family. Some of them were sniffing and others were wiping tears from the corners of their eyes.
Sunshine nodded at them once and then walked to her husband. He took her hands and looked at her with worry in his gray eyes.
"How is it?"
She smiled. "All good, little Poncho is stable for now. I gave her a suppressant, so we don’t have to worry about the ground splitting every time she cries."
She slipped her arm through his and they started walking through the corridor, heading out of the medic bay.
"A suppressant." Hades mumbled with a frown.
She leaned her head against his arm. "If you are going to ask me if I could have given Rosario the suppressant and it would make its way to the baby the answer is no. It has to be injected into the arm of the awakened individual directly."
Sunshine was telling about this because when next she left the base for any reason, she would have to leave him with suppressants.
"They are not just for infants." She shared. "They can be used on emotionally unstable individuals that awaken. We won’t have to worry that problem on the base at least."
Hades was very relieved to hear that. "I am so glad that I have you. Not just because you seem to have a solution for everything but because we share the burden of the base. I have only relied heavily on two people in my adult life. One was my mentor and the other is you."
"I am hotter than your mentor, so I win." Sunshine joked.
He laughed. "It is not a competition, but I agree you are so much hotter than he was. But I would rather use different words to describe you."
Sunshine lifted her eyes curiously. "Oh yeah...mention some."
Hades cleared his throat. "Exquisite, especially when you are swinging your hammer. Radiant when you are playing with the children or teaching them how to fix things. Stunning when you walk out of the bathroom in a towel."
Sunshine gasped exaggeratedly. "You rake!! I thought you never look."
"It is a free feast for my eyes." Hades chuckled. "How can you blame me when you serve the buffet personally?"