CHAPTER 105: PLANNING ANOTHER TRIP BEYOND THE WALL.

After Nimo’s discussion with Elio, she found Sunshine in the private playground, watching over Castiel who was napping on a small soft mattress in the corner with a dog sleeping next to him.

She was repairing a skateboard. It looked like one to Nimo anyway until she realized that it had no wheels and looked like it was crafted from polished shimmering obsidian.

"Is that some kind of new skateboard?" She asked.

Sunshine nodded. "It was damaged by corrosion after passing through a radiation zone. I must scrape at the surface and apply restoration ink. It is very easy--one of the easiest repairs I have ever done."

She hoped to acquire a skateboard of this kind for Earl and Ariel. With Ariel, it was hard to guess how he would take to it since it hovered in the air. Earl on the other hand, he would love it. Castiel was too young to be riding such a skateboard.

Nimo frowned, eyes focused on the skateboard. She was certain that no such skateboard existed on earth. If it did, it was in some kind of tech research lab.

"How did the conversation with Major Elio go? Did he accept to help you in the search for Alfred?" Sunshine asked.

Nimo’s brows shot up. "How did you..." She flicked her fingers dismissively. "I forget that you know me so well." She added.

Sunshine did not look at her friend as she replied, "You have been talking about your brother at least ten times a day lately. I run into your uncle River two days ago and he asked me if I was selling the acid rain proof vehicles. I got the feeling that some of the members of your family are gearing up to go out and search for Alfred. So, is Elio coming with us?" Sunshine finally looked at Nimo.

Nimo was not shocked to hear Sunshine including herself in the group was going to go out. Their friendship was closer than that of siblings. If things had been the other way round and Sunshine was the one with the missing brother, Nimo would have volunteered to join her in the search immediately.

Nimo let out a short sigh. "He is willing to go with me but only if you authorize it. The situation with his eyes is already complicated and he is worried that you might assume he wants to leave the base with dishonest plans in mind.

The Major does not want to do anything that will jeopardize his family’s livelihood here. You were worried over nothing Suni. As long as his wife and child are here, he will be loyal to you--very loyal." She answered, taking a pause. "I hope that you will allow him to go with us because he has better vision than a drone."

"How can I refuse?" Sunshine stood up, walked to her friend and jabbed Nimo lightly with her playfully with an elbow. "As much as I don’t trust seers, their abilities are unquestionable. He is better than a camera or a drone."

She wanted to put major Elio’s loyalty and ability to test. This was a great opportunity to start doing so while hopefully accomplishing another goal: finding Alfred. But would he be found?

Even though Nimo had his last coordinates. it did not mean that he was still in the same place. They did not know if he had survived the meteorites, citrus drizzle or acid rain. She could not rule out ordinary accidents and murder as well.

It was a chaotic time.

Sunshine still felt the need to warn her friend before they ventured out on the search. "Do not raise your hopes so high Nimo, just because we are searching does not mean that we will find him." She gripped her friend’s shoulder. "I don’t mean that you should lose it as well. Just find a balance, a gray between white and black. Also, we cannot stay away from the base for too long, so we have to use our time wisely. We have one week, just seven days and then we must all return."

"When do we leave?" Nimo rubbed her fingers.

"In three hours. Go and tell Elio to assemble the team that are going with us. We have to prepare some food too and other supplies." She did not want to advertise her space.

Nimo rushed out as if she was afraid that Sunshine would change her mind.

Sunshine put away the skateboard and picked up Castiel. This news had to be delivered to Hades in person.

In just twenty minutes, she located him and took him back to their place so that they could have the conversation in private.

"I am going with you." He declared.

She flicked his forehead and hissed at him. "And who will remain with the children if we are both out there? Who will we be leaving in charge of this place? You are the only one I trust to keep our base safe."

Everything she was saying made sense, but Hades was struggling with it. "I am not you Sunshine. I cannot fix all the problems that might arouse in your absence. What if the bubble fails or...."

She threw herself into his arms and hugged him. He always seemed to calm down when he was hugged. "The bubble will remain intact, and I am going to leave behind some weapons and different gel that will harden it in case a mutant monster tries to break through it."

Hades backed out of the hug and stepped away from her. He couldn’t stand anymore so he decided to sit. She followed him and stood before him.

Sunshine reached her palm out and touched his cheek. "You look sick, and you are turning pale. I am not even out of the gates yet. I am Sunshine, Hades. I am eternal. Have you ever seen the sun die?"

He didn’t laugh. "You joke now. But if something happens---" He stopped himself and drew in a sharp breath. "I am not worried just because the base needs you. I am worried because I...I am your husband. I thought that we got all these supplies so that we could hide away here until the apocalypse ends. I....."

"Hades." she interrupted softly, stepping closer and pulling him in for a hug. As his hands settled around her waist and his head found a resting place on her belly she said to him, "I will return. I survived the apocalypse before so you can trust in my abilities. I can hide in the space; I have ice powers and weapons strong enough to kill mutant monsters and mutated ones."

But her capabilities were not the problem. It was the changes in their relationship lately. Friendly, charged and tentative even. It had blossomed into co-dependence and quiet intimacy which had the potential to be so much more even though none had dared to say it.

"I have Jo-Stride. Maybe I should be the one to go." he muttered. "As long as you are here, everyone is safe. Our children are safe. Even if I die...."

"You don’t know Alfred and you cannot freeze water like me," She raised her voice more than she intended as she cut him off. "You don’t have field experience, and you are a father. Stop trying to be a martyr, Hades Quinn."