Chapter 279: A reaction from the watchers finally.
The number of people clamoring to follow Sunshine outside was larger than she originally thought. The soldiers were itching for an opportunity to face the now sleeping herd as were the superhumans.
But there were those who were objecting as if their names had been called. Jon was the loudest and actually the only one.
He was blocking Sunshine’s path but keeping a distance just in case she went crazy with her hammer. "Wait are saying that you want us to go out there and carry those things back in here? What if they wake up? What if they are not dead?" His eyes searched around for those that thought like him. "It is insane. I cannot be the only one thinking this!"
"It is not your base, why do you care?" Dwayne mumbled.
Sunshine drew one of the swords. "It is for that reason Jon that we are going to cut off their heads first with these and then bring them inside. I never said that we should bring them in as they are. Also, you are not on the list of those going out just as you were not on the list of people that were going to fight the snake." She reminded him.
Sunshine wanted to suggest that he return to his base and play some cards with his friends. They were obstacles more than helpers.
Carson swung one of the swords. nearly taking off some of Jon’s hair.
Jon jumped back and glared at him.
Carson did not see the glare; he was admiring the sword. The weapon appeared otherworldly even at first glance. As a collector of swords and blades, he knew his weapons quite well and this one was very unfamiliar. "Where did these come from." He asked, touching the blade which sliced his finger. Lucky for him he healed almost immediately.
Jon swallowed. "Careful with that thing. It looks more dangerous that the cattle."
Hades scoffed from the side. "Jon if you are afraid of everything then find a place to hide, better yet go cry from your base."
Jon turned on him, face red with frustration. "Hades, why don’t you just give me a rope and tell me to hang myself? First, you wanted me to stay in the car. If I had taken your advice, I would be dead like my bodyguard. Now you want me to drive to my base with the mist and weird cows out there. Is it your mission to kill me? Why do you hate me? I thought we were best friends."
"Oh my God!!!" Sunshine rolled her eyes.
"Why can’t you just be nice to me?" Tears spilled from his eyes.
Everyone was stunned.
"Stop being dramatic." Hades responded, their eyes locking. "And stop crying. For heaven’s sake Jon we have mutant cows and bulls to deal with. Your emotional insecurity is not a priority."
Sunshine raised her hand. "Alright enough." She told them. "I need a team of superhumans to go out there with me. Someone take Jon to the medic bay for a sedative or something."
Those going with Sunshine formed a semicircle around her.
Dwayne waved a radio and said, "I will monitor sniper team from the towers, the instructions remain the same; shoot anything that moves."
Those following Sunshine walked towards the gates. Hades pulled Philip Harg back as the man tried to sneak out with the others. "They are fireproof. You are not on the list."
Standing behind the gate, Sunshine asked Elio through the walkie-talkie, "Any movement from the birds?"
Major Elio shook his head. "Negative."
The Fortress gates opened but only partially. The superhumans stepped out_ four of them each with a sword, forming a loose formation. The mutant cows lay sprawled across the snow, their bodies faintly steaming where the darts had struck.
Sunshine stepped forward, the sword in her grip warm against her palm.
"Alright, let us take a section each." She showed each one where to begin.
Major Elio stepped out joining them, he had an ordinary but sharp sword. "No harm in trying."
Sunshine scoffed lightly and reached for the first cow. Without hesitation, she lifted the sword and swung. The blade cut through tough flesh and bone as though it would smoke. She tossed the head to the side and moved to another.
Philip Harg dashed out of the gate, picked up the head and tossed it to another soldier. "Form a line, so that we move them immediately rather than waiting."
"Alright people, let’s get to work." Major Elio shouted. Then he grunted and swung his sword at a cow. The blade struck with a loud crack_then shattered into fragments, the impact threw him backwards.
Sunshine didn’t flinch. She turned meeting his startled eyes. "Now you see the difference." A laugh came with her words.
Elio grunted.
Sunshine’s biggest competitor in speed was Father Nicodemus. He was not using a sword but his wings! With each swing downward, he decapitated one head after the other. He was fast, unrivaled almost. His wings were splashed with blood, almost like someone had dripped red paint on them.
The watchers were following his movements with much interest. Only Pink was more interested in the swords.
"His wings need to be studied more." Professor Chloe wrote down something in her notebook.
Hours later, the work was done, the air reeked of blood more than anything. The last of the carcasses were dragged on giant carts over to the cold storage warehouse, a massive, reinforced chamber at the end of the base, it was where all mutant meat was kept.
Sunshine planted grave berry small plants to detoxify the air. The smell of too much blood could attract predators their way which she did not want.
Philip Harg was the last one outside, walking slowly and swinging one of the swords. Out of the blue, a watcher swooped down, pushed him into the snow and flew away with the sword.
By the time everyone reacted, it was over and the sword was in Pink’s claws, being examined.
Sunshine scoffed. "Why am I not surprised." she muttered.
"We had powerful fire, so they sent something with a fireproof hide. I guess they will be sending something whose skin cannot be penetrated by a sword next." Major Elio said to her.
"I told you, they learn and adapt. Rarely do they attack on their own. That is why killing them is difficult." She told him.
Limping, Philip entered the gates and they were closed.
Sunshine gave the final command through her radio. "Those on the snake hunting team should go and rest, we head out first thing tomorrow morning."
They all dispersed, weary but alive. Philip was followed by a crowd. Everyone wanted to know how it felt to be slapped by a watcher.
Later that night, when the base had quieted and most were asleep, Hades and Sunshine returned to the warehouse. The door slipped open with a sigh, revealing rows upon rows of frozen carcasses.
"I will watch the door as usual, do your thing." Hades told her.
Sunshine nodded and began to send the carcasses into her space, until none was left. When they returned home, Hades went to their room, but Sunshine went into her workshop. Tank was in their working on the artificial moon; it was 87% complete.
She went to the space asked the system to connect her to Bjorn. The trader appeared very quickly.
"Thank you, Bjorn, you can have your sword back now."
Bjorn’s lips curled into satisfaction. "So soon?"
Nodding, Sunshine smiled. "Yes, I have two thousand three hundred and forty grazers ready for sale. How many will you take?"
"At what price?" Bjorn asked.
Sunshine remained silent, thinking. "Just 105 gold coins."
"I won’t bargain. It’s a good deal Sunlight. I will send the payment immediately. "
Sunshine cleared her throat. "Remove the cost of the broken swords, the discarded ones.... send them in place of part payment."
After the trade completed, Sunshine relaxed in her chair at her work desk. Her plan was to work but she dozed off.
Her husband came later to check on her two hours later. It was he that carried her to bed.