Chapter 1: The conviction
The room was neutral. Filled with wodden benches and the seats for the defender and his client, and the prossecutors. A normal courtroom, decorated for a sherade. Judge Xandra Allegi was preparing. This case was big, bigger than anything she had ever taken on before. Her job was to decide, once and for all, wheter the leader of the pirates, Sonny Blackbones, Aka professor I'Son, was a criminal, or just exposed to vindictive acts of harrassment over time.
No one had ever thought it would happen. Sonny had escaped Technoid time and time over, they never seemed able to detain him.
This time, however, Technoid had succeded. They had captured Sonny Blackbones, alone and unarmed. No one had seen him since his arrest, as Technoid had made sure to take him into custody, the minute they laid hands on Allegi felt sorry for the pirate. The attuorney appointed to defend him, had litterally no courtexperience at all. It seemed evident that Sonny would get convicted of both things he had done, and things he was innocent of doing.
None of the pirates had dared to step forward to defend their leader either. D'Jok Blackbones, Sonny's son, had brought a message from the second in command, Corso Takashi, that they dared not show themselves, without them, Sonny had no chance whatsoever, to clear his name. They knew Sonny would have told them to remain hidden, and that was what they did. D'Jok looked like he hadn't slept when he came with the message. «Your honor, I can't effect your judgement, but can I please ask you, to keep an open mind? Don't let others tell you what the truth is, search your heart for it. And be fair, that's all I ask». Then, the young man had retreated...
«All rise». Judge Allegi looked out in her courtroom, before she bid the parties sit down. Sonny had been allowed to wear his usual clothing, but they had both cuffed and chained him securely. Where would he run? There was nowhere he could escape. As she sat down, she made a decission. It was pure cruelty to keep him in chains, like he was somekind of animal. «Before we continue, I order that Mr Blackbones is to be freed from the chains!». Naturally, Technoids attourney would object. «Your honor, I must strongly suggest you reconcider. This man singlehandedly destroyed at least 6 technodroids by slamming them into the wall, when we prepared to take him here, it is not safe». Judge Allegi looked over at Sonny. He didn't look like he would harm anyone. «Mr Blackbones, is this true?». Sonny got up, allthough with difficulties because of the chains that bound him. « I have to say both yes and no, your honor. These..» he held up the chains « are uncalled for. Where would I go? I'm all alone here, and unarmed, hardly a threat to anyone». Judge Allegi agreed with him. «And if we remove your chains, will you remain calm, and not try to flee?» Sonny nodded «Yes your honor, I'll remain calm and seated». Judge Allegi nodded. «Very Well then, have his chains taken off, in my courtroom, I demand that even the ones on trial are treated with respect». A technodroid uncuffed Sonny and removed his chains. «Thank you your honor» the pirates eyes had a deep, and calm shine to them. Judge Allegi nodded. Then, the trial could start.
As expected, it became a show. The attourney appointed to defend Sonny, was totally unprepared. He appollogised to Sonny for his clutsyness time and time over. Sonny just nodded it. He had not expected anything better, to be frank, he had been surprised he even had an attourney. Technoid poured over with allegations and accusations. Sonny had heard them all before, he knew what he was guilty of and not. His mind drifted back to when technoid had captured him. They had come at a time when neither Sonny nor Corso had expected them to be in the area. They were forced to run, off course, the droids had scanned them, and Sonny's profile gave alert. Before long, they came to an area where there were two choises. «Sonny, what do we do?» asked Corso, he was preparing for battle. Sonny too was looking for an excit, but found none. «Corso, we have to split, take separate ways out, better one of us gets away, than both being captured. The one who makes it. Alerts the others to a rescue misson». Corso didn't like this, but he had no choise. «Just promise me, you'll be carefull Sonny, we can't afford to loose you». Corso headed left, and Sonny to the right. All too soon, it was evident, that Corso had picked the right trail. The alley was a dead end. Sonny desperately looked for a sueropening, a ventilationduct, anything that would help him escape the droids. There were no excit. Sonny could hear the droids close in on him. He started backing, slowly facing his persecutors.
The battle had been brief. Sonny was attacked by eight droids at once. Even for someone with his strength, this proved too much. They lay Sonny on the ground, and sedated him..
When Sonny came to, he found himself within a prisoncell. He had not the faintest clue as to where he was. All of his tools, including his transmitter, had been taken from him. He had no way to contact Corso. He found a small holotv in his cell, he laid down on the bed, and turned it on. The Arcadia News was overflowing with news of his arrest. Even Duke Maddox appeared more than usuall triumphant. «We've chased Sonny for years, now, we finally managed to take him without propertydamage or injury to others» he said. «But where have you taken him?» asked Calleigh Mystic. Duke Maddox faced the camera. «Out of fear of an attack from the pirates, in an attempt to free their leader, we won't reveal where we're holding him. But he is alive and well». Sonny snorted when he heard that. HaH! Alive yes, but well? His head was hurting like he had been severely hung over for an extended period of time, and his right arm felt as if it had been pulled out of it's socket and then put back. Sonny looked up when he heard a sound. A door opening. He had tried to look outside his cell, he appeared to be the only prisoner held here. «Blackbones!» Sonny looked to the door, and saw Duke Maddox walk towards him. A derisive smile appeared on his lips. «Why, your Exellency, to what do I owe the pleasure of your company?». Duke Maddox didn't let himself get provocated. He opened the door and went into the cell. «Don't try anything Sonny, you won't get far». Sonny nodded. He bid the Duke sit on his makeshift bed. « So, you finally succeeded, after all these years, this is where our cat and mouse game ends?». Duke Maddox had a sad look on his face. «Listen Sonny, you're not guilty of all charges that will be thrown against you. Remember the all star match, when we sat together in my box?». Sonny remembered. It had been D'Jok's very first All stars match and they played against Technodroids v3. A game that was easily won, but noone, except maybe the duke himself, had expected otherwise. «off course your excellency, why do you ask?» he asked. «Remember, I told you that you could have been my righthand man, and run all of technoid?» Sonny nodded again. It sounded like he would get somekind of explanation as to why Duke Maddox had chased him all these years. «I recall that conversation» Sonny said. «I'll put it simple Sonny, I want you back in my company, and I'll make sure you do as I ask». Sonny couldn't hold back the laughter. «With all do respects your excellency, but I think you are widely miscalculating things. I want nothing to do with technoid». Duke Maddox then did something that both shocked Sonny and frightened him at the same time. Duke Maddox pulled a taser gun from inside his jacket and aimed it at Sonny. It all of a sudden dawned on him, why he was hurting all over his body. They had used taserguns on him. «Turn around and face the wall Sonny, I'm taking you down to see the doctors in the lab, they'll acesss you for compabillity with a chip that we will implant in you». Sonny couldn't have hidden the horror if he tried. He backed away from Maddox. « No your excellency, if you do that to me, think of the pirates, my friends and comrades. Don't you think they'll find me?» Duke Maddox laughed an evil laughter. « on the contrary, it is you that should worry for your friends Sonny. You see, that handy little transmitter of yours is a powerfull tool. You got a distressignal built into it. Sure, it would allow for your friends to locate you and make an attempt to free you. What I did, was to turn it over to my best hackers. By reversing the polarity in the transmitter, the distressignal, now won't tell them anything about your whereabouts. However, anyone that tries to call on your transmitter Sonny, will be subject to us tracking them down». When Sonny realised what this meant, he grew cold inside. The pirates, they would all be exposed, hunted down and slayn. Duke Maddox could see what a shock this was to Sonny. He rose, and walked over to Sonny. He was staring out the cellwindow. Sonny jumped when he felt the cold metal to his neck. «I don't want to harm neither you and your men. What will be the pirates faith now rests in your hands Sonny. You do as I ask, I will have the judge in the upcoming trial against you, to go easy on you. That way, you may become subject to a socalled open prison. You'd be able to move around freely on Genesis, but you try to get away, I can't guarrantee for your safety anymore. It gives you benefits, you'll be able to see your son at will, we'll set you up with a place to live, and you may stay in contact with your men. If you resist, I will still force you to work for me, this time against your own will, by having this implant surgically placed in your body. And for your men, well.. guess what that means..» Sonny felt trapped between the rock and a hard place. No matter what he chose, it was technoid that won on it. «You mentioned a trial?» he asked to buy some time before he had to reply. Duke Maddox now cuffed his hands to his back. «Ah my dear Sonny, you didn't think we would let you off the hook that easy did you? I'll admit that you have done some good deeds in all of this, but then it's all the little bad ones..», «And what other choise did my men and i have? You drove us all out on the run, all of us lost friends and family to your company's reign, and you dare call us criminals?» he spat.
«I'm not going to answer that one Sonny, you'll come with me, You'll be examined for any injuries and treated for them».
«Making sure you're not concealing damaged goods now are you?». He was silenced hy the cold metal to his neck again.
«So, what will it be Sonny? Will you sacrifice yourself for your men and Son, or do we butcher the pirates with the use of your transmitter?» Sonny knew he had lost, he couldn't do that to Corso, Bennet, Artie and all the others. He looked down, tears formed in his eyes. «I-I'll do as you ask of me, your excellency..».
He was all of a sudden back in the courtroom, and the sherade that went on in there..
**aboard The Black Manta**
Corso and the pirates had been devestated when they had found out that Technoid had taken Sonny. They tried to trace his signal to come to his aid, but the transmitter had been turned off. It was taking it's toll on everybody on board, Nobody knew where Sonny was held prisoner, or wheter he was even alive. Corso had not slept since. «Corso, you need to rest» said Bennet, the pirate was obviously worried for his second in command's health. «I can't do it Bennet, not when we know that they have taken Sonny..» The pirate nodded. They all felt the same way. Without Sonny, The Black Manta was like a ship in stormy waters, without a captain at the rodder. «We will find him and free him Corso». Corso nodded it, but it was evident, that he didn't really believe in it. He went to Sonny's cabin, and lay down on his bed. Corso had locked the door. He wanted to be alone. He would never admit it, but Corso was scared. This was the worst nightmare. He had it before, but Sonny allways assured him there was no need to worry, he'd be fine. And for many years, it had been so. Corso placed his face in Sonny's pillow, it had his smell. If Corso closed his eyes, it was as if Sonny was in the room with him, «Oh Sonny, how will we et by without you?» whispered Corso. He didn't even care to turn on the holotv. He had seen the reports, all the way from the unreal newsflash that Sonny had been taken and imprisoned by Technoid after being on the run for so many years. Today, it was the start of his trail. As much as Corso would have liked to go, just to see for himself that Sonny was allright, he knew that any pirate that went, was a likely next victim. He came second in the commandchain, after Sonny. He couldn't risk it. So, he had sent in Artie. Artie had put on a device that would record it all. Corso hoped Sonny would see Artie, and give them some form of signal to save him..
** The courtroom**
Finally, it was Sonny's turn to take the witness stand. The clerk handed him the lawbook and asked him to promise to be truthfull. «I promise» said Sonny. Then, Judge Allegi asked him to sit. «So, Mr Blackbones, you have heard the allegations against you, how do you pleed to them?», «Not guilty your honor», no signs of hessitation or second guessing could be found in his voice. He saw D'Jok and Artie on one of the benches close to the door. That Artie, what a brave young man, he risked being taken for being here. Artie,as if he felt Sonny's eyes on him, signaled that he had a device with him. All Sonny had to do, was give them the signal, and they would free him. But Sonny replied to the questions asked by the prosecutors and his defenseattourney. Even if the court seemed split into two groups, Sonny had no hope of getting a not guilty verdict.
When the day was over, he prepared to be taken back to his cell. D'Jok couldn't take it anymore. He had been sitting in the back for so long, anxiously awaiting. Now, he forced his way up towards the benches. Normally, Judge Allegi would have had him thrown out of court for that, but she understood D'Jok. She knew of his and Sonny's background. This young man was devoted to his father, and loved him dearly. «Dad!» yelled D'Jok. Sonny had seen him, but tried to ignore him. This would make things unnecessary hard. In the corner of his eye, he also spotted Duke Maddox approaching him. Interception off course, he had expected that. Then, Judge Allegi made a surprising move. «Let him through». «WHAT?» Duke maddox looked furious. «Your honor..» started the prosecutor. «I won't hear it, let him meet his father». Sonny cast a quick gkance at her. Judge Allegi saw a deep gratitude in the pirate chief's eyes over this. She understood. It all had a feel to it that Sonny would be imprisoned for a long time, and who was to tell when he could see his son again? «Give Mr. Blackkbones some room to greet his son» she ordered. «Thank you, your honor» said D'Jok, his voice alone told her how this act of hers had moved him. Then, D'Jok faced his father. «D'Jok..» Sonny held his arms open, it was for D'Jok to decide wheter he wanted to hug him or not. «Dad..» D'Jok's eyes filled with tears, as he hugged his father, and held him in a grip, as if he would never let him go. «D'Jok, why are you here? Are you aware how this is going to hurt you in the end? And me?» Sonny whispered. «I- I had to come Dad, what kind of a son would I be, if I didn't even showed up to show how much you mean to me Dad?» he said.
Sonny felt a thick lump form in his throat, D'Jok's teary eyes was almost too much for him to bare. D'Jok hugged him even harder, as he saw Duke Maddox approach. «We don't have a lot of time Dad, we can get you out of here..». Sonny shook his head. «No D'Jok, it's too dangerous. You know I would have signaled if it was possible right?» he asked. «What are you saying Dad?» D'Jok looked shocked. Sonny looked away for a second. Telling his son this, would be one of the hardest things he ever had to undertake. «D'Jok, we both know what this is gonna end in. I can't explain here D'Jok, but, for now, we'll have to let Technoid win». D'Jok looked at him. «Dad, have they threatened you in any way?». Sonny's eyes was sad when he faced his son. «I- I can't talk of it now D'Jok. Just-just tell Corso not to call my transmitter, it poses a major threat to them all now». Then, Duke Maddox reached them. «Ok Sonny. Back to your cell». «No, get your hands of him» screamed D'Jok. He was obviously loosing it. But Sonny knew, it was just a diversion. He had seen several pirates in the audience today, just waiting for his slightest signal, to go in and free him. It wouldn't happen. It would come at a too high price. His men's security had to come first. Sonny stood still, as the technoidroids once again cuffed and chained him. But deep down, a small flame of hope was still burning, seemingly, he had surrendered. But only untill he could find a way to clear the obstacle Technoid had created, he had to remain their prisoner. There was hope, however little, burning...
Corso had watched the first day of the trial from the holotv. It hurt immensely to see all the allegations and accusations thrown at Sonny, and him being unable to counterstrike. Corso had ordered all the men to find the necesary proof that would clear Sonny's name, and free him from this.
Corso was making plans to do something daring. Sonny would not have been very happy if he knew of it. Corso hated having the role as a leader. He prefeered Sonny in that role. But in Sonny's absence, it would come to him to fill that role.
Artie came back. Corso asked them to send him to Sonny's cabin right away. «You wanted to see me Corso?», «yes, did Sonny give you any message?», «No Sir, I didn't dare approach him, but talk to D'Jok, he got to speak to Sonny alone, maybe he knows something?» Corso nodded. As Artie left, Corso called D'Jok. When he finally got hold of him, D'Jok brought news that trobled Corso. They needed to find the place Sonny was held prisoner and fast, secondly, Sonny had been threatened. Corso needed desperately to speak to Sonny. After concidering things back and forth, Corso decided to make a surprising phonecall. He knew the risks involved, but they needed help. «Hello?» said the other end...
Well, we'll stop there. Who did Corso call? Can Duke Maddox be held to his word? Will Sonny get a surprising verdict, or is it a life where he is forced to work for Technoid that awaits him? Keep reading and you will find out.
Is it worth a rewiew?