Chapter 10: Talking with Stars
18 Poland Street, Diamond, Freemantle. Sunday 13th September 1998. 10:32 GMT.
Sonic was finally home. After the flight he was taken by Mets for another debriefing. He had his car and house keys returned to him and he was given a copy of the official secrets act to sign. The act prevented him from ever telling the media or in some cases the government and other agencies.
He put his key into the lock and turned it. He entered his home and went into the lounge. Amy, Jessica and Knuckles were sitting on the sofa.
"I'm back," Sonic said.
All three turned their heads and Jessica and Amy yelled; "Sonic!!"
They got up. Amy hugged Sonic and kissed him on the lips. Jessica also hugged him and kissed him on his left cheek. Sonic and Knuckles shook hands and tapped eachother on the back.
"Where's Stars and Nat?" Sonic asked.
"Both of them have gone out for the morning," Jessica said.
"Anything exciting happen when I was gone?"
"Nah," Knuckles said. "Been pretty quiet."
"What about your mission?" Amy asked.
"Sorry but I can't tell," Sonic answered. "I bounded by the official secrets act."
"Come on Sonic," Knuckles said. "We are all agents: you can tell us."
"I can't without permission."
"We can't force him," Jessica said to Knuckles. "No change you got us anything?"
"No, I didn't get a chance to go to the shops."
"You could threat us to lunch," Knuckles said.
"I could but I won't" Sonic said. "I'll going to my room and sleep for a few hours."
Jacob's Park, Diamond, Freemantle. Same Day. 10:52 GMT
The two young lovers were sitting in the park on a slit hill. Stars was behind Natalie with his arms around her waist. He was kissing her on her neck.
"I always loved going to this park," Natalie said. "Me and my brother used to play football there," she said pointing to a flat area where there were a few of children playing. "But he always won."
"He can't be that good," Stars answered.
"You'll be surprise."
"Why's that?"
"His job," Natalie answered.
Stars was about to ask what he did but a 19-year-old gorilla was jogging wearing a baggy green rugby top. He stopped, bend slightly, putting his hands on his knees and started to breath heavily.
He looked up and saw Stars and Natalie and walked towards them.
"Hey ya," the gorilla said.
"Mark!" Natalie almost screamed. "It has been a while."
"I know," she answered. "What are you doing now?"
"In Diamond's reverse squad at the moment but I hope to get promoted into the first team soon."
"Rugby?" Stars asked.
Mark looked down at Stars. Stars got up and held his hand out. Mark shook it.
"Yeah," Mark said.
"Stars Staray by the way," Stars said.
"Mark Henly."
"Stars is my roommate at uni," Natalie said to Mark. "Mark is an old mate from school."
"What do you do?" Mark asked.
"Medicine," Stars answered.
"That's tough isn't it?"
"Its early days let. So what position do you play?"
"A winger."
"Did you ever go to sixth form or college?" Stars asked.
"Nah," Mark answered. "Just got a trial at the club and got in at 16."
"Good luck to your career."
"Thanks."
"How is it going with Jade?" Natalie asked.
"We broke up three months ago, but we're still friends."
"That's good."
"I live in the city now," Mark said. "Flat 23 in the Malco complex."
"When can I visit?"
"Any time you want," Mark answered. "Bring your friends if you want."
"Cool."
"Are you two an item?" Mark asked the two.
"Only just started going out," Stars answered.
"Okay," Mark said rubbing his chin. "I'm sure that you are a decent bloke, but Natalie is a good friend of my and if you hurt her I will make sure you'll suffer!"
"I know how you feel," Stars said. "I have two sisters and I'm very protective over them."
18 Poland Street, Diamond, Freemantle. Same day. 15:12 GMT.
Sonic awoke from his sleep. He walked into the lounge when he saw Stars on the sofa watching a violence action film.
"Good trip?" Stars asked.
"Could be worst," Sonic answered.
"Going to tell me about it?"
"Can't."
"Oh right," Stars said.
"Where is everyone?" Sonic asked.
"Gone off to Nat's friend. Fancy a beer?"
"Go ahead," Sonic said and both went in the kitchen.
Stars went into the fridge and took out two cans of Amnesia lager. Stars sat at the table and gave Sonic one of the can. Both opened them and took a slip each.
"Is it just me or does lager not taste so good after becoming 18," Stars said after moving the can after from his lip and put it on the table.
"It's you," Sonic answered.
"I got a fun job to do in a minute," Stars said.
"What's that?"
"I got to call Vicky and tell her that we need to break up."
"Why?"
"I with Nat now," Stars said.
"Finally," Sonic said aloud. "I was wondering how long it would take you two to get together."
"What do you mean," Stars said with a slight hint of anger in his voice.
"Well it was so obvious that you two fancied each other! I saw that look you in your eyes and you were spiriting her in your mind."
"WHAT!"
"Don't worry, she was did it to you to."
"I'm the mind reader you know," Stars snapped.
"Yeah, a crap one," Sonic said.
"SHUT UP!!"
"Calm down," Sonic said. "I personally think my health is more important then your love life."
"What do you mean?"
"I have the risk of getting cancer and dying before I'm 21."
"The risk of you devolving any cancer at our age is a million to one change…" Stars said.
"I know that," Sonic said. "But in the mission Claws and I had to go to a highly radioactive area and I had to fight a man who was totally radioactive. Because my healing powers are pretty weak and the radiation I could devolve a cancer and I'll have to have blood tests once very three months for two years to make sure I haven't devolved any illness."
"You already had a test, right?" Stars asked. Sonic nodded. "And you haven't got anything at the moment." Sonic nodded again. "Then at least you passed the first hurdle. You are young and healthy and so the changes are small. And even if you do devolving an illness then everyone will support you."
"Thanks," Sonic said. "There is one more thing."
"What's that?" Stars asked as he picked up his can of lager and drank from it.
"I'm going to ask Amy to marry me."
Stars spat the lager out of his month and shouted: "WHAT!!!!!!!!!"
"I want to marry Amy," Sonic said, "and if she says yes I want you to be my best man."
"Are you sure? You two are only 18! You had a health scare! Are you sure you are in the right frame of mind?"
"I know exactly what I'm doing," Sonic said. "I know Amy is the only girl I want to be with, I can't envision us being apart and I just want us to be together forever."
"I got a feeling there is going to be nothing I can do to change your mind," Stars said.
"Not even a bullet in the head."
"I accept then," Stars said. "I'll help you if you need me."
"Thanks."