Chapter 10: The secret of the Akillan mountain
The group rapelled into the ravine at the bottom of the mountain. Sonny checked the map. No signs of any guards. Sonny thought of the past. No one in the group knew just how much he hated coming here, what horrible memories he had from here. And Sonny did not feel like letting anyone know. He used a device to check the codelock. Seconds later, the door slid open. «Well, we got no time to loose, the clones aren't gonna fool technoid for very long. We need to get moving» he said. Slowly, and without a sound, the group entered the cave...
Mei, had crawled very far, and felt exhausted. The adrenaline had gotten her far, but she was not safe yet. She moved slowly, and it was still cold. Not freezer cold, but still, too cold for confort, with her just wearing a pajamas. If only D'Jok was here... Mei wondered how he would take it when he found her missing. Then, she thought of her father in law, Sonny. Was he still safe at the academy, or had Technoid taken him? Would she ever get to see him again? Mei just couldn't imagine how devestated D'Jok would be if he had to witness Sonny being taken away by technoid, and led to a very uncertain future. She wanted their child to get to know Sonny, as Sonny would want to know his grandchild. She still remembered the smile and look in his hazels when she told him the good news. He had already known for some time. Mei was not surprised. You had to be even better at covering your steps if you wanted to keep Sonny in the dark. Neither she or D'Jok knew how to do so. She knew Sonny had posted men around the clock to watch over them. He worried that Technoid could possibly use them to put pressure on himself and the pirates. Sure, Sonny sometimes seemed to want to lock them both onboard his ship, so he would know where they were, and that they were safe, but that wasn't his way. He found the golden middle roads all the time. To think they possibly would loose him to Technoid... Mei shook the thought. If Sonny was still able to follow what was going on, she suspected he was already planning a rescue mission. He might even be on his way. She closed her eyes and leaned against the wall. «If you're out there Sonny, please, come fast, I don't know how much longer I can keep doing this»...
The mountain was eerily silent. If if was one thing you hated about Technoid, it was silence. Corso was checking all the walls, as Sonny tried to decide what route should be followed. «These mountains are treacherous Corso, we have to hold together» he stated. Corso gave him a funny look. To him, the mountains were no different than Shiloh's mountains, and yet, Sonny seemed a lot more carefull than usual. Sonny knew something, something that obviosuly scared him. Corso wanted to know what was bothering him, but Sonny didn't seem to want to focus on it. He led the group into the corridors. «Wow, it hasn't changed» whispered Clamp silently. Sonny nodded. «It seems deserted, but knowing technoid..», The group said no more. They just moved as fast as they could in the direction Sonny pointed them to. Sonny seemed to count the doors. Obviously, he had a clear idea of where they were headed. Sonny seemed to want to stop in front of a door, but something made him change his mind. Sonny led them a few more doors down, then, he brought out a heatscanner, and checked the area. «We're here» he stated...
The vents were starting to slope downwards. Mei found it increasingly heavier to move, without slipping and falling. She had no desire to hurt herself in here. She would get a long way, but not all the way out. She had realised hours ago, that she needed help. She had found some padding and used it to warm herself. Slowly, she started creeping forwards...
Clamp gazed over at Sonny. The pirate chief was working fast, checking every corner, and every door. So far, no technoid guards was found, but they all knew it was just a matter of time. If Mei was held here, like Sonny suspected, there would be guards. The light joging forwards, stoped as Sonny raised his hand. Corso looked at him. «Technodroids» he whispered, «at least 12». Corso nodded. «This is the place Sonny, now, we just got to find out where they're holding her». Sonny pressed himself against the wall. He timed it, as the sound of the marching droids came closer. «Any other heatsignatures here Sonny?» whispered Arch. Sonny checked the scanner. «Yes, only one. This is the place. Technoid does not place this kind of guarding for a storage facillity, they conceal something else here, something not meant to be known to the world». Corso heard how Sonny's already whispering voice turned even lower at the last part of the sentence. What was he hiding from them? Corso knew, without a shaddow of a doubt, that these corridors and rooms held secrets, not necessarily nice ones. And for some reason, it seemed to startle Sonny. He hurried things up, clearly, he wanted to get out of here and fast. Sonny followed the heatsignature. «Isn't it strange that no living humanbeing seems to be working here?» whispered Clamp. Sonny didn't answer. He remembered all that had happened down here, before he became labpartners with Clamp. This was the place where he had conducted his earliest experiments, the place Bleylock had found for him. The very place that had been the beginning of the undoing of his family. Sonny struggled to keep the memories, threatening to take over, at bay. He had to remain focused. A soundless bleep showed a heatsignature behind the door. Sonny made sure they remained unseen. As soon as they were all in the room, they closed the door. Sonny turned on a flashlight. The room was white all over. Like a sterile hospital. « Do you think Mei was here?» asked Rocket. Micro- Ice saw something and walked up to it. He picked it up and handed it to Arch wich stood closest. Arch looked at it. It was a rope, and blindfold, and a little heartshaped necklace. Micro- Ice recognized it. «D'Jok gave that one to Mei when they found out about the baby» he said. Sonny took the necklace, and held it in his hand. Everyone could see the emotions in the pirate chief's eyes. Sonny closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Then, his fists slowly clenched. «If they hurt her or the baby in any way...», he didn't have to say anything else. All that was in the room understood the meaning. They thanked their maker that they were not in technoid's shoes by now. Sonny scowered the room. There, an open panel into the airwent system. Sonny smiled. «Good girl Mei, you remembered what I thought you» he whispered. Then, the group made their way into the vents...
Mei had done all shew could to keep warm. It was not working. Her body moved slower in the cold vents. Mei feared she was going to freeze to death. What if the pirates were out looking for her in the wrong place? This facillity obviously wasn't in daily use. Mei wished she had her transmitter with her. Then, she could have called D'Jok..no, she knew she would not have called D'Jok for this kind of help. She would call Sonny. Her dear father in law, he would always take care of everything. «I'm sorry D'Jok, I can't do this anymore» she whispered, before she fell into deep sleep..
The rescue group was in the sloping part of the vents. Things were slowed down a bit. All of a sudden, Sonny stopped. «Mei!» he rushed forwards as fast as he could. Mei was sleeping, but she was very cold. «Corso, warm clothes and blankets, on the double, we need to get her warm now!» Sonny lifted Mei's frozen body and pulled his jacket off, to warm her. The signature red jacket of the pirate leader, was put on to Mei's body, and Sonny closed it. «Aren't you gonna be freezing Sonny? That pullover of yours isn't very warm» said Clamp. «Don't worry about me, I'll be fine» said Sonny. He started rubbing Mei's hands to get some warmth into her. Corso handed him some blankets, and Sonny wrapped them around Mei's body. «Mei» he whispered. Slowly, Mei's eyes fluttered open. «Sonny..», «Shhh, all is ok, we'll get you safely out of here, and back to the academy». Mei had tears in her eyes. «Sonny, I feel so cold..», Sonny continued rubbing her, nonstop. «I know, I'm working on it, you'll be warm soon, I promise», «My feets, they feel so frozen..». Corso looked desperate on him. «Sonny, we didn't bring any extra shoes for her..». Sonny carefully lifted her into his arms. Mei was still frozen. «I'll take her Corso, you just lead the way out». Corso looked at him. «The same way we came in? It's too long and too risky Sonny. There must be another way out». Rocket studied the map. «There is, and it's closer to the snowmobiles» he said. He showed them. Sonny agreed it was the best. He found an extra pair of socks in his backpack and put them on to Mei's feets. Her teeths were chattering from the cold. Sonny looked compassionately at her. «Mei, do you feel strong enough to walk, or should I carry you?». Mei turned over on her side, and vomitted. All the boys turned away, as they found this rather nasty. «I guess that settles it huh Sonny?» said Corso. Sonny nodded,and placed Mei's head against his shoulder when they started walking. Mei felt like sleeping, but Sonny kept talking to her in a soft, low whispering, telling her to hang in there, she'd be safe soon. Mei believed him, being in Sonny's arms felt safe. She knew he would give his own life to keep her safe. Mei lost track of time, and this time, Sonny felt she was warmer. He didn't have the heart to wake her, and carried the sleeping young woman through the dark air vents in the Akillian mountain lab...
D'Jok was like a wild beast. He had not heard anything from his father, and the rescue team. Had they been captured? Was that it? And what about Mei and the baby? D'Jok felt as if he was loosing it. Artie checked the weather reports and held an open channel on his transmitter, to hear any news from Bennet on the clone that was sent into the building of Technoid's. All of a sudden, it gave a sound. «Artie, answer, it's Sonny». Artie quickly pressed the reciever. «We're here Sonny, what's your status?». «We've found Mei, she's alive and well, but very cold. Have Dame Simbai prepare something warm for us when we return». «Got it, I'll take care of it». «Any word from Bennet and clone number one?». «No, none, it seems Technoid is too stupid to see the difference between the real you and a clone». «We'll be in in less than thirty minutes, be ready». Artie looked at D'Jok. He had heard form Sonny's voice that he was freezing. «We'll be ready for you Sonny, you just hurry up». He ended the call. «They're almost back D'Jok. Have the clone removed from Sonny's room, he'll need to stay in bed now, he sounded cold» said Artie. «And Mei and the baby?». Artie looked at him. «They're ok D'Jok, thanks to Sonny». D'Jok nodded it. Then he went to make the room ready...
Dame Simbai had made hot tea read for the rescue team. She had D'Jok and Artie remove the Sonny clone and disable it. Sonny would soon take his position as himself again. A gust of cold wind was felt as the team entered. D'Jok froze when he saw Mei, unconcious in Sonny's arms. «MEI!» he screamed. «she's ok D'Jok, calm down, but she is very cold, she needs to get warm» said Sonny, as he threw a wooried gaze on the young mother to be, the mother of his grandchild. Mei was wrapped in blankets, and wearing Sonny's jacket. Sonny wore nothing but a thin, black pullover. And from the blue lips of his, he was freezing. Dame Simbai reacted. «Clamp, Corso,Get Mei to bed, and wrap her in heating blankets to get her warm. Sonny, you go get ready for a hot bath». Sonny looked at her. «I don't need a hot bath, a shower will do». Dame Simbai placed her hands on her hips. «Sonny Blackbones, must I remind you that you've been put in my custody untill your trial is over?». Sonny looked at his son , then his men. All the pirates struggled to keep from laughing at this order. «I'm sorry Sonny, but she is right. Better do as she says» said Corso, he was struggling. Sonny carefully carried Mei to the bed, and carefully laid her down, slowly, so he wouldn't hurt her. Then he turned to D'Jok. «We found this on the ground while we were searching for her, you might want to give it back when she wakes up» he said with a smile and placed the necklace in D'Jok's hand. D'Jok shuttered when he felt how cold his father was. «Dad, you need to get warm, or else you'll get sick again». Sonny nodded.
As Clamp and the others were focusing on Mei and the unborn baby, Sonny was sitting in a hot tubbath. The warm water made him feel sleepy, or was it perhaps the tea that Dame Simbai had insisted on him having? Sonny didn't know. He used the time in the hot water to think ahead. Planning the next stage. So far, lady luck was still on his side. A plan started to form. The clones would serve this purpose well. Sonny knew he had to talk to Mei, before the following morning, hoping she'd feel well enough. Perhaps there was a chance to close this case after all without any more bloodshed? His thoughts drifted back to Shiloh and the recent happeing there. Shiloh was still in a state of shock. But also, there was something about Judge allegi that sounded familiar. It was like he knew of her from somewhere. Sonny made a call to Artie. «Artie, check Judge Allegi's background, all the way back to her childhood». «Sure Sonny, but why? Is this bad news?». The pirate leader sighed. «I don't know Artie, but I have a feeling I know her from somewhere, I don't know wheter it's good or not». «Ok Sonny. I'll get right on it». Sonny ended the call, and leaned his head back, slowly dozing off...
Duke Maddox and a team had come to the caves in the Akillian get Mei. They had brought «Sonny» with them, so that he could bid his doughter in law farewell, it was the least they could do for the soon to be ex- pirate, now newly reinstated Technoid scientist. But when they came to the caves, they had a feeling something was off. Duke Maddox checked the cell where Mei had been placed. She was gone, and the air vents had been opened. «Blasted, find the girl». The droids swarmwed into the vents in hot puirsuit of Mei. But Duke Maddox feared something else. Could it be he needed to check the videosurveilance? «Sonny» just smirked at Duke Maddox obvious distress. «Something wrong your exellency? Perhaps my men beat you to the punch? And what would it matter anyway? You already got me». Now, Duke Maddoxc felt absolutely convinced something was wrong. He checked the videosurveilance. Mei had gone off into the ventsystem alone. She should be easy to capture. But something made the Duke play the video forwards. A few hours later, a larger group entered. Duke Maddox mouth fell open from the shock. It was impossible. Sonny had been taken prisoner at that time. Still, Duke Maddox watched Sonny Blackbones on the screen, leading a rescue team into the ventsystem after Mei. Duke Maddox knew he had been tricked. «Sonny..». «Yes your excellency?», Duke maddox had enough of «Sonny» smirking comments. «I suspect you to be a clone, the real Sonny Blackbones, is the one we see on the screen». He stated. An evil smile formed on Duke maddox face when he realised what this meant. «Well well Sonny, I knew you would make a mistake sooner or later, now, I got you right where I want you!»...
What is it that Duke maddox is thinking about? Will Sonny ride this one off, or is it truly game over for the pirate chief? And what kind of plan does sonny have to counter strike against the Duke? And will Mei and the baby be ok? All this in the next chapter. And what do you think of this chapter?