This is a chapter on Corso. For him to make his way back, he has to go on a journey in himself and his achievements in life, at the same time, as he will be able to see the grief of his close friends, and how the hope slowly but surely whiters away that he'll survive. Will he survive? Read this chapter and you will find the answer.

Chapter 29: In between

Where was he? Corso woke up, but not in the chair in Hami's lair. He was aboard the Black Manta. In a bed in the infirma'try. His body felt strangely light, like he was floating upwards. Beside the bed, sat Sonny. Corso could tell from his posture that seeing him like this, pained his friend.

'Oh, Sonny...' Corso tried to reach out and touch his shoulder, like he always did when something troubled their leader. But, it was like he couldn't. His hand passed right through Sonny's shoulder. And Sonny didn't seem to notice. Corso realised all of a sudden, that he felt no pain. And why was he able to rise from the bed and see his own body still lying there, and Sonny looking like he relived his worst nightmare? Then, it struck him. He had read about these things. It was the passage of life and death. NO! He wasn't ready to go yet. He had things he wanted to see, stuff he needed to do. Corso was frustrated. How could he call for help? When Sonny couldn't reach him? Then, as through a plastic wall or something, he heard Sonny's voice.

'I know you can hear me Corso, deep whereever you are. Fight it! Make your way back to us. This...it's beyond me. I may have an expensive education behind me, I can produce the most powerful weapon in the galaxy from nothing, but what good is that, if I loose you? D'Jok will be allright. But, I need you here. My brother in arms. If you make it though this Corso, we will both think of stepping down, and let others take over the seats of power. We've put in more than half our lives in this. We need to do something else. Relax more' Sonny's voice was low, but melodic.

'It won't be that easy Sonny. You're still wanted. Technoid would rather see you dead than let you get away' he said.

Off course Sonny couldn't hear him.

'He can't hear you' said a voice behind him.

Corso turned. His mouth dropped open in shock.

' Merrin?' he gasped.

A beautiful woman walked towards him.

' in person. I've been on the other side for a long time now, Sonny's become a great leader for the pirates. But he'll need someone that understands him. If not, he won't make it' she said.

'I'm not ready to leave this world yet!' said Corso.

He had loved this woman once. Dearly. What had happened to her, was a mystery.

'What happened? Why are you here?' he asked.

Merrin just looked at him with a sad smile.

'Isn't it obvious? My job is to make you decide where to go. You got two choises. I'll walk you through your past and possible future. You might risk seeing Sonny get killed, are you sure you're up for that?' she asked.

Corso gave it some thought.

'I'll have to' he said.

Merrin nodded. She had expected that much. She also knew how deep the bonds between him and Sonny ran.

'Come with me Corso, it's time you start to make your way back, if that's what you want' she said.

Corso looked at her. He had never imagined being in this kind of situation. It didn't occur to him that it was normal. But again, so was the case with the pirates too. Their lives weren't normal, being on a constant run from technoid wasn't normal.

All of a sudden, Corso saw three doors in front of him. He looked at Merrin.

'What is this kind of sick joke?' he asked.

Merrin was unaffected by his grumpy mood. But then again, she always knew how to bring out the best in him.

'These doors hold three different outcomes of a situation in your life that you could have changed. You need to find a way to make the trail you walk, come out a good one' she said.

'How will I do that?' Corso wondered.

'By making every call with the heart' said Merrin, before she vanished into thin air.

Corso watched the doors. He had to choose one. And make the right call.

He opened the door in the middle.

'Oh crap..' he said when he watched the situation...

'What's going on?' Sonny was tense as he checked the monitor on lifesupport for Corso. They were going crazy.

'I don't know. It never did this before' said a baffled Ahito.

Sonny seemed worried. As was D'Jok.

'No Corso, you got to make it, we can't loose you, not now!' he begged.

Sonny fell to his knees beside his bed. He took Corso's hand and held it tight.

'Stay with me Corso, don't you give up. If you can, draw from my strenght, but don't you leave me here'...

In the distance, Corso could hear Sonny's plead. It was like if he felt his friends hand hold his, as if to transfeer his own physical strenght to him. It made Corso feel extremely lucky. He had made the right call then. But in front of him, there was a situation that hadn't ended well. Corso recognized it. His wife, stood in front of their house. He hadn't come home yet .There was Technoid soliders standing there, talking to his wife. In the past, Corso knew what sight would have awaited him upon his return. This time, he had a chance to change it. Corso walked forth. He still had the injured eye, but that made it less obvious to his wife who he really was.

'May I help you?' he asked and stepped forth.

'Who are you?' one of the soliders asked.

Corso knew his current name was one given to him by his fellow pirates. The name Corso resembled honor, and courage. It symbolized the loyal solider he had been. His wife knew him under a different name. In the window of the kitchen, he could see his two sons. Last time he had seen them, they had been laid butchered on the ground. If there was any chance he could prevent this from happening, he would do it.

'The name is Corso. May I ask what is the buisness of yours around this lady and her children?' he asked mildly.

'None of your buisness, freak!' one of them said.

Corso felt his blood start to boil. There they went again. The minute you sustained an injury to your eye that left you depending on mechanics, you were concidered damaged goods. A freak.

' The name is not Freak, and I asked a polite question!' said Corso and walked closer.

For some reason, they seemed to fear him.

'The boys, they have to come with us!' said the one that seemed to be the group leader.

'Why?' Corso threw a glance over at the window.

He knew his sons age perfectly. They were too young to become soliders in this war.

'Technoid needs soliders!' stated the group leader.

'What technoid needs are grown men, not kids. You have any idea of the dangers you impose on the kids?' Corso asked and walked closer.

The group leader seemed to back away.

'This eye' Corso pointed to his mechanical eye.

'It's the result of the war. I was a child solider. You just called me a freak, think of how those words will effect these kids' said Corso.

It seemed he was reaching the leader. It came to a stare down between them. Corso came out the victorer.

'You're a clever man Corso!' the leader acknowledged.

'I hate to see young lives go to waste. They're of more use to society, if they become adults that contribute, rather than a cross in the graveyard' said Corso.

The leader nodded. Then, he turned to his men.

'We're leaving, these boys are too young anyway' he said.

Corso watched them as they left.

'How may I thank you, Corso? You saved us, you saved my boys' exclaimed the young lady.

Corso remembered her beauty. She would live on, rather than dying in a pool of her own blood. As would his sons.

' Nothing to thank for Ma'am. It was the right thing to do' he said.

Laura, his wife, looked closely at him.

'You remind me of someone' she said thoughtfully.

'Please, come dine with us' she said.

Corso nodded. It would give him a chance to talk to Ajon, and tommy...

'His pulse is going of the charts, we need to calm him' said Ahito, who monitored Corso closely.

But Sonny shook his head.

'Ahito, wait! I've read of this kind of reaction. Alina, you did say he needed to do the job of returning himself right?' he asked.

'Yes' Alina confirmed.

Sonny rubbed his chin.

'Then, what is going on, is him making his way back, little by little, we have to wait it out' he said.

'Sonny you remember what you told me about, if someone is severely injured, like Corso, that the sound of a voice of someone close to him or her, can help guide them back to us?' Rose asked.

Sonny nodded.

'And your plan is?' he asked.

'The one Corso trusts the most, that he cares the most for in this galaxy, is you Sonny. The sound of your voice, it might be the shining beacon that he needs to find his way. You should stay here, and talk to him' suggested Rose.

'It is a good idea, everything that can help, is a good thing' said Ahito.

Thran had been monitoring Corso's brainactivity on a screen.

'If you're right, little brother, the sound of Sonny's voice, should be reflected on the scans of his brain, if he responds to it' he said.

'Let's Check it then' said Bennett.

A quick look at the screen, confirmed Ahito's theory.

'Look at that Sonny. Everytime you adress him directly, there is a distinct peak in the charts' said a baffled Bennett.

'That settles it! I'll stay here with Corso. Bennett, you're in command, untill further notice!' Sonny said.

'Right, do your best Sonny' said Bennett and glanced over at Corso.

'I intend to' said Sonny.

If there was any hope, he was willing to grasp on to it...

Corso had finished the meal, and had a nice conversation with his sons, before he left. As soon as he reached the woods, he saw Merrin.

'Good work Corso. I must say you passed challlenge one in flying colours' she said.

'Something tells me, there are more of them up and coming' said Corso.

'Life on this side isn't all as boring as you'd like to think Corso. We do have our moments' said Merrin.

'I have no doubt' said Corso.

'What was it like to see your family again? Would you have concidered staying here with them?' she asked.

'In another life, yes. But, the pirates need me. I have to make my way back to them' he said.

Merrin nodded.

'The pirates.. they are your family, the ones you rely on. Have you ever wondered wheter you made the right call when the new leader was choosen? Did you ever conciderd the fact that maybe you should have let Technoid capture Sonny rather than making him one of you?' she asked.

'No! I never doubted my choise!' Corso said.

Was the next challenge connected to what happened back then? He was starting to get an idea of that.

'You better stick to that Corso, as you have a chance to see how it could have turned out, if Sonny wasn't your leader' she said.

Corso clenched fists. They sure didn't make it easy for you down here, they challenged everything that meant something to you. At first, it was the family he had lost. Corso all of a sudden started to think of what would be next. Or rather who? And could any decission he made here, effect Sonny? Corso started to worry. Merrin cought on to it.

'Something is bothering you?' she asked.

'These challenges.. do they have effect on the here and now out there?' Corso asked.

'No, they are just doorways to help you come to terms with losses you've suffered. And to make you appreciate what you have even more' Merrin said.

Corso hardened himself.

' Does this involve Sonny in any way?' he asked.

Merrin nodded.

'Few pirates have come closer or meant more to you than him. You've been there since day one for him, you've trained him and watched him grow with his responsibillity and his role. This next challenge, is one you remember very well. But, how it turns out, is up to you. good luck!' she said and vanished.

Corso turned. Three new doors. He walked to the right. But before he opened it, he hessitated. If the situation involved Sonny, how would he react? There was only one way to find out. He opened the door. The scene was familiar. Sonny's first mission for the pirates. Corso made his way forth in through the door...

'What the heck is going on?' said Artie. He had come to help Sonny change Corso's clothes. Sonny held Corso gently while he pulled of his top. Corso was seemingly calm for the moment. Sonny calmly felt his forehead, he felt normal. Artie pulled a shirt over his head. That's when Corso reacted.

'Sonny...' he moaned..

'I'm here Corso' Sonny tightened his grip slightly.

But Corso was lost to this world. In his inner mind, he apporached his best friend, before his mission.

'Sonny, can I talk to you, in private?' he asked.

Sonny had been making a backpack ready. He put it down, and took his arm, and led him to a hold where they were alone.

'What is it Corso?' he asked.

It was definately the same Sonny he had always known, but a slightly younger version of him.

'I don't know how to explain this. But if we sneak in, do you know any short cuts to Bleylock's office? Something tells me that he will be there watching' said Corso.

Sonny nodded.

'Corso, there are several routes to his office. But, if makes you feel better, we'll set up a few extra escape routes too' Sonny said.

Corso nodded. As a hunch, he laid a hand to Sonny's shoulder.

'We'll make it' he promised.

'He's running a fever, and he's hallusinating!' said a worried Artie.

But Sonny listened to what Corso seemingly rambled about. It wasn't coincidental. What the words refeered to, had actually happend, in his days as a rookie pirate.

'He makes more sense than you'd think Artie' Sonny said, as he placed a cold cloth on Corso's forehead.

'it all sounds like gibberish to me Sonny, no offence' said artie.

Sonny nodded.

'These things happened Artie, don't you recall?' he asked.

Artie sat down, and listened. Then, he looked to Sonny, baffled.

'You're right' he said.

'We'll stay here, he'll get through' said Sonny...

He had done it. He had cleared challenge two. Merrin appeared in front of him.

'You're getting the hang of this' she said.

'It's all about following the heart, right?' Corso said.

Merrin looked at him.

'Yes, but also, it connects with courage' she said.

'Right' Corso wanted to move on, but all of a sudden felt a strong urge to stay where he was.

Merrin looked over at him.

'You're sensing it' she said.

'Senising what?' Corso was confused.

'That someone is adressing you, in deep despair' Merrin said like this was a common thing for her.

Corso looked around, as if he could see who it was.

'Here, let me help you' grinned Merrin, and made part of the wall grow blank.

Corso looked at the scene, while a thick lump formed in his throat. Sonny, the coragous leader, fearless, who wouldn't hessitate to sacrifice his own life to save others, he had never ever seen him like this. It looked like he hadn't slept. Next to him, sat a tray of food, but it had not been touched.

'Oh Sonny, No. Don't do this to yourself. The pirates need you to be strong' whispered Corso.

He could tell that Sonny was everything but strong at the moment.

'For the time being, Sonny has pulled away from everyone Corso. He told Bennett to stay in command. Sonny is totally focused on one thing, YOU!' said Merrin.

'I need to get back so I can make him snap out of this' said Corso.

Merrin looked at him.

'The final challenge, is the most difficult one. In this, you will start to question yourself as well as Sonny's judgements. I wish you all the best of luck' she said.

But before she could vanish, Corso stoped her. He had enough of these games.

' If this final challenge is related to Sonny..'

'It is, but not the way you think' said Merrin.

Then she was gone.

Again, the doors appeared. Corso felt his heart pound extra hard this time. Merrin's words had sounded ominous, he knew he was sure not to like this.

He chose the door that represented the heart. A pirate always went fullhearted into whatever he started. Corso had a feeling this would be the worst of all his challenges. He walked through it. The sight that met him was every pirate's worst nightmare..

Corso wanted to turn around and run back, but the door was closed...

The sweating had increased. Sonny had dozed for a little while. If anything was to happen to Corso, he was going to be the first to know. D'Jok woke up from his nap.

'Dad?'

Sonny looked slightly up.

'Is he taking a turn for the worse?' D'Jok wondered.

'I don't know D'Jok. I may know a lot about science, but the science of the human brain, it's a largely unexplored territory. But right now, I wish I knew more, to see if there was anything I could do to make things easier for him' said Sonny.

D'Jok looked at his father. Sonny always seemed to have a solution to things, no matter what, but this time, he seemed lost.

'Sonny..' Corso's voice was a meer whisper.

'I'm here Corso!' Sonny clenched his hand hard.

' Don't challenge Hami Sonny, he'll murder you!' Corso said.

'He's hallusinating Dad, there is no way he could know anything about that' said D'Jok.

Sonny didn't answer. Corso's words had effected him. What ever was going on where he was, Corso knew something. Something of importance.

'Come back to me Corso, and explain why you're telling me to avoid this confrontation' he whispered..

Corso had been terrified by the challenge. Hami held his laser high, triumphant. It seemed he had won. On the ground, a few feets away, lay Sonny. Corso didn't know wheter he was dead or alive.

'Remove Blackbones carcass from my sight!' he yelled.

Corso moved closer. There was a lot of blood. Too much. Sonny couldn't still be alive if all of it came from him. Slowly, Corso lifted Sonny's body from the ground. He was awfully pale. Corso knew, even before he checked, that Sonny was gone. They lived the pirates worst nightmare. The loss of Sonny Blackbones. Corso felt warm tears fall down on Sonny's lifeless remains as he carried him back to the ship. It was strange how he sort of found his way back anyway, as his sight was blurred. The pirates fell to their knees and cried hollow as they saw Corso carry Sonny through the ship, towards the hold where they would keep their dead. This time, they all seemed to deflate like a balloon, as they all realised, Sonny was gone. When he reached the hold, Corso could see the coffins they always kept in storage. One of them stood out. It had never come to use, not untill now.

'Forgive me Sonny. It should have been me!' he cried, as he laid Sonny down on a bench. They needed to clean up the blood, before they could put him in the coffin. As of now, D'Jok Blackbones was the new leader of the Shiloh pirates.

'Dad!' Corso turned, to see D'Jok enter. He was pale as a ghost, and tears flowed freely.

'D'Jok..I'm sorry..i..I couldn't save him..' Corso stoddered.

D'Jok walked towards them, like he didn't see them at all. He fell to his knees. Corso wasn't sure how to react towards his bestfriends son this time. D'Jok seemed to be in despair. His own injuries wasn't even healed yet.

'If you hadn't gotten injured, none of this would have happened!' D'Jok yelled.

Corso knew the young man had to take his pain and anger out on someone when he realised his beloved father was gone.

0bdo. Without Sonny, I fear for the pirates future' Corso said.

D'Jok propbobly just heard half of it. He was crying sorely.

'I'm not ready to take Dad's place yet!' he sobbed.

'Sonny wasn't ready either when he was choosen as our leader D'Jok. He was thrown into it. What is the difference between him and us, is he accepted the challenge this posed. He stood up to it, and faced it. The result, is the most amazing leader the pirates ever had. Sonny had ideals, he thought us to fight for those ideals, to fight to win back our freedom. He showed us the way D'Jok. We will never forget him. And we will seek revenge for the loss of his life, but now, it's time to grief his loss, and bring him home one last time'.

D'Jok looked to Corso.

'Corso, micro- ice will always be my best friend, and Mei will always be the closest to me. But, in matters that concern the pirates, none of them can guide me, to lead you the way Dad did. You know his ways Corso, better than I do. Will you teach me, to lead the pirates in my father's spirit? I don't want his work to be for nothing'.

Corso nodded, and pulled D'Jok into an embrace. He had never shown any such emotions like this before. Was this where the challenge lay? Corso sank to the floor, he placed his hands before his face.

'I will D'Jok!' he whispered, before the sorrow overpowered him. D'Jok and Corso cried together for hours...

'It's time you make your choise' Merrin looked at him.

'I already did, I belong there, not here' said Corso.

'You are still as stubborn as ever' Merrin grinned.

'So, what do I do to get back?' he asked.

Merrin made a gesture with her hand. It seemed the plastic wall grew thiner and thiner.

'Go, You chose Sonny and your fellow pirates' she smiled.

Corso raised two fingers to his hat, before he again found himself floating directly above his own body.

Seconds later, for the first time in days, Corso opened his eyes.

'Hey there!' Sonny smiled warmly, as he carefully hugged him.

Corso smiled, and let him do it...

Corso looked out the window and into the wast space outside. He had been thoroughly checked and found to function normally. But the inner journey still haunted him.

'A million miles away huh?' asked Sonny, who just joined him in the livingroom.

'Just thinking. Did I ever talk while I was away?' Corso asked Sonny.

Sonny nodded. All of a sudden very serious.

'I don't know what to make of it Corso. It could be just deluissions, and it could be that you tried to tell me something from the other side?' he wondered.

Corso couldn't grab on to it.

' it feels like a dream, and yet, there is things that seems I should tell you' he said.

Sonny nodded.

'We have time before we return to genesis. We have to find a way to reinstate Duke Maddox as the head of Technoid first of all' he said.

'Why?' asked Corso.

'We will smoke Hami out, but siezing control of the situation. I talked to Duke Maddox. We will do things in a way that never before has been seen from our side. Hami will have to strike fast if he's to get through things. And what I plan, will be completely unexpected!' grinned Sonny.

'Then, tell me sonny!' said Corso.

When Sonny would talk like that, he'd get everybody fired up.

'We'll speak of it later Corso, one on one. For now, I want you to go top my cabin and get some rest. I'll see to it that you get some help if you need it' Sonny said.

Corso nodded. And walked side by side with his bestfriend, to the designated cabin.

Phew, this was a long one, but it couldn't be made shorter. D'Jok survived and Corso survived. But what did that last vision of Corso's mean? Is it a likely scenario to happen? And what is Sonny's plan? All of this in the following chapter.