They rushed through the emergency room with Helena. During the drive there, she had started bleeding. When Sonny had noticed, he felt like his heart sank.
The baby. They were loosing the baby from the look of things. And with what he now knew about her medical history, they were not going to have another child. Her pregnancy was as high risk as it got. And as her husband, he had brought her into danger. It didn't matter if he tried to do the right thing. He still put her in danger, in his eagerness to build a better life for the both of them.
"My wife..she is pregnant, five and a half months.." he whispered.
He felt the doctor touch his shoulder.
"We will do our best Mr Blackbones, but I cant guarantee the child will make it. Your wife is loosing a lot of blood too" he said.
Sonny nodded.
"Doctor Parks is a dear friend of mine,he is her treating physician. Call him on this contact code. He can give you the details of her medical condition" Sonny said and quickly wrote the contact code down.
The doctor nodded as he took the note.
"I will see to it Mr Blackbones. The baby will be born. With your own credentials, do you have any experience with premature babies?" he asked.
Sonny felt his heart sink as he heard that. The baby had to come out now, much too soon, to even survive on its own.
Not ideal, considering their status. What this meant for Helena, and him as a couple, he didn't want to think of.
The most important thing was, if at all possible, to save them both.
"No, I don't. But if it is necessary to save the baby, then do it" he said.
The doctor nodded.
"If there are anyone that needs be notified, I suggest you do it now, while we induce the birth. We are headed into some rough days from what I can tell" he said.
Sonny nodded. As the doctor left, he could feel the tracker was activated. That reminded him of his status. Duke Maddox still had him captured. And now, also Helena. He needed to make sure Helena and their baby was not used to force his hand in this matter. Sonny went to the waiting area of the hospital, to wait for Duke Maddox there. The way things had developed, he had to consider the offer that Duke Maddox had put on the table. It didn't feel right, but if it assured his wife and child to get the best care, he would do it, but with a heavy heart.
D'Jok had been informed by Corso of what had happened to his mother. The only good thing was, Sonny was with her. But as Corso suggested, there was every chance that his father and mother also needed him there. It was two days away from the finals. D'Jok knew he should be focused on training with his team, now that Tia had managed to bring Rocket back, but for once, Aarch told him, he needed to take time out for this. D'Jok was worried when he arrived at the hospital. His father was still considered a prisoner, he had no idea if he was under guarding or not. And he had some concerns for his mother as well. As he arrived, he was led to her bedroom. A football star like him, needed privacy with his family. As he entered, Sonny looked up. He sat next to Helenas bed. Helena was sleeping, still very pale, but alive. What caught D'Joks eye, was Sonny having taken his t shirt off, and holding something under a blanket to his chest. His baby sister.
"Dad?" he whispered.
Sonny looked up at the sound of his sons voice, then, he smiled when the tiny baby stretched her hand under the blanket and made a small sound.
D'Jok was in awe. He was no longer an only child. Then, he heard Helena sigh, as she opened her eyes.
Then, she looked at Sonny.
"Honey, have you fed her yet?" she whispered.
Sonny nodded as he looked up.
"An hour ago. Right now, we are just cuddling, and bonding. I think she might pull through, she is a Blackbones after all" he said.
D'Jok pulled up a chair.
"Have you named her yet?" D'Jok asked.
Helena smiled.
"We have. D'Jok, meet your little sister, Shiloh Star Blackbones" Helena said.
D'Jok smiled as he gently touched the small hand that rested on his fathers bare chest.
"I am your big brother Shiloh. You may not know it, but I will make sure you stay safe and that you always have someone to talk to" he whispered as Sonny carefully lifted her over to her brothers arms as he sat down.
The two watched their son communicate with the little sister he had loved from the day he learned of her existence.
How embarrasing! He should have made a clean get away, instead, the pesky pirates and Technoid joined forces against him. He never pictured himself locked up in a technoid prison cell. What annoyed him even more, was that Sonny Blackbones was sure to benefit from this. Him now being captured, was all Duke Maddox needed to be convinced, Sonny was speaking the truth. As gullible as he was, it would not be hard for Sonny at all, to be let of the hook. Why did that pirate always seem to have a winning streak when it came to him? He received no news about Helena and her baby. With any luck, Sonny was now grieving the loss of them both. Well, it would not take too long before he would follow her, when Genesis was blown up. He could find a way to make a jail break. Abraxians were quite skill full like that. Bleylock started to check the prison for weaknesses. His metal leg and arm had features that Sonny or Technoid didn't know about. With the hidden tools, it would only take hours to get out. He had to get in contact with Harris, he was about the only allied he had left. But first, he would humour them all, allowing them a small interrogation. Give Sonny a real scare, before he would vanish from view, and make sure he could not be found, until it was too late. With that idea in his mind, Bleylock calmed himself. He actually looked forwards to seeing them in the eyes, one last time.
Sonny knew his time with Helena would be short. And he had to find a way to make sure she could not be held with the baby. As much as he wanted to, he could not fully trust Duke Maddox. He was in it for his own benefit. As long as he could use his skills as a scientist, Sonny had made sure Helena was safe. But now, he was forced to consider the deal Duke Maddox offered. Shiloh was premature alone raised some difficult issues for him. He didnt want to miss out on this like he had with his son. He needed to have as much information as possible, before he made his judgement call. What was important, was Helenas health. And Shiloh Stars. Her Doctor had come to see her and the baby, and given a special formula for little Shiloh, to strengthen her. Worst part, was seeing all the bruising on Helenas fragile body. Sonny didn't much care about physical appearance normally. She was his love, no matter how she looked. But these bruisings, made by a metal arm, had left marks. Nothing broken, but Sonny was well aware of her fragile body possibly sustaining internal injuries. Until he knew, he would stay here by her side.
And then what? There was several options available. Sonny had to look at all of them, even the uncomfortable ones.
Duke Maddox had promised him till the end of the week, but then, a decision had to be made. And Sonny kind of felt like a caged animal, because he lacked the relevant information. If Shiloh was strong enough, after the finals, and if she could handle it, Sonny would make sure to hire someone to help Helena in Shiloh city. But they were not staying on Genesis. Helena would need time to recover from her ordeal, and with a premature baby, peace and quiet was more necessary than ever. Sonny closed his eyes for a sec, as he let his finger gently stroke Shilohs face.
He couldn't do it. He could not sacrifice himself to Tehcnoid again. His place was with them, with the pirates. What he had to do was now clear. He had to fake it, hoping Helena and Shiloh was strong enough, get the needed equipment for a premature baby, and Helena loaded on board the Black Manta and get someone staffed that could help them care for their precious baby, someone that knew how to deal with premature babies,and take them to Shiloh City. Off course, that meant that his bounty would be upped, and that Helenas poster would be circulated, but he had no choice. He could not readjust to Technoids demands, no matter how much he was offered immunity. He was a fullblooded pirate now, he couldn't change that, any more than Helena could. They would have to deal with their son and his grievances later. But Sonnys mind was made up. He was going home, with his family, come hell or high water.
Corso had just viewed the latest reports. Technoid and The pirates were scrambling, to locate the flux devices. Even Duke Maddox doubted they could make Bleylock speak about where he had stored it. And from the look of things, he had a helper. Whom that was, no one knew, the helper had managed to evade suspicion, by staying in the shadows. What was clear was, they had to find the flux devices first of all. They had already seen what harm it could do, on Obscurantis. Obscurantis was in a mist for days, but then, it cleared, and allowed for the smog to return. Wich led to the shadows playing the Xenons for the spot in the finale. Despite a fierce battle, the shadows ultimately lost, and The snow kids would be facing The Xenons in the finals. Corso knew this would be a hard match. The Xenons were fierce, and hardly afraid of anything. If the Snow kids ever faced defeat from somewhere, it would be from them. He hoped they were ready for such an event. The Snow Kids had been on an uphill streak ever since Sonny and Clamp had removed the meta flux. He could still remember the day, when Sonnys life had changed, for the better. He was so happy for him, Sonny deserved this, after all he had done for the galaxy, and the pirates. Corso smiled when he thought of his most recent visit. Sonny wasn't being guarded at the hospital, not that they had to. Technoid had put a tracker on him, one Sonny couldn't remove for the time being. They had eyes on him all the time now. But to see how careful Sonny treated his little premature born daughter.. Normally, the galaxy saw him as a hardened pirate, what Corso saw, was the dad in complete awe at his daughter. She was so tiny, like a doll. And yet, those tiny hands held the heart of whom he considered to be the bravest man in the galaxy. And Helena..her bruising was bad. All over her body. Bleylock could not be considered a man. A real man never attacked women like that. As a chissian military soldier, Corso had respect for women, and for Helena, more than most. The choices she had made, and the sacrifices she made, spoke volumes of her charrachter. She proved over and over just why Sonny fell so hard for her. And she was the perfect spouse for him. Bleylock was going to pay for what he did to her. With that Corso was about to return to work, when he noticed he had a message. It was Sonnys frequenzy. And the message was in ancient shiloh, the pirates own code langguage. Corso read through it, then he smiled. Sonny had finally made a call about the offer he was given by Duke Maddox. And from this list, Sonny was getting ready to return to pirate life, a life that wasn't as active as being in the line of fire. He would still be their leader, but he had obligations towards his family as Sonny made the call to follow an advice he had given him often over the years. He would stay in the shadows, at Shiloh city, to be a husband for Helena, and a father to little Shiloh Star. Corso was not worried for him while there. Sonny, while being in Shiloh City, would be safe from harm, in a secure enviroment. Corso also had noticed Sonny added an attachment. He opened it, and smiled. Seemed the pirates would get to do some physical labour for their boss. The drawings of the house was amazing. Sonnys dream home. Corso decided to ask the crew, whom would be interested in building work, as soon as he made sure the needed supplies and personnel was in place to care for a premature baby.
Sonny had hoped to be left alone with his wife and newborn for as long as he could. Duke Maddox still had not removed his tracker, meaning, Technoid still had him in their grasp. Well, temporarily that was. Now, Sonny received a call.
"Sonny, your presence is requested, at the holding cell at Technoids north office building. Bleylock is to be interrogated, and I imagine you got a few things you want to say to him" the message read.
Sonny closed his eyes. Bleylock..he nearly killed his wife and newborn child. And now, he had to face this monster, without punching his teeth out. Off course, this was something Technoid would hope he would do. Footage like that was sure to tighten their grip on him, and actually have something on him to bring him to trial for. They could murder him afterwards, and claim this was his doing. But on the other side, they still had not found the flux devices that Bleylock had made. He had been there, helping to search the hidden lab. From the equipment, he and Clamp had accessed, there would have been made at least 3 devices. One, they knew had been used to cause the incident on Obscurantis. With that drawn out, they remained with two devices, possibly more powerful than the last one. Sonny and Clamp had tested a small sample. The multi flux was stronger than the meta flux, and they already knew the harm that mix was capable of. They had Bleylock cornered, but he would not give up his way to the ultimate power. Unless.. Sonny knew it was a gamble, given his situation, but he had to ask Duke Maddox, if he could have access to certain liquids and a small lab. He planned to mix a truth serum, one powerful cocktail, to put Bleylock under pressure. With this serum, Bleylock would talk, and he would be unable to lie. If this didn't work, and they could not find his assistant, Sonny feared what would happen. Once he got the message back, that his request was granted, Sonny showed it to a doctor at the hospital. He was immediately shown to said lab. Now, this was a matter of the survival of the galaxy, and Sonny never felt the pressure any harder than he did now.
Bleylock was in chains where he sat. Sonny would once have felt sorry for him, but now, not at all. This monster..he had threatened and tried to exploit his family, from the start. First, he tried to blackmail his son to do his bidding, then, he tried to beat his wife to death,and in turn, murder his newborn daughter. No matter how he looked at it, there was absolutely nothing to his actions, that were mitigating.
Duke Maddox sat down first, before Sonny sat down beside him. Bleylock looked less than impressed when he looked at them.
"My my, isnt this cozy? Blackbones and Maddox side by side. An unlikely bromance, but if it serves your needs.." he smirked.
Sonny stared at him.
"You are going to tell us, where are the flux devices you made with the flux you extracted from the sphere" he said.
Bleylock looked at him.
"You have not found them yet? Well, that is too bad. I would have thought that by now, the galaxy was safe again, thanks to you, or maybe its the grief that your wife and child is no longer with you, that makes you lie like this? Helena is too fragile to survive such treatment as I gave her" Bleylock taunted.
Duke Maddox had to react fast, to keep Sonny from launching at the monster in front of them. To hear Bleylock speak of someone Sonny loved more than life itself, this way, was clearly getting to him. Sonny took a deep breath, to calm himself some.
"Helena is still alive, no thanks to you. As is my newborn daughter, Shiloh Star. Sad to say Bleylock, but you are one that hits a pregnant woman. You can not be considered strong. Helena has your strength tenfolds, and little Shiloh Star, even more. I am a better person thanks to them. You don't deserve mercy. Not with what you have become. You will never rule this galaxy, or anywhere else" Sonny managed.
Bleylock looked at him.
"And who is going to stop me Blackbones? You and your puny pirates? I have already won. You will never find the flux devices in time, my assistant will see to that. You better start to prepare to say good bye to your son, and all you ever known, you wont be around much longer" he said.
And that became the last sensible thing they got out of him. Despite their best efforts, Bleylock did not spill the beans. After a few hours, Duke Maddox signalled for Sonny to talk to him outside the interrogation room.
"He must be immunized. My serum is one of the most powerful inventions I made. He should not be able to withstand it" Sonny said, clearly frustrated with the entire situation.
Duke Maddox nodded.
"Sonny, I got one last trick up my sleeve to make him show us where he has hidden it. I will need your men to help me track him. In exchange for this favour, I will release you from custody. I will even make sure you can head wherever you need safely, with your family. Consider this a gift Sonny, a thanks from Technoid for your work, for protecting the galaxy. This deal remains between us. Outwards, Technoid will still continue the hunt for you, I will make it seem like a jail break. I will have to up your bounty, to five Million, and Helenas poster will also circulate, with a bounty for three million, eight million for the both of you. If you can save the galaxy this time, you have well earned it" he said.
Sonny didn't need time to think this time. He had already put things in motion for the exact scenario he was now presented with. Duke Maddox didn't need to know that. He would be free to walk away, with his family, to the safety of Shiloh City, while the rest of the galaxy carried on as normal.
Sonny nodded silently, as he took Maddox stretched out hand and shook it.
"Your Exellency, you got yourself a deal"