They had done it.
A second time in a row.
D'Jok alllowed for Rocket, his troubled team mate this season, to accept the cup on behalf of the team.
This was becoming a theme for them.
The player with the most trouble of the season, was the one that accepted the cup for the team.
And this season had been hell for Rocket.
For D'Jok to make this call, he himself felt as if he had grown, as a team player, as a captain.
He needed the help of his team to keep himself humble, but he had led them to victory.
They were the equals of The Lightnings, equals to his hero, Warren.
After exchanging a few words with Luur, whom was a hero to his own people, and being congratulated by the captain of the oposing team, D'Jok heard a familiar voice in his ear.
"D'Jok. Its Sonny" he heard his fathers soft voice say in his ear.
"And your mom and sister" he heard next.
D'Jok looked around, feeling a little conscious of his surroundings.
He heard his father chuckle.
"No worries son. No one can hear us but you. Not even Aarch. We just wanted to congratulate you and your team on your win. And I want you to know, you can breathe easy now. Bleylock is really gone this time. You wont ever have to worry about him any more. Congratulations on your win son, Your mother and I are very proud of you" he said.
D'Jok struggled to hold back his tears, hearing this praise.
"Thanks Dad. Will I be seeing you at the celebration tonight?" he asked.
"No can do son. Things has changed, and the safest thing is for your mother, me and your sister to get out before Technoid gets on to our trail. So far, they have not gone after your mother, but after tonight, I fear that might change. We will head to the Shiloh nebula. You go on and celebrate with your team tonight. Maia will join you as support. Tomorrow, some of my men will bring you to the nebula to meet up with us there, after that, we will head home, to Shiloh city" Sonny informed him.
D'Jok wanted to protest, but he knew it would be futile.
The season was over, and they were on a break.
His father was the most wanted man in the galaxy, and from the sound of things, his mother was about to become a wanted person herself.
The only reason Sonny allowed him to stay, was that he was sure to have cameras on him, and be in the media light.
Technoid could not attack him while there.
That protection alone, allowed him to stay and celebrate his teams win with them.
If things were different, he would have been extracted now.
As much as he wanted to spend more time with Mei and Micro Ice, his entire team really, that was not possible to do at this time.
He had to join his mother, father and sister, in safe locations.
It was as if Sonny had read his mind.
"We will find a solution to that issue son, but we will keep our family together, in a safe environment. Your mother needs your help now, girlfriend or no girlfriend" Sonny said.
D'Jok nodded.
"Sure Dad, you know whats best" he said.
Sonny nodded.
"We will see you tomorrow Son. Have some fun tonight with your team. My men will come get you once its over. Its a shorter route to the meeting point from Genesis than from Akillian" Sonny said.
D'Jok agreed.
"I will be ready to go, after the celebration then" he promised.
Sonny nodded.
"Then we will see you tomorrow son. We are heading out now, before Duke Maddox can locate us. I don't want your mother stressed if I can avoid it" he said.
As soon as they said good bye, Sonny gave the order for all pirates to head out, to The Black Manta.
By the time Technoid found out, they would be long gone.
Duke Maddox had returned to his office after the disastrous match.
It had been settled by penalty shoot out, leading to the snow kids being two time champions.
Deserved or not, it was how it looked.
But what had happened to make the blast hit Genesis? And what exactly was it?
Duke Maddox had a sneaking suspicion, it was a flux explosion again, and if so, Sonny had failed in stopping Bleylock.
He had the feeling, he needed to use the satelites Technoid controlled, to get an idea of what had happened.
Before long, Duke Maddox had the video files available.
He could see how Sonnys ship was in hot pursuit of the smaller ship, how lasers were fired, in an attempt to stop the smaller ship.
A quick check in the registeres, confirmed the identity of the pilot of the smaller ship.
It was Bleylock.
Sonny did all he could to stop him, Duke Maddox could see how the big pirate ship overtook Bleylock, trying to form a shield between him and Genesis.
Sonny really put the well being of everyone on Genesis, before his own, and his men.
He had to admire that bravery.
He could not pin this on Sonny.
For now, he suspected, Sonny was preparing to leave, he would not stick around for long and risk being located and brought in.
He had given him a limited window, and Sonny was sure to take advantage of that.
For now, he would let them win.
A quick check, made him realise Helena and Shiloh had been discharged.
Duke Maddox nodded.
"I will let you go for now Sonny. You deserve a second change at your marriage. Take your family to safety, wherever that is found for a pirate like you. And take care of Helena, so I don't have a reason to go after you for that too".
D'Jok was spending time with his team, after the finals.
Two time champions.
Wow.
He had received a message from Warren too, congratulating him on his teams win.
Now, he found Mei on his side.
"I cant believe this D'Jok, we are two time, back to back champions. This is gonna give us all a boost. My modelling career is gonna skyrocket" she said.
"Does that mean, you are going straight back to work, once our holiday starts?" he asked.
Mei looked puzzled at him.
"D'Jok, you know I am a footballer first. But I am also a have to understand that I got a life outside of football too" she pouted.
D'Jok pushed himself off the bench he had been sitting on.
"I had hoped we would have some time for us, just being a couple too" he said.
Mei looked at him.
"I could always ask my agent to bring you into the commercials as well.." she offered.
D'Jok raised his hand.
"Just save it Mei, I guess, I am focused on other things than you. Like the fact I am the son of the most wanted man in the galaxy, I also have to deal with the fact that my own mother, whom just gave birth to my premature born sister, is in the process of becoming every bit as wanted as my dad. I cant have a normal family life, like you. I have to prepare, to go into hiding with them, somewhere in Shiloh. I don't expect you to understand that, I just stupidly hoped that you would" he said.
Mei looked at him, with her big blue eyes.
She could see the pain in his eyes, and there was nothing she could say that was going to change his view of her.
D'Jok could see the two unknown men, waiting for him in the shadows.
As painful as it was, it was time for him to leave now, and rejoin his family in the most secretive part of the entire galaxy.
On board The Black Manta, Sonny received the report from his men staying behind to keep his son safe.
He paid attention to what they said.
Then, he looked to Corso.
"Corso, how long till we reach the shiloh nebula?" he asked.
"We are six hours out if we take the westward route, eight with the southern" he reported.
Sonny nodded.
"Bennett, anything on the communication about Helenas and my status?" he asked.
"No, you are still wanted for 5 million Sonny, nothing on Helena as of now" Bennett reported.
Sonny seemed satisfied.
Then, a sound from Shilohs bubble.
Sonny smiled.
"I get you princess. These bubbles are no fun in the long run" he said, as he walked to a console and used his palm to open it.
The bubble that surrounded little Shilohs body, dissolved.
Clearly, the design Bleylock had once used to contain Sonny, had been improved,and modernized.
But Helena had not failed to notice her husbands reaction to seeing it around his little daughter.
Helenas heart sank a little seeing that.
Sonny would always appear strong, invulnerable.
But clearly, he was hiding his wounds.
Helena figured, the pirates had their habits, and they would stick to them.
She had best just try her best to be his wife and a mother to his children.
All the rest, Sonny and his men would deal with..
Harris had made his way from the match, the near miss match.
He should have had Bleylock further away before he allowed the flux devices to detonate.
It was a shame he had not taken Blackbones with him.
Harris somehow just knew that Blackbones was still alive and free.
Well, he would think both flux devices was used during this attack. Only Harris knew, it was only one.
There was no way Blackbones could know for sure that they only got half of it.
And now, it was time for him to disappear.
He had not bothered to tell Duke Maddox he was leaving his position.
He would be a fool not to get that.
Harris had gone to retrieve the last little flux device.
"Ah, my powerful little friend, we are going to change this galaxy together"..
Sonny was rocking little Shiloh in his arms.
Helena was still tired after the birth, so the medical staff they had on board, tended to her, putting her in a seat up on the command center.
Sonny looked at Corso.
"For her own safety, should something happen, strap her into the soft seatbelts. She is still a bit fragile, no need to make the ride worse for her" Sonny requested.
Artie got up and opened a panel on the back of Helenas seat, taking out a soft seatbelt, that he carefully strapped around her.
"All good Sonny. And what of little Shiloh?" he asked, looking at the baby in his boss arms.
Sonnys daughter seemed to already exhibit some of his personality traits, clearly, she was Blackbones bloodline.
"I think this little princess stays with daddy for now. There is lots to be learned about life as a pirate, might as well give you the tour. Just remember whom is the boss around here, me" Sonny said.
Shiloh made a sound, sounding like she was not impressed.
Sonny looked at her.
"Come on princess, I will show you around" he said.
As Sonny left the command center, he failed to see the sniggers from his men behind his back.
Their boss was becoming a soft dad, and all thanks to a little premature baby.
Corso chuckled.
"I think you just lost your position as the family boss in the Blackbones household Sonny, but I will let you find that out for yourself" he chuckled, as he safely guided The Black Manta towards The Shiloh Nebula.
The smaller ship had departed Genesis in secretsy.
D'Joks thoughts felt chaotic.
He felt insecure where he stood with Mei.
Maybe being the team captain had gone to his head.
But he felt hurt over feeling like Meis modelling career was more important than him.
Everyone else had seemed to move forwards somewhat after this win, being professional about it.
But he felt strangely alone in focusing on his teams future.
He decided to shake the thoughts.
He looked at the image of himself and Mei.
Was this already over?
He hoped not.
But he needed a rest, from the football, for at least a few weeks.
Then, he could talk to her, and see where they stood.
With that thought, he let the subject go.
In just a little while, they would reach the Shiloh nebula, and he would be transfered to The Black Manta, his fathers ship.
Holiday on Shiloh, sounded liken just what he needed now..