Helena didn't need Sonny to tell her what to do to help Mei cope.
She headed into the kitchen and made a cup of tea, the calming kind, to give to Mei.
D'Jok sat to Meis left side, holding her, as she was hiding her face.
Mei was crying.
She had thought this sponsor, this commercial was going to be it for her.
But she had no reason to doubt Sonny and Corsos information either.
These men were pirates, they had access to knowledge hidden from the rest of the galaxy, perhaps even from Technoid.
Helena smiled as she handed her the cup of tea.
"Here you go Mei. None of us blames you. You could not possibly know of this" she smiled to the frighened girl.
Sonny nodded with a soft smile to Mei, as he pulled Helena closer.
"It is doubtful that even Duke Maddox knows how dangerous this man is Mei. Corso and I have encountered him once before. And we were nearly both killed. Back then, he worked in a very dark corner of the galaxy, a place we know that pirates, before Technoid took over and ran the police, was a colony of slaves. I wont bother you with the details, all I will say, it was and possibly still is, a place where were very few ever escape, and live to tell the tale. The fact that he is now a bounty hunter means, whomever is his current employer, has asked him to infiltrate Technoid. And from all appearances, they have not forgotten mine and Corsos escape from the slave colony. Seeing my wanted poster, put me back on their list of possible income and influence. Nothing much I can do about that. The obia ambassador tried, and they didn't believe him. So what I will ask you Mei, is tell me as much about him as you can. I am used to dealing with bounty hunters, it comes with the territory of being wanted. But his cover as an agent on behalf of Technoid, is something we need to investigate, as something is off here" Sonny explained.
Mei looked at him.
"He has been in charge of flux brite toothpaste, and Grumble Shampoo.I really don't get much of a feel about him, other that he is impatient, and doesnt like to waste time. I am always exhausted after working with him" Mei said.
Sonny was rubbing his chin as he heard this.
Corso looked at him.
"Then he hasn't changed much from when we escaped him Sonny. Other than he has to be a lot more civil in this part in the galaxy. Really wouldnt have thought him to be able to do that" Corso said.
Sonny nodded, but it was clear, his mind had trailed off, back to those days in the camp no doubt.
Corso gently touched his shoulder.
"Come on Sonny, snap out of it. Its a long time ago, and we are both here. Dwelling on that past wont do you any good" Corso said
Sonny nodded.
"Whomever his contact within Technoid is, I don't think its Duke Maddox" Sonny said.
Corso agreed.
"Could it be that Bleylock might have had a partner, or an assistant at the very least Sonny? Cause I am sure he didn't seal his rocketports shut on his ship. If so, someone took care of a big problem for the galaxy" Corso pointed out.
Sonny still seemed thoughtful.
"We know its not Bleylock. Not even a hardened Abraxian could survive that blast, not at that close range. It seems likely that Bleylock had a partner alright, a partner that betrayed him. Bleylock would not take lightly on anything like that, and I can only see the multiflux as the reason he was taken out. What we now need to find out, is whom this partner was or is" Sonny concluded.
Corso looked at him.
"I hope you got at least some idea of how to do that then Sonny. We had no idea till now that he had a partner" Corso pointed out.
Sonny looked at Mei.
"You and Micro Ice are here for a full week. During this time, Corso and I will talk more with you Mei,find a way to keep you safe. If you can pretend not to know anything about whom he is, that would work in your favour. Other than that, Corso will remain your contact on Genesis. He will be operating out of there for the time being. If you feel anxious or in danger, contact him. Corso will make sure you stay safe" Sonny told her.
"But what can be done about this bounty hunter Dad? Him being this close, what if he finds the way into this city?That would put you and mom in danger wouldnt it?" D'Jok asked.
Corso smiled.
"No chance kiddo. Only the ones on the approved list can enter into the city, and always unarmed. He tries to come after Sonny in here, he is in for a surprise" Corso explained.
D'Jok seemed reliefed to hear that.
"You three better find your swimwear for tomorrow. Stevens and the others from the team is taking you to one of our hotsprings. Its a great place to get rid of some restless energy" Sonny adviced them with a smile.
The three snow kids seemed satisfied and reassured that they were safe, and went to D'Joks room.
"So, now what Sonny?" Corso asked.
Sonny smiled.
"Bleylock had one weakness, a weakness I now plan to take advantage of. He wasn't much of a people person, but he had a think for electronics. And I happen to know, he had an x 22 protocol model, that he used. We need to find it, in finding that, we will most surely be led to his assistant, and whomever orchestrated his death" Sonny explained.
Corso looked at him.
"I don't remember all the numbers and models, want to update me on what an x 22 protocol is?" Corso asked.
Sonny nodded.
"It is a robot cat Corso".
The following morning, Stevens, without a mask this time, came to pick up D'Jok, Mei and Micro Ice.
The three of them had hurried with the breakfast, as Sonny had come out of the Master bedroom, rubbing sleep from his eyes.
He also was only dressed in his boxers, making Mei almost drop her toast as she looked at him.
Wow, D'Joks dad was a real hottie.
From what she could see, he was muscles all over, strong arms and a very athletic physique.
D'Jok poked her.
"Mei, you are drooling, over my dad. A married man" he complained.
Meis face turned red, as she had been caught staring.
Sonny chuckled as he had noticed her gaze.
Mei worked as a full time model in the off season, this was known, and Sonny was not a shy guy.
In his home, he dressed as he pleased.
If Mei liked what she saw, then good for her.
"D'Jok only needs a little work out now and then, and he has a similar physique to mine Mei. What you see here, is D'Jok in a few years, if he is into staying fit that is" Sonny blinked to Mei.
Mei smiled.
"Maybe I could talk him into doing some of my contracts with me then. Its good to bring in a cute boyfriend that all the girls in the galaxy happens to know. If only he wont destroy things all the time" Mei said.
"Not my fault the producer was so boring, I would have had more fun watching paint dry" D'Jok complained.
Sonny poured himself a cup of coffe, and also pulled a black, tight fitted t shirt over his head.
"Sometimes, you got to suck it up when it comes to what you want to do, and what your job demands of you son. Or do you think being a pirate is always fun and games, or being a scientist working for Technoid for that matter? Feel free to ask your mother about that, or any other pirate that ever worked for them. I can assure you, the stories they have to tell, will make you eat your words" Sonny said,taking a sip of his coffe, while looking at the three teens.
Mei felt as if Sonny had helped her.
"That is true. I do a lot of commercials, not because I am the best model out there, and not because it is always fun. It is boring very often. But I also have to think ahead, and create my future while I am young. We wont always be playing football you know" she said.
Micro Ice nodded.
"True. We could suffer injuries that cuts our careers short, or worse. I mean D'Jok, just look at our parents. Before the glaciation of Akillian, they all had different lives to what they have now. Then, this freak accident happens, and it changed the lives for all of them. Your mother and Maia struggled. As did Mom Ice. I don't know your parents that well Mei, but I guess it was probably why she is so taken with you making a name for yourself, and a future now, maybe she is afraid of the past, what happened to her, could also happen to you" Micro Ice explained.
Sonny nodded.
Micro Ice was maybe the youngest of them all, but he had some moments, when he proved he was wiser than he let on.
"Being one of said parents, I can understand where Micro Ice is coming from,and he has a valid point. The past can repeat, if one is not learning, and on guard. That is always going to be a fear in this galaxy, as new wars are being plotted, that what happened before, could happen again. This is what my pirates and I aim to prevent. From time to time, we actually can join forces with Technoid, but most the time, we don't see eye to eye. So, consider Meis offer son, you might find that you learn something about yourself along the way. And now, you best get ready. Stevens called in, he is on his way, and he is more impatient than Corso. Go have fun today, you earned it. Its only a few days left until Mei and Micro Ice has to go back. I suggest you make the most of it while you can son, as I don't know when we can arrange for this to happen again" Sonny said, finishing his coffe, and heading back to the bedroom, in time to catch a slightly cross Shiloh Star, wanting her food.
The three Snow Kids stars got ready, and headed outside to meet Stevens.
Corso looked at all the information they had found.
There were images of Bleylock with an x 22 protocol.
But where was the blasted tin can to be found?
Bleylocks last known base had been Genesis.
As far as their records showed, Bleylock had been there since the first season that The snow Kids had played in the galacktik football cup.
But where could he have been hiding?
The pirates were never able to locate his base, except for where he had collected and mixed the multiflux.
And according to Artie and Bennett, and a lot of other pirates, they would be extremely busy if they were to check every nook and cranny of the man made metal star that spun around in space, for where one, now dead, ex technoid employee, had been hiding.
Sonny had agreed, and called off the search.
It was also risky with the attention from Technoid aimed at them, and especially at Sonny.
He had prioritized his family this time, and gone back to Shiloh, to lay low while the worst of things blew over.
And with a new baby, Sonny was sure to have his hands full.
Corso felt the pressure more now, as Sonny had delegated the investigative measures on to him.
Sonny meant business this time, and Corso was understanding more how hard the job as a leader was on Sonny.
That explained why he was always looking tired.
Well, it would be easier for him now.
Sonny would stay on in Shiloh city, in his new base, and home, wich was about ready to be moved into.
He, Corso, would do all the dirty work from now.
Corso decided to check up on the bounty hunter that has been led away, by using a clone they had of Sonny.
The charismatic leader of theirs, had been dressed how Sonny usually would look like, and had taken off in a small flying pod, making sure it was seen.
And the bounty hunter and his team had followed, leaving their base, they had flown through a grid the pirates had made,and had their memories of this place erased.
It should be safe now.
But Corso was a worrier by nature.
This bounty hunter was someone he knew from the past, as a ruthless and brutal person.
And it seemed, this individual was not only working with commericals for Technoid, he was a bounty hunter on the side.
Corso had a sneaking suspicion, Technoid might not be the only enemy seeking to find and seize Sonny to bring him to whatever their planets kind of justice were.
Whatever the case was, he had to be stopped from getting near Sonny now.
And Corso was gathering all material, and manpower, to keep the ones around Sonny and his family safe from harm, and of possible captures to apply pressure.
Corso had sought all connections he could find.
Bleylock was one, no surprise.
But there was an assistant in play, someone that seemingly had orchestrated Bleylocks death, and that person was a worry to both Sonny and himself.
Corso set the search parameters wider, to search the entire Technoid staff, for a clue as to whom the hidden enemy was.
Helena felt stiff as she stretched.
The bruising from Bleylocks attack was subsiding, but her body seemed to need extra time to catch up.
She had just burped little Shiloh and put her back in her crib, when she felt two soft, warm hands on her shoulders.
"The bruising is looking a lot better honey. But you look tired. Did the birth of our daughter become too much for you?" Sonny asked, sounding slightly worried, as he rubbed his hands in a massaging motion on her neck.
Helena sighed.
She really should tell him what Dame Simbai had found out when she did her tests, the tests that the staff at the hospital had failed to do.
At the moment, she had no idea if her illness had progressed further, giving birth to their second love child.
And Sonny was sure to be overly fuzzy of her, if she did.
He might even go back on his words, challenge Technoid head on, and start a new war, if he felt Technoid was somehow responsible for this.
Wich they werent.
It was just how her biological body was made.
A genetic defect in one of her now diseased parents.
There would be no more kids now, she knew that.
She would train herself strong, and take matters from there.
For the time being, she had to appear the strong partner Sonny needed.
Sonny needed her to be strong.
The uncrowned king of the pirates, needed his fearless queen by his side.
Helena sighed.
"No Honey. I am just calming down after all the stress I have been through. One day, my life was the one of the hard working mother, taking care of her son, looking for a spouse that may or may not be dead,and the next day, it all changed, when I found you, and the life you lead now. I am not complaining. I just try to adjust to having the life of my dreams, with the man I married" she said.
Sonny didn't seem to catch her playing over the real worry.
"We will settle here now Honey. You, me, and the kids. I made you and Corso the promise to be a stay at home dad, and to help you. I fully intend to keep that promise. All the other things, we will deal with as they rise. As long as we have each other, we don't need much more" Sonny said, placing a kiss on her neck.
Helena turned around with a small smile.
"You know, its been six weeks since Shilohs birth now. How about we celebrate that, in our own special way?" she suggested.
Sonny chuckled for a moment, as he understood what she was thinking of.
Gently, he lifted Helena into his strong arms.
"I think that sounds like a plan I could love very much" he concluded,carrying his wife back to bed.
They were in no hurry to go anywhere, and they deserved to sleep in.