Bennett felt exhausted. Corso and Sonny had been asking him questions for hours now.
He couldn't answer all of them, unfortunately. Bennett sighed. Corso looked at him and knew that was all they would find out. He was young when it happened, of course he wouldn't know everything. They also had what Micro Ice told them. The crests on the Flux tubes were of all the families of power on Abraxor. This was going to be a tough investigation, he could already feel it. And old ghosts would be woken from their sleep.
Sonny didn't know what to do. He was taking it in, thinking it over, trying to get a look at all angles before he'd make a decision eventually.
"Corso, you need to contact the Chissian military. We need to know what this creature is capable of. If this creation was made with help from Abraxor, it may hold more secrets. Bennett, I need you to look into your brother. If you have any idea of where he might possibly be hiding, let me know. I know it's unsure if he's alive but we need to know. He was a Flux Master. He might still be alive. I just hope this won't be too painful for you." Sonny said. Corso had saluted and went to work. He didn't like dealing with his past but he knew it had to be done. Especially with the safety of the Galaxy in the balance. Sonny stopped Bennett as he was about to leave and handed him a small vial.
"Get home and get some rest, you look exhausted. I'll have Stevens and Hawkins come over with Otis to cover your work for now." Sonny promised. Bennett nodded, thankful for the help. He then left for home. Now, Micro Ice was the only one left in the room with the two pirates, and he looked very out of place.
"Can I go, too?" He asked. Sonny smiled, he planned to play some Astro Golf with Duke Maddox. Micro Ice could join them as a caddy on that. Sonny placed his hand around Micro Ice's neck.
"You know how to play Astro golf?" Sonny asked. Micro Ice's eyes lit up.
"Of course. I'm always ready for a good time." He said.
The downloads were completed. And so far no one knew what he had access to. To go after Sonny Blackbones closest men had been a good idea. Two of them were already involved. The prisoner smiled. His masters would be pleased to know who held the remaining key to the doomsday weapon.
On a moon near Akillian, a masked figure looked over the data that was sent to him. He finally knew where the final key was. Of course the Pirates were involved. He needed to bring the key bearer to Abraxor. His palmprint was needed to activate the weapon. But for now, he had other matters to deal with; The Flux Society. They had stood in his way ever since the Flux Wars. But they didn't know about this weapon, concealed in the Abraxor mountains. The most powerful weapon ever built. But to operate it, he needed a fuel source. He needed Flux. A lot of it. But the Flux Society's rules made it difficult. If it wasn't for Micro Ice, they wouldn't even be detected. That said, this was planned. It was all planned.
And then there was Grandmaster Brim Balarius. He could not be trusted. Even if his grandfather pretty much owned him thanks to some past dealings with his family. For now, he was to take over the Flux Society for him. That would also give him all the information he needed for his plans.
The figure pulled up a list of Flux masters that caught his interest and smiled. Soon, they'd serve their real purpose.
Dame Simbai was thinking about the message from Brim Balarius. She wondered where he got his information from. Balarius had some connections she didn't know about. But the message said it had to happen as soon as possible, so she had no choice but to call and set up a meeting with Sonny as soon as he could find the time.
Corso looked at his messages. The top officials in the Chissian army wanted a holo conference. Great. Even though he managed to improve, he still hated to deal with people in… conversation. At least Callie and Sonny helped him in that regard.
Soon, he had the General and the colonel with him on the call.
"We have looked at your request, Sergeant Blackbones, and after careful consideration, we have decided to declassify the files you requested." The Colonel informed. Corso nodded.
"Thank you Sir. I recognized the prisoner as someone from Operation Scout. Can you tell me more about this?" He asked. The General rose from behind his impressive desk.
"We already gave you highly classified information. Don't push your luck." He said. Corso nodded. He was aware this wasn't going to be easy.
"I understand Sir, but I figured we would be able to help." He tried. The Colonel looked at another Officer and Corso regretted speaking up. This Officer spoke up next.
"That said, we might indulge if you help us with an issue; the scientists on that Operation have vanished. They were en route back to Chissia from Abraxor, when all communication was cut off. We haven't found anything since. Twelve of our greatest minds vanished. Among them was… someone important to me." The General said, his voice barely audible.
"General, if you let me know what is going on, we can help return them to safety." Corso suggested carefully. The General sighed before he looked at Corso. Corso was taken aback by just how fragile he looked.
"I would like that." The General said softly. Corso nodded.
"Who should I look out for?" Corso asked. The General sighed, and nodded to the Colonel to send Corso a file. As Corso received it, he saw a man, dressed in a lab coat. Not entirely unlike Sonny back in the day, but with brown hair and blue eyes. Corso looked at the name.
"Craig Benton. I've heard of him." Corso said. He remembered this man from the ceremony for his fallen comrades from Platoon 33. The General looked at him sadly.
"We suspect they went rogue. Craig was at one point into Flux studies, before the mishap at Technoid that led to Akillians glaciation and Sonny and his partner having to become fugitives. Sonny and his partner beat him to it, and that made him feel inferior. He was determined to prove he was better. And Flux was the way he intended to do it before he disappeared. If I only could talk to him, I could convince him that his ways are wrong. That he needs to come home." He said.
"We'll find him, Sir, and we'll find out what's going on." Corso assured him.
Bennett was dead tired when he came home. He remembered pulling all nighters with no issue. Being a free man had changed all that. He headed for bed immediately. He laid down on his back, staring at the ceiling. His thoughts drifted back to the days on Abraxor. Him and his brother playing in the woods outside the mansion. As a child, he wasn't aware of the power plays going on between his family and the Bleylocks. The Erwholers were well liked, and often a catalyst in conflicts between other families of power. They also treated the ones that worked for them well. Bennett remembered days when he would be given Crazy Flux Candy, his favourite candy by the candy lady as they called her. His mother and father ruled fairly and with Bleylocks... they were the Erwholers opposite. They treated their people as slaves, as a resource they could exploit. This brought them to brother, Bertrand, used his Flux, concealed off course, to protect them, until the day he wasn't around, and The Erwholers were attacked. Bennett had locked that part out of his mind. But now, the memories came rushing back. The shooting that killed so many of his family. His father and mother died first. He was just a kid, if it wasn't for his aunt, he'd be dead. He remembered crawling to his dying father, how his aunt held him, and an item his father gave him, covered in blood. The key, that was now safely stored in Sonny's night, some friendly farmers had helped the surviving Erwholers escape the mansion and into a farmer's camp. They stayed there for a few years, posing as poor farmers, where Bennett had learned to lay low and sneak around in the dark. As soon as he was old enough, a group of elite soldiers from Chissia came to bring him somewhere safe, and raised on the Obia moon. That was the last he saw of his parents. Maybe they were found and butchered too. He had no idea. As for his brother, he heard stories that when Bertrand returned and found what The Bleylocks had done, he declared war, and several members of the Bleylock family were killed. But Bertrand himself was never seen now Sonny wanted to look for him. Bennett didn't know how to feel. He had seen Artie find his father,and Sonny had found his own son. It was not like all hope was lostBennett felt like his head started to spin. He took two of the pills Sonny had given him, and was asleep the moment his head hit the pillow.
They had reached the Astro golf course. Sonny instructed Micro Ice how to behave. Micro Ice nodded. Just being quiet and listening to any information they could use, he could do that. As they exited the car, Sonny opened the trunk and pulled out his clubs."I never took you for an Astro golfer." He said. Sonny smirked as he adjusted his cap."This is just to amuse Duke Maddox, and keep things friendly between the Pirates and Technoid." Sonny said as another car rolled up next to his. Micro Ice saw the Tecnoid logo on the side. Had to be Duke Maddox."There you are Sonny. It's a glorious day for Astro golfing. Technoid has made some new contracts lately, a large shipment of specialized droids for a smaller company. I brought my new associate, Mister Craig Benton, to celebrate the deal, I hope you don't mind?" Duke Maddox asked as he exited his car."Not at all, Your Excellency. The more the merrier." Sonny replied, as he held out his hand for a shake. As they did. Sonny looked around."Where is your associate, if I may be so bold?" Sonny asked."He insisted on driving here himself in case he got a call from his company back at Chissia. I swear those people don't know how to just relax." He grumbled. "But he's placed a large order of Droids so I'd rather not annoy him." Sonny did his best to contain his associate was Chissian? And they put in a large order of Droids? That didn't quite add up. Chissia was advanced enough with their own technology, maybe even more advanced than Technoid. Why would they need to buy Droids? This raised Sonny's suspicions. A sound came from the parking lot. A black car, with a strangely familiar logo parked next to Duke Maddox's limousine. Micro Ice had to stop himself from gasping. This looked like the cars he saw during his captivity. Whoever drove it could be part of the group that was after car's door opened and a relatively young man stepped out. He was maybe a few years younger than Sonny, with brownish hair and blue eyes."Lovely weather, isn't it? Perfect for a round of Astro golf." He said as he shook hands with Duke Maddox."Professor Benton, I'm sure you have heard of my associate, Sonny Blackbones. Former Pirate Leader and now the man who handles my company's security." Duke Maddox said. The professor turned to Sonny."A true honor Mister Blackbones. Or does 'Professor' sound better to you?" He asked. Sonny studied the other man. The remembrance of his old life made him feel, well, old.
"I don't really do titles. Please, just call me Sonny." Sonny replied politely. When the professor turned towards him, Micro Ice knew this was Professor's eyes narrowed as he looked at him. Micro Ice took a step back."You sure know how to pick your Caddy, Blackbones. It's a real pleasure to meet a venerable Snow Kid. Pleased to meet you, Micro Ice." He said with a small smirk.
There's trouble. Who is this man? And does he recognize Micro Ice? More about this character in the coming you Paranoidgirl, for your help and suggestions.