Micro Ice shook Professor Benson's hand, trying his best to hide the nerves. This man was the same that captured him, he was sure of it. If this man was working with Duke Maddox, it was only a matter of time, before trouble started. He looked over at Sonny, trying hard to hide his fear. Sonny walked over to him with a cap and a pair of sunglasses on. He looked up and waved the two others to go ahead, gesturing to his holophone.
"Put these on. The light can be sharp." He said, giving Micro Ice a pair of sunglasses. Micro Ice put them on. Sonny took his arm.
"We'll talk about it when we're done. Stay calm and keep your eyes and ears open. He can't harm you here, there would be too many witnesses." He said. Micro Ice swallowed softly.
"Sonny, The professor is the one that was at the warehouse on Akillian, I'm sure of it." Micro Ice said. Sonny rubbed his chin for a moment.
"Just follow my lead. Let's focus on getting him to talk about what he specializes in. Ask about his research. Can you pretend that you are considering a path in science? I can give you a few safe pointers." Sonny asked. Micro Ice nodded.
"I actually did read some of yours and Clamp's old studies. I was curious." Micro Ice said. Sonny nodded with a small grin.
"Look at the future scientist." He smiled. Micro Ice grinned.
"Just… eager to learn." He said with a certain level of pride in his voice. Sonny smiled.
"Just follow my lead."

So that was where Micro Ice had been hiding. This might prove interesting. Especially with a renowned Scientist like Sonny near him. Perhaps he could convince the man to invite him to his home…
"I would like to start the game." Craig called out to them. Sonny smiled as they joined him.
"Sorry. My wife wants me to pick up some groceries on the way home." Sonny replied with a sheepish smile. "She's pregnant and can't do it herself."
"So who should I congratulate on being the father?" Duke Maddox said, as he shook Sonny's hand. Sonny laughed.
"Both me and Corso. While both of us have our concerns about our heritage; Corso's family has a genetic disease and I have some severe allergies, we don't think it's important who the biological father is." Sonny said, in a firm tone, making it clear this was not a subject for debate.
"I have too much work to have one spouse, let alone two." Craig Benson said. Sonny nodded. That description had once fitted himself. Being so absorbed in his work that he forgot about everything else. Sonny didn't likebeing reminded of it. And the fact Micro Ice was afraid of him didn't help matters. Sonny took a deep breath. He needed to focus on the matter at hand.
"It's far more rewarding than you'd think. I like both my spouses." He explained.
"How about we start our game? I feel like I am going to have a very good day." Maddox said, taking them back to reality as they started their game.

D'Jok looked over the latest interview request for his father as he yawned when he felt Mei's hand on the shoulder.
"D'Jok, at some point, even Sonny has to face the press. Why don't we help him handle this stage fright of his?" Mei said. D'Jok nodded.
"I agree Mei. A little chatter about things not pirate related would do him good. It should take the pressure off of other things." He mused. Mei smiled.
"Callie told me a lot of people want her to do an interview with both her husbands. They're all the rage. Everyone wants to know everything about them, especially Sonny, two times the sexiest guy in the galaxy" Mei winked. D'Jok laughed.
"You too? Ah, man..." He joked. Mei just blinked.
"Just seeing things as a woman. He is hot, so is Corso. Are you jealous of your father?" She winked at him. D'Jok rose from his seat, a flirtatious smile on his face. D'Jok took Mei and held her close.
"Should I be? I got half his dna." He asked before kissing her passionately.
"Not when you're like this. Come on." Mei replied, as D'Jok closed the bedroom door behind them.

They were on the third hole, and Professor Benson was already getting on Sonny's nerves. The man was brown nosing to both him and Maddox, barely paying attention to Micro Ice, who he suspected was his target. Was he wrong? Professor Benson started talking about how he tried to make his own synthetic Flux.
"Didn't you make such a flux once, Sonny? I would have loved to study the mixing process more closely. It is so hard to create that energy from nothing." Professor Benson said. Sonny took aim and managed a hole in one on the third hole. Micro Ice felt like Professor Benson was getting a little too close for comfort.
"Correction professor; I had a partner. And it was the biggest mistake I've ever made. It cost so many lives of Akkilian." Sonny said, as he let Duke Maddox lead the way to Hole Four.
"You aren't even the slightest bit curious what would have happened if it succeeded?" Professor Benson tried. Sonny shook his head.
"It was the worst mistake I ever made. I ruined my own life along with many others, and I'm glad we put an end to it. Take my advice and quit while you can. Before you hurt other people or yourself." He said. The Duke rubbed his chin when Professor Benson took his shot. He seemed interested in the project he was proposing. He had to act. When the professor returned from his run at the hole, Sonny put an arm around Micro Ice's shoulders. The young man took a deep breath as he got ready to follow the line Sonny gave him.
"I was wondering professor, what's the field you specialize in?" He asked. Professor Benson looked at him.
"I'd love to tell you about my research Micro Ice, not a lot of young people these days care about this kind of science." He boasted. As soon as he looked away, Sonny nodded to Micro Ice. Well played. Now, they had to see what his next move was.

As they returned home after an afternoon on the green, Micro Ice looked at the memory sticks he was given by the professor.
"He has a LOT of research." Micro Ice said to Sonny as he looked at the bag with the memory sticks. Sonny nodded.
"I've heard his name before. Now I wonder about his research. Let's have Corso check the sticks for viruses first." Sonny said as he started the car. Micro Ice nodded.
"What do you think he's after?" He asked. Sonny gave it some thought before he replied.
"I can only really rule out things. The droids his company ordered from Technoid, is odd. This man is from Chissia, Corso's home planet. Their droids are far more advanced than Technoid's. Why not buy from them? He's after something else. I'm going to find out what." Sonny said, keeping his eyes on the road.

Corso was waiting for them when they got home. Sonny could see he was troubled. He walked over to Corso and started to massage his neck.
"The Chissian military drove a hard bargain, didn't they?" Sonny asked mildly. Corso looked down. Callie joined them.
"Sonny, Callie, do you recall the ceremony on Chissia? The one in honor of my fallen comrades?" Corso asked, trying to let the tension in his neck and shoulders go. Sonny nodded.
"It was beautiful. Something they deserved." Sonny recalled. Corso nodded.
"Do you also recall the Scientists that were there? The ones that cooperated with Abraxor?" Corso asked as he looked up.
"Did you record the conversation with the Chissian military? I would like to hear it." Sonny asked gently. Corso nodded, and played the file. Sonny immediately got why it stressed Corso out. The entire team were clones? And Professor Craig Benson was involved. The very same man now doing business with Duke Maddox. Something wasn't right. Sonny took his laptop and searched the scientists, using Corso's clearance codes.
He soon found answers. They had all been active in Operation Scout. The being in their captivity, was a result of the combined efforts of a science team from Abraxor, and this team that Professor Benson was a part of. They tried to create a super spy. That explained their methods. They needed to know more about Operation Scout. But Sonny had other worries as well. Like Professor Benson and this Flux research. Especially with his connection to Technoid. This man was bad news. He looked over the information again. The Abraxor team had also vanished. That felt strange.
Why would they just abandon everything? And what did Benson have to do with this?
If these two teams had gone rogue and joined forces outside Abraxor and Chissia, in a time that coincided with the Flux Wars, They might just be the ones behind it. He had to know more. He looked at Micro Ice.
"You really helped us out getting those sticks, Micro Ice. Thank you." Sonny said. "I might even turn back something I once did." Micro Ice looked at him, confused.
"What do you mean?" He asked. Corso also wondered. Sonny smiled as he looked at them.
"Would you like to become a Pirate, Micro Ice?" he asked.

Well well, Micro Ice is finally becoming a Pirate.
How will he fare? Keep reading and the answers will be revealed. A big thank you to Paranoid girl for her excellent beta work.