Corso checked through the messages as the pirates prepared for the day. The pirates had spent some time preparing for either scenario before the trial against Sonny. Sonny himself was not very affected by it all. He seemed the most calm among them, almost as if he had a feeling of how Duke Maddox and Technoid would respond to his request.
The pirates had been thorough in scanning the streets of Genesis, trying to locate any agents working for the Abraxians. They could not be allowed to wonder free, if Sonny was to stay safe. Corso still did not like the threat they posed against Sonny, after hearing the recording Sonny had made with Callie, he had come to realise that if Sonny had to end up captured by anyone, it would be better that Technoid handled it. As it was now, Sonny could not move freely without a team of guards surrounding him. At least, they aimed to keep him alive. With what the Abraxians had revealed, it was far from sure that Sonny would survive the first hours. They had paid 25 million standard units for the knowledge Sonny had learned, through having been trained by the best professors and mentors in Technoids program, for the purpose of training Sonny as the one scientist that could put the knowledge together, to make the super weapon they needed to control the galaxy. The problem was, Sonny had succeeded in learning the process. But no one had succeeded in creating flux that was invisible, and undetectable before him. By rights, Sonny should have failed this, it would have bought him some time, and much needed freedom. The problem was, Sonny had not failed. He had succeeded where others before him had failed, with the help of Clamp, and made it happen. Corso could imagine how happy that would have made Bleylock. He had invested time in Sonnys education, helped him push forth, and made sure he was trained by those that knew how to manipulate and synthesize flux. Sonny had delivered beyond expecations, and that was what made the abraxian military put in the bid. A bid that should have been pulled once Sonny fled and joined the pirates. It had not happened, and put Sonny in a danger he had never before seen. Corso knew, if Sonny was to remain safe, for the time being, he could not go anywhere alone, the Abraxians were just waiting for him to make such a move.
Corso sighed as he read through the messages. At least, Duke Maddox had sent the immunity agreement Sonny had requested before the trial. Corso printed it, and headed for Sonnys cabin with the paper.
Callie was busy writing down the last segment of the mandated report ahead of the trial, for Sonny. He had addressed the hidden threat towards friends and family of his, coming from simply knowing him as a person or working with him and his men. Sonny wasnt asking for special treatment for himself, he was more than equipped to handle anything that was thrown at him. But that was not the case for people like her, or even the unknown son Sonny had. To hear him reveal this had been a surprise. If it wasnt deemed necessary for the issue at hand to be known, Sonny would reveal next to nothing about himself as a person. And his cabin said little to nothing too. Callie had tried to find out more, but had found the pirates to be very protective of their leader in that regard. And since Corso knew she needed to know at least some, he had come to speak to her, at a time when Sonny needed to sleep. Callie knew Corso had given Sonny something to make him rest, before his sit down with her. But then,she saw Corso pull out a second syringe that he injected Sonny with, to his arm.
"What is that for Corso? I thought he was doing well, that he was stronger by now, you two have been training hard to have him recover faster" she said, somewhat puzzled.
Corso smiled.
"This thing enables him to withstand a harder form of training than he normally would. Without it, Sonny would be lucky to make it through the first ten minutes. He is healing, but not as fast as we like to give the impression of. With Technoid, the stronger Sonny appears, the less likely they will pull something that could put him in danger of being arrested. There is some scaring to lung tissue from the hit, it may take years to heal, and that is not time that Sonny has right now. By giving him these injections, Sonny will function at 80% of his full strength, more than enough to convince Technoid and The Abraxians that he has recovered well. That is the idea we will try to give them. I dont trust Technoid to honour the agreement made. Maddox is one thing, him we know were he stands, his board of directors, whom is deeply involved in this, would benefit from removing Sonny as a threat. Not to mention, They themselves have been threatened by the Abraxians, whom wants to get their hands on Sonny, to get their moneys worth. Typical money matters issues. We pirates see it all the time. Normally,this would not even bother us, But this time, it involves Sonny, whom we all love and care about. We train this hard to enable Sonny to escape all situations that may arrise, and we like to give the display of strenght. With this injection, it will appear as if Sonny is nearly fully rehabilitated from his injury,But in reality, we will keep working at it. I noticed that he is still weakened in hand to hand combat training. I have trained with him for long enough to know what he is capable of, and detect it if he isnt up to the level. Thats why I am the one he partners up with. He is fully aware that I will be accessing him during the work out" Corso said, pulling the duvet around him.
Callie nodded.
"I dont think I have ever met anyone that is this concerned for the well being of others around him, many can speak of what it entails to be a leader, but Sonny..." she said.
Corso nodded.
" I know what you mean Callie. Sonny doesnt just talk the talk, he also walks the walk. I agree with you Callie, he is a one of a kind. Wich makes me even more angry that anyone would consider hurting him. Lord knows, Sonny has already suffered more than enough. Its because of Bleylock he was forced to become a pirate, separated from his pregnant wife, at a crucial time before the birth of his own son. He went for near 16 years, packing a rage you would not believe, aimed at Technoid and Bleylock, thinking they had killed his wife and unborn son. As a pirate, everyone knows Technoid has no shame and that they exploit whomever they want, what they did to Sonny, that felt like someone held a personal rage against him. Why that is, no one knows. And just dont ask him about it ok? It still pains him to this day, his personal losses has been great. The silver lining being he found his son alive after 16 years. That has become his saving grace. I only wish he would have found more, we would have lost him then if she was still here, he loved her so much, if given the choice, I still think he would have let them seize him, if it meant he could be with her and his son. To him, that is what matters more than anything, And repeatedly, that is a threat towards him, and them. He does not deserve that" Corso said.
Callie was shocked.
"Sonny is married, with children? I never would have thought that about him, he seems so taken with protecting others, it makes me think something bad has happened there, something that changed him as a man" she said.
Corso nodded.
"He was married Callie. His true status in that regard now, is that he is a widower. You are right about a personal tragedy hitting him hard, as with so many of us. His beloved wife, sad to say, died giving birth to his only son. It was his son that told Sonny of her passing when they first met. It was a real shock for Sonny to learn about his excistence, he had to go from only having to worry about himself only, to adjusting to having a son that also needs him safe and as a male rolemodel in his life. That is not easy to do, but Sonny faced it head on. It was a shock for the pirates too, to learn Sonny was a father, but we are all happy for him in regards to that. It changed him, made him a bit less angry than he was before he learned the truth, and calmed him. Before he met his son, there was days I was only waiting for him to make a mistake, and Technoid seizing him, but that was before he found his son. They have had him cornered several times before, but he always escapes at the last minute. Finding his son, alive, Sonny had to make some quite dramatic changes to the life he lives, and keeping his son safe almost got him killed as well. Its not easy being thrown into the role as the father of a teenage son. But Sonny did the best he could, and he and his son has a good relationship now" Corso explained.
Callie nodded, and looked at Sonny. He was sound asleep,looking very young where he lay. When like this, there wasnt anything speaking of the kind of troubles he had faced so far. Callie smiled as she looked at him.
"When I look at him, there is another face, a galactik football player,that comes to mind " she mused.
Corso nodded with a smile.
"I figured you would notice the simmilarities. True,His son does play galactik football, so yes, I confirm that you have met his son. Keep it between us, and I will reveal the identity of his son" Corso offered.
Callie nodded. She was not going to expose this to the galaxy.
Corso then opened the drawer on the night stand next to Sonnys bed, and pulled out two framed photoes. The first he handed to her, Callie could see a younger Sonny, smiling as he stood next to a beautiful woman, in a wedding dress.
Sonny in a different life, a happy and carefree life.
"He must have loved her so deeply, he looks so happy" she said silently, wiping away a tear that escaped the corner of her eye. It just wasnt fair that he had lost the one he clearly loved so deeply.
Corso nodded as he looked at the picture.
"I would give the galaxy to return some of that to him, I cant think of anyone that deserves it more. But sadly, she is no longer with us. I fear he will never open his heart to anyone again, not like that. Her death still pains him, even if he doesnt say it. So he focuses on what she left behind, their son" Corso said, and handed her the other photo. Callie smiled. Father and son was very simmilar. There was no doubt Sonny was proud of his son, the red headed striker of the snow kids, whom the galaxy either loved or hated. Sonny had to be a supporter of The Snow kids in secret, since it was his sons team.
Callie shook her head to dissipate the memories. Sonny had gone through the fire for sure, and come out alive. An extraordinary man, a true leader. And yet,so much more than a leader. She had seen him with his men, there was no real authority used on board, Sonny did not even insist on using his title as captain. To his men, he was Sonny, plain and simple. And that made it easier for him to interract with them, and them with him. And with her report, Sonny was ready to undertake something that had been prepared for a because he wanted to, but because they forced him to make this move. Sonny wanted justice, not for himself, but for all others that had suffered under Technoids reign. And with this report,he had trusted her to help him get this message forth.
Callie heard a knock on the door. Sonny had been sleeping for a few hours, after his and Corsos training session. That too was facinating to watch. The two men seemed to know each other so well, they could predict the move the other would make, and make evasive tactics. This time, Corso actually had studied the material he could find on how Abraxians fought, and had deliberately trained Sonny in how to avoid them pinning him down, or causing him hurt in any way. Sonny had taken it to heart, and Corso had deemed him ready to face them head on if need be.
A buzz on the cabin door made Sonny wake up.
Corso entered the cabin, holding a paper with Technoids logo in hand.
"Duke Maddox responded swiftly Sonny, you got immunity against being seized in the court and from a car to and from. Maddox must really want you present. I took the liberty of making a light form of armour for you to wear under your clothes. I know you, the only reason you requested this, was to be physically present during trial" Corso said.
Sonny nodded, as he swung his feet of the bed.
"How is the report going Callie? The lawyer representing me, needs it for a read through" he smiled.
Callie chuckled.
"Its done. It seems you being in the room, snoring, has a calming effect, it certainly makes me focus on the work" she laughed.
Corso handed Sonny the papers, at the same time, raising his hand to hide a smirk. But Sonny noticed.
"There is no evidence to suggest this to be true, I dare you both to prove the claim" Sonny challenged, but he sounded amused as he got himself ready.
Callie chuckled, and turned on her recorder. Corso couldnt hold the laughter back as he saw Sonny roll his eyes, presented with the evidence of said snoring. Sonny laughed and raised his hand as a sign he surrendered.
Then he looked at the papers.
"Perfect, now, get me the plans for the court room".
Judge Alexa Allergri looked through her workload for the next weeks. Todays case was set to last three days, with the possibility to expand it, should it be needed. This was a big one. Technoid was even prepared to run it without the accused being present. Either, Sonny Blackbones had reason to fear a conviction that would put him away for some time, or he was the one that had something on Technoid. From the paperworks on both sides, it seemed Sonny did indeed have something to put pressure on the company with. Duke Maddox had even turned in an agreement he had made with the pirates, making sure Sonny would not be jailed. It seemed the head of Technoid was not as heartless as the galaxy thought him to be after all. From the wording, it seemed the old man wanted Sonny to be safe and heal from an injury he had sustained while fleeing them. Off course, she knew they had captured him recently, and that he had been placed in private care. She had seen the welfare check Callie Mystic had made. Her profession was the law, but she knew enough about medicine to make her own judgement call. Even with the injury Sonny had sustained, it seemed the use of medical drugs was taking a toll on him. That had made her request through the lawyer that would represent Sonny, that the pirates ran a screening on him, both in regards to the injury, and his current health, to make sure Technoid had not gone too far in their treatment. Those papers had arrived this morning. She looked through them. Still not fully recovered, but far better than the injury had suggested. She put the report back in the folder, and made ready to enter the courtroom.
Callie had been asked to report from the case for Arcadia news. Technoid chasing Sonny Blackbones was not exactly a newsworthy story, that had gone on for so long, it was getting old. Technoid taking Sonny Blackbones to court, to try to convict him for his crimes, that was a new twist. One the galaxy wanted to hear the outcome of.
Callie made sure the drone cameras worked as they should. She had four different ones, one for the judge, one for the plaintiff and one for the defendant and the last one for the witnesses.
Sonny was already sitting with his lawyer, looking through a few papers, and discussing matters with him. Corso was on the seat row behind Sonny, with several other pirates. They looked unarmed, but Callie knew differently. The pirates was more tense than Sonny, trying to be prepared for any possible scenario.
On the other side, Duke Maddox sat with his board members behind him, and his lawyer. Callie had noticed the courteous nodd to Sonny as he and his men had entered. Apart from her, no others were allowed in the gallery or elsewhere, as the pirates had expressed concern that a rival group to Technoid could pose a threat towards Sonny, and they would address that in their testimonies given.
Now, the bailiff entered.
"All rise for the honourable judge Allegri" he said.
Callie could see the judge take her seat and order them to sit. She was young, but her reputation was one of fairness to all parties.
Now it was time to begin.
On the first day, Duke Maddox and Technoid presented their case against Sonny. There was a long list of thefts over the years, but from the evidence, this was loss of property, and more importantly, money, that was an issue. Sonny seemed to pay close attention, making some notes here and there that he pushed over to his lawyer, whom would read it, and note the remark down. Callie too paid close attention to Technoids accusations. It surprised them. They would have thought, with the hunt over so long, what crimes Sonny was charged with, would be far more serious. But it seemed, it was really coming down to the bare essentials for the pirates to have food. It even seemed Sonny had been courteous, and the pirates had only taken what was needed to survive, no excessive thefts at all. What became an issue, was the industrial espionage. Technoids staff explained how the thefts were carried out and how it was a pirate trademark that they could not trace it. They wondered what the pirates were looking for. It didnt seem they needed their products, the pirates had their own, and it seemed to be better than technoids. As soon as this part was done, The judge ordered a recess, to prepare for Sonny to give his testimony.
As Sonny took the stand and was sworn in, Callie felt her heart start to race.
No one knew exactly how this would play out. Sonny himself had ordered a last minute change at the recess, to keep the thread on what the galaxy needed to know.
As he sat down in the witness box, Sonny looked at them all. He could feel the eyes of the galaxy on him. This was what he had spent years building up to. This was the moment the pirates would defend themselves, and let the galaxy learn of whom Technoid had been, publicly, and behind the scenes. Sonny let his gaze slide to his men. Corso was still on edge, wich he had expected. As if he felt his best friend eyes on him, Corso nodded to Sonny, encouraging him. This was the moment they had worked for, for years. This was Sonny Blackbones finally stepping out of hiding, to explain The pirates drive and cause. The start of what they hoped was a better future, was upon them.
Sonny nodded to them, took a deep breath, and started to give a testimony that would rock the galaxy to its core, and send the public into an outcry for justice, and for a reset that no one had ever predicted. The pirates had waited to present their evidence long enough. It was time justice was served, for his wife, for all his friends, lost without a trace and for those that had suffered at the hands of the company. With a stirdy look, Sonny began telling his tale about the galaxys giant, Technoid, from the inside...