The following morning, Corso looked at Sonny over their morning coffee. He suspected Sonny would talk it away if he did not remind him. Last night had been memorable for all three of them. They had planned for how this new situation would be down to the tiniest of details. Callie had also made it clear, the two of them was to have some alone time as soon as possible, to see how things worked out.
"I need those X-rays done today Sonny. The sooner we can treat it, the better. You are way too important to leave this unattended." Corso said. In his hand, he held the old x-rays, that he had taken from the file. Sonny nodded silently as he grabbed a slice of bread to make himself a sandwich. Callie looked at the x rays Corso had. She turned pale at what she saw. She knew it was bad, but this looked even worse than she had imagined. Sonny was still wearing his robe, not fully ready to face the new day. and he seemed to plan to finish his sandwich before anything else would happen.
"I agree with Corso,Sonny, this looks serious." She said. Sonny noticed how they both looked at him. They were worried about his health. He had to put their minds at ease. Better let Corso have his request granted then, so the matter would be cleared.
"Ok Corso, Make sure you got the equipment ready. This should be an easy thing to take care off." He smiled. He could see both of them looking relieved.
"Come here, both of you. Grouphug" He smiled as he sat down by the kitchen table to eat. As they sat down together with him, Sonny placed his arms around them both.

"I'm the luckiest Pirate in the galaxy to have you two in my life. I could not possibly ask for more"

A few hours later, Corso looked at Sonny as he put his shirt and jacket back on after the new x rays was done. He studied the x-rays. Compared to the old ones, Sonnys body appeared to have healed well. There was no major issues to worry about, just like Sonny had said.
"It has healed well. Must be because of your Flux. Bone tissue like this can take for ages to heal, if ever, unless they are somehow boosted." He said. Sonny smiled.
"See Corso? Nothing to worry about. You two can stop being so worried. I am fine" He said. Corso grinnned
"I'll make it up to you two for being a nag. How about a massage tonight?" He said. Sonny chuckled.
"Do we get a happy ending included?" He joked. Corso pulled him in for a kiss.
"I'm finally with you Sonny. You and Callie. It will take time to get used to, but I feel good about this choise. Now that this hurdle is crossed and I can finally be the real me,Noomi will be at peace. Myself too" He said. Sonny grinned.
"Helena would be, too. We both married wise women back then, they saw us as who we were then, I hope they would still have loved us, as we are now" Sonny mused.

Sonny tried to wrap up some projects before they were heading to Stellar Unix. All of it had pointed away from Technoid and instead targeted a ghost from his past; Bleylock. Would this story ever come to an end? Sonny sighed. For now, he kept his mind busy with more pleasurable things. Like the commercials for Shiloh Security. Aaron Walters, Callie's boss, was helping the Pirates make a script for each of the commercials. Now came the fun part. Sonny decided all the Pirates had to wear suits and this was not a popular decision. Corso looked at his suit and tie skeptically.
"I haven't worn a suit in ages… You are pulling me out of my comfortzone with this one" He said. Sonny had already finished dressing in his suit, and was ready for the make up part. He nodded at Corsos clear unhappiness. Corso had to work on his people skills, and this commercial was a tool to help that.
"We all have to do things we don't like, from time to time. You should know this by now.I am not exactly a fan of meeting Duke Maddox all the time either, but I still suck it up and do what I have to do. Besides, D'Jok and Mei are also participating as well as Callie. His training as a future leader will start now. He's more experienced than any of us at being in front of a camera.I set his session before yours. Observe and try to be as natural as you can" Sonny tried. Mei had enlisted the help from her Snow Kids female friends and Callie for this commercial. The Pirates would play roles where they had to have someone at their side for the first scene and be their normal selves for the second part. Corso read through the script again.
"Are you sure this is right for me? I'm not that peppy." He asked. Sonny had to hide the smile that threatened to break out. Corso noticed.
"Once we're done, we'll take that time off and I'll make a few things clear. You are in trouble now Sonny Blackbones, I wont forget this anytime soon,I am going to get you for this" He threatened. Sonny chuckled.
"I think I know how to cheer you up Corso. I will show you later, when the shoot is done" He commented as he walked by Corso. Corso shook his head, and got dressed.

Artie pulled at his tie for the tenth time. Sonny looked comfortable enough but Bennett looked like he would rather be anywhere else. Corso looked uncomfortable, but determined to get through. Their partners for the shoot appeared.
"Wow,Diner afterward with all of you ladies?" Sonny tried. The girls were gorgeous. Mei smiled. She knew Corso would be feeling out of his depth with this.
"Corso, your first scene is with me, so please be professional." Mei said with an innocent smile. Corso sighed.
"This is so not me. I am not a natural actor" He growled. Sonny turned away, couching to camouflage his laughter.
"First scene is all of us in various areas of our business, introducing what we're all about. These are the pairs; Callie and Sonny, Corso and Mei, Tia and Artie and then, Yuki and Bennett. Read the script, memorize your lines and let's get this done." Sonny said.

The next hour was hilarious. Bennett was anything but a natural actor and Yuki constantly laughed every time he got it wrong. Artie and Tia nailed their part on the first try, quickly getting back into their usual clothes. Now, they watched Corso and Mei tackle their part. They all felt sorry for Corso, whom seemed ready to kill the camera after the 4th try. Artie leaned against the wall as he watched. Sonny and Callie would be the next pair. Sonny was busy memorizing his lines. Artie looked at his female partner, Tia.
"Now I feel myself again." He mused. Tia smiled at him.
"You always were Artie. You did good for your first time" She said. Artie looked a little insecure. If certain things hadn't happened, he never would have met Tia or the Snow Kids, he would never have known Bennett, Corso or Sonny.
"Tia, can I talk to you about something? It's kind of personal." Artie said. "I might need your help. Or more spesific, your fathers" he said. Tia was surpised at this request. She made sure no one could hear them.
"What is it you want to ask Artie?" she asked. Artie filled her in on the broader lines of his life. Tia felt sorry for him. Artie also told her about the mission to Abraxor, to help Opal and Sapphire. He also mentioned the possibility of Zoltar, Solaris' fiancé, still being alive.
"They went looking for answers and got themselves stuck on a very inhospitable planet. As a hacker, I was able to locate their last known location. Sonny agreed to let me go in but I had to make a plan. With all that happened, I just want to make sure, if something goes wrong, my dad, Hawk Tidman, knows what happened to me. That he gets closure" Artie said. Tia was thoughtful. She liked Artie and the thought of him doing this left her with a bad feeling.
"Why doesn't Sonny come along?" She said. Artie shook his head.
"I don't know the whole story. Something happened to Sonny on Abraxor that has him kind of traumatized. Possibly related to Bleylock. He's not going there. Corso made it clear, Sonny stays here on Genesis this time" Artie said. Tia nodded. This was something she planned to delve into later, but she decided to let it go for now.
"Sure Artie, I will ask my parents."

Callie walked next to Sonny, who was pushing Iris' stroller. The six-month-old girl was curious to everything around her, so they had a stroller where she could sit up. Sonny also had a small blanket and a picnic basket for their date in the park. As they set things up, Callie smiled as the little baby craved her grandfather's full attention. Seeing Sonny play with the baby told her everything about what kind of father he was. It was a shame he and D'Jok had been robbed of so much. There were so many things Sonny never had with his son. Seeing him with his granddaughter made Callie realize he might have another chance at it. She thought of the two options she had presented Corso and Sonny with the previous night. Corso was as big a part of Sonny's life as she was. He always would be. And when Corso was around she noticed that Sonny was so much more at ease. Callie decided that Sonny and Corso needed some time all alone after this mission to explore their feelings. Corso was still worried about the past, but Sonny wasn't anymore.
"It's in the past, Corso. It needs be left there." He said. Callie recalled how Corso had pulled him close, caressed him as he kissed Sonny right in front of her eyes. That passion went deep. She had a feeling that crossing the line they both had left to cross, would not be a bad thing at all. If anything, she felt confident, it would do both men seriously good.
"Boo!"
Callie jumped slightly as Iris laughed at having scared her grandmother. Sonny shook his head. She could tell that this child was a Blackbones through and through. And the same innocent smile that just told you they were up to something. Callie smiled as she lifted the little one into her lap.
"I think Mei and D'Jok need to have another child so Iris has someone to play with." Sonny suggested, as he sat down behind Callie and the baby. Callie looked at him.
"How would you feel about having another child yourself? You are still a young man, its not too late yet" She asked. The question surprised Sonny. He never taught of it, especially after losing Helena.
"I never really gave it much thought. But things are different now. I would love having another child. To be there from the start" Sonny finally said. Callie could tell he weighed the pros and cons against each other as he spoke.
"We should talk to Corso as well. After all, with last night's decision, we did kind of make him part of our little family. This becomes a three way decision, not just two. He could hate the idea" Callie said. Sonny smiled as he put his arm around her and gave her a kiss. Callie smiled and leaned her head against his chest.
"I just want you to be happy Sonny. And if this is what it takes,sharing you with Corso, I'll be happy, too. Because I love you that deeply" She said. Sonny smiled. He had so much people who loved him. What more could a Pirate ask for?

Maurice Miller didn't feel comfortable leaving Stellar Unix, but he had to. Blackbones was becoming a big problem. He was also cut off from the Flux capsules he created. The pirates most likely disposed of them by now. He couldn't make more, he was wanted with a bounty for his higher than Blackbones, and he and his men were gonna be all over him if they found him. The players couldn't return to The Sphere to make a new strain either, Blackbones had that area watched closely. He wanted Flux, and fast. He already took a player from the Paladins' team and replaced him with a clone. The player had already been drained to dangerous levels by his flux Flux extractor wich was ready to go at all times. An Abraxian, who infiltrated Stellar Unix would supply more strength to the mix as it was, but he needed a third string. Something that would make it indestructible. The seed of Shiloh was the solution. By mixing it right, he could use the violent side of the Flux to inflict maximum damage. But he didn't know which Pirates had developed it properly. Only Sonny Blackbones had been properly screened so far. But he was a strong one. One out of a handful of Flux masters. This was the Flux he wanted for his mix. He knew if you extracted too much Flux at once, the subject wouldn't be able to recover fully. This happened with Rocket of the Snow Kids.
The young man was permanently injured by Bleylock's Flux extraction. Given the test results, Sonny was bound to lock on to the matter at some point, and with his technoid education in how to manipulate and deal with flux, he would have the knowledge to foil his plan. He couldn't allow that to happen. So far, they had gone undetected but that wouldn't last for long. The pirates was closer than he felt comfortable with. And what was more, The Pirates worked with the Flux society. There was no other way. Sonny Blackbones had to be taken out. But how to do it? That was why he was here, in Jar'Eels lair, asking for help.
Jar'Eel Bleylock looked at him with cold yellow eyes as he explained the reason for his visit.
"You failed at keeping Blackbones imprisoned. That doesn't come as a surprise. You made the same mistake Technoid always does when it comes to him. You underestimated him. He worked there long enough to have all needed knowledge to bypass their systems. I've read about him in my father's diaries. The only way you would learn just how dangerous he is to us, and our plans, was by failing. I like the idea of a bounty hunter though. The amount for his capture needs be higher. Someone else would be interested then" He mused. Miller looked at him.
"We can't capture him now. He's been pardoned of all crimes related to Technoid,making him untouchable. He's also on good terms with Duke Maddox. If you're not careful, he'll come after you as well." Miller tried. Jar'Eel laughed.
"He might try but after studying my father's journals, I know how to bring Sonny Blackbones to his knees. He'll pay for what he did." He snarled.

Solaris trained hard but it felt pointless. No matter what she did, she wasn't able to reach as high as she needed to go. Artie informed Sonny that he had his plans ready. Sonny and Corso sat down with him and looked the plan over.
"This is good work. You're really growing into your job." Corso said. Sonny nodded.
"I like how you think. I would say you're ready." Sonny smiled. Artie nodded.
"I talked to Tia about something. If things go wrong, all the information on my life... could you then make sure my father receives it?" He asked. Sonny smiled.
"I'll see to it but I know you will succeed this mission. As soon as you're safe to do so, contact us. We'll send you directions for where to meet up. Here's the team you will take with you on this mission"

Corso, Bennett and Sonny were at a dock where smaller Pirate ships were parked. Artie had a quick briefing with his team, Orin, Kate, Stevens and Davidson. As Artie was ready to enter the ship, Sonny stopped him.
"No heroics Artie. Keep things nice and simple. Get them out, and we'll meet at Stellar Unix. It's your first ever solo mission and I don't want to lose my best hacker." Sonny said. He nodded before he entered the ship along with his team and took off for Abraxor.

Duke Maddox read through the reports about the Flux attack on The Shiloh Nebula. The Pirates had expected this attack and everyone was safely relocated. It was important that their prisoner, Keiran O'Keefe, still believed that many had been killed. So, the Pirates, with the help of Callie and Aaron made a fake news story. No human lives were lost but this prisoner thinking so, was a ticking bomb. Sonny had a plan to deal with the matter though. Duke Maddox knew it was time to assemble the Technoid army and head for Stellar Unix. Whatever was going on, Sonny and the Pirates were on top of it. He picked up the holophone in his office.
"Get two cruisers with fully equipped staff and prepare for departure to Stellar Unix."

At Shiloh Security, Keiran was fuming inside his cell. So many lives were lost because Sonny Blackbones refused to do the right thing. His entire family in the Nebula was dead. Sonny was going to pay for this. He changed from the man he used to know. The Sonny Blackbones he knew would put the well-being of others before his own. Maybe he could grab him as a hostage, to break free from this imprisonment, and get close enough to Miller to kill him as well. Sonny wasn't going to just let that happen but right now, Sonny was his ticket to avenge his family. He was going to help him get close to Miller, so he could settle the score.

Mei smiled at D'Jok. He was acting secretive about their day off. Sonny and Callie had taken Iris Helena for the day. She put on a beautiful summer dress and some fashionable high heels. When she asked Tia what she was up to after the commercials, Tia winked at her and told her she had a small mission for the Pirates, and she couldn't wait to sink her teeth into it.
"Want to tell me where we're going?" She asked. D'Jok just smiled. Behind his black sunglasses, he had a plan to make sure to get matters moving forwards. He and Mei had been engaged for some time now, but their schedules were always too full to finally sit down and start the planning of the wedding. And now that they had a daughter too. D'Jok felt the time was right. He had something special planned for Mei. First, a dinner. D'Jok chose a place he knew Mei liked, to make sure she was in the mood. Mei smiled like a million standard credits. They had an enjoyable dinner with lots of laughs. Finally, some time off from a hectic schedule. As they finished, D'Jok took Mei to go shopping. He smiled as Mei looked at the bridal store they stood outside.
"Sometimes I wonder if I should just give up hope of ever getting married." Mei said.
"We both stink at planning. Why don't we do inside and find your dream dress?" D'Jok suggested. Mei looked at him in disbelief. D'Jok wanted to go bridal shopping with her?
"Who are you and what have you done with D'Jok?" She laughed. D'Jok smiled.
"This has been on my mind for a long while. I made an appointment to have this entire store closed down, just for the two of us. It's time Mei, if you still want me, as a future husband?" He smiled, somewhat insecurely. Mei felt her eyes overflow with tears.
"I do, D'Jok. I love you so much."

Sonny and Corso were ready to put their plan in action. The clone was activated, and as Corso had thought, he couldn't tell the difference. Sonny smiled.
"You can't tell us apart, can you?" He teased. Corso sighed.
"There must be something that will tell you two apart." He said. Both Sonny's seemed to think. Then, the one to the right took a step towards him and kissed him. Corso smiled as he let go.
"Maybe a password or a mark is a that I complain, but it might look weird in front of the men" He said. Sonny chuckled.
"Lets get this show on the road. As soon as we're ready, come to the cabin. I'll sneak in during the commotion of the escape. Then, Let's go to Stellar Unix."

Keiran couldn't believe the sloppiness the Pirates had just shown. He was alone in the interrogation room, unguarded. Keiran flew into a rage. This was it. He was not going to cooperate with the Pirates any longer. He was going to get to that bastard Miller and choke him to death for what he did to his family. Keiran made his way out of the interrogation room. Corso was already rounding the corner, Sonny behind him. This was his chance. Keiran ran and before Sonny could react, plunged forwards and pulled him with him. Corso turned around, an expression of shock and disbelief on his face before he reached for his weapon. Keiran had managed to find some zip ties on the side of the corridor that a pirate had forgotten, and while battling the Sonny clone, that put up a strong and very real fight, managed to force his arms on his back and tie him up with the zip ties.
"Don't think I won't do it." Corso warned him. Keiran was so blinded by his rage, he didn't even care.
"You're disgusting, still following Sonny after what he's done. Stand back, and I promise not to hurt him. I'll release him as soon as I get Maurice Miller back for the murder of my family." He yelled. Corso looked at the Sonny clone, who made sure to give Keiran a hard time. Corso considered getting into a fistfight but that would work against their plan.
"I'll be fine. Just follow him at a safe distance." The Sonny clone said. Corso pretended to stand down, hesitantly. Nothing suggested it was just a clone. He totally acted like Sonny would.
"If you hurt him, it will be the end of you." Corso snarled as other Pirates joined. They were trying to find an angle to take Keiran out without causing Sonny any harm in the process. Corso followed him from a safe distance. He was the only one that knew Sonny was in safe hiding aboard The Black Manta. He feared how things would turn out when they reached Stellar Unix. Keiran acted like a loose canon, not according to their plan, but he knew Sonny. He had already made a few changes, and would inform him as they got there. Keiran found one of the Shiloh Security marked cars and forced the tied Sonny clone into the passenger seat. The Pirates tried firing, but it was no use. This car was armourded.

"Stop him!" Corso yelled as the car sped out of the parking lot, knowing it was already too late. He gathered his people and checked the tracker.
"Now what? We can't just let him abduct Sonny again. He might not make it this time." Bennett said. Corso nodded. He wished he could involve Bennett in this, but Sonny's orders were clear. He could tell no one about this. This trip would be run by himself and Bennett at the helm. This was a test of his skills as a commander. Corso hoped he was up for the task and could keep his head cool.
"Ready The Black Manta for immediate takeoff, Bennett. We'll give chase. Keiran will regret taking Sonny." Corso said. Bennett nodded, and quickly went to order The Black Manta to be ready for take off. Corso felt sorry he had to ruin the day for both Callie and D'Jok this way, but he had no choice. Sonny and himself had to ask forgiveness for this one later. Right now, it was the best choice. Corso decided to call Callie first.

Callie just ended the six pm news, and the cameras were turned off, when her transmitter started beeping. Who in the galaxy could be calling her? When she saw Corso's face, she knew something was up. Corso quickly explained what happened.
"We're going to give chase right away. Don't worry, Sonny knows how to take care of himself. We'll have him back in no time." Corso assured her. Callie nodded, but Corso could tell she was worried.
"Callie, I'll find him and bring him home. Notify D'Jok and Mei about the situation. I'll notify you as soon as I got news." He said before he ended the call.

As Corso entered the Captain's cabin, Sonny stepped out of the darkness in the corner. The two smiled at each other. The game was on.

A/N: Things are heating up. And I am not going to reveal what comes next.
Thank you Paranoidgirl, for all the wonderful work that you do. I just love the improvements you make.