Chapter 7: The myth is unravelled.
Sonny leaned on his elbows, as he looked at his men, Clamp and Dame Simbai. All of them seemed lost for words. The seed of Shiloh, it had been a myth for so long. Now, Sonny Blackbones, the pirates beloved chief and commander, revealed that it excisted, and could possibly be the solution to what they were dealing with now. Corso found the abillity to speak. «Sonny, have you completely lost your mind? You know that the seed of Shiloh is uncontrollable..». «For most pirtaes Corso, but what other options do we have? The results of Clamps bloodwork also shows that he has the substance in his body. It was all I needed to have my worst fears confirmed». Corso looked at him with a worried look. «But what does this mean Sonny?». Sonny sighed, a deep sigh from within the heart. «It means, Corso, that any employee ever working for Technoid, could possibly have had untimely deaths because of their own employer. I should have realised this sooner, there was reasons for everything that happened during my own time with them, and Clamps». Clamp rose a hand. «But Sonny, the seed of Shiloh, it's always been concidered nothing more than a myth, a fairytale..». Sonny's hazels fell on Clamp. «That is true Clamp, but for good reasons. The seed of Shiloh, is, like the stories tell, wild, and in many situations, uncontrollable. It's the most powerfull flux the galaxy has ever seen, but it takes a lot to control it. You'd have to posess enormous physical strenght to harness it». Dame Simbai looked inquizzitive at him. «If you don't mind me asking Sonny, how do you know this for sure?», Sonny looked at her. «Flux only surfaces in footballers, is that what you're thinking of Dame Simbai?» he asked with a smile. «Yes, and as far as it is known, you're not one of the pirates team on the pitch». Corso looked up. «But, Sonny once was a footballer. Many years ago, when he was a rookie pirate, he trained with the team. He did play with the team for a few matches, but then, Technoid put the bounty on him, and we pulled him of the team, for protective reasons. After that, Sonny was going through more extensive training, selfdefense, weapons use, hand to hand combat, ropefleeing and the mandetory first aid training. Shortly afterwards, he was promoted to captain, and his schedule would not have permitted for any activity such as football anymore». Clamp looked stunned. «But as far as I can remember, you played football when we first met in planet Technoid..», Sonny nodded. «That's true, but there was also another reason for me leaving football when I did. I developed the seed of Shiloh, after a long stay there. And even I couldn't harness it, it was too powerfull for me to handle». Sonny looked tired, Dame Simbai wanted to shush everyone out, so he could rest, but something in Sonny's hazel eyes told her not to. Instead, she walked up to him, and held a scanner to his arm. «Sonny, you're wearing yourself out on this, you need to rest». Sonny shook his head. «There is no time, I know what Technoid is trying to do, and you need to know, I can't relax before you know» he pleaded. Dame Simbai nodded. «I understand, you tell us what we need to know, then I will give you something to sleep on». Sonny agreed to Dame Simbai's suggestion. She stuffed another pillow behind his back, and then Sonny took a deep breath, to reveal what the comparison of his own bloodtests to Clamps. « I have thought of it, since Corso brought me the results. It's no coincidence. Then, I looked at the common factors, both Clamp and I worked for Technoid, in the same plant, in the same timeperiod, on Akillian. I recall that all meals were served free of charge, it was a part of our pay, I was told by Bleylock. I have asked Corso to aquire the list of all former and present technoid employees, that could have these values of the substance, known simply as E565, in their systems». Clamp looked worried. «Exactly, what does E565 do to the human body Sonny?». «It breaks down the cellularsystem inside, almost undetected, but if an increased dose is administered, it could result in cardiac arrest, and ultimately, death». Clamp looked like someone had punched him, and then he stared at Sonny in shock, «Sonny, that would mean..» , «Yes Clamp, Technoid could be responisble for a genocide of enormous proportions, it all comes down to when they started doing it». Corso looked thoughtfull. And his silence did not slip Sonny's attention. «Corso?» Corso looked up at the sound of his friend, trusted confidante and leader's worried voice. «Yes, Sonny?». Sonny's hazels looked at him, a deep stare, like he was trying to read his mind. «You know something about this, don't you?» Sonny's tone of voice was mild and calm. Corso looked down, he should have told this sooner. «yes Sonny. This started back in the flux wars. The older Duke Maddox, our current one's father, he started experimenting on prisoners of war, some of us, the lucky ones, who escaped and became pirates soon after, got medical help. The ones that didn't... they suffered under the reign of Technoid, and finally, Technoid killed them..» Corso's voice chocked. Sonny knew what he was thinking, he had heard the story before. «Corso..» Sonny reached out, and pulled Corso into a hug. «I'm sorry for putting you though this..again», he sighed. «It's..it's ok Sonny, it's just..», «I know Corso, I know». Sonny noticed the questions in the eyes of the others around them. He ignored it. This was a personal matter for Corso, and if he didn't feel like sharing it with anyone. Instead, he focused on what needed be done. «Clamp, Corso will hand you a small sample of the seed of shiloh, I'll tell you how to proceed to make the cure from it». «But, how do you know it will work Sonny?» Clamp was more confused than ever. «I've used the flux that way before. Being the pirates flux, the seed of Shiloh, posesses several unique traits. One of them, is the abillity to heal real quick. The pirates have used it like that, in the most serious injuries we can sustain». Dame Simbai had a question she wanted an answer to. «Sonny, if the seed of Shiloh occurs in Shiloh's footballers, why haven't the pirates themselves made use of it in the galactik football cup?». Sonny gave her a smile. «Isn't it obvious Dame Simbai?
Any flux can be traced, they leave tracepatterns. With a flux as strong as the seed of Shiloh, what do you think would happen to the pirates if we used it?», Dame Simbai realised where Sonny was going. « You think Technoid would have tracked you down?». Sonny nodded. «The gf players of the pirates, are all members of the crew on my ship, it would turn us into sitting ducks». Dame Simbai nodded at this. She knew Sonny was right. He had a remarkable insight to how Technoid was thinking. An insight that came from hard experience. What the pirate chief had endured over the years, most people would have been unable to withstand. Not without loosing a part of their humanity. With Sonny, that had not happened. He had stood accused for many wrongdoings over the years, the only things Sonny would admit to, was petty theft, as the only way they had to survive. No one blamed them for that. Technoid had made sure of that. In order to support themselves, and keep from starving, the pirates were forced to steal. But they only trageted Technoid, the real monster behind their situation. Sonny had paid a hard price for those thefts. The bounty on his head had now raised to a staggering 20 million standard credits, someone was bound to turn him in, someone would have, if Sonny hadn't allowed for himself to get captured. Dame Simbai snapped back, as Sonny started to explain the technoid's involvement in all of this...
Judge Xandra Allegi was in shock. She didn't know how long she could keep a lid on this, but she was confident it would soon be out of the bag. What would her position as a judge in the legal system be if her connection to Shiloh was made known? Most people saw her as just a normal citizen on Akillian, but this could change in a minute. Her mother and father lived on Genesis, but they all had lived in the same place as the tragedy had recently struck. She, and her now diseased brother, were from Shiloh. Pirate territory, first under the reign of Magnus Blade, then, under Sonny Blackbones reign, a reign that was still the case. Magnus Blade.. all she knew of him, was that he lusted for money, ideals such as the pirates freedom, and the truth about the company that had killed so many of their own, didn't matter to him. When Sonny Blackbones was chosen the leader, he had changed many things. Wealth was on his list of things he craved for. He ensured the pirates were equipped with technology that helped them defeat technoid, and be on top of their game. He also made sure to rescue pirates captured or otherwise in trouble because of Technoid. For years, she had heard only good things about the pirate chief. Among the young women, she heard many of them telling of their crush on him, and how they would make it good for him, if they got alonetime with him. But everyone knew, Sonny Blackbones wasn't into those things. His main objective was to protect his pirates and their families, if he got killed in this, it would be all worth it to him. That was, before he found that his own son was still alive. That had changed things. But in a good way, everyone had felt happy for him. They all knew Sonny was hurting, deep down. No one really knew what Technoid had done, that made him so furious with them, it was for the select few to know. Sonny Blackbones was adored among the Shiloh pirates, she had seen far more of them than Technoid would have liked in the audience in court. She knew they would have gone out of bounds to free him if necessary. What puzzled her, was that Sonny had snuck that pill into his drinkingwater. Come to think of it, she felt sure she had seen fear in the hazel eyes of his. It even made her worry. Had Technoid done something to him, that Sonny had been prevented from telling? Judge Allegi knew time was running short. It was urgent she got to talk to Sonny as soon as possible. Like the pirates themselves, on a personal level, she wanted to set him free, and send him to safety, but she realised, Sonny had reasons to see this through. She had learned that his son, D'Jok and his girlfriend, Mei, was expecting their first child together. Sonny Blackbones was a grandfather to be. Off course he would want to clear his name of all charges. If she could, she would make sure it happened. Judge Allegi made sure no one could see her, and punched in a series of codes, before making a call...
Clamp and Corso were working fast, following Sonny's instructions to a tee. They knew Sonny was still too weak to participate in this as of now, Dame Simbai had given him something to sleep on, and they had seen Sonny fall asleep before they left his room. For as long as he was in the Aarch academy, he was safe. «Corso, don't you think using the seed of shiloh like this has potential to be dangerous?». Corso continued the mixing, according to Sonny's directions. «I trust Sonny completely on this, and the reason I do, is that he was the first in years to actually aquire the seed of Shiloh». Corso laid down his work. «Clamp, trust him, like I do. Sonny knows what he's doing. Don't forget, this is his field of expertise».
Clamp looked at him, «I know Corso, I've just never seen him this weak before, and if Technoid had anything to do with it.. who knows what could happen to the rest of us, subjected to the E565». Corso could only nodd it..
D'Jok and Mei were headed to Sonny's room. Mei was anxious to see Sonny. She knew he was sick, but hopefully, he could still take a short while with them. Dame Simbai came out of his room as they arrived. «Dame Simbai, how is Dad?» asked D'Jok. «He's awake, that father of yours refuses to sleep for very long at the time, I am seriously concidering putting restraints on him, to have him rest» stated the herbalist frustrated. D'Jok turned slightly to the side to hide a smile. «You know Dame simbai, knowing Sonny, he's probobly able to escape even a straightjacket» smiled Mei. Bennet happened to pass by at the same moment, on his way to Corso, and accidently overheard Mei's comment. «Pardon me, but I couldt help overhearing that last comment» he smiled sheepishly. «May I ask where you learned of our escapetraining Mei?» he asked her. Mei smiled faintly. «Sonny tought me». Bennet looked shocked. «I never heard that he did that before». D'Jok smiled. «You know Bennet, Mei is practically family to dad too, and perhaps even more now». Bennet loooked confused. «I'm afraid you lost me» he smiled sheepishly. «We're having a child, Dad's an expectant granddad» smiled D'Jok. Bennet smiled when he heard this. «That makes his motivation to stand trial and clear his name more understandable» said Bennet. «Wow, a third generation Blackbones, this is reason for celebration». Dame Simbai looked at them, «You two should go see him now. But don't wear him out, he still needs rest». D'Jok nodded, and gently led my by the hand, into the room.
Sonny was still resting, but he sat up as D'Jok and Mei approached. Sonny hugged Mei gently, not to hurt her. «Hi there princess, how are you feeling?» he asked with a smile. «I guess, about the same way you feel» she replied. «Sonny, do you know that you'll soon be a grandfather?» she asked. Sonny smiled back at her. «Yes, I know. And I am happy for the two of you. Have you made any plans about the future as of far, when the baby arrives? He or she will have plenty of bodyguards to look after her». «Erhm, discretely Dad, no spying this time!» commented D'Jok sarcastically. Sonny sent D'Jok a look that was supposed to look innocent. «Who's been spying on you D'Jok? That accusation could be taken offensively» he stated. «Dad..» , Sonny held his hands in the air. «Ok, ok, no spying, got it. But I will be around, one way or another». «And you'll be ever so welcome Sonny, If possible, i would like to ask you to come to the hospital when the baby is coming, cause that redheaded baby over there is sure to faint» teased Mei. «HEY!» D'Jok pouted, causing Sonny and Mei to laugh out loud...
Judge Allegi's hands were shaking. This could not be true. Not Ajay, Marjorie, little Shaye.. They had all been living on the one rock in the Shiloh Archipellago that Technoid had attacked. According to her contact in Shiloh, all 50 families living there, had been butchered. Among them, her own brother. Xandra knew they could not keep hiding this from the press, and especially not the nosy Calleigh Mystic for long, she needed to push Sonny's trial to have a fighting chance of finding him not guilty. Technoid was already fabricating evidence against him, they would not give up. She jumped at the sound of the phone. «Yes?» she replied. The caller was undisclosed and scrambled, «I got what you wanted, if you can make Sonny tell everything safely, and testify to this, it will clear him off all charges, but time is off the essence, Technoid's planning to attack the Aarch academy, to recapture him, this time, it's not sure he'll survive».
«I'll take care off it, if necessary, I got a safe place where he can be held». The voice was silent. «I'm sorry for your brother and his family Xandra». She looked at the screen, a tear formed in her eye. «Thank you, whoever you are». «I am nobody, a friend, a pirate, a freedom fighter, a defender of justice, and I hate to see Sonny being killed by technoid over things he didn't do. I know for a fact that he is innocent». «I know so too» whispered Judge Allegi, «Then, if you want justice for your brother, help Sonny, free him». «I will», then, the line went dead..
Duke Maddox looked over the new facillities underground. There would be no way whatsoever for Sonny to make contact with the world outside, once they had brought him here. Knowing that his team, Corso, Bennet and Artie were also at the Aarch academy, would make it a jackpot. Those three would make Sonny cooperate, maybe the implant would not be necessary? Maybe, by putting them in isolation, Sonny would do as he was told, to keep them safe. After all, they knew Sonny was sentimental. Then, Duke Maddox recieved a call. He ginned evil when he hung up. Sonny had nothing to loose in this trial, he would surely try to bring Technoid to it's knees. But now, he had a trumph card. «Sonny Blackbones, you will do as i ask of you, unless you are willing to risk the lives of Mei and your grandchild»...
Oh no, this is not good. The next chapter will be exciting, a little appetizer:
Next time on GF:
«The courtdate is set for tomorrow»
«I will call Sonny Blackbones to the witnesstand»
«Dad, Mei.. I can't find her anywhere, she's been abducted!»
Exciting? And what do you think of this chapter?