Chapter 8: twist
Dame simbai interrupted the joined breakfast of the snowkids and the pirates present. «I got a call, Judge Allegi is coming in today. She wants to talk to Corso, Bennet, Artie and Sonny». All four of the pirates exchanged glances. Corso held on to Sonny's gaze a little longer than the others. There was a silent communication between the two. But Sonny didn't appear stressed. Dame Simbai had finally let him out of bed to eat with the others, after Sonny had complained of crumbles in the bed, it was hard enough to rest as it was, he saw no need to make it any harder. Sonny continued eating. Then, he pressed a button on his new transmitter. Slowly, he rose from the table. Corso followed him. «Mr Winters, it's Sonny Blackbones»...
Judge Allegi arrived at the Aarch academy. It was urgent she got to talk to Sonny. Technoid was breathing down her neck already, and she needed to stall things. Unfortunately, she needed to get this train rolling, before disaster struck. She had managed to buy Sonny some time, but placing him in Simbai's care, but Technoid was getting increasingly difficult to deal with. If Sonny lost, there would be no way around it, Technoid would get their claws in him, and from the looks of it, it would be almost certain death for him. She arrived at Dame Simbai's lab. Sonny was resting on the bed, but he was alert. «Your honor, what can I do for you?» he smiled. Corso sat next to him. «Since you insist on being formal Mr. Blackbones, let's get on with things shall we?». She took a seat, next to Mr. Winters, Sonny's defense attourney. «My client, Mr. Blackbones, has decided to come clean with everything he knows about Technoid, there is too many lives at stake, and Mr. Blackbones feels like there has been enough bloodshed as there has of far, and the recent attack on Shiloh, wich caused another 50 lives to be lost, is justified grounds to tell of the dark past of Technoid». Judge Allegi smiled «And his own involvement in things, wich led to him being a wanted man?». «It will be explained, and the big picture will become much much clearer» said Sonny. He glanced over at Corso. «I brought Corso, as he and I have been tight like brothers for the better part of our lives till this day, I could off course ask any pirate to testify in my behalf, they all would, but it wouldn't be real, I chose Corso, because he's the one that knows me, how I think and how I react. I owe my life to him, time and time over, that debt can never be paid off». Judge Allegi nodded. Mr. Winters pulled out a voicerecorder. «I will tape this conversation Sonny, just incase it may come in handy». Sonny nodded. «By all means, do so». As Soon as Mr. Winters started the recorder, Sonny started telling his story, as he remembered it. It was the start of many long hours...
Mei felt nauseous again. If this was life as a pregnant woman, she was never doing it over again. Anything she ate or drank, made her feel sick to her stomach. D'Jok had no idea what it had cost her to take that relatively short walk from their room to Sonny's. She did it cause she wanted to see him, and tell him the good news. Over the years, Mei had grown fond of Sonny, learned to see him for who he was, not just that cursed wanted poster. She had met Sonny on countless occassions now, usually in the cover of darkness. She could never forget the first time she had met him together with D'Jok..
************flashback********************
They had been to the movies, to see the latest big movie. D'Jok wanted to go through the park on their way home. Mei felt sceptic about it. It was dark, and the park lacked lights, but for some reason, D'Jok didn't seem bothered by it. «I like coming here after dark, it gives me time to think, be annonymous for a change» he stated to his sceptic girlfriend. «D'Jok, it's dark here, and I don't feel safe going into a dark park at night» she complained. D'Jok took her hand. «It's safe, I promise» he smiled. Hessitantly, Mei followed him. It was nothing to worry about, she kept telling herself, it was safe, D'Jok said so. Oh, who was she trying to fool? D'Jok didn't know that anymore than she did, he just seeked for an adventure and somewhere to make out in the dark, without having to watch out for «the dragon» as he affectionately referred to her mother as. Mei had to agree that her mother could be a bit much sometimes, but she wasn't all that bad, was she? They were almost halfway through, when a dark, hodded figure, all of a sudden stood in front of them. Mei felt like screaming, but D'Jok quickly put his hand over her mouth. «Don't worry Mei, the pirates mean us no harm». Mei was stunned. «The pirates?». She had heard numerous stories about them, and most of them weren't nice. But she knew Sonny Blackbones was D'Jok's father. And the pirates leader. Now, the tallest of them, pulled his hood down. «Dad!» D'Jok let go of her hand and rushed over to hug his father. Sonny Blackbones smiled as he pulled his son into a hug. «Good to see you D'Jok, sorry I had to cancel the appointment earlier, something came up.. piratematters». D'Jok just smiled. «Don't worry Dad, I understand» he smiled. «I knew you would» Sonny's voice was mild and meek, and he smiled to his son. Then, as he suddenly sensed there was more people in the crowd, he looked up. His hazels fell of Mei, who took a step back. Sonny's share height frightened her. D'Jok snapped out ot it. He took her hand. «Dad, this is Mei, my one true love, Mei, this is my father, Sonny Blackbones, whom I am very proud of». Mei's blue eyes met Sonny's hazels. Sonny smiled calmly, and held out his hand, slowly, Mei took it. «It's a pleasure to meet you Mei» said Sonny, and placed his other hand on top of hers. Normally, something like that would have frightened Mei, but there was something about Sonny, that made her feel safe in his presence. «The same» she whispered. «D'Jok's told me alot about you, so in some respect, I feel like I know you, but I would love to get to know you better. Friends?» he smiled. «Friends» she smiled back. The pirates took them to a small bar, wich they learned was their hideout. Here, they made sure they got some food and drinks. Sonny and Mei got to talk alot more, and got to be good friends. A friendship that just grew over the years. Mei adored Sonny, he seemed to always know whenever they needed help, if he couldn't come personally, he would send one of his trusted men. Mei knew she was protected when walking the streets alone, a pirate always watched her back, and would be protecting her if she was in need».
*************flashback end***************
Mei had come to love Sonny over the years. Whenever she felt down and lacked energy from fighting her mother, either Sonny would see her personally the next day, or one of his men would. She knew he stuck to his promises. There was something about him that made her feel safe. But this.. not even Sonny could help her with this.. but if helped to know that at least her father and father- in- law loved the baby already, and didn't ask her to have an abortion. Her mother thought of no one but her own selfish needs. «D'Jok, I need to go to the bathroom». D'Jok looked worried. «Are you gonna throw up again? Mei, have you spoken to Dame Simbai about this? Maybe she has something that could help?», Mei didn't hear that last part, she ran and just about made it, before her entire breakfast was in the toilet. She hated this. She needed the energy, she felt so drained, but her body proved uncooperative. D'Jok looked worried at her when she returned. «I don't like this Mei, maybe we should follow your mothers advice...», «NO! We're having this child, how can you think of killing your own doughter or son? What do you think Sonny would think of that?» she screamed at him. D'Jok bowed his head in shame. Mei was right. Sonny would be down right horrified if he heard any of the kind. He had walked around for nearly 16 years not knowing he had a son, and then he found him. D'Jok didn't know what he feared the most, seeing the disappointment in his son in his fathers eyes, or the slap at the back of his head, that he was sure to recieve. D'Jok knew he deserved it. «I'm sorry Mei, I'm just not very good at these things..» Mei slapped him at the back of the head. «Thanks, I deserved that one» D'Jok smiled sheepishly. Mei smiled too. «Help me back to bed D'Jok, then, go get Dame Simbai. You're right, I need help to deal with this». D'Jok took her hand and led her to the room...
The following morning, Corso helped Sonny prepare. «Sonny?», Corso looked at his friend. Sonny seemed a bit tense, no wonder really. Because of how things played out, and the threats made by Technoid towards Judge Allegi, Sonny was left with no other alternative than to push things through in order to have a fair trial. «I'm as good as circumstances allows for Corso» replied Sonny silently. Corso lay a hand to his shoulder, their silent communication. He understood what his friend was going through. To Sonny, this could well be the last time he would still recognize any of his peers, his own son. If Technoid won, they would loose him. There would be no way to find him in time, and even if they succeded at a later time, there were other pirates that had been through the same proceedure. They had removed the implant, but none of the pirates in question, had survived for long. They never quite grew back to their normal self after that. Corso did not want that to happen to Sonny. «Well». He looked up, as Sonny spoke. «Time to go Corso». Corso sighed. «Sonny, before we go..», Sonny stoped and turned. His hazels met Corso's grey. «Yes Corso?», «If worst is to come, It's an honor to have fought by your side, and have you as my friend». Corso stoped, before he choked. But Sonny had already made him out. «The same Corso». He pulled Corso into a comforting hug. It felt like it lasted forever, before Sonny freed himself. «We must leave Corso» he simply stated. Sonny threw a long look at his bed, the room had been a prisoncell, but a safe prisoncell in an open prison. Now, he had no idea what lay ahead, all he knew, was that he would fight it with all he had. Then, he turned and walked out the door, time to face Technoid again...
«All rise, the honorable judge Allegi residing». Sonny stood next to Mr. Winters, his hazels looked around the room. Duke Maddox had a devilish smile upon his face. Sonny froze when he noticed that. A smiling duke Maddox was no good news. The snake had a card up his sleeve, and if was up to Sonny to find out what that card was. They sat down. Judge Allegi looked at her papers. «Today, I call Mr. Sonny Blackbones to the witnesstand». A gasp could be heard througout the room. Everyone had expected Sonny to be called last, that everyonce would be called before him. Sonny slowly rose from his seat, and walked up to the witnesstand. His height made several Technoid employees pull back, as if they thought he'd hit them. Sonny ignored them, and took to the witnesstand. The clerck swore him in, Sonny promised to be truthfull in his account of the events that lead up to this trial. Then he was asked to sit down. «Mr. Blackbones, please, do let us know how and from where it is that you know Technoid and it's leader, Duke Maddox». Sonny nodded, then adjusted the microphone, and started talking. He told of all he knew, from Technoid's selective schollarship program for gifted youngsters, wich he himself had been part of, his training in their facilitiies, his former boss, General Bleylock, who was believed to be diseased, and what he had been forced to, the bounty Technoid had put on his head, the neverending running, the sneaking around to protect the galaxy from this company's hunger for more power, the failed metaflux project, the death he was responisble for after escaping with the metaflux, the death of his wife, his son, his hopes for the future, nothing was left out. Sonny kept his voice calm and even, nowhere could it be said that he grew too eager or harsh. Then, came the dreaded time, the cross 's attourney approached him with a cheesy smile. «Mr. Blackbones, would you please state your name before the court?», «Sonny Blackbones». The attourney smiled sleek again. «Now, come now, Mr. Blackbones, that isn't your worldly name is it?» , «Mr. Beastly, May I ask what is the relevance of this question?» asked Judge Allegi, clearly annoyed. «Your honor, the relevance is, that we can prove that Mr. Blackbones is lying». «How so?», «I will get there momentarilly, that is, if you will allow me to continue?». «I'll allow it, but any more foolishness, and i'll aquitt Mr. Blackbones of all charges on the spot, got it?». «Certainly, your honour» smirked the attourney. Sonny clenched his teeths. It was evident, even to a child where this was going. «So, Mr. Blackbones, please state your real name to the court». Sonny stared the attourney in the eyes, making him take a step back. «I'Son D'arish», a new gasp was heard in the crowd at this piece of information. The D'arish family was known troughout the galaxy. A branch of the family, Evan, had broken out and wanted a simple life with his wife, Beth. Sonny Blackbones family. A family of noble decent. «And how long did you plan to keep this herritage hidden?». The attourney was unwilling to let go of the subject. «It never mattered much to me during my upbringing, why would it matter at adulthood?» Sonny asked. «I'll be asking the questions here Mr. Blackbones, your obligation is to answer to them». Now, Mr. Winters had enough of Beastly's behaviour. «Your honor, Mr. Beastly is badgering my client, will you please ask him to behave?» the attourney asked politely. «I am giving you a warning Mr. Beastley, stay in line, or we're through». Sonny made sure his hands were out of sight. He clenched his fists. He had expected that Technoid would try to discredit him, and his credibillity, but this was none of it, it was tearing open old wounds, an effective way of killing your oponent's resistence. Technoid had widely miscalculated him this time. But the Duke's snakelike smile had made him veary. Something was up, and Sonny's alarms had gone off, he tried to relax as he waited for the next attack...
Mei felt even worse than before. She wanted to be there in the courtroom, to support Sonny, but found herself too sick. Dame Simbai had come to see her, and had perscribed some antivomit meds and herbs for her condition. D'Jok had already left for the trial, she could understand him. Sonny was his father, and D'Jok really felt proud of him and what he stood for. It was perfectly normal to be with your one living parent in a time like this. D'Jok had even called Maya, his fostermother, and asked her to see if she could see what would happen in her crystalball. For years, Maya had refused to do any of the kind when it came to D'Jok. It had turned out, that in some ways, Sonny and D'Jok's faiths were linked, because of the father and son bond, so she couldn't make out for sure who the prediction went for. This time, the crystallball had been what she described as foggy. She could make out nothing. Ususally, that meant that things could turn two ways. Sonny had seemingly been very relaxed before they left. Mei was dozing off, when a gust of cold wind woke her. She wasn't alone in the room. Before she could realise what was going on, a sponge was held over her mouth and nose. Mei fell unconcious. The abductor smiled. Duke Maddox would be pleased with his work. He carefully bound the girls hands, in case she could come out of this state too soon, and gaged her. He then placed a note onto Mei's bed before he lifted the unconsious Mei to his shoulder, and left through the airvents. Little did he know, that the pirates had taken precautions, and placed hidden cameras in the room, a camera had recorded all that happened, and also identified him..
In the courtroom, Duke Maddox recieved a message on his earpiece. The package had been delivered. An evil smile formed on his face. This would stop Sonny's mallicious lies about his company for sure. He leaned back, and listened to the continued explanation of the infamous pirate chief. Sonny seemed confident, and had no problems answering the questions thrown at him by . The pirates backed Sonny's account of events in the form of taped videos, that they off course had ran through filters and programs, to prove their authentisity, and pictures, some showed the flux wars, others showed injured men, most of them pirates, some even showed Sonny, with various forms of injuries. All of wich was attributed to Technoid's continued hunt on them. Judge Allegi sent Technoid an annoyed look. They seemed to enjoy this too much. When Sonny was done explaining, and crossexamination was over, he was allowed to return to his seat. Corso walked past him on his way up. For a brief second, he stoped next to Sonny, and put a hand to his shoulder. Sonny's gaze met his. Then, they went separate ways. Sonny took his seat, and listened to Corso's testimony. His gaze wandered off to the Technoid bench. Duke maddox growled when Corso answered with no problems. Mr. Beastly was getting increasingly frustrated. Many pirates would take to the witnesstand and tell only good about Sonny, wich Technoid off course hated. Finally, Judge Allegi decided to call the day. Sonny felt how he tensed up. It had yet not been cleared where he'd be staying now, he suspected to be turned over to Technoid's care, preparing that they would prep him for the implant as soon as he was back in the cell. But Judge Allegi sensed his distress. She knew that Sonny was innocent, all they could get him on, was smaller offences, and those could be justified as a means to support themselves. Surrendering him to technoid was out of the question. «Mr. Blackbones, you will return to Aarch Academy and stay in Dame Simbai's care, untill this trial is over and a conviction finds place». Sonny nodded. «Thank you, your honor». She nodded. «Just behave nicely, and we will have no problems» she simply said. Corso smiled, as they left the courtroom and entered the policecar ready to take them back to the academy. D'Jok had left before, he was worried for Mei, and wanted to be with her. Sonny could understand that, her being pregnant and all. But as soon as they arrived at the academy, it was evident something was wrong. Aarch and Clamp met them. «Sonny, please, come quick, you need to calm down D'Jok, he's like a caged animal...» Sonny frowned, and his hazels narrowed. «Clamp, what are you talking about?», Clamp took him by the arm. Sonny ran along with him to D'Jok and Mei's room. The sight that met them, was horrifying. D'Jok was sitting on the bed, redeyed from crying, shaking like a leaf. «D'Jok» Sonny stormed over to his son and pulled his son into a comforting hug. «What's wrong D'Jok? Where is Mei?» he asked. «She's gone dad, they've taken her» sobbed D'Jok. Sonny felt like a cold claw gripped his heart. Then, he noticed that D'Jok was clenching a piece of paper in his hand. «D'Jok, what's that note?», D'Jok handed it to him. It was adressed to him, written on a technoid marked paper. The note read: « You may think you won Blackbones, but concider this, is it worth the lives of your doughter in law and your grandchild? Surrender now, and she'll live, if not, it's another life on your consience»...
Chapter 8 is one of the best in my opinion, what you you my dear followers?