Chapter 9: Where is Mei?
Mei felt cold. The room had no heat, and she was dressed in her pajamas still. Her stomach hurt. The abductor certainly did not know how to treat a pregnant woman. It had taken her forever to get her hands out of the ropes. Now, she removed the blinds. The room was white, nothing anywhere told her anything of where she was. She looked to use her transmitter, but off course, someone had taken it. «Stay calm Mei, you can get through this, you know you can» she said to herself. She calmed herself down, trying to remember the survival training from Shiloh. Was it Sonny or Corso that had learned her this? She couldn't remember, it was definately one of them. Then she remembered what Sonny had said. «If you're in a room with no apparant way out, it doesn''t mean that all excits are blocked. Sometimes, they may have been concealed for a reason. Check the walls, and look for anything that recembles an airvent, that is big enough for you to crawl , when you get there, find a way out, but leave trails only you or someone that knows you would identify. And then, you try to make it out». It had been a good advice. Mei had learned to listen to the two experienced pirates when it came to matters such as this. She started searching. She still had her socks on, so her feets wouldn't get cold. She wished she would have had her panicbutton by now. When she had used it, at a time D'Jok was away, it had made sure one of the pirates sat with her untill he came back. Even Sonny had come. She knew he was in danger everytime he set foot outside his ship, but Sonny had told her not to worry for him. He had been doing this escape act for years, and knew his way around the neighbourhood. Mei had even asked him about being wanted, and constantly on the run. She had not expected him to answer that question. He had. It was challenging, but kept him alert. Sonny had used these occassions to train Mei, both mentally and physically. Now, Mei was calming herself down, just like Sonny had thought her to do, and focused. There had to be a way out of this room. She checked all the walls again. Bingo. There, floorlevel. It was big enough for her to fit into. Mei loosened the barrs, and slowly started her first solomission as a wannabe pirate wife...
Corso had called in all available teams to help look for Mei. Sonny was trying to calm down the very distressed and upset D'Jok. Out of all the low things one could expect from Technoid, this was the lowest. Corso knew Sonny was doing his best to hide it, but just underneath the surface, the fury roamed the pirate chief, and if he didn't watch carefully, it would explode. Corso did whatever he could to remain calm. Sonny was too close to both D'Jok and Mei, they were family to him, and it would cloud his judgement. Corso could only hope they would manage to keep Sonny from doing exactly what Technoid wanted. This seemed to be the worries of other pirates in the academy too. « Corso?» he looked up from what he was working on when he heard Sonny's familiar voice. «Yes Sonny?». «Search every last inch of every technoid facillity on all of Akillian. The timeframe doesn't allow them to have moved her very far, and check all traffic to and from the planet, especially, the from category, make sure all destinations within a timeframe of five hours is checked». Corso nodded. So far, Sonny didn't seem to think of anything stupid in regards to technoid. «Sonny?». The pirate chief turned. «Yes Corso?». «Don't go and do Technoid's bidding this time. Remember the last time?» he reminded his friend and captain. Sonny nodded. «You know I had to do what I did». Corso nodded. «Yes, and if nearly came at the price of your life, don't do that again Sonny, you got too much to fight for». Sonny nodded. Corso could see his strenght was starting to wear low. «You should try to rest Sonny, you're still not fully recovered from your disease» he reminded him. «It's no point Corso, as long as we don't know where Mei is, no one is able to relax». Corso could see that. «And what about D'Jok?». Pain was painted in Sonny's face. «He's not coping at all Corso, even I can't reach him this time..». Corso had to ask, even if it meant to hurt Sonny badly. «does he blame you for what happened to her?». Sonny denied that. «No, he knows I'll pull all of Akillian apart if I have to, to find her». Sonny sighed, a deep sigh, coming from somewhere deep in his heart. Corso understood. He lay his hand to Sonny's shoulder. «So, where do you want us to start?»...
D'Jok was phasing back and forth. He was unable to think straight. All he could think of, was Mei. Where was she now? Was she and the baby ok? D'Jok knew he handled this pretty bad. He blamed himself for not being here to protect her, when she was abducted. «D'Jok?», he stoped. Artie, the youngest pirate looked worried at him. «Are you hanging in there D'Jok?». D'Jok felt like letting out a scream of frustration. «I'm not Artie, my head is a mess, I worry like crazy for Mei and the baby, and on top of that, I don't know how long I may still have my Dad around to help me sort out the mess..», Artie just nodded it. «D'Jok..» the young pirate hacker sat down on the bed. « I wish I could say that Sonny would take care of everything, like he usually does, but this time... even us pirates are worried for the outcome of the trial. If we loose, we loose Sonny. Seeing Technoid taking him away..» Artie stoped. D'Jok knew what the pirate didn't say. His father had become the last barrier between the good and evil. He was a shining beacon, the one that showed what way to go. «I hope Dad knows how to find Mei, I would be lost without either of them» said D'Jok. «As we would be without Sonny» replied Artie silently. D'Jok felt tears pressing. «What am I goning to do Artie? Not only do I risk loosing my father, but I don't even know if Mei is still alive..». Artie looked at him. «D'Jok, I once felt the same way when I was forced to leave my family to join the pirates. Sonny has in a sense been a father to me. Loosing Sonny would be loosing the one real parent I've relied on for everything. But loosing Mei, it must feel a houndred times worse, I think Sonny is probobly the only one that would understand that..». D'Jok couldn't keep the tears back. Then, he looked to the doorway. There, stood Sonny and Corso, they had heard everything. Sonny looked like he had seen a ghost, and was looking pale from the shock of realising that right now, his own son, was basically reliving his own past. Without a word, Sonny walked over, and pulled D'Jok into a tight hug. «History will not be repeated D'Jok, we will find Mei and save her, I promise you, we will». D'Jok hugged his father. Standing here, in this tight hug, D'Jok felt Sonny's heart beat. Usually, he would have found comfort in knowing his father would always solve the problem. This time, it was different. D'Jok had no problems admitting he was scared. But right now, Sonny's heartbeats told him, that so was he. «Dad, I'm scared» D'Jok whispered. Sonny's hazels met D'Jok's murky greens. «I know son, I know» he whispered. «What if I loose the both of you? What will become of me then?» he asked. «That won't happen D'Jok, I will make sure to find a way to stay in contact, even if the worst should happen» said Sonny. He wasn't sure how he was going to do that, but he would find a way, he had to...
Mei had crawled a long way in the vents. Thank godness Sonny had told her how to do this, if not, she would not have known what to do. She reminded herself that she was gonna hug Sonny for teaching her this when she got out. That was, if she got to see him again. She worried that Sonny could have been placed in Technoid's hands again by now. Sonny had not told them what lay in store if that happened, but they knew, he knew. Technoid had made sure to tell him, but he would not share it with them. Instead, he had focused on the baby, making sure they had mentally prepared themselves for the job. Sonny had been very personal when he had told them of D'Jok's mother and his own preparations when they had found out that D'Jok was about to be born. If Sonny was taken by Technoid, they would never see him again. She just knew it. To Sonny, it was the equal of a deathsentense. If they lost him.. No, stop thinking like that. Mei felt as she could hear Sonny's voice in the back of her mind. What had he told her to do? Mei thought of it. «Focus on the task ahead. Look for any weakspots, and use every tool you have at your disposal, if you have none, be creative».Well, it was time to get creative then, thought Mei, and pulled out her bra. It could certainly be used for something...
Tia was worried. Even though she and Mei wasn't sharing a room anymore, it wasn't necessary now that Mei was pregnant. Everyone knew she wanted to be with D'Jok. But, they had been the best of friends for so long. Not knowing where she was, it startled Tia. Could something bad have happened to her. She decided to filter some technoid recordings she had gotten from Artie, just to have something to do...
Corso had the results back from the search teams of the pirates. They had searched almost every possible Technoid area, with nothing. Aarch, Dame Simbai, Clamp, Bennet, Artie and Sonny waited for him. They could tell it was not good. «Where could they have taken her?» he asked out loud. Sonny rubbed his chin. «Not to Duke Maddox house, it's too obvious, but have it checked still». He seemed to think. «Sonny?» he looked up. «What is it clamp?» , «Do you remember the cold lab in the mountains? The secret underground lab?». Sonny looked at him. He had not even conciderd that possiblillity. «Corso, assemble a team. We will create a diversion. I'll also need two Clones to pull this off». Corso had a small smile on his face. « you know where to find her?». Sonny nodded. «If I'm right, she should have made some partly escape herself too». «How so Sonny?» Aarch wanted to know. «she was in no condition to go anywhere» stated Dame Simbai. But Sonny didn't agree. « In a state of emergency, the human brain shuts down all such normal everyday problems and focuses on survival. Mei has that in her, i know, cause I trained her for eventuallities like that» said Sonny. Then he proceeded to explain how they would outmanouver Technoid...
Duke maddox looked at the phone for the millionth time. Blackbones was getting slower with the years. Had it been earlier, the fight would already have started. The pirate leader would surrender, possibly, he'd come to turn himself over the same night. Duke Maddox had high hopes of that. He had been thinking. It would be better if Sonny could be persuaded to come back on his own free will. Rather than putting the implant in him, maybe the way they should go about this, was being friendly? Duke Maddox had no doubts they would win, and Sonny would be theirs again. And they knew he had grown sick. He needed be examined by a doctor, and then medicated to recover fully. During this time, Duke Maddox wanted to keep him at his own estate. He looked up as a signal for an incoming call came up. «Yes?», «he is here your excellency»...
Stage one of the three step plan was put in motion. Bennet observed as the clone of Sonny approached the technoid building. The clone could fool even him. It would really look like Sonny, and talk like him too. Even the burnmark on his back was the same as the pirate chief had. Clamp and Sonny had put lots of efforts into the two clones they made. If he didn't know, he would be certain it was Sonny. «Ok Corso, Sonny- clone number one has just entered the building»...
Dame Simbai had disagreed at first, but everyone knew, Sonny could be very perusasive with it came right to it. This time, it concerned the lives of Mei and his unborn grandchild. Dame Simbai worried Sonny wasn't strong enough to make the trip. Sonny had taken a shot of the cure that Clamp and Corso had made with the seed of shiloh. A quick examination convinced Dame Simnbai. «But what if Technoid comes to check?», she said, knowing that the chance was they would. «Then, they will meet Sonny- clone number two» stated the pirate chief. He packed a small backpack with what he needed to execute the rescue mission. Artie came by. He handed Sonny an electronic map. «I upgraded it with what you asked Sonny, if there is any guarding there, it would show as red dots». Sonny nodded it. «Thanks Artie». Clamp was going with him, along with Arch and Rocket. D'Jok wanted to go, but Sonny told him no. «You need to stay here, and get things ready for our return, don't worry D'Jok, I'll let you know as soon as she is safe». D'Jok sighed. He had hoped to have at least Micro- Ice to talk to, but this time, Micro- Ice was going on the mission with Sonny. D'Jok watched as they made ready to go. «D'Jok, take the clone to my room and have him put to bed. Make sure everything looks like normal, he is wearing the robe, just to make sure we don't have Technoid growing suspicious». Sonny looked around. Technoid would be stalled by the clone they sent in there, but he placed one in the academy too, just to maske sure to cause some confusion. Knowing Technoid, if they found out what he was about to do, he would be in trouble up to his neck. It would prove Dame Simbai to be unable to detain him, and would lead to him being returned to the company's care. Sonny knew what that meant. He would never admit to it, in front of his men, or his son. But Sonny was afraid this time. Technoid had not gone to such extremes before, they were either growing desperate, or the pirates were facing hard times to come. They would manage. Sonny had prepared for those kind of situations. The kidnaping of Mei, it was not aimed at the pirates as an organization. This was personal. Sonny and his team, consisting of Artie, Corso, Arch, Clamp, Rocket, Micro- Ice and himself, left on the snowkids snowmobiles. Sonny checked the maps before they reached the mountains. He had not been here for years. Now, it was time again. To Clamp, this was more unknown territory. Sonny had been here before. Working for Bleylock. Isolated from the other scientists. Sonny closed his eyes. He did not want to remember what had gone on back then, even now, after all these years, and Bleylock dead and gone, he felt nauseous with the bare thought of the life here. They parked the snowmobiles out of sight. Sonny ordered them hidden, so they would not be easily spotted. Then,they started a climb up the back of the mountain. Sonny stared at the white mountain top. « Decent back into hell» he mumbled...
obviosuly another place for bad memories. Let's pray they find Mei in due time. Chapter 10 will be up soon. I hope Sonny's little plan to fool Technoid falls to taste, cause he has more cards up his sleeve yet. And please, rewiew.