Chapter 17: pieces come together
As Sonny entered the room, it was clear that it was a festive mood in the Aarch academy tonight. Clamp blew out the confetti, wich caused Micro- Ice to complain loudly.
«Don't do that, you know how easily I get papercuts» the ravenhaired striker complained.
D'Jok was having a hard time holding on to his glass from the laughter. «You haven't changed one bit Micro- Ice» he laughed.
«Hey, I'm still the funniest guy around».
Bennet giggled. «Well, I do think my young friend Artie over here, is up to give you a run for the title» he blinked.
Micro- Ice was busy, brushing the confetti out of his hair.
«You should leave it in, it's really your colour» joked Corso.
For Corso to crack a joke, it was so rare that everyone stoped to look at him. Even Sonny looked at him and raised an eyebrow.
«Are you feeling ok Corso?» he laughed, and to underline his point, he walked up to his friend and placed a hand to his forehead. He pulled it away, quickly, as if he had burned himself. «Cool him down, he's overheating» Sonny laughed.
The pirates took it litterally. Artie and Bennet, with the help of the pirates football team and some snowkids, pulled out the firehose.
«Hey, will you cut that out?» growled a dripping wet Corso. Wich made them hose him down again. Growling, he went to change clothes. Meanwhile, D'Jok brought the young snowkids team, a team he had accepted the position as a coach for, in for the party. «I hope you don't mind Dad?» he asked sheepishly.
«Off course not D'Jok. This is time to celebrate, the team means a lot to you, you have had to be their leader in hard times, I understand your need to show them who and why you have had such struggles, son» smiled Sonny and had a sip of his beer. He walked with D'Jok, over to the team.
«Wow, it's Sonny Blackbones» the team said almost in unification. Sonny had to smile. There was something about the lack of fear, and the obvious admiration they showed towards him, that made Sonny feel real good inside. For the first time in years, he wouldn't have to hide all the time. He could walk in public, not having to be on the lookout for droids, there was endless possibillities that opened up, now that he was a free man again.
Everybody was having a good time, except... Sonny noticed a girl, around 12- 14 years old, sitting in a corner by herself. She looked sad. Come to think of it, she had sat down there for some time, almost the entire party. Corso had returned, and his gaze searched Sonny. He found it. Sonny sent a silent code. Hold everyone off, I'll take care of it.
Sonny spoke to D'Jok first. D'Jok had seen it too. But he was clueless to what made her so unhappy. «Reigna is usually not like this» he explained to his father.
«Those sad eyes.. no one should feel like that at her age. I'll talk to her, one on one, D'Jok, hold everyone off, it's better that way» said Sonny. D'Jok nodded. Sonny walked over to the bar, where Dame Simbai stood. She understood what Sonny was up to. She handed him a softdrink, without question. Sonny slowly made his way towards the young girl.
«Hey, you want something to drink?» he smiled to her as he offered her the softdrink.
«Thank you Mr. Blackbones» she smiled at him.
«You just call me Sonny, that's what my friends do» he replied in a calm tone.
Reigna smiled for a short second, before her eyes grew distant again. It looked like she was miles away. Little did she know, how Sonny's heart was bleeding for her.
«Is something wrong?» he asked mildly.
Reigna looked down.
«My Dad's been missing for two weeks now, I don't know if he's alive or dead» she said.
Sonny couldn't help notice how her murky green eyes filled with tears.
«I'm sorry to hear that» he said.
«Thanks, but I don't see there is nothing anyone can do to help someone that's been working for Technnoid when they go missing» she spat the words out.
Sonny jumped when he heard the word Technoid.
«Your father is working for Technoid?» he asked her. The match with the time that had passed since he had been transferred over to Dame Simbai's care, could not be all coincidental. Sonny felt like a claw gripped his heart. He felt responsible for what had happened to her father. Sonny knew he had to fish for more information to go on.
Reigna nodded. Then she looked at him.
«You might know him. Didn't Technoid imprison you a few months back?»
Sonny was surprised to hear this, but understood there was something this young girl was telling him.
«That is correct, why are you wondering?» he asked.
«Dad was one of the scientists set to handle your case. I remember him telling me about you, and what lay in store for you» she whispered.
Sonny leaned closer. «May I ask, what did he tell you?» he looked at her, a shine in his eyes told her, she had his undivided attention.
«He said, no one should be subjected to what they have done to Sonny, both past and present».
Sonny said nothing. He just remained seated in silence next to her. He felt sick. This was his fault. If not for him, her father wouldn't have been dragged of to somewhere, leaving this young girl fearful. Sonny felt his heart race. This man knew something. That was why Technoid had «disposed of the problem». Typical Technoid. They couldn't care less wheter their emplooyees had families and children. The moment you put your name on a contract with them, they seemed to be under the impression that the person became their property, a posession that they owned.
«What is your fathers name?» he asked gently.
« Arendour» she replied.
Sonny sat down in front of her. «Reigna, don't you worry. You know what my job is?» he asked.
«According to Technoid, looting and plundering their convoys, being a menace to society in general». Sonny had to smile for a short second. No doubt, this girl had heard Technoid's chanting time and time over. But still, he had a feeling that she trusted him, that he could help her, if she would let him.
«Part of it, but there is something else to us pirates. We help people escape Technoid, find a safe place to live and new lives. I can't guarrantee that it's a safer life, but it's one away from Technoid. Now, My friends and I, will go on the look for your father. I'll make contact when we've found him, Ok?» Sonny looked her deep in the eyes.
Reigna still seemed sceptical. «How can you take care of all this Sonny? You're just a man».
Now, Corso joined them.
«Don't worry Missy, you can trust Sonny. He truly does take care of everything».
Artie too confirmed what Corso said. «Sonny will take care of everything, so don't worry about anything. And I've never, in the years I've been a pirate, experienced Sonny letting anyone down» he smiled.
Sonny rose. «But now, let's try to enjoy the party Reigna. And guys..» alle the pirates looked at him.
«No alcohol, you need to keep your heads sharp, we leave as soon as this party is over».
Corso looked at him.
«Why Sonny? Do you know something?»
Sonny nodded.
« we'll talk it over later Corso, for now, just stay of anything that is likely to cloud your head in any way. We're on to something, a keypiece to this entire riddle of Technoid. I can feel it».
Corso knew better than to argue. When Sonny felt this way about things, it was good reason to listen to him. His intuition was seldom wrong, and the stronger Sonny felt about something, the more certain it was to be proven correct. Corso went to make arrangements for the trip whereas Sonny had to stay on, to uphold the facade of the pirates on the party in his honor. Sonny shook his head when Dame Simbai offered him a beer. «We got a rescuemission, no alcohol for any of my men, that's an order» he informed the herbalist.
«This is dangerous Sonny, have you told D'Jok and Mei?» asked Dame Simbai.
«No, and I don't plan to. We'll put clones in our places, to keep them all calm. We should be back soon, if all goes well».
Clamp had joined them. «Where are you headed Sonny?»
«Planet Technoid, we'll have to make this quick, but we need to get Reigna's father out and into safety. He knows too much, and with Technoid, that is as bad as it will ever get».
Clamp sipped his beer. «I don't like this Sonny..»
Sonny's hazels met Clamp's grey ones.
«I don't either, but we have to do this. I'll lead the team, I'll bring my main team with me, the lesser the better».
Clamp looked thoughtfully at him. «Ok Sonny, but be carefull. Don't go waste everything you've worked for on one man»
«I won't, this is what will put the nail in Technoid's coffin».
Sonny didn't know how it was he could say just that, but his intuition was usually dead on. The two friends then split, to mingle. They continued the party. Even Calleigh Mystic appeared with her camerateam. Sonny looked at Clamp and raised an eyebrow. «Clamp, do you mind telling me who invited Arcadia News to come here?» he asked.
«That would be me Sonny!» Aarch stepped forwards.
Sonny looked at him. «I guess there is a reason as to why too?» he asked the snowkids coach.
«Sonny, there is no escaping Calleigh, sooner or later, you'll come face to face with her, one way or another, if you try to avoid it, she will do everything in her power, and more, to find you. My advice is, grab the bull by the horns, and get it overwith».
Sonny had to admit that Aarch had a point in what he said. D'Jok joined them, and overheard Aarch last comment.
«He's right Dad, Calleigh won't stop untill she gets what she wants».
Sonny realised the sense in Aarch's advice.
«Ok, I'll go talk to her...»
In an office, in a villa, highly guarded by droids and hightech security measures, sat Duke Maddox, and watched Sonny get interwiewed by Calleigh Mystic. He seemed relaxed. But looks could be deciving. Duke maddox clutched a folder in his hand. The label read «project Nemesis», very few members of Technoid's staff knew of it, even Sonny didn't know. Duke maddox stared at the screen.
«You got your freedom Sonny Blackbones, but it comes at a price. The question is, are you willing to pay the cost of this freedom?».
Duke Maddox looked at the content of the file. X- rays, testresults, the work. Technoid had created a supersolider, one that would serve their purpose to rule supreme in the galaxy when the time came. Sonny had been right from the get go, when he suspected that his and Clamps invention, The metaflux, was intended as a weapon of war. It had been too easy for Bleylock to persuade them, two naive scientists, to think that they were working to create flux for robots, to even the odds. By the time they realised the mistake, and the possible consequenses, the metaflux had already been created. And as a bonus, the flux was impossible to trace, the perfect weapon of war.
They had not calculated I'Son's move. They thought they knew him. It turned out not to be the case. I'Son had stolen the metaflux, and tried to flee with it. It had come at a high price, the loss of his son's entire childhood, thinking he was dead, his wife's death, and the loss of his freedom. Duke Maddox had tried to tack down I'Son. Only to find that I'Son seemed to have disappeared from the surface completely. Only months later,started a chain of raids on Technoid's transportation ships.
Duke maddox learned a new name in the pirate's scene. Sonny Blackbones. Who was he? It soon became clear to Duke Maddox, that he infact knew Sonny Blackbones. It was I'Son, a furious I'Son, griefstruck, and angry. Now, they had let Sonny off the hook, by dropping all charges against him. Duke Maddox still had hopes to better his relationship with the pirate chief, little by little. He pressed a button on his panel. A face appeared on screen. «Yes, your Excellency?». «engage project nemesis!»...
Planet Technoid wasn't a natural planet. It was manmade, from metal. Technoid took pride in their creation. For all the scientists and other involved parties that had left the place alive, it was the symbol of death, supression and disgust. Corso ground teeths when the metalplanet appeared on screen.
«Switch to stealthmode, we don't want to be seen» sonny ordered.
The black manta was invisible to the naked eye, radar, anything that could track the fast ship.
«What's the mission Sonny?» Corso asked.
Sonny didn't reply immideately. Instead, he pulled up a technoid file.
«It's a rescue mission guys. This man, Arendour, has information that we need to understand Technoid's recent actions».
«Oh come on Sonny. Isn't it time to put the past behind us, and start to look forwards?» asked Bennet.
Corso shot him an evil glare.
«Bennet, do you mind?» he asked in a growling tone.
Sonny was unaffected by either man's bikering. «Remember my reaction to the file you copied from Technoid's database Corso? The file carrying my name?».
Corso was puzzled. «Sure Sonny, but I don't get it».
Sonny smiled. «All of you, have a seat, and I'll explain what that information on file meant, and why we have to go about buisness this way»...
Sneaking into the technoidplanet was a childsplay. Making phony id- cards and acess the gates was easy. If it had been elsewhere, Sonny would have suspected a trap, but this time, he felt safe they would make this. They had used a clone to take his place in the Aarch academy. It was better D'Jok knew nothing of what was going on.
Sonny geared up, as did his team.
«When you find him, bring him to the ship, and make sure the other team aborts their job and heads back, then, we're out of here».
Searching the technoidplanet was the hard part. Sonny had put on masks and a unit that scrambled his voice when he spoke. He had spent some time here before, and could therefore be easily recognized.
They spent time to scover the planet. Before long, the two teams met to compare notes.
«He's in the dungeon» stated Sonny, when Bennet and Artie had given their reports.
«How do you know that?» asked Corso.
«no one's seen him, all prisoners has been seen by the public here, unless they are held captive in the dungeon of the prison» said Sonny.
«Then, how do we find him there?» asked Artie.
«The old fashioned way artie, we break in» grinned Sonny.
Corso looked at the surrounding walls and guards.
«It's guarded by cameras Sonny, it doesn't look very inviting» he said, putting his binoculars down.
«Well, they forgot to mail our invitation, so let's crash the party!» suggested Artie.
Sonny saw a way that was dark enough to provide suffucient cover for them.
«Let's go, we've wasted enough time»...
Thran sat watch in the control room on Akillian along with Clamp. For this mission, to save the father of one of D'Jok's young players, a man Sonny suspected could shed lights on several matters concerning Technoid's sudden change of heart, a change that made Sonny feel uncomfortable, since it meant he didn't know what to expect from the enemy, Sonny had asked Clamp and Thran to be the rescue teams back up at the computerunits. Clamp's transmitter gave signal that someone was calling.
«Yes, Sonny?»
Sonny's image appeared in glowing green. «The northeastern gate, we need a kill of all videosurveilance as well as the security alarms for a section of two blocks» Sonny requested.
«I'm on it» cheered Thran and quickly punched in a series of codes on his computer. Sonny smiled, as all the lights, indicating that the systems were on, shut down, one by one.
«Good Work Thran» he told the snowkid.
Thran just smiled.
«Ok, Sonny. You're entering a zone where we can't reach you, good luck» said Clamp, before he ended the call.
«You think they'll make it?» asked Thran.
«If anyone can, it's Sonny» said Clamp. He did not want the snowkid to know just how dangerous what the pirates were doing just now was...
The pirates felt like they were in their comfortzone, the minute the barrs were removed from the airvents. Corso went first, followed by Artie and Sonny, with Bennet covering the back. Once they were in, they all moved fast. Sonny pulled a map from the inside of his pocket. He had one look at it, and then, without a word, pointed the direction to his men. As soon as they made the prisoncellars, they started looking for Arendour. Something about the name, made Sonny think back. He knew this man, they went through university together, played football together. But even if he remembered Aredour, it was not all certain that Arendour would connect the dots in the puzzle, and realise that his old friend, and teammate, I'Son and Sonny Blackbones was one and the same. Mentally, Sonny was giving himself a kick in the ass for not thinking of asking his doughter of this when he had the chance. What had made him forget about it? But Sonny knew the answer. The young girl had been in tears, worried she would never see her dearly beloved father again. Sonny knew how that was like. He had talked to D'Jok about that, just after he had been freed from Bleylock's abduction, where he had come to save D'Jok's life, a decission that had nearly cost his own life. If not for Corso...
Corso had stoped in front of him. «We're here Sonny!» he whispered. Sonny looked around. They were in luck, there were air vents. Sonny smiled.
«Artie, when does the shaddows against the Lightnings start?» he asked the young pirate.
«They're announcing the line up now Sonny» Artie smiled and gave the thumbs up signal.
«No yelling at any goals this time Artie» warned Corso, in a growling tone.
As Soon as Artie gave the go ahead for the match on the way, The pirates started searching the cells. To avoid being recognized, they all wore masks, to conceal themselves. After 15 intense minutes of searching, Corso waved Sonny over.
«Is it him?» he asked, and let Sonny have a look through the celldoor window.
Sonny could see a man, lying stretched out on a bench, chained to a wall. He had aged, but not beyond the point of recognition.
«get the door open Corso, we found him»
Corso put a device to the door, and punched in a code. Within seconds, the celldoor opened. Sonny rushed in. The man was injured, no doubt about it. When Bennet had a closer look, he looked shocked. «I thought they had stoped using methods like this?».
Sonny's face was like carved in stone. He knew, better than anyone else in the room, that Technoid would stop at nothing to have things their way, it didn't matter that their victim perished down the line. So far, they had managed to hide this dark side of their nature to the world. But Sonny had known, all along, that it was just a matter of time before they would expose themselves. Sonny bent down, and took the man's hand.
«Arendour, can you hear me?» he asked.
The older man moaned, from the pain, that this caused him.
Corso was watching the door. «Sonny, we have to go, staying on, is just too dangerous». Sonny nodded it. Corso was right. They had won a victory, in having Sonny aquitted of all charges, but them being here, could easily cause things to be thrown back. And if they were cought here, on Technoid's ground, things could turn very very ugly.
The older man moaned from pain, as the pirates gently helped him sit up. Artie opened the chains with great ease.
Arendour let out a sigh of pain. His weary eyes stared at the four men in front of him. Pirates, all of them. With their infamous leader, looking at him with a worried expression. Arendour sighed again. There was something about Blackbones. Something struck him as familiar. He knew this man from somewhere, but, where?
Sonny could tell the man was in great pain. Whatever Technoid had done to him, had drained him. Without further hessitation, Sonny gave him a syringe containing a sleeping aid known to the pirates alone, his very own, potent little cocktail. «This will do you good, old friend» he said as Arendour fell into deep sleep.
Corso signaled that the excit was clear. Sonny and Bennet gently lifted the unconcious man and carried him between them, as Artie had their backs. By the end of the match, the pirates were already back aboard the black Manta...
As soon as it was discovered that Arendour was missing, the alarm was sounded in Technoid. Duke Maddox couldn't prove who had helped him escape, but all carried the signature of the pirates. Sonny! Duke Maddox had already set project Nemesis in motion, it was too late to pull the plugg now. All he could do, was to wait for the visit he knew Sonny would pay him, sooner or later. Once alone in his office, Duke Maddox did something out of charracter. He knew, the best way to find out what Sonny knew, was granting him acess. He pulled out the activation form for all key cards. There, as he scrolled down the list, he found I'Son's file. I'Son, the man who turned into Sonny Blackbones. Duke Maddox knew, that time was ticking. If he didn't come forth with the full truth of all that had gone down, Sonny would find out elsewhere. Duke Maddox activated I'Son's old keycards, hoping it would be enough to make Sonny show some mercy when he learned the full extent of his actions...
Corso sat by Arendours bed, in the makeshift infirmary aboard the black manta, as they were making their way back to Akillian. The older man was emaciated and pale, Sonny had decided to keep him at bedrest during the trip. Slowly, Arendours eyes fluttered open. For a moment, the man seemed dazed, then, it was like he realised what had to have happened. «Thank you Sir!».
«For what?» asked Corso friendly.
«If you hadn't come, I would have died in that prisoncell, you pirates saved my life».
Corso smiled a halfway smile. «That's what we pirates do, we're not all as bad as Technoid made us seem».
Arendour seemed confused. «For a moment, I could have sworn I saw someone among you, that I used to know..»
Corso looked at him. «Who did you think you saw?».
Arendour looked away. «It couldn't be him, he was killed years ago, in the great catastrophy on Akillian..»
Corso all of a sudden realised who Arendour was referring to.
«Things aren't always what Technoid make them seem. Who did you think you saw?» he asked in a friendly tone.
Arendour's voice was a meere whisper. «I'Son..»
Corso nodded. «You are right. You did see I'Son. He's alive and well. The only change, is his name».
Arendour looked confused for a sec, then, it looked like things dawned on him. «I'Son wouldn't happen to be your leader, Sonny Blackbones, would he?» he asked.
Corso nodded. «I'Son and Sonny are one and the same. Sonny isn't the kind of man that goes changing easily» he said with a smile.
Arendour looked serious. «I have to talk to Sonny immidiately, it's urgent. He has to learn of what I know».
Corso nodded. «I'll call him and have him come here..»...
Sonny had dozed off in the commandcenter of the black manta. As hard as it was for Sonny to fall asleep normally, none of the pirates seemed to mind him sleeping in the chair where all could see him. Bennet had walked past and heard a gentle snoring sound from their leader. With a smile, he pulled out a blanket, and gently placed it around Sonny. Artie looked at him. «Is he sleeping?». Bennet nodded.
«He's been through a lot lately, and he really hasn't had any sleep the last weeks, better let him rest». Artie nodded.
But a beeping sound from Sonny's transmitter, made him jump out of his sleep.
The minute he saw Corso was the caller, Sonny answered the call.
«Talk to me Corso».
Sonny's eyebrow was raised when he heard what his right hand man had to tell him. «I'll be right there».
Sonny rose from the chair. «Bennet, you and Artie are in charge here».
Bennet nodded. «Right Sonny, you go see whats up»...
Arendour felt safe aboard the pirate ship. Even when he worked for Technoid, the man had never believed in what he was told about the pirates. It seemed he had somehow known, subconciously, that the pirates weren't all bad.
«Can i get you something to drink?» asked Corso.
«A glass of water would be fine» he replied.
«sonny's on his way here» informed corso.
«Good, I need to get this off my chest» Arendour took the glass, and drank slowly. As he turned the empty glass over to Corso, the door opened, and Sonny entered.
Arendour couldn't keep a gasp from escaping him. He could see I'Son. But in a harder form.
Sonny made his way over to the chair next to his bed.
«Welcome aboard the Black Manta, Arendour» he smiled.
«I'Son, it's good to see you, after all these years, that I thought you were dead».
Sonny nodded. «It all depends on the eye of the beholder, in someways I am, others, I've grown stronger».
Arendour nodded. «Your new name suits you. But I have to talk to you I'Son, it's important».
Sonny nodded. «So I understand.» He leaned close to his old friend.
«I'Son, do you remember project Nemesis?»
The name of the project, made Sonny gasp.
«They put that away, too unstabile and dangerous, they couldn't harness it» he said.
Arendour shook his head.
«They were selective. You and the ones that oposed it, were told they shut it down, the rest of us, under threats, made towards our loved ones, were made to work on it».
«No!» Sonny's expression was the look of pure horror.
«They couldn't...».
Arendour shook his head. «They did I'Son. It might have seen a random selection, but it wasn't. They chose one man to be the testsubject of the project».
Sonny took his hand. «Do you know who? We were at least 30 persons involved in the facillity at the time».
Arendour sighed.
«They never made any official anouncement, all we knew, was that one person was injected with the serum that would make his family Technoid's new supersoldiers. I found out, when you were held prisoner at the tower, some months back.»
Even Corso looked shocked now.
«Is Sonny the one they chose to be their project nemesis?» he growled.
Arendour nodded.
Sonny looked thoughtfull. «Thank you Arendour, that piece of information explains alot».
«Like What Sonny?» asked Corso.
«The way they gave chase, the bounty, their neverending desire to track us down. It all makes sense now» said Sonny thoughtfully.
«Well, then we can stop the project all together. Sonny, you'll have to be examined, and have the serum removed» Corso began.
Arendour interupted them.
«I am sorry to tell you, but the damage is already done».
Sonny looked at him. «What do you mean, Arendour?» he asked.
«What I mean Sonny, is that the only way you could isolate and contain it, is if you have no offspring».
Sonny's face was the one of sheer fear.
«No, not D'Jok».
Arendour looked at him. «The minute he was concieved, the serum in your body, mixed in him».
Sonny put his hands before his face.
«This can't be. It never stops..»
«I'Son, has he shown any symptoms, like fever, abnormal behaviour?»
Corso sighed, «All teens do, D'Jok had both that and countless other things» he sighed.
Arendour looked thoughtfull. «How old is D'Jok now?»
« An adult, he's married» replied Sonny.
«Does he have any children of his own?»
Sonny and Corso looked at eachother. The same thought was written in their faces.
«No, not yet, but a baby on the way» replied Sonny silently.
Arendour looked seriosly at them.
«Then I'Son. You have work to do..»
Sonny's face wenched in pain.
«No, anything but that. Not an innocent little baby...»
so, this is going to be exciting. What do you readers think of this?