Chapter 27: Datenight
Calleigh was getting ready. She had done it. She actually had managed to persuade the pirate chief, Sonny Blackbones, in person, to go on a date with her.
She had noticed how reluctant he was at first. Clearly, old habits died hard when you were a pirate. Sonny had spent the majority of his life, being on high alert for any trouble, there was not difficulty understanding why he was doing that now.
Calleigh had to smile. She had been sure he would say no, and for a while, she was sure that was his intention too.
But the little baby, D'Jok and Mei's doughter, had somehow made him change his mind.
All she knew, was he had to move carefully. She had seen he was in pain as he laid the baby down in her crib. She had asked him if he was ok.
«Both yes and no, Calleigh. Call it work related hazzards» smiled the pirate chief. With that, he put an end to the subject. He thought.
What kind of dress to wear? Going out with a man that looked like Sonny Blackbones, was not an everyday occurrence, even for a reporter like her, she wanted to make sure she matched him.
A beautifual seagreen dress was her choise. Now, she wondered what Sonny would wear...
He should have known better than telling Corso and his men of his dinnerplans. The laugh had been at his expence, till the guys realised he was serious. Then , it was like they had a change of heart.
«This is great news, Sonny. Go out and have some fun with a female for once.» smiled Corso.
«If you don't mind me asking Sonny, who is she? Someone we know?» teased Bennet.
«You know of her» smiled Sonny as he went through the clothes suitable for such an event. His decission landed on a tuxedo.
«Really? That narrows the window conciderably» said Artie.
Corso looked at him.
«Is it a redhead with a smile that is often seen on Holotv?» he asked.
Sonny looked at them.
«Yes, it's Calleigh Mystic».
The reaction was not as he had hoped for. The smiles turned into suspicion and insecurity.
«Are you sure you ought to do this, Sonny?» asked Bennet.
«Yeah, you know how she digs into things» said Artie.
«Guys, give him a break. Sonny has somekind of plan with this» said Corso.
Sonny nodded slowly.
« It's how we'll find the final piece of the jigsaw puzzle» he told his men.
«Huh? What do you mean?» his friends stared at him.
Sonny sat down on the bed.
«Listen, do you really think Bleylock operated alone? That, whit the injuries, making him half man, half robot, he'd be able to actually gain access to Technoid, and rule it, from within?»
His men looked down. They knew Sonny had thought ahead again.
«But, Sonny. Who else could be involved?» Corso asked.
Sonny's hazels narrowed. He had already elliminated a great deal of names from his mental list.
«Someone with alot of hatred harboured inside. Someone, whom I suspect to come from my past. Someone is hiding, staying just out of sight, all the time. Don't ask me why, yet. I don't know, it's just that feeling..»
Corso laid a hand on his shoulder.
«Sonny, over the years, I learned to listen to your innerfeel to things, it's kept me alive so far. And I don't plan to go changing now» he stated.
Bennett and Artie nodded agreeingly.
«So, what are we doing about it?» asked Artie impatiently.
«Patience Artie, we have to be patient to smoke the villain out. Clearly, he knows how the pirates work, so we need to change our usual way of doing things. That, is where my date with Calleigh Mystic comes in» Sonny smiled.
«I'll admit, it does look kind of strange, to think of you in a penguin suit like the tux, on friday» Bennett joked.
«Calleigh is a classy lady. I can't bring her to the places the pirates usually hang out. So, I'll have to adapt into her world».
«I guess Mei was happy when she learned of your upcoming date» said Corso, with a giggle in his voice.
Sonny grimaced. He remembered all too well, Mei had been extatic.
She knew Sonny had never dated, as far as anyone knew. There was no stoping her. It didn't matter what Sonny said. She had made up her mind. D'Jok had pulled him aside when he learned of the news.
«Dad, I'm happy for you, really, but, I can't help thinking, there is something else behind this, something you're not telling me».
«For now, let's keep it that way, D'Jok. I'll let you know in due time. But, all I can tell you, is that it is part of a plan, to stop the hostile takeover of Technoid».
«Shouldn't the pirates run Technoid now?» D'Jok asked.
Sonny shook his head. He had given the idea of a pirates controlled Technoid a lot of thought, but it wasn't something they could do. There was just too many bad memories, too much death and pain, for any pirate to want to be involved with it.
He couldn't blame them. So, what he needed to do, was to clear out the bad elements, and help Duke Maddox sieze control again. Sonny smiled when he thought of the Duke's old saying.
«Life without enemies, isn't very exciting, now, is it?».
Duke Maddox.. Sonny remembered he had been given notice that the Duke wanted to see him in his prison. And the date with Calleigh, wasn't untill friday. By then, surely, all his friends knew, of what was happening.
Sonny bid farewell to his son, and doughter in law, who was just about to put Hope to bed. As always, the little baby managed to make Sonny stay a little longer than planned.
Sonny decided to grab a little snack on the way to Maddox Villa. Tia, the former snowkidsplayer, now ran a chain of restaurants in the galaxy. She had been allowed, as the first ever, to open a diner in Shiloh, before the pirates were freed of charges against them. Sonny had often stoped by to eat there. He had to admit, he was tired of Tin can's food, the robot was designed to repair engines, not cook, so the pirates had made an agreement with Tia. She would prepare the food they had on board, it would be nearly impossible to destroy it, and deliver to them. Both parties had been pleased with that. The pirates could finally eat good and nutritious food onboard.
Sonny pulled up outside her diner. Tia was working tonight.
«Sonny!» she went around the counter, and hugged him.
«It's good to see you, how are you these days?» she smiled.
Sonny returned the hug with a smile.
«Hungry is a describing word. Have you got something warm and tasty to offer?» he asked.
Tia looked around the room. Other guests were staring.
«Come with me to the kitchen, and I'll make you something good» she suggested.
Knowing her cooking skills, Sonny didn't need a second invitation.
As he got served a soup with bread that was fresh from the owen, Tia talked to him about Mei.
«She seems to flourish now that Hope is born».
Sonny smiled when he thought of his little granddoughter.
«We all do, it's true what they say, when you become a grandparent, you do become younger».
«Oh, Sonny. You're not old, you never were» Tia laughed.
«You know, you're only as old as you feel» Sonny joked back, taking a spoonfull of soup.
«Mmm, yummy, this is piratefood».
«Would you like some for Corso too?, I doubt you men as such excellent chefs» teased Tia, and made a bowl on the go, ready.
«Make that two, Tia, I'm on my way to see Duke maddox».
«Huh, why?» Tia frowned her forehead.
After what happened with her parents, she had a hard time trusting Technoid at all. And she cared a lot about Sonny. Duke Maddox meant buisness that involved Technoid, and for a pirate, that word meant trouble, especially if your name happened to be Sonny Blackbones.
«We've had some..minor problems lately» Sonny answered.
Tia caught on to how illusive he was.
«You know I can tell when you're lying right?» she said.
Sonny looked at her.
«I know, but it's best you don't know, for now».
Tia didn't say anything. She knew Sonny had said all he planned to tell. Quickly, she packed the food.
«Be carefull Sonny, we can't afford to loose you» she said as she hugged him.
Sonny hugged her back. The young woman was dear to him. Just like Mei.
He said goodbye, and made his way to Maddox Villa. The villa was classy in the area it was situated. Sonny took his identification papers with him. Even the pirate chief needed some form of identification in this system. Soon, he was entering the Duke's prison.
«Your Excellency, I got word you wanted to see me?» he asked.
Duke Maddox turned around.
«I heard you found the villain?»
« One of them» Sonny confirmed.
«Who was he?»
« You're not going to believe it, so I brought photos» Sonny said and placed a folder on the table. Duke Maddox looked at it. Then, he looked at Sonny.
« This can't be!»
«And yet, it is» Sonny stated. He straightened up, but too fast. Duke Maddox could hear him gasp from the pain.
«you're injured» he stated.
Sonny nodded.
«He had taken Clamp. I went after him, and was taken too».
«What did he want?»
«Metaflux, wich I made harmless, by adding chemicals that zeroed out the effect of flux totally».
«This doesn't make any sense!» The Duke exclaimed, clearly frustrated.
«I thought the same, that's why I wanted to ask you, who could be behind Bleylock» Sonny said.
Duke Maddox looked old.
« Professor Baldwin! Bleylock's old partner» he said.
«And why the rage against the pirates? He had reason to point his anger at Technoid, but not the pirates, now, i want to know why!» Sonny demanded to know.
Duke maddox looked at him.
«You still don't see it, do you Sonny? None of this had to do with Technoid, or the pirates for that matter. Baldwin was a man in love, in love with someone he couldn't have».
Sonny was truly shocked to hear this.
«Now, you lost me».
«Sonny, the reason the pirates are dragged into this, is because of one pirate alone, you!»
Sonny couldn't believe the accusation thrown at him.
«And how is that? Because of my wife?» he asked.
«No Sonny, Niobe had nothing to do with this. It's your relationship with Bleylock that caused all of this».
Then, Duke Maddox proceeded to tell Sonny about Baldwin. The more he told, the more Sonny saw a red thread in Bleylock's behaviour. One couldn't call it rape, it had been concential, in both cases, but the way Bleylock had gone about to get the two young men there, had been the same.
«Baldwin wanted Bleylock back, so he looked him up one evening. Bleylock didn't let him in, because his new «toy» was sleeping in his bed. Baldwin forced his way in, and he saw who Bleylock's new love was».
Sonny was pale. He remembered being awfully tired that one night, the study at the university was hard and working for Bleylock too, had taken his toll on him. Bleylock had looked at him.
«You look tired I'Son. Why don't you got rest for a little while? You'll feel better afterwards» he suggested.
Being deadtired, Sonny had taken him up on the offer. Now, he realised that Bladwin had misinterpreted things very bad.
«There was nothing going on between me and Bleylock at the time».
Duke maddox looked at him.
«I know Sonny, I know when that happened. But Baldwin didn't see that. And Bleylock made no attempt to tell him differently. Baldwin hated you from that moment on».
Sonny nodded. Baldwin had been around longer than him. He had also been siezed by Technoid.
«Was he pardoned, and allowed to return to Technoid afterwards?» he asked.
«yes, and clearly, that was my biggest mistake»Duke Maddox looked down.
Sonny fell into deep thoughts. The pieces fit. They had their man. Now, they needed him to come out of hidning.
«Worry not Duke maddox. We'll take care of this. I'll contact you when we got something to show for».
Duke Maddox nodded.
«He won't stop Sonny!»
Sonny turned.
«Neither will I Duke!» ...
Calleigh looked at the tall, blonde man in tuxedo in front of her. Tonight, Sonny Blackbones most certainly didn't look like a pirate. He was eloquent and charming. Most of the females in the room, had turned to look at him. Calleigh felt priveliged. It wasn't too often she could parttake in a conversation like this, enjoying that her date was able to follow her and challenge her. From the looks of it, Sonny too was enjoying the night. He had enjoyed the movie, and now, they had food and drinks.
But Calleigh had also noticed Sonny from time to time gasp for air if he moved too fast. Observing for a while, told her what was wrong.
«Sonny, why didn't you tell me that you walked around with broken ribs?» she asked him.
Sonny smiled sheepishly.
«Because, I didn't want you to feel like you were dating a cripple» he responded.
Fair enough. She had to give him that.
She had looked him up several times. Oh my, was he handsome or what?
After dinner, they went dancing. Sonny moved carefully due to his ribs. But slow dances were good.
Calleigh felt safe in his arms. How could anyone ever have believed that Sonny was a bad guy? Nothing could be further from the truth.
It was late before they took a cab to her place. Sonny had not planned on things going this far. But, if he was to play the perfect gentleman, he needed to follow her to the door, no matter what the risk was.
Up till now, he had kept a certain distance. No kisses or anything, there was enough eyes watching them. But when they reached Calleigh's appartement, it was like someone flipped over a switch. Calleigh pulled him in to her appartment, and closed the door. Then, the inevitable kiss came.
Sonny tried to stop it.
«Calleigh, we shouldn't!»
«Sonny, from all you told me, you've been stuck in a vaccum for too long. It's time you start living again».
Sonny quickly grabbed her hands, before she could grab hold of his face.
«Calleigh, no. We can't. I don't want to..yet».
Calleigh stoped.
«Why, Sonny?»
Sonny looked away for a second, as if to find the answer.
He sat down on her sofa.
«Calleigh, you're an attractive woman, it's not that. It's me. You know of my past, what i've been through. It would't be fair to lead you on, when I got nothing to offer».
Calleigh sat down next to him.
«Ok, Sonny. Here is the thing. I've been attracted to you for a lot longer than I've let on. But, as you were a fugitive, I never could find you, get to know you. Now, i want to find out who you really are. Not who the pirate chief Sonny Blackbones is, but who you, Sonny Blackbones, the person, is».
Sonny's hazels looked at her.
«And where did you plan this to end?»
«I don't know. I'd like to live in the here and now, every once in a while Sonny. In that regards, we both have a lot to learn»
«So it seems» he smiled.
«So, if I ask you to spend the night..»
Sonny shook his head.
«Not tonight. Maybe on a third date, but never the first».
Calleigh looked at him.
«And will there be a third date Sonny?»
The response came immideatly.
«Yes, there will. But now, i have to leave».
«You know, you're a free man? That you're not wanted anymore?»
Sonny smiled.
«It takes time getting used to, but I am aware of that».
«Can i call you?» Calleigh looked vulnerable.
«I'll call you. It's better that way, then i don't have to erase your memory afterwards» he replied.
«You still do that? Erase people's memories?»
«If piratematters are involved, then yes. But not all that often».
Sonny knew she tried to prolong his stay. But he couldn't. He had a secret meeting with Clamp.
«Calleigh, in a week from now, can you get a cameracrew ready on planet Akillian?» he asked.
«I can, why?»
Sonny smiled.
«We got a huge surprise for all Akillians, be prepared for majorchanges» was all he said.
Calleigh watched him as he entered the elevator. He turned, and waved at her.
Then, she started planning the crew for the surprise Sonny had talked about.
What kind of a surprise is Sonny planning? All will be revealed in the last chapter of this exciting story.