He almost regretted having agreed to this dinner as he made his way from where his cab had left him off, to reach The Black Manta.
The warm weather in Paradisia had made him feel comfortable to just wearing shorts and a T-shirt.
Even now, a part of him just wanted to run.
But if he did, and skipped the appointment, he knew what would come to pass.
He could only turn off his transmitter for so long, before Sonny would seek him out.
No matter how much he ran, Sonny had his entire organization work for him, it would take them no time to find him, and when they did, Sonny would demand an explanation for his behavior.
Even if D' Jok didn't want the drama, he knew he would have to explain to his parents the change of teams.
He knew Sonny had shielded his mom and sister, and his tone of voice had revealed that he wanted answers, and that D' Jok had better have answers he would be satisfied with.
D' Jok felt he had made the right decision for his own progression, in football and in life.
Sonny had made it clear, based on the interview he had seen, that he was not convinced, and it would now be up to him to convince him.
After some walk, D' Jok could finally see the silhouette of The Black Manta.
Cleverly hidden, not too far off a road, but as usual, out of sight.
And on the outside, he saw someone play with a small child.
That painted a small smile on his face.
Shiloh was getting some fresh air under the supervision of Artie, who immersed himself in what she played.
No sight of Sonny or his mother, but he could see Corso was in the doorway, clearly keeping a look out for someone.
Most likely him.
D' Jok made his way forwards.
He could not run anymore, this time, he had to defend his own decisions and hope that his father, the great pirate leader and the galaxy's most wanted man, would hear him out, and accept his reasoning...
Helena had taken a long soak in the bathtub, waiting for the food to be prepared.
Sonny had found someone that knew how to prepare a decent meal and had hired him for the job.
Bennett was responsible for setting up the captain's lounge in a separate room of the ship, so that these conversations and family intervention with their son could be done in private.
Helena looked forward to spending some time with Maia again.
Except for Kate, the pirates only female player, and the nurse caring for Shiloh, there was only the three of them on board.
And these women were both younger than her.
Helena knew, as the captain's wife, she was in a different league than them.
With her position came a certain amount of power, power that set her above all of them.
And she didn't like it.
If things were any similar for Sonny, he too would feel lonely at the top.
But Sonny had Corso, whom she at times saw more as her husband's shadow than just an above and beyond loyal pirate.
Wherever Sonny was, Corso was never far, always ready to protect him.
She sighed as she sunk herself deeper into the water that was infused with a special muscle soak Sonny had prepared for her.
She loved him for making such small surprises for her, without asking anything in return.
How could anyone even see Sonny as dangerous in any way?
To her, he was the most caring and loving husband she knew.
But Technoid would never paint that picture of him.
The only way she knew they had some respect for him, or at the very least, Duke Maddox did, was that he had been let go to bring her to safety.
Her and Shiloh.
But that peace was always fragile, and now that Sonny and Corso had started to hunt down the leads to whoever had outfoxed Bleylock, they had fallen into Technoids radar again.
She just hoped things would settle down while they hid here, so much that Sonny could pick up on the leads he had to the culprit behind Bleylocks demise, as soon as they left Paradisia.
For now, this was hiding out and a combined holiday, something the pirates were not used to, and Sonny used as much time as he could playing happy family.
And tonight's family dinner would hopefully go with no problems.
That was, if father and son could communicate without one of them trying to control the conversation.
Helena noticed how the water now started to get cold, so it was time to get out of the tub and get ready.
Sonny had been considerate enough to hang a fluffy white bathrobe next to the tub, so she could just slip into it before she got herself ready for dinner.
It felt nice not having to make dinner.
Sonny really put in the effort to be a better husband, something she knew Corso had told him to do better at.
It wasn't easy for Sonny, with the constant pressure of being hunted down, and risking being jailed or worse, should Technoid ever catch up.
To balance being a leader for the pirates, being a husband to her and a dad to Shiloh, it was a lot on his plate, but somehow, he managed to make it work.
A small knock on the door alerted her that Sonny was about to enter the cabin.
Helena had put on a soft robe, as she got out of the tub, and slid her feet into the comfortable soft slippers, before wrapping her hair in a towel.
"Honey, are you decent? I need to check on a few things, and don't want to walk in on a woman If she isn't ready, even if it is my lifelong love " she heard him say.
Helena laughed.
"Now who would think that the most wanted man in the galaxy could be such a kindhearted and loving man deep down? " She teased with laughter in her voice.
Sonny opened the door to enter, and he too was smiling.
"Don't you dare think about telling Corso that. I would never hear the end of the teasing. My men see me as a leader, and I need to keep that image going"he said.
Helena walked over to him and took his face in her hands.
" Blackmail material? Now, I will have fun holding that over your head. Corso would do my every bidding to get an inside to that scoop " She teased, as she leaned in for a kiss.
Sonny chuckled.
"I am reserving my best behavior for our son right now, Corso has been around me long enough to see my worst mood swings yet"he said, as he started to go through his chest, to find some more fitting clothes for the dinner.
Helena also moved to get dressed.
But she also sensed the tension in the air, whenever their son was brought up.
There was no denying that Sonny was worried about D'Joks choice to switch teams.
It was as if he knew something, or suspected something he had yet to verify, that made him oppose his son, who was trying to be an adult.
She knew her husband.
Until he was certain and had the answers he sought, he would not tell anyone what he knew.
Maybe that was a flaw in his character in some people's eyes, but this was the last remnant she had of who he had been before he became a pirate.
As I' Son, a well renounced scientist within Technoid, he had been very protective of his work, until he could show an actual result.
It seemed that trait had stuck with him as a pirate.
Of course, he spared her a lot of the pirates' dealings, he had to, to protect her, she understood that.
But it was something she would also want him to work on getting better at not doing.
They had been married for only a year when she fell pregnant with their son, and she had noticed that the protective side of him snuck in more and more.
At times, it was on the verge of being annoying, and other times, she really wished he would shut it off and just be Sonny, the father and husband, not always with the pirate side of things in the background.
But this would be impossible to do, she knew that.
Technoid would never stop hunting him, he was as valuable to them as he was to the pirates and their family.
But right now, they needed to know what their son knew about his new team and this mysterious Lord Phoenix that was paying his salary.
One thing was that Sonny always fell in deep thoughts seeing him on the holo tv, but he was not the only pirate she had seen gazing at the screen with a suspicious look.
Maybe she should ask some of them why they seemed too skeptical about this man, there had to be a good reason behind it.
Helena decided to put those thoughts aside, and to focus on seeing her long-time roommate Maia, and the dinner they had invited their son to.
She hoped Sonny had not been too harsh when they spoke, as that was sure to trigger D 'Jok and make him be all defensive.
Since early childhood, it was never a good idea to trigger her son that way.
He could turn very selfish and angry at times, she thought that this was the lack of a father in his life, and that had sent her many a night, crying herself to sleep.
It was only now she knew why things had gone the way they did, and she understood Sonnys actions.
The Snow Kids had been a positive influence, as had Aarch.
She knew Sonny had done his research on Aarch, before deciding to trust him with D 'Jok's care and board at the academy.
Even after football, which was all consuming to their son, and even more now that Mei was gone, would create a chance for him afterwards, as a star, to get work, that paid decent, it was still an issue with whom he played for, and whether that person could be trusted.
And Lord Phoenix did not have Sonny's trust, that much she knew.
Maybe Maia could give her some insight, her abilities were exceptional,and Helena fully trusted her.
Sonny had changed into some blue jeans shorts and a red t shirt with a zip tie.
Not the most elegant attire, but they were not among people here, just fellow pirates, and this was informal.
That made her choose some comfy shorts and a comfy blouse.
Sonny smiled as he saw her change.
She didn't need his words to affirm she looked good; his look said it all.
There was a knock on the door.
It was Corso.
"Dinner is ready Sonny. Maia has arrived. May I say Helena, you look like a star, no matter what you dress in? Sonny is the luckiest pirate alive to have bagged you" Corso said, not able to hide his admiration for Sonny's wife.
Helena blushed slightly at Corso's compliment.
It wasn't normal for him to spread those around, so when you received one, they were honest.
" Almost ready then, any sign of D 'Jok yet Corso? If not, deploy someone to go to his hotel and look for him. I am not having him agree to come only to bail out. He bails, I will know he has something to hide, and I will make sure to keep looking till I find out what that is, no matter if he likes it or not"Sonny ordered, making it clear it was not a request.
Corso wasn't worried.
"He has been spotted, not long from here. You want to send someone to pick him up, or let him make the effort to walk here? I believe he took a holo cab to the mountains, so exercise will do him good " Corso said.
Sonny nodded.
"Check the monitors. If he isn't here in the next ten minutes by walking, pick him up. I don't want the food to grow cold because he is late " he said.
Corso nodded, then saluted as he went back to his post on the ship's command center.
Sonny offered Helena his arm.
Then, he picked up Shiloh, before they set a course for the ships dining room...
D 'Jok had finally reached the Black Manta.
He could see the guard at the door, and had to scan his identifying bracelet to be let in.
He knew the pirates were on high alert for Clones, especially after seeing Clamps clone and if rumors were true, there had also been one made of Sonny.
No wonder Sonny kept security high.
His dad really needed to learn how to chill and let go of being on top of everything at times, but then again, doing so, being the most wanted man of the galaxy, he didn't have much choice if he was to keep his men, himself and his mother and sister safe.
Bennett was on call as he arrived.
"Long time no see D 'Jok, I heard you are no longer with the Snow Kids. I sure hope your new team will be as prosperous for you as the Snow Kids were. Sonny said to take you to the dining room upon arrival. Maia is also here " Bennett explained, leading the way down a hallway.
D 'Jok said nothing while he followed Bennett.
If Maia was also here, this didn't sound like a family dinner.
It sounded like an intervention to him.
It was disappointing that his father had that little confidence in his choices, but he had kind of brought that upon himself with his past choices.
Maybe he should be confrontational and ask his father straight up what it was about Lord Phoenix that sounded the alarm for him.
Could it be that Lord Phoenix had at some time done business with the pirates and not paid what they asked for, for whatever service they had provided?
Bennett stopped in front of a door with a window.
He could see his mother and Maia laughing and having a conversation, while Sonny placed Shiloh in a highchair, to prepare for the meal.
Bennett didn't give him a chance to think up an answer for his lateness, as Sonny looked up and spotted them, and signaled for them to enter.
D'Jok took a deep breath as he entered the room to sit down with both the women that had been there for his entire life, and the father that he had only gotten to know in the last four years, strict, but just.
It was time for him to get through this third-degree interview, pirate style this time...
D'Jok somehow managed to find it in him to laugh and play with his little sister as the food was served.
Helena was smiling as she saw her son put forth his best effort to keep the peace and make light conversation.
Through the starter of the meal, father and son found neutral territory to speak of, things like school and education seemed far safer than football for now.
But this peace would not last.
Helena noticed how Maia also seemed tense as they neared the main course.
Sonny didn't seem too affected yet; he was getting ready to dig into the roast they were having.
The pirates did not keep much of that type of food on board, in order to keep the ship as light as possible to use speed to outrun Technoid.
This meal was to ease the mood, and make them all relaxed, before Sonny started asking his son more on the topic.
Helena knew this unknown team their son had agreed to be a captain for, was unknown, and untested.
Corso and Artie had worked together to do a sweep, trying to find any information on Lord Phoenix or his elusive team.
And Corso had mentioned that there was something about Phoenix that he felt was familiar, but he either couldn't put his finger on it, or needed more information to say for sure.
As for information to put their minds at ease, they came up blank.
That had puzzled Sonny, who found it very odd that someone like Phoenix seemed to have wiped his past clean.
There were pirates that had done so, but not to the extent that Lord Phoenix had.
All his pirates had some past, hidden or semi hidden, himself included.
Sonny found it hard to trust anyone that wiped his entire past clean and starting over.
And the reasons why someone would do that, pirate or not, the more familiar the person came across to him and his pirates, he was certain that this person had some kind of criminal past, and that was another reason he did not want his son dragged into whatever dealings Lord Phoenix might be caught up in.
Sonny cast an almost unnoticeable look over at his wife and son, who was speaking to little Shiloh, who seemed happy her older brother was there to play with her.
It would look almost like a normal family, if not for the psychic Maia, who looked over at him.
For a moment, hers and Sonnys eyes met.
And Sonny felt he had at least one other person in the room on his side.
Maia, through her gift, had the ability to see things no one else could.
And as Sonny observed, while mother and son were busy with the smallest member of the family, Maia seemed to observe, with a hint of worry in her eyes.
Sonny silently moved over to her.
"I can see I am not alone in feeling worried here Maia. Are we worried about the same thing, or situation at this point?"Sonny asked calmly, placing his hand on her shoulder as a friendly gesture.
He could feel her tense up.
Maia sighed.
Then, she looked over at her friend and her son, who seemed lost in their own world with the little happy girl.
She realized, Sonny had the resources to intervene and protect her foster son, but he needed reason to do so, and to make sure D'Joks choice would not be of harm to him.
"So far, he is safe, but Lord Phoenix, whoever he is, is a secretive man with a troubled past Sonny. There are things he is keeping from D'Jok, about his team. I have tried to remote view, but I can't seem to catch what this is. It may lead to a big disappointment for D'Jok, something that might alienate him even further from the Snow Kids. If he isn't careful, and gets his ego in check, he might lose all the friends he has on his old team. This change will only be for this cup, the league will not allow mixed flux teams to play in the next GFC, if he wants to continue to pursue football, he will need to return to his team after this. And with the attitude he keeps up, might be more of a hindrance to him than of help. I just don't know how to get through to him. This cup can heal a lot of wrongs from the past, but it can also create new issues. Lord Phoenix secrets is being one of them"She confessed in a hushed tone, to avoid drawing attention to herself and him.
Sonny nodded.
"I will continue to investigate Lord Phoenix. He feels awfully familiar to Corso and I both. That could mean that we have had dealings with him in the past, most likely of the criminal kind, since we are forced to live that way as pirates. I promise not to stop investigating till I find the answers I am looking for. This evening, I am interested in learning more about D'Joks new team, a team we have not even seen any promotions of yet. That is something I find odd, as they are the hosts of this cup and a team that would benefit from exposure. The way things are done, is making me feel very suspicious to be honest"Sonny admitted.
Maia nodded that.
" Is there somewhere we can speak in private Sonny? I could share what little I have picked up in my visions with you, maybe you can make more sense of it than I can. I saw something that looked like a mask, white and black, fall in one of those visions, without knowing the meaning..."she said.
Sonny struggled to keep a neutral face.
He could recall that incident, another ghost of the past that came back to haunt him.
"Let's speak in my office. I might have an idea of whom you speak..."
D'Jok and Helena were so busy playing with Shiloh, they didn't notice Maia and Sonny walk off.
Once they did, it was because it would be time for desserts.
Helena pretended to be angry.
"That's Blackbones men for you. It takes nothing to distract them. Sonny probably showed Maia around The Black Manta"She concluded.
D'Jok shook his head.
" And here I expected a third degree on my new team. I thought that was why Dad wanted to meet here, out of sight from the curious eye of the public"he said.
Helena nodded, suddenly more serious.
"That will still take place D'Jok. He is worried, and more so because he can't find any information about your new team anywhere"Helena said.
That made D'Jok sigh.
"I start getting the feeling that Dad doesn't trust my judgement calls at all. That, or he is being an overprotective dad, because he can be, and because he is the most wanted man in the galaxy. I don't know how you do it mom, you once led a free life, without those worries, a life where you could move around freely as you wanted. And you traded all that in, once you found him again. I love you mom, Shiloh and Dad too, but I just can't hide out the same way you do. I am too famous for that"he said.
Helena reached out her hand and touched her son's cheek.
"I know that D'Jok, and that life was not for me. Every day of those 15 years, I missed him, to the point where my heart felt like it was dying. Your father is human, he makes mistakes, but for all his flaws, no one I know is more determined than him to correct those mistakes of the past. We could have done this in a restaurant of course, but if things had gotten heated, like you say, you would have been recognized, and at great risk that Sonny would have been too. We don't know what kind of deals Technoid might have with Paradisia, and Sonny could have been arrested and turned over to Technoid if taken. I don't know much of his past research, but what little I do know makes me able to say with a great amount of certainty, what would await him with them, isn't good. I worked for them myself once, but due to the non-disclosure part of my contract, I know things aren't as good as they want to portray themselves. Your dad knows this, and he is being careful not to get caught. Others like him that did, were never seen again. The pirates need Sonny, as do you and I and Shiloh. When he comes back with Maia, please, just tell him what you know, and try to not turn into shouting, for Shiloh's sake. Sonny is overprotective, I know, but it comes from his past experiences. Don't hold it against him. Let's make the most of what little time we can spend together as family now, and hope that sometime in the future, Sonny can have what was stolen from him, from us all, at least in part, restored" she said.
D'Jok nodded.
When Sonny and Maia returned, after some time, D'Jok looked at his dad.
"Dad, I had a talk to mom, while you and Maia were away. Mom told me how worried you are, and why you would be like this. I know you need to know the answers to the questions you may have. I might not be able to answer them all, but I will fill you in on what I do know. If its needed, you and the pirates take the needed steps to find out more. If I can help, let me know"he said.
The relief was visible on both Sonny and Maias face.
Sonny gestured to the table, while Helena had the nanny come get a very sleepy Shiloh and bring her to their cabin.
As soon as it was just the adults in the room, Sonny nodded, and D'Jok started to share the information he had, without holding anything back...