It was time for the football teams to turn in their line-ups for the season, as well as the names of their respective coaches.
Corso wasn't sure if Bernie would be up for the task.
They were used to Sonny by now.
He wasn't half bad either, both Corso and Bennett knew that.
Except as a Keeper, it seemed.
Hawkins challenged him on that.
Everyone expected Sonny to decline, but no.
"I should at least try. You take midfield with Kate." He said.
Corso shook his head, trying to hide a smile.
This would be interesting.
Sonny had a sly smile on his face as he took his position.
Once the match started, Sonny would use his entire body to block the shots.
He missed several, but he also saved quite a few.
When the match was over, Hawkins grinned.
"Not bad, Boss, Stevens is a cannon, but you didn't even flinch. Wonder what you'll do when Flux gets involved." He said.
Sonny grinned at him.
"You're talking as if it's just one thing. It's many. Unique to each planet. People have been trying to harness it outside of that for centuries. Imagine if you could just… make your own Flux. What harm that could do. We're lucky the Flux Society keeps such a close watch on things." Sonny said, looking thoughtful.
Almost everyone seemed unsure how to reply, but Corso knew exactly how.
"Don't discount people when there's power or money on the line." He said.
Sonny nodded.
"Some people did. And now they have to hide." He said.
Corso looked at him.
Did Sonny know people like this?
The mood got a little bit tense, as Sonny called it a day.
The Flux Society didn't pay them any mind, as a Flux less team.
Sonny never really paid attention to football, maybe he should, especially when Flux was involved.
The scientist in him was still fascinated by all the different Fluxes, and their unique capabilities.
Unfortunately, this meant The Pirates usually knew ahead of the game if they were going to win or not.
They never made it really far.
The last 16 was a pipe dream.
Now that he knew about the Pirates' hidden Flux, Sonny felt tempted to give them a chance to play with it, but that would paint a big target on all their backs.
If Bleylock led that hunt, that would be the end of it.
This man was jealous and vindictive.
Corso looked at Sonny as they got into the car.
"You're not going out on the field, are you? " He asked.
Sonny looked at him.
"Depends on what the team needs. You don't like it?" He asked.
Corso sighed.
" Do we really need to go over this again? By now, everyone knows you're our new leader. And a good amount of the Galaxy wants you either captured or dead." He said.
Sonny nodded.
Ever since the Technoid base incident, he tried to listen to Corso better.
If only to give the other man some peace of mind.
The least he could do for the man that would die for him, was to try and stay alive.
The Circle of Fluxes is home to the Galaxy's last line of defense from both within and without.
They believe all the planet's Fluxes are connected.
If a Flux is considered too unstable or volatile, they'd ban it from use.
They'd convene in the main room, which contained different levels for different people, about what would happen when new Fluxes or other matters appeared.
Brim Simbra, the current leader of the Flux Society, was in deep trance, connecting with the Fluxes, floating in his bubble, as the members started to show up.
The Galactic Football Cup was on the way, and the teams needed to be marked.
There weren't any real surprises. Most teams that always participated were doing so now, too.
The Pirates were among them.
Magnus Blade's team.
They wouldn't make it far, that much was already clear.
Still, the president of the League told him some unexpected news.
The Pirates' coach had been replaced.
They needed to investigate the new coach.
Brim Simbra knew the Pirates had a Flux they were secretive about.
Very few people knew about the Seed of Shiloh, even within the Flux Society.
The Seed was a Flux born from the destruction of another planet, Escaron.
The Pirates very likely knew, and had their own reasons not to use it.
They didn't seem worried about winning or losing.
They'd use The Seed otherwise.
However, he knew they were at risk of being traced if they used it.
Unless the Pirates could come up with something to make it untraceable, that was.
For now, they had found a way to suppress it, but it wouldn't last forever.
Sooner or later though, The Seed would grow too strong to suppress.
Brim Simbra needed to talk to the new Coach.
He wondered who it would be.
"Master, we need to discuss this new coach of the Pirates." Balarius said, entering the room. He was Brim Simbra's closest confidant.
Master Simbra looked at him.
He was worried.
"Let's hear what he has to say." Master Simbra said in a calm voice.
Brim Balarius opened the communication link, and within seconds, the hologram of a man's head appeared.
Balarius gasped.
He knew the face of the Wanted man.
Sonny wasn't bothered by the reaction; his gaze was fixed on Master Simbra.
"I know this must be a surprise. Please, ask any question. I'll answer them the best I can."
Bleylock read the medical file thoroughly before he started with his plan.
He had no choice but to act.
Sonny Blackbones as the leader of the Pirates spelled trouble for Technoid.
Not that he cared much about the company itself.
But he needed it, if only as a cover for his real plans.
Most of his weapon's tests were on remote locations.
No casualties, so no need for Duke Maddox to investigate.
Staying off Sonny Blackbones' radar was a different matter, and far more difficult.
Sonny knew what he was up to.
He needed to find him, and take care of him as soon as possible.
But Sonny was a Pirate now, and Pirates were notoriously difficult to track.
Once he was caught, though, he knew how to handle him.
He needed help to find Sonny.
There had to be someone in the crew that wasn't all too satisfied with Sonny.
Someone who could be… convinced to help with his capture.
The Two Million Standard Credits would definitely help with that.
Bleylock was pondering this, when he got a message from his informant.
"Still looking to get Blackbones locked up?" It read.
Bleylock smirked, as he replied.
Maybe his luck would turn around.
Sonny closed the holo connection to the Flux Society after what felt like an eternity.
Good thing Magnus had taught him how to handle this.
Balarius asked a lot of questions really fast, but Sonny could handle him.
He had trained to become a leader, he knew how to handle distrust.
Still, most other Pirates liked him.
They would protect him when push came to shove.
As Sonny opened a new window on his screen, he looked at the files stolen from Bleylock's computer.
He managed to crack some of them open with old Passwords he remembered.
Many of the files were still locked, though.
Maybe he'd remember other codes?
It couldn't hurt to try.
Sonny copied the files in case they were set to delete on tampering.
Sonny tried to look at Magnus' file first.
There wasn't much detail on Magnus.
Almost spitefully so.
He was nothing but a nuisance to Technoid.
Not him.
Magnus would be sent to prison, like any other criminal.
A twenty year sentence.
Nothing too spectacular.
Sonny closed Magnus' file.
Now he was curious about his own file.
Sonny opened it, to see another password screen.
He tried the old ones he remembered.
It worked.
The image they made of him wasn't flattering.
He didn't smirk like that.
They tried to vilify him.
Slowly, the scrambled text became readable.
Bleylock kept a close eye on him.
All his projects from when he worked with Technoid were listed in the document.
Project Meta flux was the most painful to read.
Sonny didn't want to be reminded of it.
What it cost him.
Did it say anything in there about Helena, or Labnor?
He hoped Labnor managed to get away.
He decided to look at his own file closer.
To see what they had planned if they caught him.
He didn't notice Corso coming up behind him until the other man put a hand on his shoulder.
Sonny startled at the touch.
Corso quickly removed his hand."Sorry, figured you knew I was there." He said.
Sonny sighed.
"Just thinking about the past." He admitted.
Corso nodded solemnly.
"Those can be stubborn. What are you looking at? " Corso asked, looking at him.
Sonny sighed.
"I finally managed to open the file Technoid has on me. Bleylock still has a lot of grievances." He said.
"What's in it?" Corso asked, trying to look over Sonny's shoulder.
Sonny kept reading quietly.
Then, he nodded.
"I'd rather not get caught again, after reading this." He said, stepping aside to let Corso read.
Corso stared at the words for a while.
Must be captured alive, memory erasure and reprogramming recommended.
Corso looked at Sonny.
"This isn't their standard treatment, is it?" He said.
Sonny shook his head.
"Bleylock wants to keep me close." He said.
Corso nodded.
"Shudder's right. You need to keep away from Bleylock." Corso said, as Sonny looked down.
"Unless you… disagree?"
Sonny looked away.
"Bleylock wasn't always the monster he is now." Sonny said.
"I'm guessing you two weren't just colleagues." Corso guessed.
Sonny nodded.
"We started out as colleagues, but became much closer. Remember what I've shown you" Sonny asked.
Corso nodded.
It was rather hard to forget.
"What about it?" He asked.
"I found out about his illegal dealings. He wasn't happy." Sonny said.
Corso just placed a hand on his shoulder in quiet understanding.
"To think… I once loved that man."
Duke Maddox was anxiously awaiting the call back from the league, to know if his team of droids could play on not.
The earlier models were no good, and even The Pirates beat them.
This year, he poured more money than usual into their upgrades.
It was a shame that I'son and Labnor failed in creating the synthetic flux that would have allowed them to level the playing wasn't against the rules.
Someone was calling him.
He answered it.
"Brim Simbra. What a surprise." He said.
Brim Simbra looked at him.
"I'm afraid the reason for my call isn't a happy one. There are rumors that your General might be partaking in illegal activities regarding Flux." He said.
Duke Maddox rubbed his beard.
"You're currently one of two teams that don't use Flux in the Championships. The others being the Pirates, who've recently had a leadership change, so that might not be true eventually." Brim Simbra explained.
Duke Maddox was surprised.
Sonny didn't mention that during their encounter.
"This is news to me. Last time I checked, Magnus Blade was still in charge." Duke Maddox said, sounding confused.
Brim Simbra looked at him with a frown.
"Magnus Blade has been replaced by Sonny Blackbones, who we know worked for you trying to manufacture a synthetic Flux."
Sonny turned on the news, to make sure what Teams the Pirates would be up against.
He didn't hold much hope for the final sixteen, as they never got that far.
Still, it wouldn't hurt to try.
This was also his first year as a coach, that would be a challenge as well.
As the hosts were getting ready for the draws, the broadcast was interrupted.
Duke Maddox had a message for the galaxy.
Corso looked along from behind Sonny.
The cameras cut to the impressive office of their sworn enemy.
Sonny rested his elbows on his knees as he looked at his enemy.
Duke Maddox looked into the camera seriously.
It has come to Technoid's attention that there is a change in Pirates leadership. So we've adjusted our Bounty List. I'son Danvers, who now goes by the name Sonny Blackbones, is now wanted for two million Standard Credits." He said.
Sonny expected it, and wasn't too bothered, but Corso was aghast.
Sonny just became the most wanted man in the galaxy.
His job of protecting his friend just became a whole lot harder.