From: "vicki y." <vicy2@hotmail.com>
To: JQML@onelist.com
Date: Tue, 23 Mar 1999 13:40:39 PST
Subject: [JQML] [FIC] Better Than a Crystal Ball (1/?)
Message-ID: <19990323214120.14874.qmail@hotmail.com>
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From: "vicki y." <vicy2@hotmail.com>
From: "vicki y." <vicy2@hotmail.com>

Howdy!,

When I sent out my fic "Better Than a Crystal Ball"  the disclaimer and 
stuff didn't go through.  Don't ask me why, blame Hotmail.

Anyway, I hope you like my first attempt at a fic.

Thanks
vicki y.


Disclaimer: I don't own anything.  It's all HB
Category: F, J/J HR, A
Rating: PG
Archivers: But of course!



BETTER THAN A CRYSTAL BALL


	“Kia!” 
  	 Thump. 
 “Got you again, Jonny.  Ready to give up?  I’ve downed you three times 
already.  This is starting to get boring,” the girl said with an 
exaggerated whine.

Sixteen year old Jonny Quest and seventeen year old Jessie Bannon were 
practicing their martial arts skills on a wintery Maine afternoon.  
Actually, it seemed Jessie was the one practicing her skills on Jonny.

“Okay Jess, I’ll admit it,” Jonny started as he got up off of the matted 
floor, “you can beat me at karate, but you do have an advantage.  After 
all, your dad has been teaching it to you since you were six years old, 
and I’ve only been at it for three years.”   Then Jonny added, with a 
slight grin, “And I guess you should be better than me at SOMETHING.”

Jessie turned her green eyes to the blue eyed boy questioningly.  “What 
is that supposed to mean, Quest?”

“It means,” Jonny started, “that while you can beat me at karate, I can 
always beat you in Questworld.  Always have, always will.”

Jessie looked as if she were to about to laugh.  “Dream on Jonny.  Sure, 
you might have won a few times, but in Questworld we all know who the 
best is.  Me.”

“Yea right.  Do you want to settle this right now?  All we have to do is 
get Hadji to monitor us and we will see who the undisputed king,”  

Jessie then cut in. “Or queen,”

Jonny glared at Jessie for interrupting him.  “Or queen, of Questworld 
is.”

This exchange between Jessie and Jonny was nothing new in the Quest 
household. Ever since Jessie had come to the compound to live with her 
father, the Quest’s bodyguard and friend Race Bannon, four years ago, a 
rivalry had erupted between the two.  Most of the time their competition 
was limited to small things, such as a race to the lighthouse on the 
compound, but other times it was much worse.  In such instances a 
mediator was usually needed to make sure no one got hurt.  Sometimes 
Jonny’s father, Dr. Benton Quest would be the referee, but usually the 
thankless job fell to Jonny’s adopted brother, eighteen year old Hadji 
Singh.

Both Jessie and Jonny came storming into the main house in search of 
their friend.  
“Hadji!!!  Can you monitor us in Questworld?  I need to teach Jessie a 
lesson,”  Jonny’s voice rang throughout the entire house. 
 “Hadji, are you hiding from us?  Cause you know we’re gonna find you 
eventually.”
“Jonny, shut up,” Jessie scolded.   “He’s probably meditating in his 
room.  If you thought before you acted, then maybe you wouldn’t need to 
scream and bother everyone in the house.”

Before Jonny could respond, Jessie was on her way up the stairs to 
Hadji’s room.  And there, on the floor in a yoga position, was their 
dark skinned friend. 
“Told you he’d be in here,” Jessie stated in a whisper.

Hadji then broke out of his meditation and spoke to the two teens in his 
room.
“Since I have already heard the request Jonny made from downstairs, I 
would be happy to monitor the two of you in Questworld.”
 Both Jonny and Jessie lightened.
  “However,” their two faces then fell at the added word, “I want both 
of you to promise me something.  That whatever the outcome is, there 
will be no disagreement.  I am still sore from the last time I was the 
mediator on the Flight Simulator, when you two had a disagreement as to 
who really won.”
Jessie spoke up first.  “That won’t happen this time Hadj, I swear.  
This time Jonny won't be such a lousy loser.”
“I wasn’t a lousy loser, Jess.  I got the most hits, but the computer 
messed up the score.”
“Sure, Jonny,” Jessie replied sarcastically.  “The computer made a 
mistake.”
“Jess, I,” Jonny started in a raised voice before Hadji cut him off.
“This is exactly what I mean.  Either you two promise no more fighting, 
no matter what, or no deal.”
“We promise Hadji.  No fighting.”  They said in unison.
“Good.  Let us go to the lighthouse so we may begin.”


“Jessie Bannon and Jonny Quest, logging into Questworld.  Three, two, 
one, going hot!”

Those were the last words Jessie and Jonny heard from Hadji before they 
were transported into Questworld.  Questworld was a virtual reality 
world that Jonny’s father had invented, and was of great use to the 
world.  That was one reason why Dr. Quest needed a bodyguard.  Many 
people would kill to get a hold of the information in Questworld.  In 
fact, many people had tried.

“Hadji, bring up the Flight Simulator program.  I think it’s time Jessie 
and I had a rematch since the last time we played the game 
malfunctioned.”
“Bring it on, Quest.  I beat you once, I’ll do it again.”
“Now my friends, remember your promise.  I do not want a replay of the 
last time. Stay civil and…” Hadji was then interrupted by a new voice in 
Questworld.

“…and prepare to die!”  

“Surd, what are you doing in here?  Can’t we have one afternoon of peace 
without you trying to kill us?  Is that too much to ask?”  Jessie’s 
voice didn’t betray the fear that was beginning to manifest itself in 
her body.  Jeremiah Surd is a dangerous and brilliant  maniac that has 
tried to kill her father and the Quests many times since he blames Race 
Bannon for his quadriplegic state.  He has become more dangerous since 
he was granted a portion of Questworld as his own and used it for his 
evil purposes.

“My, my, Miss Bannon, don’t we look lovely today.  Your father must be 
very proud of the lady you are becoming.”

Jonny automatically sprang to his friend’s defense.  “Shut up, Surd.  
Hadji, log us out, now!”

“Jonny, I cannot!  Surd has locked me out.  I will call Dr. Quest and 
Race for assistance.”

“You call Dr. Quest,” Surd sneered.  “I will be done with what I came to 
do in a few moments.”

“And, what’s that, Surd,” Jessie questioned.

“Why, to get access to the ‘Rachel’ program of course.  I have been 
reading your system and was very pleased to find that the good Doctor 
had invented a time travel program.  I plan to see what the world would 
be like if the Quests and Bannons never existed.  And there is nothing 
you can do to stop me,” Surd said with a slight grin.

But when has Surd been right?





Movie Quote: Principal Rooney enters the school bus and sits next to a 
girl:

GIRL: "Bet you've never smelled the inside of a real school bus before."

  (silence)

GIRL:  "Gummi Bear?" (offers a red gummi bear) 
"They've been in my pocket all day.  They're real warm and soft."

From the end of "Ferris Bueller's Day Off", during the credits

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