From: JQ Fan Hey everyone! This is another fic just out of my head! This is my first multiple parter, too! Don't worry, this is a five-parter MAX, and the next part will be out either tomorrow or the next day. Enjoy! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Disclaimer~I don't own anybody associated with Jonny Quest. Categories~um...maybe some angst,mabye some adventure later...uh...I'm not exactly too sure of anything else.... Archivers~Be my guest! Cruel Reality The snow and wind bombarded them....threatened to blow them right off the mountain....they struggled onward. The wind continued to howl, yet the pressed forward. He tried to yell to the girl in front of him, but the wind drowned him out....he couldn't even hear himself. He tried again, "JESSIE!!" He thought he saw her look back, but she just continued to move. "JESSIE! PLEASE, HOLD ON! WAIT UP!" She never heard him, and if she did, she didn't acknowledge him. *Great, Quest, great.* "JES--" His sentence was cut short. He could hear the rumbling... *Oh my....* "JESSIE!!!!!!!!" *Ohpleaseohpleaseohplease* He could feel it now....the ground was shaking....he could no longer keep his balance... "JESSIE!!!!!!!!" Finally, she seemed to notice him. She whipped around and tried to run back to him. She tripped. She fell head-first into the snow. "JESSIE!!!!!!!" "JONNY!!!" "HOLD ON JESS, HOLD ON!" The rumbling was getting closer.... Then the explosion..... "JESSIE" "JONNY" Jessie jessie JESSIE! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ He awoke with a start. The sweat was pouring down his brow and his sheets were soaked. He was about to curse when he remembered he was trying to quit. "Oh Jessie" He put his head into his hands and sobbed. That night, Jonny Quest died. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The snow and wind bombarded them....threatened to blow them right off the mountain....they struggled onward. The wind continued to howl, yet the pressed forward. He tried to yell to the girl in front of him, but the wind drowned him out....he couldn't even hear himself. He tried again, "JESSIE!!" He thought he saw her look back, but she just continued to move. "JESSIE! PLEASE, HOLD ON! WAIT UP!" She never heard him, and if she did, she didn't acknowledge him. *Great, Quest, great.* "JES--" His sentence was cut short. He could hear the rumbling... *Oh my....* "JESSIE!!!!!!!!" *Ohpleaseohpleaseohplease* He could feel it now....the ground was shaking....he could no longer keep his balance... "JESSIE!!!!!!!!" Finally, she seemed to notice him. She whipped around and tried to run back to him. She tripped. She fell head-first into the snow. "JESSIE!!!!!!!" "JONNY!!!" "HOLD ON JESS, HO----" Suddenly, he was awake again. This time, curious, concerned eyes stared back at him. "Jon? Are you all right?" "Ben?" "Jon, I've never seen you like this." *Ben? Where am I? What's Ben doing here?* In a rush, he remembered. He remembered why the dream-after so long-was coming back to him. They were in his private jet, The "Mosquito" going.....going there. To that place where....where....he couldn't even say it. It had happened so long ago....what was it? Twenty years? As much as it seemed that long or longer, he knew it was only about seven. He could never forget. He'd never let himself forget. She trusted him......and he let her down.... Jonathan Quest stood up and headed for the "Mosquio's" lavatory. "Jon? Are you okay? You haven't answered my question! Are you okay?" silence. then.... "No, Ben. I'm never going to be 'okay'." He closed that door and Ben Donavon was left in the dark. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ He looked at himself in the mirror. The images of so long ago were echoing in his mind....trying to force their way back into his psyche....his ever so fragile psyche. Here he was, Jonathan Quest. The richest man the world had ever known. He was a genious! At least that's what all the magazines and media proclaimed. He was also a man with a past. A man who's entire childhood was erased by his own doing....he couldn't think of his childhood. If he did, he'd think of....... He still couldn't think of her. After so long, hre name couldn't......or wouldn't?.......come to his mind. He knew everything about her....if he so chose to remember her. But no, she was in a different part of Jonathan Quest.....she was in a little boy called Jonny. And as far as Jonathan was concerned that little boy---and everything associated with him---was dead. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ben just stared at the back of the plane. Too bad, he thought. What a waste. If that boy had a heart, he could've been so much more. Sure, the world knew him as Jonathan Quest, billionaire, technological whiz, entrepreneur; but Ben knew him as Jonathan Quest, government junkie, a man who the government gave everything to and put in a high position so the government could have a high position. That's all he was. Ben knew him as a fake. An expert fighter, an obedient soldier, but definately NOT a caring philanthropist. He, too was a government man. In fact, he was the government's man to make sure that the government man didn't forget that he was a government man. Ben chuckled to himself as he tried to process the line that just flew through his head. He got up and got some aspirin ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Jon was startled as a knock came at the door. "Jon? You okay in there? You're not dead or anything, are you?" He heard Ben kind of chuckle at his own joke. He opened the door and replied, "Don't worry, Ben. I don't get killed." Ben was surprised at the seriousness in Jon's answer. Even Ben had never seen it this bad. He knew Jon was a get down to business, no time for jokes kid of guy, but it had never been this bad! *I wonder what's gotten into him?* ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hours later, they landed in Calcutta. Jon got out and breathed in the air. He grunted and jumped to the ground. All he could see were the mountains in the backround. The mountains...... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Indian government had a car waiting for them, ready to take them to their destination. Outside the car, was a dark-skinned indian holding the door open for them. "Good evening, gentlemen. My name is Jhorle. I will take you to---" "Yes, thank you. That would be good of you. Let's go," Jon replied, curtly. Jhorle looked a little startled at his rudeness and shut the door behind the two men. Ben only stared at Jon and shrugged. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "The S---," Jhorle began. "I know the sultan. I'm sure he'll be waiting for us." A little perturbed at being cut off for the second time, Jhorle just shut his mouth and drove. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ben was watching Jon very carefully. If he was starting to lose it, then he'd have to inform his superiors. Jon was just looking out the window at those mountains..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Those mountains. If he could, he'd blow them right out of his view....and he knew that the drive was a long one. Too long. To see a ghost from Jonny's past.... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ After a long six-hour drive, they finally arrived at the airport that had a plane to take them to their destination. *Odd* thought Ben. *We leave an airport, drive six hours just to get to another airport?* They climbed into a small prop-engined plane and were ready to head to their destination.....to Bangalore. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Upon arrival, another car was waiting to take them to the palace. Jhorle got behind the wheel and said, "The Sultan sends his apologies, but he could not meet you here due to more urgent matters." "Yeah, I bet." Ben was counting now. By his count, that was the third time that Jon had done something rude since they got to India. He whispered in his ear. "Jon, now is a very bad time for you to lose your protocol." "Forgive me.....oh pleasant one." "I'll pretend I didn't hear that last remark, Jon." Jon only scowled. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Once they got to the palace, they had to under-go a few security checks. They left their bags in their rooms so as not to alarm the palace guards. "The Sultan will see you now," said Jhorle. As the huge doors were opened and the vastness of the throne room appeared for their eyes, a young man at the end of the room called out to them, "Welcome to Bangalore!" To Ben, the voice sounded a little too cheery to be meeting with a couple of government agents from America. He and Jon bowed before the young sultan of Bangalore. "J-!" Jon silenced the Sultan with a look that said, Startled, the Sultan switched his sentence, "J-horle! Thank you for taking these two gentlemen here. You may be dismissed." Jhorle bowed, said a quick thank you and hurredly left the room. The Sultan then turned back to the two American agents. "Now gentlemen, we may discuss your business here in Bangalore....." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ben saw that little exchange between the Sultan and Jon. He'd ask what that was about later. He just continued to listen to the Sultan. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ After that meeting with the two agents, the Sultan headed back to his bedroom. He knew one of them and that one knew him. After all, they were brothers. He never thought that after the.....accident....so long ago that he'd ever see Jonny again. Hadji just sighed and thought back on their childhood and their father and.....Jessie. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The snow and wind bombarded them....threatened to blow them right off the mountain....they struggled onward. The wind continued to howl, yet the pressed forward. He tried to yell to the girl in front of him, but the wind drowned him out....he couldn't even hear himself. He tried again, "JESSIE!!" He thought he saw her look back, but she just continued to move. "JESSIE! PLEASE, HOLD ON! WAIT UP!" She never heard him, and if she did, she didn't acknowledge him. *Great, Quest, great.* "JES--" His sentence was cut short. He could hear the rumbling... *Oh my....* "JESSIE!!!!!!!!" *Ohpleaseohpleaseohplease* He could feel it now....the ground was shaking....he could no longer keep his balance... "JESSIE!!!!!!!!" Finally, she seemed to notice him. She whipped around and tried to run back to him. She tripped. She fell head-first into the snow. "JESSIE!!!!!!!" "JONNY!!!" "HOLD ON JESS, HOLD ON!" The rumbling was getting closer.... Then the explosion..... "JESSIE" "JONNY" Jessie jessie JESSIE! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ At this point, he expected to wake up like he always did, but this time....this time the dream.....the nightmare continued on. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The explosion........ "JESSIE""JONNY" Blank..... Darkness.... Slowly, he opened his eyes....he saw a man digging in the snow. He wanted to yell ^I'm here! I'm right here!^ Then his thoughts drifted toward Jessie. He saw the man reach down into the snow and....... ~blank~ When next he opened his eyes, he saw his father...and Race...and Hadji. They were looking for them....and Jessie! Oh my goodness! Where's Jessie! JESSIE Jessie jessie..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ He woke up. He remembered. He remembered the man looking through the snow....and he pulled something out and...and......... She's alive!!!!! to be continued......... JQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQ well, I'll hurry up on the next part. I hope that wasn't too predictable and it was just a tad interesting. :) Comments are welcome! Oh, and Suze? Please? Ditto for the Wildey awards! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ To unsubscribe from this mailing list, or to change your subscription to digest, go to the ONElist web site, at http://www.onelist.com and select the Member Center link from the menu bar on the left. From: JQ Fan Well, here's the next part. I appreciate all the positive feedback I got on the first one and even the negative. Hopefully it will help me become a better writer. I don't feel that this part is as good as the first, so bear with me. Who knows? Maybe you might think it's better. :) Enjoy! JQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQ Cruel Reality She's alive! The rest of my dream proves it! She's got to be alive! Jonathan almost jumped for joy. Then he remembered....he remembered who he was. He was a professional. Professionals don't "jump for joy". Professionals don't go off looking for a girl from his past....a girl who's been dead for seven years. He wasn't "Jonny" anymore. He was Jonathan, Government Man. But for the first time in seven long years, Jonathan smiled. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Jon threw on a shirt and rushed through the hallways. He passed Ben's room and went out into the night. He needed to sort out his thoughts.... There was hope, and he knew she survived the....accident. He allowed himself to be swallowed up into the past. As the night's events of seven years ago began to overtake him, he felt himself feel an inner peace....like he was finally giving in to the prodding of his soul. After so long..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Jess!" "Hey Jonny! How do I look?" The beautiful redhead twirled around, allowing her forest green dress twirl with her. The sight was absolutely captivating to Jonny. They were in Bangalore with their fathers and Hadji to officially coronate Hadji as the Sultan of Bangalore. This was officially....good-bye. Hadji was making a promise to his people that once the ceremonies were over that he would no longer run off on some adventure with his American family. Hadji was now twenty years old and his education was complete. Jonny and Jessie had no doubt that he would be the greatest sultan in the history of Bangalore. As for Jessie......there wasn't enough he could say about her.....she was his best friend, the twinkling of his eye......the love of his life. She was his fiance. Sure, he had promised Race that marriage would come after both of them completed college. He had made it through two years so far and he was determined to finish....if nothing else so he and Jess could live "happily ever after." He smiled at the thought. "Hey handsome, what'cha smilin' about?" Jessie gave him that smile that melted him everytime.....and to think! He used to think girls were gross? *Such childish thoughts!* thought Jonny with a grin, *I had no clue what I was missing!* "Just you, Jess. Just you." He gave her his own winning smile and took her arm. They planned on spending the whole night dancing away.... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ As the night went on and the champagne flowed, he noticed that many of the delegates were beginning to lose it. "Let's get out of here, Jess. These guys are beginning to give me the creeps!" he whispered in her ear. "You and me both." she replied. They walked out together to the balcony and looked out on the beautiful Bangalore skyline. The majestic mountains in the backround made the scene look picturesque. The woman at his side only made it look better. Still, he couldn't shake a feeling that something was not quite right....... That's when the first exposion sounded. The ballroom they had just lefterupted in flames. Suddenly, men in black swooped down seemingly out of no where and began to grab all the people rushing out of the room. *Terrorists!* He grabbed Jessie's hand and headed for the safety of the throneroom. He could only assume that the palace guards had been....taken care of since none were in sight. "Jonny, what about our dads! And Hadji!" Before he could pursue that thought, they were grabbed. It was over before it started. All his training, all his experience in these situations.....they were useless. He raised his hands in the air in surrender. Jessie took one look into his eyes and saw what he saw. They had Hadji. One had his turban, and it didn't look as beautiful as it normally did. The knife slashes across it suggested that Hadji may be in a position far worse place than he and Jess. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ They were crammed into a stinky, damp cell. He, Jess, and a few of the drunk delagates were thrown unceremoniously into this little dungeon, and that's where they stayed. He tried to keep track of time, but he soon found himself too tired and he drifted off to sleep.... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ When he awoke, he found Jess caring for some of the other prisoner's injuries. "Jess?" "Jonny! Thank God you're awake!" "Jess, where are our dads? And....and Hadji! Oh no! Hadji!" "Calm down, Jonny. Our kidnappers came in here earlier and said that he was okay. They have our dads too. I think they're holding our dads to keep Hadj doing whatever he's doing for them." "Good. At least they're okay." No sooner had he finished his sentence, then the cell door opened. A nasty looking guard came through with a pallet of bread and a canteen. "This is for all of you." he said with an accent that Jonny couldn't identify. "Enjoy!" He sneered and walked out. Jonny took a small portion of the bread and handed the rest out. "Jonny, we have to get out of here!" "I know, Jess. I just don't see a way. I mean, when I'm so used to your dad just busting through that door...." he paused as if waiting for the door to open and Race to come through with a gun and say "Let's get outta here." He sighed and continued, "or I'm used to my dad thinking of a way to distract the guard or Hadji to do some cool trick or whatever! I normally have a bit of luck to get out of these jams!" "Jonny, you have me." He had to smile. She took his arm and gave him a quick peck on the lips. "Just watch, we'll get out of this. We always do." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Several hours later, the guard came back in with the pallet of food. WHAM! He was out, blood already oozing from the wound in his head. Jonny grabbed Jessie's hand and took off. They had already discussed the delegates and concluded that many were still to hungover from the party to be of any help to them. They raced down the halls looking for an escape. They noticed the many cells lined up and realized that this may have been an old prison in Bangalore or something. After a few turns and dead ends, they finally came to a door. They stopped and could hear the wind howling from the other side. "This has to be the exit!" They burst throught the door expecting a whole legion of troops to come baring down of them. They soon found out why there wasn't one. They were high in the mountains. Those mountains that had looked so majestic from the palace balcony now looked like Siberia. The raging blizzard they stepped out into was threatening to tear the prison building to pieces. They had to get help, but walking out into a blizzard like this without geer or knowing where they were was absolute suicide. They rushed back in and grabbed some heavy jackets they had seen earlier. Probably used by the guards who for some reason weren't there. They stepped back into the storm and began their quest to find help not once considering how frighteningly easy it was.... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The snow and wind bombarded them....threatened to blow them right off the mountain....they struggled onward. The wind continued to howl, yet the pressed forward. He tried to yell to the girl in front of him, but the wind drowned him out....he couldn't even hear himself. He tried again, "JESSIE!!" He thought he saw her look back, but she just continued to move. "JESSIE! PLEASE, HOLD ON! WAIT UP!" She never heard him, and if she did, she didn't acknowledge him. *Great, Quest, great.* "JES--" His sentence was cut short. He could hear the rumbling... *Oh my....* They were coming after them. They had to find shelter some place to hide. "JESSIE!!!!!!!!" *Ohpleaseohpleaseohplease* He could feel it now....the ground was shaking....he could no longer keep his balance... "JESSIE!!!!!!!!" She had gotten too far ahead of him.......what kind of vehicle was this? A tank perhaps? "JESSIE! They're coming!" Finally, she seemed to notice him. She whipped around and tried to run back to him. She tripped. She fell head-first into the snow. "JESSIE!!!!!!!" "JONNY!!!" "HOLD ON JESS, HOLD ON!" That's when the explosion ripped through his brain. He didn't know what it was and up till this point, he didn't care. All he knew was it had taken his Jessie away from him....that's all that mattered. Now a curiosity long dead welled up inside him again. That explosion seemed to come from beneath their feet....not above like a missle or grenade or a gun, but from beneath like dynamite in a mountain......... ideas began to formulate in his head. He was thinking like a government man now.....his head was spinning. Various weapons and devices ran through his head. Everything he knew about them came up like a file in his brain. He had to find her.....he had to find that man.......he had to know what happened......and nothing was going to stand in his way. to be continued...... JQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQ Well, that's it for now. I hope to have the next part out later today, but if not, then definately by tomorrow. Disclaimer and stuff is in the first part. Again, comments are welcome! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ We are proud as punch of our new web site! http://www.onelist.com Onelist: The leading provider of free email community services From: JQ Fan Here's part number three! Unfortunately, unless I make the next two parts incredibly long, it doesn't seem like I'll be able to fit all my ideas into five parts like I originally planned. This fic WILL get finished, however! And you won't have to wait a few weeks in-between parts. Anyway, it also looks like I forgot a category in the first part. It's kinda turned into an HR as well. ^_^. I hope you enjoy this one and once again, comments are welcome! The next part should be out by tomorrow. Enjoy! JQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQ Cruel Reality Hadji sat in his bedroom thinking about the look Jonny had given him earlier that day. He knew Jonny well enough to figure on him taking this kind of attitude to...the accident. After those terrorists had made him do their dirty work, they had released him, Dr. Quest, Race, and the delegates and other party-goers of the evening. He could remember it all like it had happened only seven minutes ago instead of seven years.... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The presumed leader of the terrorists gave a wicked grin as he spoke. "Thank you for your service your highness." He sneered on the word servent. Hadji could not believe that they had actually foced him to do such a.....disturbing task. The guards shoved them all outside...into the blizzard. "A chopper will take you back to the festivities your highness" And he laughed. And laughed. The sound of it ran chills down Hadji's spine. The tears stung his eyes and froze on his face as he walked to the chopper. As they flew over the mountain, he could make out the shadows of two lonely figures walking through the snow and battling the wind. He knew who they were....and he could do nothing as the mountain below them exploded into billions of rock fragments. Hadji turned away and cried freely. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Race! Dr. Quest! That explosion! Jonny and Jessie were down there!" Race and his adopted father looked at him and knew that he spoke the truth. They had learned to trust Hadji's link to his friends, yet until they got back to the palace, there was nothing they could do. There were at least ten other prisoners with them in the chopper hold and they were being watched by five guards with automatic weapons. There was just no way they could take over the chopper to look for them. As much as it killed them, they had to wait. "Dr. Quest, we have to hurry! They won't survive long out there." "I know Hadji, but there's just nothing we can do!" All Hadji could do was wait. His family was out there, his "parents" and he being watched carefully. Race and Dr. Quest didn't know of the gruesome job that he was forced to complete for these terrorists. They didn't know. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ As soon as they landed at the palace, they jumped into their own chopper and headed right back to the mountain. They would find Jessie and Jonny then they would go back to that....place and make sure the terrorists could not get away. By the time they landed at the spot of the disaster, the blizzard had decreased to the moaning of the wind and dusting of snow. Race put the chopper down softly despite his earning to find his daughter and her fiance. They rushed out. After combing through the snow for at least an hour, they found Jonny. He was half buried in the snow, nearly frozen and barely conscious. They carried him back to the chopper and renewed the search for Jessie. Dr. Quest stayed behind to tend to Jonny. Jonny was pretty out of it and was in dire need of medical attention, but they wouldn't leave without Jessie....and they knew he'd kill them if they did. Soon, help arrived in the form of the Bangalore army. Hadji had summoned their help and soon, the entire mountain had been searched with no sign of her. It was already night and the search could not go on. Anyone foolish enough to be in the mountains at his time would be dead within the hour. Race was going nuts, Jonny was too frozen to even know what was going on, Dr. Quest was babbling nonsense, and Hadji.....all Hadji could do was cry. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ They searched for another week, but they knew they'd never find her alive. There was just no possible way she could've survived the first night even if she did survive the explosion and ensuing avalanche. When told of the news, Jonny....shrunk into a mere image of his normal self....a visage that seven years later still carried on.....Race became obsessed with finding her spending from sunrise to sunset scouring the mountainside. All Hadji and Dr. Quest could do was pray. They never found her. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ By the time they got back Stateside, the four men were lost....each in his own little world. A few days later, Race was back on the field for Intelligence One, obsessed with now finding either his daughter alive, or the terrorists responsible for her demise. Jonny, of course, continued to whither away until he became a broken man. Hadji didn't even make the trip back, instead focusing on being the Sultan of Bangalore. He grieved in his own way. A few weeks after Race went back on assignment, Jonny ran away, and Doctor Quest was arrested by the civil government on the charges of conspiring with terrorists. Although he knew he was inocent, Dr. Quest was found guilty and sentenced to death for treason. Hadji only knew that his adopted father was sitting behind bars somewhere in the United States awaiting an execution date. As Jonny, Hadji knew that after Dr. Quest was arrested, he inherited Quest Enterprises and was soon the richest man in the world. Like everyone else, Hadji only saw the glamour boy, and it was great shock to see him today as a government agent. He never heard from Race....he didn't even know if the bodyguard was still alive. All this disaster came about from the death of the most important woman in their lives..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hadji soon found himself crying at the memories....the torture of having to do what they asked. He soon found himself walking through the palace courtyard. Then he noticed a familiar figure that decided to take a stroll as well..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Jonathan was startled out of his own reverie by someone calling his name. "Agent Quest!" He knew who the owner of the voice was. He knew him like he knew himself. Hadji. He wrestled with the demons of his past debating whether he should continue to mask the pain or let his onetime best friend help him. It had been so long.....too long.... "Hadji!" Jon met his friend with a smile. "Jonny...er I mean Agent Que--" "Forget that Hadj. I sorted out some things tonight. Please, just call me Jon." Another smile came from his face. Jon almost laughed. Smiling seemed almost natural again. It had seven years since he'd allowed himself the pleasure of feeling anything but pain and sorrow. He had blamed himself for what happened to Jess, but now, with the hope of her still being out there....... "Hadji, we need to talk.....it's about Jessie." "J-J-Jes-Jessie?!" The words stumbled out of the sultan's mouth. Could it be that Jon had...? No, that was impossible. As far as he knew, she was de.... "She's alive, Hadj." She alive?!?!?!?! Hadji brain screamed at him. She alive! "Hadj, is there someplace we could go to...to..." Jon's sentence fell incomplete. "Jon?" There, on Hadji's chest was a bright red dot. Agent Jonathan Quest knew exactly what it was....a laser scope......and it was aimed at the Sultan of Bangalore's--his brother's---heart...... to be continued....... ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Start a new hobby. Meet a new friend. http://www.onelist.com Onelist: The leading provider of free email list services From: JQ Fan Here's part five everyone! Please forgive me for this first scene if it seems unrealistic. I haven't exactly found myself in that situation before, so I'm not too sure how one would react. This one seems a little shorter than the other parts, but I think I'll be able to fit everything into the five parts I originally planned, so hopefully, this will be finished by tomorrow. Again, comments are welcome! Enjoy! JQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQ Cruel Reality Without a thought, Jonathan leaped into action. He shoved Hadji to the ground and in one motion, drew his revolver and cocked it. He always carried a sub-nosed .38 caliber with him for moments such as these.....after all, he was a government man. He aimed it towards the roof of the building to the west...the direction of the sight's origin. His stealth probing eyes peered into the darkness. He'd done this countless of times. He was the best. The purpose that he and Ben were here in Bangalore had just reared it's ugly head. The government had gotten wind of an assassin who planned to take out the sultan. *This guy's sloppy. I was standing right there...that would've meant a witness since he'd only have time for one shot. The laser scope? That's incredibly stupid! I saw it immediately! He's missed his chance, so now he's probably headed for a way out of here....* All these thoughts raced through Jon's head in a split second. He slowly got up on one knee and motioned for Hadji to stay down. There could be more.... Hadji only stared at Jon. He knew what had just happened. The way Jon was acting screamed that someone had just tried to kill him. He knew the drill...he would stay down until Jon gave the okay. Jon knew that if there was more than one assassin, he was easy pickings right about now. He was standing in an open courtyard with only low level bushes for cover. He also knew that both he and Hadji had light-colored clothing on. Way too easy to spot. That's why the laser scope confused him....it wasn't needed. That's when it hit him. This was just a trial run....or maybe a trap. One of those two possibilities. He shoved Hadji into the nearest overgrowth and jumped in after him. Still an easy target. "Okay, Hadj," he whispered. "Make a break for it. Head for the archway at the near end. It's a short sprint, so you have to give it everything you got. I'll cover you." Hadji felt like a teenager again. He could just imagine Jon as Race, giving him instructions...he almost waited for Jonny to bolt out into the open trying to "save the day" by himself." "Now Hadj!" Hadji took off like a bolt of lightning. Jon was close on his heels. After what seemed like an eternity, they made it to the archway. Not a single shot had been fired. *Then it had to be a test run....* thought Jon. *That's the only explanation* Hadji called for guards and soon, the courtyard was amass with over two dozen palace guards combing the area. "Jon! I heard that an attempt's been made!" Ben was jogging out to the scene. "Negative, Ben. Just a scare tactic. The guy had too many clean shots, and he didn't even try." "I think the Sultan should be no where without a bodyguard until the assassin can be caught and put behind bars." Now Hadji spoke up. "I think that I am advanced and experienced enough in these situations to take care of myself. I do not need a babysitter." Upon hearing this, Hadji's advisors began to argue with the sultan. "Your highness, it would be in the best interest of the people if....." Jon just zoned it all out and began to think of possible suspects. Hundreds of names of killers for hire zoomed through his mind.....terrorist groups began to file through as well. "Jon?" "Huh? Wha?!" "Jon, aren't you listening? I asked if you would be my 'bodyguard' for the next few days." "Oh....sorry your highness. Yes, I would be honored to watch your back." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Jon moved his stuff into Hadji's room. He would sleep on the floor, making sure that the sultan was protected. He half expected to sleep peacefully knowing that Jessie was alive, but not knowing where she was, and his concerns about the assassin kept him tossing and turning all night. Hadji also coudn't sleep well. He began to think about that night......and he could no longer keep his secret. He had to tell Jon. Jon deserved to know.... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hadji stepped into the kitchen to find Jon sitting at the table drinking a cup of coffee. "Shouldn't you be watching out for me?" Hadji said with a slight grin. "Sorry your highness...I had some things to think about." "Jon, you know better. To you, I'm still Hadji." Jon nodded "All right.....Hadji." After a few minutes of uncomfortable silence, Hadji finally spoke up.... *It's now or I may never get a chance to tell him...* "Jon.....I...uh....Jon...." "Hadj? What's on your mind?" "First of all, I just want to say I'm sorry." "What for?" "For....for....what happened to....Jessie...." Jon looked down at his coffee. "Hadj, that wasn't your fault....it...it was mine...." *You have no idea, Jon* "I have a lot more to do with it, Jon." Jon's head shot up as he looked at Hadji's eyes. Tears were starting to brim on them. "Jon....I....I'm sor...sorry. They made me....threatened Dr. Quest and Race....and..and...all the people of Bangalore." "Hadji, what are you talking about?!" "The terrorists." At the sound of those who had taken his beloved, Jon's eyes narrowed at Hadji. "Jon...Jonny...I...I'm responsible for happened to Jessie. I told them about the abandoned Buddhist temple in the mountains...." "Buddhist temple? You mean...?" "Yes, Jon....the prison they kept you....us...in. And..and....I..." Hadji couldn't bear it anymore. He put his hands over his eyes and let the tears flow. "Jonny...I gave them the explosives.....I told them what you two would do to try to get out of there......it's my fault!" Jon was still confused. He grabbed Hadji by the shoulders. "What are you saying, Hadj?!" "I GAVE THEM THE MATERIALS FOR JESSIE'S ACCIDENT!" Hadji just blurted it all out and continued to cry. This revelation shocked Jon to the core. He slumped down into his chair trying to process the new information. "And...and," Hadji continued to mumble. "I....I knew she was alive. I know why they did all this.." The tears were now flowing freely, but almost before he could finish his sentence, Jon had grabbed him by the shirt and slammed him up against the wall. "YOU KNEW SHE WAS ALIVE AND DIDN'T TELL ME?!?!?!" Hadji nodded meekly. "I...I know what happened to her....they made sure to gloat it in my...my face. They also made me...made me plant the ev...evidence that convicted our father of treason..." "WHAT ELSE HAVE YOU DONE?! WHERE IS SHE?" Jon was fuming. Hadji had known all along, yet sat back and watched as Jonny died and his life crumbled. "Jon...they...they wanted you...." Now Jon was stunned. Why would they want him? And if they wanted HIM, why did they take Jess? Unless... "They knew they'd never get you as long as you had Jessie. And they needed your father and Race out of the way so they could put you into position....." The truth was almost bold-faced now, Jon just couldn't believe..... "The...the terrorists?" "Americans. The government wanted you, so the government got you." Jon exhaled slowly and asked his next question even slower "And Jessie?" "They told her that we were all dead. She's just like you....an agent....a puppet." Jon continued to hold Hadji against the wall, a deep fire in his blue eyes. "So it was you. You set the whole thing up. You knew she was alive. You've known everything." "No....no! I didn't set everything up! I gave them what they needed to set it all up!" Jon slowly reached for his revolver. He then pushed the barrel up Hadji's nose. "I ought to kill you on the spot, my friend." There was a lot of hatred in those last two words. He spat them out like a poison on his tongue. "Traitor........Betrayer.......MURDERER!!!!!!!" Jon's finger tightened on the trigger..... Hadji was now sweating profusely. He knew that concerning Jessie, Jon would probably go through with this...even to his own brother....even to the sultan of Bangalore. "Jon....Jon....pleease!" Hadji whimpered. "You spineless, murdering scum!" Jon pushed Hadji up harder against the wall. "You don't deserve such an easy way out." Jon lowered his weapon....then suddenly in a blur of motion brought it across Hadji's head. WHAM The last thing Hadji Singh saw was the hatred in his brother's eyes.....heaven help the man behind this......Hadji blacked out. Jonathan Quest, Government Man was coming for revenge, and Intelligence One's head had better watch out. to be continued......... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ That was short, wasn't it? I hope that wasn't too confusing for anyone or anti-climatic or something like that. :) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ We have a new web site! http://www.onelist.com Onelist: The leading provider of free email community services From: JQ Fan Here it is, folks! The last enchilada! The final say. Again, comments are welcome. Enjoy! JQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQ Cruel Reality Washington D.C. The United States' capital is a beautiful sight to behold. One lone man walked out of the airport and into the street. "Taxi!" Soon a cab pulled up to him. The man gave an address, and he was soon speeding towards the downtown district. The cab stopped at a big, tall office building. The man paid the cabbie and walked up towards the steps. This place looked completely innocent, but he knew what it really was. This was the headquarters for one of the most powerful, yet most secretive, organizations in the world. And this man was going to the very top level. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ All the people in the building gave him only a slight stare. The stubble on his chin, his ruffled dirty blonde hair, and his wrinkled clothes made him seem out of place among the business suits and fancy decorations of the building. The people only shrugged. They got one weird guy a week...this wasn't really anything new. The only thing different about this man was his face. His face was on nearly every magazine cover on the rack....he was the richest man in the world. He patiently waited for an elevator. Ding. The doors opened and he waited for a few people to step out before walking in himself. He pressed the button for the 63rd floor....the very top. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ When he arrived, he walked into a lavishly decorated reception area with a secretary's desk in the middle. "Can I help you, Sir?" She asked. She looked him up and down, but said nothing about his appearance. "Yes, I'd like to see Mr. Black." "Do you have an appointment, Sir?" "I should. Please tell him that Jonathan Quest is here to discuss some very important business with him." "I'll see if he's available, Mr. Quest." "Thank you." Jonathan sat down on the plush couch on the far end of the room. Business. That's all he was here on. To take care of business..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ After waiting for more than an hour, Jonathan walked up to the receptionist again. "Could you please tell him this is quite urgent?" "Of course, Mr. Quest. I'll see if he can make some time for you." Jonathan sat back down on the couch and took a copy of Time Magazine with him. He was disgusted to find his face on the cover. After reading the article, he finally got an idea of just how the media protrayed him--A generous, kindly genious of a young man who despite the losses he had suffered, remained pleasant and jovial. *If only they knew.* "Mr. Quest?" "Hmm? Yes?" "Mr. Black will see you now." "Thank you." Before entering into the office, Jon once again checked his revolver in his pocket. He had refilled it and it was in perfect working order. He was ready. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ He stepped into a huge office with a big window with a view of the Capital Building. In the center was a desk and behind the desk was a man in an armani suit. It looked like a normal executive's business office. *Too normal* Jon thought. "Mr. Quest! How wonderful to see you!" said the man behind the desk. He rose and walked toward Jon with his hand outstretched. "Et tu, Mr. Black." "Ah! A reader of Shakespeare! Please, please, have a seat and we shall discuss your urgent business." This "Mr. Black" acted nothing like a cruel, manipulating head of a government agency. *The perfect cover.* Jon sat down on the big chair in front of the desk and waited for Mr. Black to get comfortable behind his desk. "Now, Mr. Quest, what can I do for you?" "I need to discuss the matter of my...." he searched for the proper word...he couldn't find one "....let's just call it my admittance." "Of course. Remember, you came to us." "Wrong! You manipulated everything from the beginning! You wanted me for your little outfit and you KNEW I would never be your lackey if I had my family, so YOU made SURE that I wouldn't have one. Well, I'm SICK or being your puppet and I want my family back NOW!" He glared at the mysterious Mr. Black and Mr. Black's steely gaze was unwavered. "So tell me, Mr. Quest, how did you come to this conclusion? Did your grief-stricken adopted brother tell you? You know what he's become, haven't you? He's just a politician now. Just as much a puppet master as you accuse myself of being. Mr. Quest, I assure you, your "family" is of no concern to me. All I want is to know that you are doing your job, and doing it to the best of your ability." Jon's gaze too never wavered. He slowly pulled out his revolver and aimed it at Black's head. "I WANT MY FAMILY BLAST YOU!" Mr. Black took one look at the gun and then at Jon's eyes and he began to smile. That smile soon turned into all out laughter....a laughter that sent chills up and down Jon's spine. "Mr. Quest, PLEASE! Do not insult me with such a primitive means of getting your wishes! You even think about actually pulling that trigger, and I can have a hundred of America's best agents in here to make sure YOU don't make it out." "If that's what it takes..." "I'm calling your bluff, Mr. Quest. Now, if you would please leave, I have a lot of work to do. You should be going back to Bangalore and doing your job. I assure you, that no harm will come to any of your LIVING family if you do." "You're SCUM, Black. And the worst kind!" "I've been called worse." He pressed a button on his console and spoke into it, "Ms. Dunkin, would you please send in Agent three-nine-oh to take Mr. Quest out of here, please?" ~Of course, Mr. Black~ "Mr. Quest, will you please put down that toy? It is getting rather annoying." The door opened and a voice asked, "Mr. Black, is this the man who you want out.....of......here?" The last three words were slowed and Jon straightened. That voice. He turned around slowly and his eyes met those of Agent 390. Her green eyes stared back at him. Her bright red hair framed her face beautifully. His jaw slowly dropped. "JESSIE!" "JONNY!" They ran toward each other and embraced. He held her tightly as though he would never let go. "Oh, Jess" he whispered in her ear, "Jess, I thought you were...." "They told me you were, too" The tears rushed out of both of their eyes. He lifted her face gently at the chin and slowly kissed her, enjoying the feel of her lips...it had so long.... "Excuse me, Mr. Quest? Ms. Bannon?" Mr. Black cleared his throat. "Black." Jon said that, his voice was even and with a hint of malice. "You took her away....." "Mr. Quest, please....leave. The papers for your father's release have already been signed by the President; Mr. Bannon has been called up and informed that he has a chance at early retirement; I have sent word to the Sultan that all has been taken care of and the guilt he has had to live with is passed; I have already arranged for another agent to go to Bangalore to continue your incomplete mission there, Mr. Quest as well as an agent to go to California to finish your task, Ms. Bannon; and I am giving both of you a year off, granted you come back in a year ready to fulfill your jobs to the best of your ability. I have put you through this cruel reality to assure myself that I had acquired the very best agents. I can now see that I have. I hope that you will both forgive me for the manipulative way I had this test pulled off and that you will go on with your life together despite the years lost. Now, you are both excused." He said that final sentence with a smile. Jon's eyes softened. "Mr. Black I....thank you. Thank you for giving me my life back." he said as he shook Black's hand. "Mr. Quest, never let it be said that I am a cruel and heartless, manipulative old man." He took Jessie's hand, although he had to wrestle it away from Jon and kissed it. "I will see you both back in one year. Quest Enterprises will continue to be a great ally for the government, will it not?" Jessie spoke up, "Of course it will, Sir. I'll make sure of that." She smiled at Jon and hand-in-hand, they walked out the door. THE END. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ An epilogue will follow right after I send this. I hope that wasn't too confusing or the ending was a damper. :) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ We have a new web site! http://www.onelist.com Onelist: The leading provider of free email community services From: JQ Fan This is the final say in my fic, Cruel Reality. I will post the final categories at the end and also repost the disclaimer. I thank you for taking the time to read this fic and I sincerely hope that it interested you and you enjoyed it. As always, comments are welcome. And now, the epilogue to "Cruel Reality." JQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQ Epilogue~~ After all had been forgiven and Dr. Quest and Race were reunited with their children, Jessica and Jonathan were married......a wedding delayed by seven years. A year later, I-1's two best agents returned as partners, headed for-not-so-dangerous missions on the field. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The snow and wind bombarded them....threatened to blow them right off the mountain....they struggled onward. The wind continued to howl, yet they pressed forward. He tried to yell to the girl in front of him, but the wind drowned him out....he couldn't even hear himself. He tried again, "JESSIE!!" He thought he saw her look back, but she just continued to move. "JESSIE! PLEASE, HOLD ON! WAIT UP!" She never heard him, and if she did, she didn't acknowledge him. *Great, Quest, great.* "JES--" His sentence was cut short. He could hear the rumbling... *Oh my....* "JESSIE!!!!!!!!" *Ohpleaseohpleaseohplease* He could feel it now....the ground was shaking....he could no longer keep his balance... "JESSIE!!!!!!!!" Finally, she seemed to notice him. She whipped around and tried to run back to him. She tripped. She fell head-first into the snow. "JESSIE!!!!!!!" "JONNY!!!" "HOLD ON JESS, HOLD ON!" The rumbling was getting closer.... Then the explosion..... "JESSIE" ********* He was awakened by someone shaking his arm. "I'm right here, Jon. I'm right here." She smiled at him and kissed his forehead. "I know you are, Jess. You always will be." He smiled back at her and tenderly he took her and kissed her slowly. The scars were left from the years apart, but because of their love, they survived what could have been a cruel reality. THE END!!!!!!!!!!!!! Categories~Angst, E, HR Disclaimer~I don't own anybody associated with Jonny Quest. Hanna-Barbera owns them and I am using them of my own accord. This is for reader's enjoyment only and no profit is to be made of this story. Archvers~ Be my guest! Especially Suze and the Wildey Awards. If anyone wants an un-abridged copy, you can e-mail me privately and I will be glad to give you one. ~~ FINALLY, it is over. I REALLY hope the ending wasn't a downer. I contemplated make it an un-happy ending, but I just didn't have it in me. :). I again thank you for reading this fic and I hope that it was good enough that if I were to write another, you would read it. I'm done babbling now. :) Thank you and God Bless, JQ Fan ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Have you visited our new web site? http://www.onelist.com Onelist: Helping to create Internet communities