DISCLAIMER: All major characters are copyright 1996 to Hanna-Barbera, Inc. and Turner Entertainment. No permission was asked. No money is being made (although it is a wonderful thought). =)
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is for all the HR's out there (and you know who you are!
*grin*) and my college roommates Jen, Julie and Tahnee. . .without whom, I would
still be watching JQ with a straight face.
FIRST DATE (Part III)
by lil'nix
On a Friday night in Rockport, Padros was the place to be. One of the largest restaurants in the city, Padros offered a little of everything, including a bar for patrons 21 and older, a gift shop, a dance floor with a DJ, and live entertainment every other weekend. Padros had the best Spanish cuisine in Maine and offered the best variety of entrees, drinks and desserts. No matter what time of year, Padros drew in a large crowd.
The restaurant had been crowded when Jonny and Jessie walked in. Jonny smiled as he and Jessie walked by the groups of people waiting to be seated. He greeted the hostess with a smile and told her his reservation number. The hostess smiled in return and grabbed several different menus. Scowls were aimed at their backs as the hostess showed the teen couple to their table.
It was a good thing Jonny had remembered to call ahead. Otherwise, he'd be scowling right now, too!
As they were seated, a waitress introduced herself and asked what they would like to drink. She scribbled what they said on a small notepad, smiled and hurried off. Jonny and Jessie were staring intently at their menus when she returned with a large strawberry milkshake, a non-alcoholic daiquiri and two glasses of water.
"Are you ready to order?" the waitress asked.
Jonny started with an appetizer of nachos and salsa, followed by a steak sandwich and french fries. Jessie ordered the crabcake special and a side of cheesesticks. The waitress stood at the end of their table a few seconds longer to finish writing the order. She smiled again and walked away.
While they waited, Jessie and Jonny chatted about the good times they'd had together -- from the first time they met almost ten years ago to their last game of Battle Commando in Questworld the previous night. They were so into their discussion, smiling and laughing, they didn't notice the waitress place their food in front of them.
"Let's eat," Jonny finally announced and they settled into their meals. Things were relatively quiet between them while they ate. Occasionally, Jonny would make a funny face and Jessie would giggle.
The waitress stopped by from time to time, checking to be sure everything was all right. Eventually, she cleared their plates and took their orders for dessert. She returned a short time later carrying a large hot fudge sundae, smothered in whipped cream, and two spoons.
Jonny had a strong urge to fill his spoon with whipped cream and catapult it across the table at Jessie. She had done it to him several times when they were younger, nailing him right in the face. He spooned a mountain of whipped cream and looked across the table. Jessie stared back, holding a spoonful of whipped cream and contemplating much the same idea.
They smiled at each.
"You wouldn't do what I think you're thinking about doing, would you, Jonny?" Jessie asked innocently.
Jonny grinned from ear to ear. "Me? You were thinking about doing the same thing I was thinking about doing."
"I would never do THAT," Jessie said, dipping her finger into the whipped cream on her spoon. "But. . .I would do THIS."
She leaned over the table and smudged the whipped cream on her finger on the end of Jonny's nose. Jonny wrinkled his nose as she did this, then chuckled. She sat down in her seat with a satisfied smile.
"It's not as messy," Jessie commented.
The two teens finished eating the sundae, without making too much of a mess. Their waitress brought the check and Jessie snuck a peak at it. $72! Jessie looked at Jonny in disbelief. Jonny just shrugged and paid the hostess on their way to the door -- in cash, much to Jessie's surprise. They walked hand-in-hand towards their car in the parking lot.
The parking lot seemed more crowded than the restaurant. It was well lit, like a footbal stadium, and they had no trouble finding their car. But something felt wrong to Jonny. Was it just him, or were those shadows moving? He gripped Jessie's hand a little tighter.
Jessie looked around the parking lot. She couldn't describe it, but something felt wrong. She felt Jonny's grip on her hand tighten, as if in confirmation of her feeling. Her eyes became slitted, like a cat's, as she watched the surrounding shadows.
Suddenly, a loud explosion roared through the area. Jonny pulled Jessie down to the pavement with him. He shielded her with his body and his own head with his arms. Slowly, Jonny and Jessie stood up, and ventured a look around the parking lot. There, not more than fifteen feet in front of them, were the smoldering, charred remains of Dr. Quest's brand new BMW.
"Dad's not gonna like this," Jonny told Jessie.
Then, a hissing noise came from some nearby bushes. A strange, pink gas hovered through the air. Jonny suddenly felt lightheaded. Jessie grasped his arm in an attempt to keep herself from falling. It felt like slow motion as he and Jessie collapsed in Padros parking lot.
***** ***** *****
Hadji had been unable to sleep. It was now 12:33 AM, and no sign of Jonny and Jessie. They had promised to be in by midnight. Perhaps they ran into some friends and decided to stay out later, Hadji thought. But Jonny or Jessie would have called, and the phone didn't ring once the entire evening.
He laid his novel on his night stand and turned off the light. Maybe I just need some rest, Hadji told himself.
No sooner then he closed his eyes, Hadji received a strange call for help.
Jonny! Jessie!
He bolted upright in bed and ran for his door. He went out into the hall and knocked first on Dr. Quest's door, then on Race's, but there was no answer. Hurriedly, he ran down the stairs and into Dr. Quest's study.
There, in the dim light of the desk lamp, sat Dr. Quest deep in thought. Race Bannon paced in the background. They turned to Hadji as he entered. Both men looked quite perplexed.
"I'm afraid I have some terrible news," Hadji began, but Benton stopped him.
"I think we already know," Dr. Quest said. He turned to his desk and typed some commands into his laptop. He turned away so Hadji could see the message. Jeremiah Surd's face filled the screen and Hadji noticed something else peculiar.
It was Questworld encoded.
"Good evening, Dr. Quest, Mr. Bannon." Hadji listened intently. "I suppose you're wondering where your children are. Don't worry, they're in good hands. . . ."
Hadji watched in horror as Surd's laughing face dissappeared from the screen and a new picture appeared.
***** ***** *****
"Jessie?"
Jessie heard her name. The voice that called to her sounded distant, but urgent. Something was wrong.
"Jessie?" the voice called again.
Slowly she opened her eyes, but all she could see was black. As things came into focus, Jessie noticed that she was lying on the floor. She put a hand to her head to try to stop the pain. Then Jessie quickly remembered the car bomb and the gas, and bolted to a sitting position.
"Jess, you ok?"
Jessie looked to her left. Jonny was sitting Indian style next to her, a look of worry on his face. She smiled at him.
"I think so." She looked at their surroundings. They were in a dessert, no plants or other life around, or so it seemed. Then Jessie looked up and saw green bitmap markings streaking across the sky.
"How did we end up in Questworld?" she asked as Jonny helped her to her feet. "The last thing I remember is --"
"Padros parking lot, yeah, I know. Me, too," Jonny said shaking his head. He concentrated, focusing his mind outside his body -- a trick Hadji had spent years trying to teach him -- to try to look at what was going on. All he could see was darkness.
"Jonny?"
Jonny's eyes snapped open and he frowned at Jessie. "Sorry. Just trying a trick Hadj taught me, but I can't see anything. It's like. . .dark."
"Maybe we're in a cell of somekind. But how did we get here?"
"I don't know HOW," Jonny said looking at the horizon. "But I can guess WHO."
At that moment, Jeremiah Surd appeared. He was in his Questworld form -- a form in which he had full mobility and preferred to his self-contained life support wheelchair in the real world. He looked younger in Questworld, too, but that didn't intimidate the two teens. They had dealt with his shenanigans in Questworld before.
"I'm glad to see that you're awake," Jeremiah greeted them with a smirk. "I trust that your new accomodations are NOT to your liking."
Jonny and Jessie looked at each other, then at Surd.
"Just get to the point, Surd," Jonny said impatiently.
"Patience, young Mr. Quest. That's the problem with your generation. You simply can't wait for anything, can you?"
"Right," Jessie replied. "Why don't we just sit back, relax, and work on our tan."
Surd shook his head and sighed. "Such sarcasm, Ms. Bannon. Just like your father. I'm really sorry to have interrupted your date." Surd paused and smiled. "It was a date wasn't it?"
Neither of the teens replied.
"Ah, to be young again." Surb rambled on. "I would give anything to be young again." Surd's face darkened. His smile was replaced with a sneer. "I tried once before -- switching bodies with Race Bannon -- but was again returned to my empty shell."
Jessie frowned at the memory of her father and Surd switching bodies. It scared her.
"You were my next hope, Jonny Quest --"
"And I kicked your butt all over cyberspace," Jonny smiled at the memory.
"So what does that have to do with us?" Jessie asked.
"Decide to try again?" Jonny grinned.
"As a matter of fact," Surd smiled again, "I have. But this time, I've made it a little more interesting. You'll enjoy it, really," He pointed to Jonny, "because I've turned it into kind of a game."
Jonny didn't like the sound of that.
END PART 3