Title: Pheryll 90 Part 3: The Council's Attempt, 22/? Author: Heather, the Goddess of Evil Date: January 24, 1999 Classification/Rating: JB/JQHR, Alt, Adventure/PG Archivers: Have at it, you've my permission. Disclaimer: I don't own any of the JQ-niverse or any of it's affiliates. I do own Vanessa Elizabeth Monroe (Vannie) and Jonathon Dapp so you have to ask my permission if you want to use them. Pheryll 90 Part 3: The Council's Attempt It was full blown night when at last they arrived at the jeep. Hadji found it devoid of Julia. He bent to one knee to inspect the ropes, noticing that they looked like they had been cut by a knife. "It does not matter now," he assured himself. "Hadji, Jon-" the sentence was cut off as both Race and Vannie saw the state Jonny was in. He just looked away. "Let's get going," Hadji urged hoping to take their attention from his brother. Race deposited Jessie in the back seat who was staring at Jonny with a mocking smile. Jonny tried his best to ignore her as Hadji and Race lifted him, chair and all into the very back of the jeep. Hadji hopped in besides the bound Jessie and Race took the driver's seat beside his wife who occupied the passenger seat. The ride was quiet. Not a word was spoken. Not even by Jessie, amazingly. She just smiled gleefully to herself. Hadji knew she was silently laughing at Jonny. She was so changed and he knew it was because of Dapp's Neural Manipulator. Hadji found himself wishing he could use Dapp's device on the inventor. It seemed to take a lot less time to get back to the airport than it did coming from, but Hadji knew that was usually the case. Once again they didn't take any time to eat or sleep, they loaded up the Dragon Fly and were on their way back to Florida. Jessie was tied to the seat Julia had previously occupied and by this time she didn't have a happy look on. When she kicked the back of the seat in front of her, Vannie rose from it, and with regret in her eyes, bound Jessie's legs. They were all surprised that she wasn't very vocal. They were used to Jessie's mouthing off, especially to the bad guys. And right now, to her, they were the bad guys. No one said anything about it. And Jonny was quietest of all. He just sat in Surd's chair with his eyes closed, a very painful expression on his face. No one liked to look at him. It hurt too much, but most of all, they knew it hurt him. He had a lot of mixed emotions that he had pent up inside. And it didn't help that Jessica "Dapp" was right there to laugh at and mock him. "What's wrong Jonathon?" she asked in her English accent, her sparkling green eyes locked straight ahead. "You aren't very talkative." Jonny didn't respond. "Aren't you going to tell me how much you love me? Or try to convince me that this is my real family? That they aren't really dead because you killed them?" Hadji shut his eyes and began to meditate, taking himself away from this tense atmosphere of the cockpit. Vannie curled up in her seat, also closing her eyes and covering her ears with her hands. Race, whose body was all tensed up, saw the tears running silently down his wife's face. "Gag her," he ordered his wife softly. She opened her eyes and took her hands away from her ears and looked at her husband in awe. Jessie was still taunting Jonny, knowing the pain and hurt she was causing her captors. "Gag her," Race repeated more firmly. Vannie nodded and rose. She found a piece of cloth and, with her daughter glaring hatefully at her, tied it around Jessie's mouth, who fought her the whole way. Vannie then sat down, the tears she had wiped away before she had stifled her daughter returning. The rest of the flight home was made in apprehensive silence. JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB "This is amazing," Benton whispered looking over the documents the Mortons had shown him. "It is, isn't it?" Julie confirmed her eyes shining with hope. "Has it been tested?" Benton asked. "We're still working on getting some made," Frederick replied. "On paper it looks like it'll work," Benton commented. "On paper, but many things look like they'll work on paper," Frederick reminded. "Yes, well, what are we going to test it on?" Benton asked setting the documents down. "Unfortunately, we don't know yet," Julie replied. "This country has very strict laws on test animals," Frederick explained. "Why can't we just grow a culture of Pheryll 990 in a petri dish and then inject it with the cure?" Benton suggested. "Simple, but doable," Frederick surmised. "I'll get right on it," Julie said donning a lab coat and venturing deeper into the laboratory provided by the government of the country they were staying in. "We should have our answer in a few more days," Frederick said excited. "And hopefully, this is what we've been looking for, because if it isn't, the world is doomed," Benton said in al seriousness. There was a silence as both scientists minds wandered for a minute, then Benton snapped to attention. "I'm going to go try and see if I can't get a hold of Race," Benton informed his colleague and then left. JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB "It feels good to be home," Vannie commented as she stretched in the front hall of the compound. "Yeah, real good," Jonny remarked sarcastically as he rolled by her and then out of sight. Vannie's mood darkened immediately. "We have to get him back to normal," she said. "We have to get our daughter back to normal first," Race said as his eyes strayed to the red head sitting in the corner of the hall. "I think we have one of Dapp's Neural Manipulators around. Dr. Quest kept the one Dapp used on Jessie the first time to study it," Hadji informed closing the door to the coat closet after depositing his jacket there. "And you think you can work it?" Vannie asked concerned about her daughter's safety. Hadji nodded. " I assisted Dr. Quest in his study, very interesting in fact. The main point is though, yes, I can change Jessie back." "Then do it," Race ordered picking up his daughter and throwing her over his shoulder, waiting to follow Hadji anywhere. JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB "I want more guards recruited!" Zin barked to Vostok. "I want my daughter back!" Dapp yelled. "It's too late to save her, we have other more important things to worry about," Milana replied coolly. Vostok at the moment was readying the troops to recruit more. After that he was going to have to train them and make sure they were loyal to him only. Usually that was a process that would take weeks, but he knew he only had a few days in which to complete. "I knew something like this was bound to happen," Surd mumbled to himself wanting to get Jessica back as badly as much as Dapp. "At least we still have the Pheryll 90," Anya said to him overhearing the statement. "And Julia," Milana added sarcastically. "Who was obviously the one who led the Quests here in the first place and should be punished for treason," Anya commented with acid in her voice. "I will deal with her," Surd assured the twins in a threatening tone. "Whatever," one of the twins said before they both moved off. Surd left the room silently, fuming. They had no appreciation for the person who had both gained them access to the virus and disposed of the threat Jonny Quest usually posed. They should be launching a counter attack to get her back. But no, "there were more important things." "Damn them!" Surd cursed. "I agree," Dapp said in a controlled, but still very irate voice. Title: Pheryll 90 Part 3: The Council's Attempt, 23/? Author: Heather, the Goddess of Evil Date: January 24, 1999 Classification/Rating: JB/JQHR, Alt, Adventure/PG Archivers: Have at it, you've my permission. Disclaimer: I don't own any of the JQ-niverse or any of it's affiliates. I do own Vanessa Elizabeth Monroe (Vannie) and Jonathon Dapp so you have to ask my permission if you want to use them. Pheryll 90 Part 3: The Council's Attempt Jessie screamed and squirmed and fought against the idea of being "brain washed." No one knew how she knew, but it didn't matter. She was still restrained and they were still going to change her back. Hadji took the precautions of testing the device for any defects before using it. It then took a few minutes to restrain Jessie before he was able to attach the small round device to the side of her head, covering her ear. Jessie wasn't being cooperative and she was strong. It took all Vannie and Race had to keep her still. Hadji closed his eyes and calmed himself before proceeding. He hit a few buttons in a certain order. Jessie seized, her body tensing and freezing, before finally relaxing into unconsciousness. Vannie and Race looked at Hadji pleadingly, not knowing what was going to happen next. "She'll sleep for a limited amount of time, then should wake up as the Jessie we knew before, with her memories fully restored," Hadji said removing Dapp's invention and putting it away. "Will she remember what happened while she was Dapp's daughter?" Vannie asked her voice shaking. Slowly, Hadji nodded. "She'll have to. If she doesn't she won't remember what she did to Jonny. If she can't remember that then she won't be able to change him back." Race picked Jessie up and headed to her room. "We'll just have to wait to find out." Vannie nodded and sank onto the couch. Hadji pursed his lips not knowing whether he should stay or leave. "I don't know whether I should hope she remembers her time with Dapp so she can save Jonny, or not remember it so she won't have those horrible memories," Vannie finally whispered. Hadji could hear the tears in her voice and instinctually crouched in front of her. "For Jonny's sake, let's hope she does remember. And who knows, maybe some other good will come of it," he said no other words coming to mind. Vannie acted as if she hadn't heard and Hadji rose and left. Race was just coming down the stairs. The men held each other's eyes for a moment, then Race headed into the study while Hadji went to find Jonny. JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB "She hates me," were the first words that came out of Jonny's mouth as Hadji entered the room. "Hopefully, not anymore," Hadji replied. Jonny twirled his chair around to face Hadji. He had a "what do you mean?" look in his eyes. "We used Dapp's Neural Manipulator to change her to the Jessie we know and love," Hadji explained. Jonny twirled back around to gaze out the window he had been when Hadji had first entered. "What matter does it make, I can't hold her in my arms anymore. And will she still love me if I can't dance with her, or do any of the things we used to?" Hadji closed his eyes as visions of Jessie and Jonny came to them. In one they were wrestling in the front yard of the compound. In another they were dressed in what the two had termed "formal gear" and were dancing, Jessie leaning against Jonny with her eyes closed and a soft smile on her face. In yet another they were curled up together on the couch in the living room a fire roaring in the fireplace. "She'll fix you," Hadji said softly after a few moments of silence. There was no real reply from Jonny, just a doubting grunt. JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB Jessie awoke to her sunshine filled room. She looked around in a daze, then rose and ventured into the hallway. The house was mysteriously silent and she wasn't sure what the date was. "Iris, locate my father," she ordered. "Race Bannon is in the study," Iris chimed. Jessie descended the stairs and made her was to the study. Her mind seemed a little foggy, but she knew it would clear up as the day progressed. She opened the door to find her mother and father sitting on the couch, their backs to her. With a smile on her face, she sneaked up behind them and slipped her arms around both of them. She didn't expect them to be so happy to see her, but both of them began to cry and she found herself being pulled over the back of the couch to be held tightly by both of them at the same time. She was hugged and kissed and cried over and at first Jessie was confused why. Then it came to her. Dapp had taken her and brainwashed her into thinking she was his daughter. As that thought came to her she too began to cry and act like her parents were. Finally the flow of tears stopped and the three sat in silence, just happy to be a family again. Until Jessie abruptly rose with a scared look on her face. "Oh Jonny," she cried before rushing out of the room. Race and Vannie looked at each other, but neither of them moved. Finally, Race pulled Vannie into his arms and held her as he tried to imagine the reunion his daughter and her beloved would have. JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB Benton tried the Dragon Fly first, then pulled out his cellular phone and dialed the number for Race's cell phone. Benton waited for only a couple of rings before it was answered. "Race here," he heard. "Race, it's Benton, I have dire news," Benton replied without a greeting. "What is it Benton?" Race asked his voice obviously worried. "The council has the Pheryll 90 and has threatened the world with it if their demands aren't met," Benton answered. "What are their demands?" Race next asked. "The world," Benton replied. "Damned if we do damned if we don't," Race mumbled under his breath. To Benton he said, "We'll see if we can de-bug the council." There was silence before Benton bid him, "Good luck Race." Both ends hung up and Benton leaned against the wall, wiping his face with his hand. "Good luck," he whispered again. JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB "You didn't tell him," Vannie stated as Race put his phone away. "Tell him what?" Race asked a little preoccupied. "About Jessie and Jonny," Vannie answered. Race was quiet a moment before answering. "We don't need him worrying about Jonny. He probably has more important things to do." Vannie snorted. "More important than his son?" Title: Pheryll 90 Part 3: The Council's Attempt, 24/? Author: Heather, the Goddess of Evil Date: January 24, 1999 Classification/Rating: JB/JQHR, Alt, Adventure/PG Archivers: Have at it, you've my permission. Disclaimer: I don't own any of the JQ-niverse or any of it's affiliates. I do own Vanessa Elizabeth Monroe (Vannie) and Jonathon Dapp so you have to ask my permission if you want to use them. Pheryll 90 Part 3: The Council's Attempt "Jonny," Jessie breathed upon entering the room he and Hadji were silently occupying. Both men turned and looked at her. "Come to mock me?" Jonny asked snidely. "No," Jessie answered falling to her knees. Tears streaked down her face, but her eyes were locked on Jonny. He looked away ashamed of the rude comment. "What have I done?" she asked herself. Hadji knelt beside her and put his arms around her. Jessie almost pushed him away. She wanted Jonny to hold her. But then she remembered he couldn't, and it was all her fault. "Jessie please don't cry," she heard his soft tender voice say. "I'm sorry for what I said." "Sorry?" Jessie asked incredulously. "What do you have to be sorry for? It's me who should be sorry. It's me who should be asking for forgiveness." Hadji had already left and Jessie looked up into Jonny's blue eyes with deep pain and regret in her own. Oddly enough, he was softly smiling at her, his blue eyes shining. "I've already forgiven you, Jessie. I did way back in Surd's lab after I'd realized what you'd done to me. But, it wasn't you Jess, It was "Miss Dapp"," he told her. Then he looked away. "What's wrong?" she asked him her voice still shaking. "I thought you wouldn't love me anymore," he admitted in a whisper. "What would make you think that?" Jessie asked rising onto her knees and turning his face to look at her with a finger at his chin. "Look at me Jess. I'm an invalid," Jonny told her. "You're my invalid Jonny, and I do love you," she assured. He didn't look like he believed her. "Listen. When I was under Dapp's control, Surd and I became very close, weird as it sounds. He was like a grandfather to me, and he was in the same predicament you're in now. It makes no difference to me what state of health you're in Jonny, I will always love you," Jessie vowed, her eyes look straight into his. "But can you repair his body?" Vannie asked startling the lovers. Jessie turned to see her mother, father, and Hadji standing in the doorway. Vannie was leaning against Race who had his arm around her. Jessie turned to look in Jonny's eyes again. She was silent for a long pause before finally speaking again. "Yeah, I can," she began to nod slowly. "I'll have to reprogram Quest World. I deleted the program after I…" Jessie let her sentence run off and there was a pause before she began to speak again. "I'm also gonna need Surd." "Why?" Hadji asked. "Because what I did was take Jonny's life force and give it to Surd. Now, Surd can walk and run and do whatever he feels, just like a normal human being," Jessie explained. "Does that mean I'm not normal?" Jonny asked. Jessie looked at him feeling guilty, until she realized he was joking. "You've never been normal," Jessie replied tousling his hair and cracking a smile. "Then, mine and Vannie's job is to retrieve Surd and the Pheryll 90," Race said with a sigh. Jessie diverted her gaze to the floor. "Something wrong?" Jonny asked. "They have the Pheryll 90 thanks to me," she said a little ashamed. "Well, it looks like you were our worst enemy," Jonny teased. "And thank goodness she is now on our side again," Hadji added. Jessie rose. "So, the plan is, mom and dad get the Pheryll 90 and Surd while Hadji, Jonny and I stay here." "You're job is to reprogram Quest World while we're gone so that when we return with Surd everything will be ready to get Jonny back," Race added. "Right," Jessie said. She turned to Jonny. "Race you to the lighthouse," she challenged with a teasing smile. "You're on," Jonny said sending his chair into forward motion. The rest of the team began to laugh before they headed in their separate ways. Jessie and Hadji after Jonny and to the lighthouse and Vannie and Race to prepare for their second trip behind enemy lines. JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB "I'm gonna need the entire force," Vannie told Julie over the comm.-link. "The-ENTIRE-force?" Julie repeated not believing what she was hearing. "This must be one big heist." "It's not a heist. We're going to save the world," Vannie replied. There was silence on the end and Vannie waited for a response patiently as she continued readying for the mission. "How soon do you want us?" Julie next asked. "I want you here ASAP," Vannie ordered before cutting the connection. "You have a plan," Race more stated than asked as he entered the room wearing the uniform he hadn't since he had dropped from I-1. Vannie gave him a once over, than allowed herself to look again. His uniform was very similar to the one she was wearing. All black leather, heavy leather, steel toed boots, weapons and pouches and pockets all over. "You remind of when we first met," Vannie whispered. "No time for that oh love of my life. What's the plan?" Race asked checking his weaponry. "I'm bringing in a whole army. We're doing this right. As soon as my fleet gets here we'll debrief them and be off," Vannie explained. "Sounds good," Race agreed before leaving the room again to continue in his preparations. JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB Jessie typed furiously on the keyboard. The Resurrection program was a complicated one and would take a while to program back into Quest World. She knew she had to get it perfect, but that wouldn't be a problem. She had a good memory, and the program had been her creation in the first place. No, she was worried that she wouldn't be done by the time her parents returned with Surd. She didn't want Jonny to wait any more than he had to. Hadji was at the console next to hers, ready to help if she needed him. Jonny was on her other side, not to help, more for moral support. He watched her work, reveling in the fact that he had her back and that soon enough he would be able to not just enjoy being close to her, but hold her in his arms. That was what he couldn't wait for. It didn't bother him that he couldn't walk, or eat, or even breath on his own. He just couldn't stand not being able to hold Jessie, or kiss her, or dance with her. The first thing he wanted to do when he was whole was to take her in his arms and kiss her. He closed his eyes, dreaming about that moment. It wasn't too far off now, only a matter of days, maybe even hours. As soon as Race and Vannie returned with Surd and Jessie had the program up and running. Hadji too had his mind on things other than the Resurrection program. He had a feeling Jessie wouldn't be needing his help at all. He really was here for himself. When they had first rescued Jonny and Jessie, he had been bitter and she hateful. But, things had ended up working out between them. Somehow they always did. And it made him content that there were no more tense feelings to put up with. He'd had enough with just Julia and Vannie before the two had been rescued. All he wanted now was a carefree atmosphere so he could catch up on his meditating. "If you need me, just give me a shake," Hadji said as he pulled his legs up into the chair he was sitting in and crossed them at the ankles. "Don't fall out," Jonny commented sarcastically making Jessie giggle. Hadji just gave his usual raise of the eyebrows and commented, "Not very likely since there is little to no movement during meditation, and even that, my friend, is an understatement." Jessie and Jonny just smiled at each other as Hadji closed his eyes, taking deep breaths, each one sending him deeper into the astral plane. "How's it coming?" Vannie asked as she entered the lighthouse with Race behind her. "It's coming," Jessie assured her eyes glued to the monitor and her hands flying over the keyboard. "We'll be leaving as soon as our ride gets here," Race said moving behind his daughter and tousling her hair. Jessie stopped what she was doing and looked up at her father. "Here's a tip. The council knows how to actually make the virus. That's how they got a hold of it. You might want to purge all their computers of any Pheryll 90 info they might have. That way, they can't make more." "Thanks Ponchita," Race said. Vannie put her hand to her ear as Jessie went back to her work. "Our ride's here," Vannie said. Race leaned over and planted a kiss on the top of his daughter's head. "Good luck," she said softly. "You too," Race replied before leaving. Title: Pheryll 90 Part 3: The Council's Attempt, 25/? Author: Heather, the Goddess of Evil Date: January 24, 1999 Classification/Rating: JB/JQHR, Alt, Adventure/PG Archivers: Have at it, you've my permission. Disclaimer: I don't own any of the JQ-niverse or any of it's affiliates. I do own Vanessa Elizabeth Monroe (Vannie) and Jonathon Dapp so you have to ask my permission if you want to use them. Pheryll 90 Part 3: The Council's Attempt Race had to admit, at least to himself, that he'd been confused when Vannie had told him that their ride was here. He'd expected helicopters, at least that's what Vannie had told him was what they'd be using, but he hadn't heard any rotors. When they'd left the lighthouse however they'd met a blast of wind. Somehow, the choppers had been rigged to be silent. "Amazing," Race said. "Isn't it though?" Vannie asked as she stopped to survey the troops. They helicopters were powering down so that the soldiers could be briefed about the mission. The soldiers, at the moment, were currently lining up for their orders. "Code names from here out," was the first order Vannie gave. "We're heading down to South America. That's where the base is located. This is an infiltration operation and we have three goals. The first is to secure any Pheryll 90 that The Council has. The second is to make sure we leave no record of the virus in their computer systems. Brain, I'll leave that up to you. The third is to retrieve the scientist known as Dr. Jeremiah Surd. We will not leave until all of these goals have been accomplished." Vannie then turned to Race. "The Council is a group of the most notorious men on earth. There is Zin and his twin daughters, General Vostok, Dr. Surd and his two lackeys, and finally Dapp, but I think you all know who he is." The troops gave each other knowing looks. "Everyone of these men and women are dangerous and should be treated so," Race said finding himself feeling like he was back in I-1 giving orders to a group of young agents. "They all have many tricks up their sleeves. Be careful, or you might find yourself caught up in one of those tricks." Race turned the troops back over to his wife. "Are there any questions?" A soldier raised his hand. "Yes, Dare Devil." "What exactly is Pheryll 90?" "It's a very deadly virus, a biological weapon to be exact. There is no known cure," Vannie answered. Another hand went up. "Stalker," Vannie called. "What does this Council want with the virus?" "They are using it to threaten the world. They want control of this planet, and they'll get it however they can." She looked around for any more hands. "If that's all, let's suit up. You'll be given more instructions later." The troops scrambled and Vannie led Race to one of the helicopters. They were only four of them, but they were huge. It was still only a matter of minutes before they were in the air and headed toward South America. Vannie pulled out her A.M.M. and headed toward a man at a computer console. "This is the schematic of the base. Make sure everyone gets a copy," she ordered the man. 'Right away Empress," the guy said. "What help is that going to be if it's not marked?" Race asked as he followed Vannie to a different area. "I got Jessie to tell me the layout of the place before she started on the program," Vannie answered. Race gave a thoughtful frown as he nodded his head. "Sometimes, I think you're better at this than I am." Vannie smiled at her husband. "I probably am." Race stopped where he was and raised an eyebrow. "And what makes you think that…Empress?" "Woman's intuition," Vannie answered still smiling. "Woman's intuition?" Race asked skeptically. Vannie just shrugged her shoulders and continued on her way, leaving Race to catch up to her. JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB "How dare you betray the Council," Surd yelled as he backhanded Julia. "I was only following example," Julia returned coolly as she wiped her mouth with the back oh her hand. She glanced at it to find blood smeared on it. "What I-we did, was out of necessity," Surd explained. "Yeah, I wasn't necessary anymore so you got rid of me. Couldn't you have at least sent Lorenzo?" "Maybe I should have. At least I know he wouldn't have let the Council down by giving away our whereabouts," Jeremiah returned. He backhanded his wife once more before leaving the room and her. JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB "We'll be there in ten minutes, Empress," the pilot told Vannie. She gave him a quick nod, then picked up the radio and switched it to send to all the helicopters. "All troops listen up, here's the plan. We will be splitting up into two teams. Troops in helicopters one and three will go with me, while helicopters two and four will be with Race. My team will go after the Pheryll 90 and delete all records of it. Race's team will secure Surd. I want us in and out in an hour. No screw-ups. Get ready for action." JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB JQ JB Jessie didn't know how long it had been since her parents had left. She knew Hadji had brought her meals at least twice already. And Jonny had slept a whole lot, same with Hadji and his meditations. But, Jessie couldn't sleep, she wasn't even yawning. Both Hadji and Jonny had tried to get her to take a break and get some sleep, but she couldn't. Her adrenaline was pumping and she was wired. She was also only about a fourth way through the program. She was going faster than when she had first developed the program. That had taken her a few days, but she'd had to work out some serious bugs, and it had been her first time. Now, it would only take a day or two at the most, not three or four. Hopefully, her parents would be home by that time and they could return Jonny to his former glory. "Shouldn't you slow down Jessie? Make sure you don't make any mistakes?" Jonny asked. Jessie stopped what she had been doing and leaned back in her chair with a sigh. "Worry I'll get something wrong and the program won't work?" Jessie asked. "I'm more worried about you," Jonny countered. "You've been working for over twelve hours." Jessie looked out the nearest window of the lighthouse and saw the morning light. She stretched, then looked over at Jonny. "I'll be fine," she assured as she leaned over to tousle his hair and kiss his cheek. Then it was back to work stopping only to eat the food Hadji brought her.