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Jonny Quest (TRA) plus Batman & Robin (TAS):
Mind Over Matter
By C. Ward
NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: Just thought I'd clear something up. Ok, I'm sure many
of you have seen that Batman & Robin Episode "What is Reality", where the
Riddler was trapped in his virtual reality world when the show ended. In this story I've written the
Riddler's mind is out of the VR system, back in the real world, and is locked away in Arkham
Asylum.
Oh, and this is only about HALF of the story. I don't know when I'll be completing it so here's what
I have so far.
Enjoy!
* * * * * * * * * *
"Hurry up, Jessie! Man, you're slow!" Jonny Quest raced up on his hoverboard to the lighthouse
on the edge of the Quest Compound in Maine where the VR equipment was stored. Jessie Bannon
was right at his heels. After beating Jeremiah Surd in QuestWorld for the umpteenth time, Jonny was
just urging for a moment on the VR system to play the latest QuestWorld game.
Jessie gave him a smug grin. "You know, I'm gonna kick your butt again. I always do! So you
might as well get used to it."
"She's got a point there, my friend," Hadji Singh said, as he rode up on his hoverboard. He had
come along to monitor his friends while they were logged onto QuestWorld. "You must admit that
she is better than you are at playing the games."
"Hmph, some friend you are, Hadj." Jonny smiled as he led the team into the lighthouse.
"Com'on, I want to play the game!" He looked down at his sneakers. "Heh, I think Bandit wants to
play, too," he said, motioning toward the small white dog at his heels. "Come on, boy."
"Arfff, arff!" Bandit barked, his eyes shining through the black marking on his face which gave
him his name.
Inside the lighthouse, the monitors of the computers were glowing and two of the four seats in
the middle were occupied.
"You know I'm going to beat you," Jessie told him in a snide voice, as she attached the VR
headset to her ear.
Jonny attached his own headset to his ear and answered, "I think not!" He turned to Hadji who
was at the computer console. "Com'on, Hadj! Log us on!" Bandit climbed up onto Jonny's lap and
looked expectantly at his master. "Sorry, boy, but you can't come this time." The dog whined, then
fell asleep on his lap.
"Ready, Jonny!" Hadji typed in some commands on the keyboard console in front of him.
"QuestWorld Logon. Subjects Jonny Quest and Jessie Bannon, going hot in 5... 4... 3... 2... "
The headsets on Jonny and Jessie emitted a green translucent band over their eyes and soon the
two were transported to the virtual plains of QuestWorld.
Jonny inspected the landscape. "Slammin'! 'The Forbidden Grounds of Death'!" He turned
towards his opponent, a smug grin on his face. "Ha! Prepare to meet your match, Jess!" He turned
around, confused. "Jess... ?"
Jessie raced by him on her Virtual Speeder. "In your dreams, pal!" she shot back.
Jonny looked on in disbelief. "Hey, no fair!" He accessed his own Speeder and zoomed off after
her.
"Jessie has gained a 50% lead," a computer voice droned.
"I don't need you to tell me that, Iris," Jonny growled as he leaned over the handles on his
Virtual Speeder to gain more speed to decrease Jessie's huge lead.
"Jessie has a 30% lead," Iris droned on.
"Hmph," Jonny grunted. I know a way to shorten that lead, he thought. A smile formed
on his young features.
Turning onto an alternate route, off the course guidelines, he whizzed by computerized rocks,
mountains, and deep canyons on a secret route.
"Jonny has taken an unauthorized shortcut," Iris announced.
Jonny groaned. "Sure, Iris, spoil my surprise." Turning back onto the course, he found that he
was directly behind Jessie.
She looked back and Jonny saw her eyes widen in surprise. "You cheater!" she shrieked and
attempted to increase the space between her and Jonny.
"Oh no. You're not getting away that easily." He transformed his hand into a claw and was
going to grab Jessie with it when he was interrupted by Hadji's voice from the outside world.
"Jonny, I am receiving an incoming message for you from Dr. Quest," Hadji said. "I suggest I
log you guys out of QuestWorld."
"Dad? Um, sure Hadj. Log us out."
Hadji typed in some more commands on the keyboard. "QuestWorld Logout. Complete."
The green bands across their eyes retracted into the VR headsets on their ears. Shaking the
sleepy Bandit off his lap, Jonny stood up from his seat and walked over to one of the big computer
screens. An image of an older man appeared.
"Hey Dad, what's up?"
The image began speaking. "Hello, son. I'm sorry to interrupt you and Jessie from your game,
but it's an important matter," Dr. Benton Quest said. "I have some urgent business that I must take
care of out of town and I was wondering if you three might like to accompany me."
The team looked excited. "Sure thing, Dad, but where're we going?" Jonny asked.
His father answered him. "We'll be leaving for Gotham City. I have a business meeting down
there and I was just thinking that maybe you guys might like to sample the dark, and gothic culture."
"We'd love to, Dr. Quest," Hadji spoke up.
"Can Bandit come?" Jonny inquired, and they all laughed.
A few minutes later the Quest team loaded everything up into the QuestJet and took to the air.
Race Bannon, Dr. Quest's bodyguard and Jessie's father, was piloting the vessel. The moment he
learned where the Quest Team was going, he was deeply thrilled.
"You kids are really going to like Gotham City," he was saying. "It has the most interesting
nightlife."
Jessie was fascinated. "Really Dad? How come?"
"Well, Ponchita, rumour has it that Gotham has it's own pair of guardians. 'Batman' and 'Robin'
they call them. They are usually seen at night. Rarely out during the day. It's pretty amazing!"
"I think I've heard of them once," Dr. Quest joined in the conversation. "I believe they take down
mentally challenged criminals and lock them up in a place called 'Arkham Asylum', where they can
be rehabilitated so they can return to society as fully sane citizens."
Jonny broke in. "I'm sure those criminals aren't as bad as Jeremiah Surd."
"Not true, my friend," Hadji replied. "I read somewhere that the criminals the 'Dynamic Duo'
take down are some of the worst masterminds of the century." He looked serious. "Much worse then
Surd, Ezekiel Rage, or even Zin and his daughters, will ever be."
The group was silent.
"You're sure?" Jonny interjected.
"Yes, my friend," Hadji replied.
Silence.
"Really sure?"
"I am."
More silence.
"You're really, really -"
"Yes, Jonny! He's sure!" Race interrupted this little feud before it got completely out of hand.
"Now I suggest you three -" Bandit barked. "Ok, you four go into the back. The Doc and
I have some arrangements to make for our stay in Gotham."
As the kids left, Jonny just couldn't resist saying it one more time.
"You're absolutely, positively -"
"JONNY!" Dr. Quest and Race yelled at the same time.
* * * * *
On the ground in Gotham City, in Wayne Manor situated on a hill in the outskirts of town,
Alfred Pennyworth was sorting out his employer's itinerary for the day.
" - after lunch with, um, Debbie I believe, you have an appointment at 3 o'clock with a,... Dr.
Quest about new virtual reality systems for security purposes at WayneTech."
"That's right," Bruce Wayne said, as he picked out a tie from the top dresser drawer and held it
up to his shirt; looking in the mirror. "How does this look, Alfred?"
His faithful butler scrutinized him with half-closed eyes. "A little too bright, Master Bruce."
He reached into the drawer and pulled out a darker tie. "How about this nice navy blue one, to
accentuate your, um,... sombre personality."
Bruce gave his butler a wry smile. "Thanks, Alfred." He reached for the tie and placed it loosely
around his neck.
"So what's your plan for the day, Alfred," his employer inquired.
"Well, sir, I was hoping to go shopping at a later time for some groceries and then maybe
cleaning the manor. Plus, acting as your chauffeur if you do so require my services... "
Bruce smiled at him. "No need, old friend. Take a day off. Enjoy yourself. You deserve it."
"As you wish, Master Bruce."
"By the way," Bruce said, "Have you heard from Dick today?"
"Not yet, sir," Alfred responded. "But I'm sure that if he doesn't call today, Master Dick will
probably make an appearance tonight."
Bruce nodded in agreement, then went back to getting ready for his meeting. Alfred left the
room to begin his dusting.
* * * * *
After landing in the Gotham International Airport, and storing the QuestJet in one of the massive
hangars, the Quest Team headed out by car to the Ritz Hotel where Dr. Quest and Race booked their
rooms.
In the room he shared with Hadji and Jessie, Jonny sat on his bed playing with Bandit. "Wow.
It's a good thing pets are allowed in this hotel, eh, boy?"
"Rruff arff." Bandit wagged his tail.
Jessie walked in at that moment. "Come on, Jonny! Stop playing with Bandit and let's go
sample the stunning atmosphere!"
"Sure, Jess." He stood up from the bed and looked behind Jessie. "Where's Hadj? Isn't he
coming with us?"
She hooked her thumb over her shoulder. "He's waiting by the elevator. Now come on!" Jessie
grabbed him by the shirt and pulled him towards the door.
Race Bannon cut the two off as they headed for the door.
"Now I want you two to stay out of trouble." He looked at Jonny. "Do you understand?
Comprennez anglais?"
"Sure, Race. We understand. We won't get into any trouble." Jonny reassured him, as he tried
to suppress a huge grin.
"Yeah, right," Race said when the two kids left the room.
* * * * *
On the waterfront, by Gotham Bay, a shadowed figure was giving orders to three burly men.
"Now listen closely," he was saying. "You see those three kids?" His three thugs nodded in
confirmation. "Well, I want you to get some information from them. They are members of the Quest
family." The thugs looked confused. The leader sighed. "You know? Quest? The man who
designed QuestWorld, the Virtual Reality playground and diagnostics tool?"
The three thugs were still confused. "Oh, just follow them and bring them to me. Is that too
hard to ask?" he said.
His followers shook their heads. "Good. Now follow them at a safe distance, so they won't
suspect a thing. Then when they least expect it, capture them! Now go, I have other matters to attend
to." Before he left the waterfront, he turned around and said menacingly to the thugs, "Don't fail me."
He then slipped away into the shadows.
* * * * *
"So, what do you want to see first," Jessie asked the others, as they walked by the waterfront.
The clouds were just rolling in, creating a gloomy atmosphere to contrast with the stench of the foul
water in the bay.
Jonny appeared thoughtful. "Um,... maybe,... the art museum?"
"Yes," Hadji said. "I've read that the Gotham Museum of Modern Art is the best one in the
Western Hemisphere."
"Arf arf!" Bandit barked his agreement.
The four friends (dog included) headed towards the direction of the Gotham Museum of Modern
Art. Before they left, Hadji turned back momentarily and saw three shadowy images off in the
distance. Thinking nothing of them at the moment, he turned his back to them and followed his
friends towards the cultural centre.
The three shadowy figures followed some distance behind.
* * * * *
"Ah, Dr. Quest. A pleasure to meet you!" Bruce Wayne reached out his hand to his visitor.
Dr. Quest shook it. "Likewise, I'm sure, Mr. Wayne." He motioned towards his companion.
"This is my bodyguard and close friend, Roger Bannon."
"Race, for short." Race held out his hand and Bruce shook it.
Then the president of WayneTech motioned towards two leather chairs in front of his desk.
"Please, have a seat."
The two men took their seats.
"Now, Dr. Quest, when you called me, you said that this new virtual reality system linked to
QuestWorld can help me modify the security in my corporation. Please, tell me how that works."
Bruce sat behind his desk and folded his hands in front of him.
"Well, Mr. Wayne -"
"Oh, please," the president of the company interjected, "Call me Bruce."
"Well, Bruce," Dr. Quest began, "As I'd briefly explained to you over the phone, the newly
modified uplink to QuestWorld can be hooked up to any business from all over the world, where it
can then be plugged into the virtual reality system linked directly to our compound in Maine. Our
systems are monitored twenty-four hours a day so there shouldn't be any trouble with hackers."
Although the odd one does resurface a few times, Benton thought grimly to himself.
"So if I were to hook up my business to your link in QuestWorld, I shouldn't really have that
much problems with hackers?" Bruce asked.
"Yes, that's correct."
"Good. With all the technology that's around in this corporation, I need something that'll
actually insure me that my productivity files will not be tampered with."
They all stood up.
"May I ask where you're staying?" Bruce asked his guests, as he shook hands with them.
Race answered him. "We're staying at the Ritz Hotel with the kids."
"Kids, huh?" Bruce smiled. "Sounds like fun."
"Oh, a lot of fun," Race answered sarcastically, with a smile on his face.
"Anyway," Bruce continued, back on the subject of business, "once I've finished checking out
the details with my associate Lucius Fox, I'll give you a call at the Ritz. Expect to hear from me
within a few days."
Dr. Quest and Race Bannon left the office and drove back to the hotel.
"Wow, that was a really interesting tour," Jonny said sarcastically as he feigned a yawn. The
Quest trio was walking along the waterfront, heading back to the hotel.
He felt a punch on his arm. "Well, you were the one who wanted to see the place, Jonny!"
Jessie was exasperated with him. "And you didn't have to criticize practically all of the paintings that
we walked by."
"Oh come on, Jess! Those pictures were really weird! Even Bandit could make better artwork
then that, just by walking on the tiles in the kitchen with muddy paws!"
"Those paintings were abstract! They're supposed to be weird!" Jessie fumed.
"Maybe we should go back to the hotel now," Hadji suggested before either one of them could
make another smart-ass comment. "I mean, after all, it is getting dark out, my friends."
The sky really was getting darker, and already a few stars were poking through the navy blanket
of the night.
*BONG* *BONG* *BONG* *BONG* *BONG* *BONG* *BONG* *BONG* *BONG*
"AHHHH!!" Jonny yelled in fright and ran behind the edge of a building.
"You big baby!" Jessie stared into the night and saw the glowing face of the clock atop Gotham
City Hall mark nine. "It's only that clock! Seriously you make me sick! I don't know how Bandit put
up with you for all those years!"
Jonny came out from behind the building. "Just luck, I guess," he smiled, as he bent down to
scratch behind Bandit's ear.
The small dog whined in content.
"Guys," Hadji interrupted the little feud. "I'm sorry to interrupt this, um, friendly battle, but I
think we have company." He pointed down the street and saw a trio walking up to them; each figure
welding some sort of makeshift weapon. They were the exact same group of guys who had followed
them.
"Uh oh. I don't like the look of this," Jessie said.
Jonny, on the other hand, seemed thrilled. "Aw, com'on, Jess. We can take these guys!" He
grinned in anticipation.
Hadji was less confident. "I suggest extreme caution, Jonny. After all, we are strangers in a
strange land."
The trio of armed figures circled around the Quest teens.
"Hey, kids. What'cha doing out here all by yourself in Gotham." One of the mugs was banging
his palm menacingly with a crowbar. It was rusted over with a few specks of red that could only be
caused by someone's reddish plasma.
"We, um, that is, we... " Jonny couldn't get his tough guy act together. Jessie just stared in
disbelief with a facial expression that said, "Oh God, help us. We're doomed... "
"Grrrrr... " Bandit ran towards one of the shadowed mugs and attempted to bite his leg.
The trio of figures laughed at the dog's futile attempts. "Hey, Matt," the one with the crowbar
said to his second shadowed companion. "Why don't you put that mutt out of it's misery!"
"Good idea," the thug growled and pulled a revolver from out of the waistband of his pants.
"Um, Matt," the third thug said. "How many times must I tell you NOT to put that gun down
there. I mean, you might, you know, blow something off accidentally, or somethin'... "
Matt nodded his head. "Nag, nag, nag... " he sneered. He cocked the gun. "I'm careful, ok?"
"I know you're careful," the third thug was still saying, "but just remember what happened to
the fourth member of our group. Leon, I think it was. Oh, man, he was so sorry for not listening to
me. I mean, you should've seen what he did! It wasn't a pleasant sight. And the
sound he made was just purely agonizing and-"
"Enough, ok?!" Matt was getting angry now. "I know what I'm doing, so shut up,
alright? Good!" Not waiting for an answer, he aimed the revolver at Bandit. "Say
goodbye, doggy."
"No!! Bandit!!" Jonny yelled, powerless to stop the thug.
A metallic sound hit the gunman's hand, just as he pulled the trigger. The gun went off and the
bullet flew up harmlessly. The revolver flew out of the thug's hand.
"Ow!" He grabbed his smarting hand.
There was an eerie feeling in the air. Everyone stopped moving. Bandit ran behind Jonny's leg
and hid in fear. A rustle of material sounded from the night sky. The thugs looked up, yet saw
nothing. Another flap of material echoed in the air. This time it came from right above them. All
at once, two shadows fell on the whole group. Both the thugs and the Quest teens looked up.
Two figures, their backs towards the moon, eyes shining ghostly white behind their masks,
stared down at the group with a look of haunting realization. With the speed of a spiritual breeze, the
duo jumped down from the roof. At that moment the moon was covered by a dense blanket of cloud
so that no light shone through. The area was covered in darkness. The sounds of grunts and punches
connecting to soft flesh filled the air.
When the moon finally reappeared from behind the clouds, all that remained were the three
thugs lashed together with rope, hanging upside down, with a note attached to the shirt of the guy
with the gun. They were unconscious, but that was no surprise.
Jonny walked over to the trio of unconscious thugs, grabbed the note, and read it out loud. "Call
the police," he read.
"Do you think that was Batman and Robin?" Jessie asked. She and Hadji were standing near
the wall of one of the buildings, looking on at the scene in amazement. Bandit hid behind Jessie's leg.
"I think so, my friend," Hadji answered. "But now I suggest that we phone the police like the
note says and then go back to the hotel. I fear Dr. Quest and Race might be wondering where we are."
* * * * *
Two shadowy figures swung from rooftop to rooftop in the pale light of the moon. Their capes
trailed behind them, occasionally billowing in the breeze. Stopping near a stone gargoyle on a high-rise building, they crouched in the shadows and watched the streets below.
"So what're we going to do now," the younger of the two figures asked, as he adjusted the black
mask on his face that shielded his eyes.
"Now we wait, Robin," the older man said with an unusually low voice, his head fully hidden
from the light except for the lower part of his face.
Robin shook his head. "I can't believe it," he said. His partner looked at him. "That's the tenth
attempted mugging tonight!"
"Eleventh," Batman corrected his young aide, his mouth barely moving.
A beam of light suddenly shot out from one of the highest rooftops and spread out as it reached
it's maximum point, creating the shape of a bat, wings spread and ready to soar out into the night.
"Come on," Batman commanded, as he pulled out a grapnel from his belt and aimed it at the
head of a stone gargoyle a few rooftops away. Together, Batman and Robin swung out into the night
to confront an old friend at the signal's source.
* * * * *
"It's about time!" Race Bannon exclaimed, as he opened the door to their suite in the Ritz. The
three kids, and dog, entered the room. "Where were you guys? The Doc and I were wondering if
anything had happened to you!"
"We're fine, Dad," Jessie said, trying to lighten the mood in the room. "We just went to the
Gotham Museum of Modern Art. That's all." Something from her expression informed Race that she
wasn't really telling the whole truth, but he decided not to bring up that matter.
"So how'd did the meeting go, Dad," Jonny asked his father, after the whole group retired in the
sitting room of the large suite. The fourteen year old was occupying one of the two easy chairs in the
room. Bandit was lying on the carpet in front of him.
Dr. Quest crossed his legs to gain a more comfortable position in the easy chair he was sitting
in. "Well, son," he said, "I'm expecting to hear from Mr. Wayne over the next few days to see whether
or not he'll accept my offer or not. I hope he does. When I told him about it he seemed really
interested."
"I'm sure he'll accept it, Dr. Quest," Hadji chimed in, as he sat cross-legged on the plush carpet.
"The system back at the compound has been modified and enhanced, and already there are numerous
businesses linked up to QuestWorld."
Race sat on one side of the sofa; his fifteen year old daughter occupied the other end. "Don't
worry, Doc. I'm sure he's hooked on the deal," he said. "It's a pretty good offer, and I'm pretty sure
that at this exact moment that's all he's probably thinking about."
* * * * *
"The Riddler's loose," Batman stated flatly, as he and Robin stood on the roof of the Gotham
Police Headquarters. "Damn."
"That's right. Sorry for the grim tidings, but I thought it best that you hear it from me," the
speaker said, his hands in the deep pockets of his tan trench coat.
"Thanks, Commissioner," Batman said. "We'll get right on it. Any leads?"
Another figure, this one heavy-set, came out of the shadows smoking a huge cigar. "Of course,
cowl head," Detective Harvey Bullock grunted. Despite the fact that he looked like Columbo in his
trench coat, he sure didn't act like him. "What do you think, freak? That the police force is no good?
That only psychos in Halloween costumes can capture bad guys?"
"Bullock, that's enough," Commissioner Gordon commanded.
Seeing smoke literally come trailing out of his ears, Bullock stomped off the roof, slamming the
door behind him.
Commissioner Gordon breathed a sigh of exasperation. "Sorry for that outburst, he just gets
kind of touchy sometimes."
"Yeah, we noticed." Robin grinned.
"Jim, do you have any idea what the Riddler's up to this time?" Batman asked his old friend, as
his cape curled around him.
"Well," the Commissioner began, "I'm sure you remember that one time when I was trapped in
that virtual reality program of his some time ago."
Robin rubbed his head. "How could I forget," he said, the memory of the electric shock he
received returning to him.
"Anyway," Jim Gordon continued, "we've just got word that he might be planning another
program similar to that one, only with more disastrous effects."
"How do you know that?" Batman asked.
The Commissioner walked a few steps on the roof. "Some of the members on my force had
interviewed a break and enter victim a few hours ago. It seems that someone had broken into 'Radio
Shack' in the Front Street Mall location and stole a few thousand dollars worth of computer parts
made specifically for virtual reality systems."
"But how do you know that it's actually Nygma? I mean, 'Radio Shack'! You'd think he'd be
more of the type to rob a store with more technology to offer! Like 'The Future Shop' or something!"
Robin exclaimed.
"I know. 'Radio Shack' surprised me too," the Commissioner said. "Anyway, it seems that the
perpetrator left behind riddles and clues at the crime scene. From that evidence and the several eye
witness reports we've received, it only adds up to one conclusion." Jim breathed in. "It has to be the
Riddler up to his old games again."
"It makes sense. But I thought he'd stay out of trouble when he finally got out of his virtual
reality program," Robin said, his confusion clearly evident.
Batman looked at his partner. "Once they turn to a life of crime, it's practically impossible for
them to stop," he said. The Dark Knight turned to the Commissioner. "Thanks for the info, Jim.
We'll check it out."
Jim Gordon turned off the Bat Signal. "Be careful. There's no telling what the Riddler will -
" he turned around and saw no one. " - do... ?" He groaned. "I really hate it when they do that."
Shrugging, he left the roof through the door and went back to the warm confines of his office.
When the Batmobile returned to the Bat Cave, Alfred was there to greet its occupants. He was
holding a thick manilla envelope in his right hand, it's contents neatly piled in it.
"Hey, Alfred," Robin greeted. "What's that?" he asked, as he pulled his mask from his eyes. The
black material came off easily in his gloved hand.
"Good evening, Master Grayson." Alfred acknowledged him with a nod of his head. He turned
to his employer. "Master Bruce, Lucius Fox had delivered this a while ago. It's concerning the virtual
reality system that Dr. Quest proposed to you earlier on." He handed Bruce the manilla envelope then
retired upstairs when no one required his services at that moment.
"That was quick." Pulling back his cowl, Bruce opened the envelope, pulled out the contents,
and looked at them intently. Dick came up to him, still wearing the red Robin tunic, green pants,
black cape and boots.
"What's that?" he asked his guardian, as Bruce thumbed through page after page.
"I had a meeting today with a man named Dr. Quest who came all the way here from Maine.
He shared an interesting proposition for me, concerning new security for the WayneTech corporation
through a virtual reality system linked up to QuestWorld. I asked Lucius to work out the details and
check out to see if everything was legit." He turned to the next page. "Apparently everything is."
"So, are you going to accept the offer?"
Bruce shrugged. "Probably. I'll call him tomorrow morning. He should be up by nine."
Dick yawned. "Speaking of being up in the morning, I'd better retire, myself. I've got college
tomorrow and I want to be awake for my classes." He headed upstairs. "I'll finish changing in my
room then I'll bring everything down here later, okay Bruce?"
Bruce nodded. "Okay, then. Goodnight, Dick."
"'Night."
When Dick left the cave, Bruce studied the papers he got more carefully with narrowed eyes.
Hmm,... the Riddler and a VR system,... Dr. Quest and a VR system. Is there a connection? I
wonder....
* * * * *
*RING* The phone in the Quest suite rang with shrill determination.
*RING* Groans and incoherent mumbles could be heard coming from one of the occupied
rooms.
*RING* "Uhhhh, answer the phone, will ya?" Jonny groaned to no one in particular, as he
rolled over in his bed.
"Ruffff!!" a surprised Bandit got knocked off the bed.
*RING* "Oops, sorry, Bandit," Jonny apologized to the small bull terrier, who immediately
forgave him. He got out of bed, just as the phone rang a fifth time. "I'm coming, I'm coming," he
growled sleepily, as he accidentally walked into the wall separating the rooms from each other. "Ow!"
He rubbed his throbbing nose as he picked up the phone. "Hello... ?" he asked in a voice laden with
sleep.
The person on the other end sounded wide awake. "Um, yes, I was wondering if this is the
Quest suite."
"Yes, it is," Jonny said as he rubbed his eyes with the back of his right hand.
"Oh, good," the voice said. "Can you put Dr. Quest on the line? Tell him it's Bruce Wayne from
WayneTech calling."
"Sure... " Jonny set the receiver down on the table under the phone and went to his dad's room.
Looking in, he saw that he was sound asleep. "Hey Dad," Jonny whispered. Dr. Quest just rolled
over and mumbled something unintelligible. Ok, that's not going to work, he thought to
himself. "Hey Dad, wake up!!!" he yelled.
Benton sat upright with a start. "What?!! What's happening? What's,... " he demanded, eyes
blinking rapidly. Then he saw Jonny standing in the doorway of his room. "Oh, it's you." He
stretched his arms over his head. "What's wrong, son?" he asked, in between yawns.
"Stop yawning, Dad, it's contagious," Jonny said, emitting his own huge yawn. He hooked his
thumb over his shoulder at the phone. "There's a phone call for you from Bruce Wayne of - " His
father practically jumped out of bed and ran past Jonny to the phone. "- WayneTech... oh-kay."
Jonny sleepily went back to the room that he shared with Hadji and Jessie, as he heard his
father's greeting on the phone.
"Mr. Wayne! So nice to hear from you! No, I was already up..."
Yeah, right, thought Jonny smugly.
"What's going on," a sleepy voice asked, as Jonny re-entered the room. Jessie was sitting up in
bed, stretching her arms over her head.
"Nothing much, Jess," Jonny explained as he got back in his bed. "Dad's just on the phone
talking to the owner of WayneTech. Bruce Wayne, I think his name was." He looked down at the
side of his bed. "Come on up, Bandit," he said. "I promise I won't knock you off the bed again." The
small dog obediently jumped on the bed and curled up in the middle of the blanket.
Jessie yawned. "I've heard of Bruce Wayne before," she said. A sleepy smile formed on her
face. "I read that he's Gotham's most eligible bachelor." Jonny just looked at her in a 'get real'
sort of way. "I even heard that his ward, Dick Grayson, is kinda hot, also," she said as an
afterthought. Trying to avoid his look, and the pillow Jonny threw at her, Jessie rolled over in her bed
and immediately fell back to sleep.
The most eligible bachelor, Jonny thought to himself. Now Jessie will probably be
going crazy over him. Putting that thought deep into his mind, he adjusted his other pillow and
fell back into a satisfying sleep.
* * * * *
A few minutes later, in Wayne Manor, Bruce Wayne had just got off the phone with a very
satisfied Dr. Quest. Replacing the phone back on it's cradle, he turned towards the sounds of
footsteps entering the study.
"May I inquire how everything went, sir?" Alfred asked in his familiar British accent.
Bruce got up from behind the desk in the room and started walking towards the door, with
Alfred following. "It went very well, Alfred," he said. He turned to his butler, and oldest friend. "I've
accepted the offer that Dr. Quest had given me, and later on today he'll be coming over to set up the
software for WayneTech to be fully linked to QuestWorld."
"Very good, sir," Alfred complimented. "I trust you'll be going to the office now to get everyone
ready for the new technology upgrade?"
"That's correct, Alfred," he said, as he crossed through the foyer and opened up the main door.
"I should be back around six this evening," he said, as he left the Manor and headed for the garage.
* * * * *
A light on the seventh floor of the condemned apartment building on Glendale Avenue appeared,
indicating that it wasn't deserted anymore. Inside the room, the Riddler was busy putting together
a newer version of his virtual reality system with the parts that he stole from 'Radio Shack', while his
three minions were busy stuffing their faces.
"You fools," the Riddler was saying, as he added the finishing touches to his work. "I told you
to bring me those Quest brats! It was practically the easiest job you guys could've pulled off! But no,
what happens? You fools had to bungle it up!"
"We're sorry, Mr. Nygma," one of the burly guys said, as he readjusted the bandage on his arm.
"It's just that Batman and Robin showed up before we could get to them."
Matt, the thug that attempted to shoot Bandit, said, "Oh, and thanks for paying our bail, boss."
The Riddler made an ugly face. "If you idiots hadn't screwed up in the first place I would've had
the information I wanted! In order for my plan to work, I have to have access into QuestWorld, and
who knows more about QuestWorld then Dr. Quest."
"Then why were we told to get the Quest brats, boss?" one of the stupid thugs chimed in.
The Riddler sighed. "You high school dropouts know nothing about crimes!" he said,
"But I, with supreme intelligence, had constituted a foolproof plan. With the Quest kids held captive,
I could strike up a deal with Dr. Benton Quest. The access codes to QuestWorld in exchange for the
brats!" He growled. "But you idiots just had to foul it up! Now I'll have to think up
something else!"
"Might I be of some help?" a voice inquired from the darkness in the room. It was a soft,
whispered voice, yet loud enough for everyone to hear it.
"Who are you!" the Riddler demanded, as an old figure in a metal capsule like thing rolled over
to the group. A woman and another man were right behind him, each carrying guns.
"Julia, Lorenzo, it's alright," the man said. To the Riddler, he said, "I'm Jeremiah Surd. I'm sure
I can be of some help to you. For a small price of course."
Dumbfounded, the Riddler walked up to Surd and just stared at him. "How is it that... that you
can talk without moving your mouth?" He moved back. "What happened to you?"
"It's a long story, Mr. Nygma." The Riddler widened his eyes in shock. "Yes, I know who you
are, Edward. I've followed your career for a long time, ever since I heard of you and that virtual reality
system of yours from long ago." He sighed. "What happened to me occurred a while ago. I could
walk then. I was a scientist, although a supremely evil one. I was experimenting with nerve gas, and
hid it somewhere in the city. To make a long story short, I was shot and presumed dead during a
police raid. Soon after, some kids found me and realized that I was not dead but paralysed and living
in a mental institution."
"But how did you get out?" The Riddler was deeply enthraled.
"The kids got me out." He looked at the Riddler. "I know you're wondering why they
got me out, but there's a good reason. Apparently, the nerve gas was discovered, and their fathers
were locked in the building with a bomb I had set to explode in twenty-four hours. Only I knew
which wire to cut to diffuse the bomb."
"So who were these kids," asked the Riddler.
"You've asked to many questions!" one of the men yelled.
Surd moved his eyes towards the man. "No Lorenzo. He has a right to know." He looked back
at the Riddler. "They were those troublesome Quest brats!" he whispered in rage. "Oh, but it's not
them I want to get back at. It's Race Bannon, the Quests' bodyguard. After-all, I hold him
responsible for what happened to me."
The Riddler was satisfied with his new-found knowledge. "So, why are you here?" he asked,
the one final question that wasn't answered.
"I heard that you are trying to get the access codes for QuestWorld," Surd said. The Riddler
nodded his head. With genius like this before him, he couldn't argue. "Seeing that I'm a generous
soul, I would like to help you. You see, I have the means to get into QuestWorld."
Edward Nygma was suspicious. "What's in it for me," he said, knowing that an offer like this
was usually too good to be true.
"Oh, a lot, my friend," Surd replied. "What you have to do is simple. I'll help you get
into QuestWorld, and you help me destroy the Quests once and for all."
Deep inside, the Riddler was ecstatic. Finally, his plan to get rid of the Bat and his juvenile
cohort would proceed as planned. It was a dream come true.
"You have yourself a deal, Mr. Surd."
"Don't call me Mr. Surd, Nygma," Surd politely whispered. "Just Surd."
"Ok, Surd. Now, how do I get into QuestWorld?"
"Patience, Mr. Nygma." He looked at the person standing beside him. "Julia, hook up the
portable QuestWorld unit." She did as Surd said, and attached the headset to his ear. "Now watch
the screen, Riddler," he said. "Log me in, Julia."
Julia typed in some commands on the keyboard. "QuestWorld logon. Subject Jeremiah Surd,
going hot in 5... 4... 3... 2... " A purple band was emitted over Surd's eyes, as he was teleported into
the virtual reality realm of QuestWorld.
On the computer screen, the Riddler was watching a once before paralysed Jeremiah Surd start
walking around the computerized landscape. "See, Nygma?" the 3D computerized Surd said, as he
swung his arms around in a full circle around him. "With QuestWorld in our power, anything is
possible!"
"Amazing!" the Riddler gasped, as the thought of the sheer power before him became completely
overwhelming. "My plan can actually be put into motion!" he yelled gleefully.
Inside QuestWorld, Surd was equally excited. 'Soon I'll get rid of those troublesome Quests,'
he thought joyously to himself. 'Then QuestWorld will be mine to rule!' Out loud he said, "Julia, log
me out! We have much to do!"
* * * * *
"So where do you guys want to eat lunch?" Jonny asked his friends, as they walked down
Charles Avenue. It was twelve o'clock noon and the restaurants were already starting to get crowded.
The scent of hamburgers and pizza was drifting out into the air, making their stomachs rumble.
Jessie looked around. "How about that one?" she said, as she pointed to a fast food place.
Jonny ran to the front of the building to view the overhead sign. "'A & W'?" He shrugged.
"Sure, why not." He turned to his other friend. "Is that alright with you, Hadj?"
"It's perfectly satisfactory," Hadji said, as he followed his friends into the building and they took
their seats.
Jonny looked at him. "You know, you're sounding more and more like my dad everyday. You
say the same things he does."
Hadji shrugged. "It cannot be helped, my friend. He teaches well."
"Ahem. So what are we getting?" Jessie asked. "Or are we going to be sitting around here all
day?"
"Don't forget we also have to pick up something for Bandit," Jonny interjected.
Jessie rolled her eyes at him. "Of course, Jonny. How could we ever forget?" She stood up.
"If you don't mind, I'm going to order something before we start getting more weird looks from the
other customers."
"Good idea, Jess," Jonny said. "How about you order for us, so we all don't have to go up there
and block the line?"
Hadji chimed in, "That's a good idea, Jessie."
She sighed. "Ok, fine. What do you guys want?"
After taking their orders, she went up to the front and waited for her turn. After what seemed
like hours, she was finally at the front of the line.
"Hello, may I take your order?" the employee said in an exasperated voice. It wasn't hard to
deduce that this person didn't get much excitement in her job.
"Um, yes, I'd like to order three sides of large fries, three mugs of Root Beer, and three Teen
Burgers with cheese." She looked back at Jonny who was staring at her and mouthing 'Don't forget
Bandit'. Jessie sighed. "Wait," she said to the employee. "Make that four Teen Burgers."
"Yes, Miss, coming right up." She spoke the order into the microphone before her and
calculated up the total. "You know," she said to Jessie, as she looked at Jonny sitting at the table,
who was still mouthing to Jessie to not forget Bandit, "That guy over there needs serious mental help."
Jessie couldn't help but laugh. "It's true!" the employee insisted. "But then again, I have seen
worse." Another employee came to the front, carrying the Quest teens' orders. "Ah, here we are," the
employee who was serving Jessie said. "That'll be twenty-two dollars and forty-three cents."
"Oh, um, sure." Jessie took out the money and handed it to the employee. "Thankyou."
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