Hadji would have winced at his friend's reaction to his little announcement if he hadn't expected it. He was standing next to some lockers down the hallway a bit from his History class. Jesse and Jonny had it next. And, since he didn't want to risk hearing their scolding he decided to give them the news he knew they would not enjoy.
"A quiz?!" Jonny shrieked. "I knew I should've studied History last night. I didn't know why, I just knew I should've!"
"I am so dead! Dad will not let me live down another bad grade, especially on a pop quiz!"Jesse said to no one in particular. Jesse and Jonny both groaned as they entered the classroom. They both knew it was going to be a long day. Especially since the History teacher was able to grade and give back pops the same day he gives them.
UH-OH UH-OH UH-OH
The rest of the day neither Jesse or Jonny said much. They went through their classes and went to the parking lot where Race was going to pick them up. As they waited, Hadji tries to kill the rather deafening silence. At his first motion, he recieved dense glares from both of them. ~I have the feeling neither did very well on the quiz.~ he thought just before he saw Race pulling up. When they got home, it was quite similar. Then Dr. Quest asked what happened during that day. Both teenagers winced. As they turned towards their fathers they both made pathetic atempts to turn their looks into smiles.
"Well," Jesse said,"we had a pop quiz today."
Race raised an eyebrow in suspicion.
"And how did it go?"
"It went OK. I mean, we did better than last time."
Dr. Quest shared Race's look.
"Jonny, the last time you both made F's."
Jesse and Jonny turned to eachother with desperate faces, then to Hadji.
"Dr. Quest, I made a 100 A+."
"That's very good, Hadji, but you aren't the one risking failure. Now, Jonny. Jesse. I have yet to recieve an answer." Both reached into their binders and pulled out previously crumbled pieces of paper. They handed the sheets to their fathers. At first, no expressions were made. Then it clicked.
"A C-!" Race jerked back. Jesse tried an innocent look when he set his eyes on her. She glanced at Jonny, who was in the same fix with Dr. Quest. Race shook his head.
"Jesse, this is unexceptable. You're failing one class, making C's in another. Jesse, you know I don't like being away from you, but if this keeps up I'll have to send you to live with your mom."
"I'm sorry, Dad. I just can't help it."
"Me too. I can't explain why it's happening, it just is."
Dr. Quest rubbed his forehead.
"Jonny, I'm sorry, but like Race said, it isn't acceptable. Now go to your rooms while Race and I decide what to do."
They started up the stairs with their heads hung low. Suddenly, before they were half way up the stairs, there was a bright explosion of light. They covered their eyes while trying to make out what was happening. As they watched, a figure stepped through the light. Everyone recognized it as some sort of portal. As the portal started to die, two more figures came up behind the first, and fell. Then the light was gone and in its place were three people. Everyone started to recognize who they were. First the one standing, then the two on the floor. Hadji, Jonny, and Jesse were shocked. It was *them*. The one standing looked at the other two and shook his head. As he turned to the Quest team, he noticed something different. He heard the kitchen door close. This was going to be a long day.
UH-OH UH-OH UH-OH
"That, that was us," Jonny gasped in between breaths.
"It couldn't have been," Jesse managed."I mean, we're right here. Aren't we?" They all turned at the sound of groans coming from the kitchen. The doubles were heading toward them. As they approached the Quest team, Jonny's double was the first to reach a reasonable distance, so he was the first to talk.
"Next, you drive," he directed towards the Hadji look-alike. "Forgive us for shocking you. We have urgent business to discuss." He turned to Jonny and Jesse. Excuse me, are you Jonny and Jesse Quest?" Jesse was slightly surprised.
"That's right. But it's Jesse Bannon." She made sure to stress that.
The Jonny amd Jesse from the portal looked at eachother with strange faces. The Hadji walked forward with something that looked similar to a high-tech version of the calculator Jonny saw on TV the other day. The other two walked to their friend. They both grabbed it with a hand on each side. After pressing a few buttons, a holographic screen came up, information buzzing across it. The Jonny slapped himself in the head.
"Man, I knew I shouldv'e studied my History. I didn't know why, I just knew."
"My dad would kill me if he knew about this."
"Your dad," the Jonny said in a huff laugh.
"Don't start it, Stronghold."
The Hadji cleared his throat for their attention, then pointed to the people in front of them with blank looks on their faces.
"Forgive us again," repeated the Jonny. "Perhaps introductions are in order." he pointed to the Jesse. "This is Shatterbox," he turned to the Hadji,"this is Conscious, and I'm Stronghold. You may find this hard to belive, but we're from future. We've been sent to the past on a mission. If you'll give us a moment, we might be able to tell you what the mission is." Stronghold pulled out another strange piece of equipment. As he messes with it a bit, another holographic screen came up. This time, though, there was someone on the other end. He looked familiar, but Jonny couldn't put his finger on it. Stronghold started to talk to whoever the other person was.
"Merlin, we made it to the past, now what?"
"Hello, Stronghold. Have you met up with your contacts?" said the blonde on the screen, who seemed a similar age as Stronghold. Stronghold tried not to look at Merlin as he spoke.
"We have," he said on a high tone.
"And you've also learned that you should study when you get the urge to, haven't you?"
"We have," replied Shatterbox. Merlin laughed.
"Well, perhaps you should let me speak to them." Stronghold turned around the device so the screen was facing the Quest team.
"Hello. As the others might have told you, we are from the future. I'll start by telling you a few things about our time. Not too distant from your time, human cloning will be proved capable. However, it will not be perfected for some time. When cloning becomes a reality, there are many people who are very excited by the idea because it will allow couples who can't have children to still be able to enjoy a family made of their own blood. Then there are people who are happy because they see clones as the perfect guinea pigs. There are those of us who believe in doing our best to protect the clones. To do so, an organization was formed in order to give the clones right to carry weapons effective enough for proper defense. While the final legal stages were being performed, my father and I found success in another miracle believed to be purely fiction. We discovered how to travel through time. It took a bit of time to work out a system effective enough for our plans, and so this organization created was not only to be used for the protection of clones, but all that had joined, clone or not, became known as the Time Guardians. We fight to keep the timeline straight, for there have been many incidents where something has occured that could endanger the course of history, changing it forever. Most of the Guardians are teenagers, around my age. When a group travels back in time, it is made of only relatives of whoever may be involved in the mishap. We are never allowed to give out information reffering to the relationship that is held between by the group. The only way someone in your time can get their hands on such info is if they are smart enough to figure it out on their own. Did you understand anything of what I just said?"
The team seemed in deep thought for awhile, then all responded with nods.
"Good. Now, on to the mission. Stronghold, Shatterbox, will you please take out the memory cartridges I gave you?" No response. The Quest team all sorta chuckled.
"Umm, excuse me," said Hadji,"but the only reason your still being held up is because Stronghold and Shatterbox leaned against eachother as they fell asleep." Merlin rolled his eye's. He reached down and pushed a button. ~ZZSST!~ Stronghold jumped. After he shook his head to clear it, he freaked when he heard Shatterbox moan from hitting the ground.
"Oh, are you OK, Shatterbox? You aren't hurt, are you? I hope not. You want some help up? If you'd like, you could lean on my shoulder. I'm so sorry. I should have been paying more attention." Conscious made a gagging noise. Merlin let loose a sigh and continued on.
"Stronghold, will you and Shatterbox please retrieve the memory cartridges I gave you before you left?"
"Oh, here," Stronghold answered as they both pulled out two small side inserts for the device he was holding. As they placed them in their spots, a second screen came up. On it was a picture of what looked like a high-tech robot.'DUH!' thought Jesse.
"This," began Merlin, again,"is called STUD. The name is an acronym for Scouting Technological Unit of Diversion. What does the name mean? Why did we name it that? Do you really think I had anything to do with it's naming? I didn't even know it was being created until my father visited to tell me about it. Anyway. It was sent back to your time to stop the massive massacer of thousands of innocents. At the time it was sent, we were unaware that someone from your time had an involvement in stopping the deaths. When we found out, it also came to our attention that something had gone wrong with STUD's system and we no longer had control of it. The mission of the team standing before you is to stop, deactivate, and return with STUD before it does the very thing we thought we were stopping. Stronghold, place communications for full holographic view and set it on the ground." Stronghold did as he was told, and then the three Guardians stepped into line for unblocked view by Merlin. "You are all fully equiped for your mission. Remember, you cannot return until the threat is erased. Now, are you prepared to take all risks?"
"Yes, Merlin," they said in unison. Merlin turned to the Quest team.
"We would appreciate any and all help on your part. Thank you, and now I must depart, so I can get the hands of a certain girl's brother A-part and off of her boyfriend's neck." Everyone gave a few half-laughs, then watched and listened as Merlin cut-off communications. "You can't kill him, he has very valuable powers!" As they headed towards the compound to get some things for the little trip they were about to adventure into to, Jonny got a sly grin on his.
"So," he said smoothly,"what would you do if I said you were in trouble?" Stronghold tensed up.
"Uhh, well. It would depend on what I was in trouble for." Jonny laughed a bit.
"Oh, nothing. I just wanted to prove a little thought that had popped into my head. Tell me, how old am I in your time? About 40, 45?" Stronghold seemed to be in deep thought.
"No. Well, I'm 18. So, I'd say about 35." Jonny stopped dead in his tracks. He snapped out when the door hit his face.
"How? I mean, if you're who I think you are, then you would've been born next year, and I frankly see the person that is probably your father a little too young." Stronghold shot a lop-sided grin at Jonny.
"My parents never really cared about age. Besides, patience wasn't one of my father's best traits." Jonny gulped. UH-OH UH-OH UH-OH
Everyone was pretty much silent the rest of the time. On the Dragonfly, Jesse decided to talk to Shatterbox. She sat down next to her and waved a small hello while thinking of what to say.
"Umm, I was just wondering if you were any way related to the Bannons?" Shatterbox looked at Stronghold and Consious and they all kinda giggled.
"First of all, Merlin said that no such information was to be revealed unless the person wishing to know it can figure it out themselves. Secondly, if you swear you'll help me convince Merlin not to tell my dad about what happened the next time we establish communications, I'll give you a little hint." Jesse nodded.
"OK. Let's see. Alright. I'm not actually realted to THE Bannons, but I do have a connection to them." Jesse stared blankly.
"And this means..?"
"This means you have to figure out the rest for yourself." With that the silence returned for a little while longer. Then something happened.
"What's wrong?" asked Jonny when the alarms started blaring. Dr. Quest seemed scared.
"There seems to be a malfunction in the control system."
"Can't we land and take care of it?"
"I wish we could, Son, but the system also includes the landing gear." Jonny ran to the back to tell the others what was happening. Stronghold and Shatterbox both turned their rather calm looks to Consious who nodded and proceeded to emit a strange glow.
"What's he doing?" asked Jesse.
"His name is Consious because of his powers. He has control of all percievable mental abilities. Right now he is using telekenesis to try and safely land this jet," explained Shatterbox. When Race and Dr. Quest realized something was happening, they ran to the back where the others were. They looked Consious and then tried to balance the way the others were doing as everything slowed to a halt. When it was over, the Quest team ran off the jet to see their surroundings. Hadji turned to the Gaurdians.
"Thank you very, very much. I have a small question, though. You told us that his name had something to do with his powers. If that's so, then do you have powers that match your names, also?"
"If we have time on the rest of this journey, we'll tell you. However, right now we must continue," Stronghold said, receiving some strange looks because of it. Race decided to be the team's voice.
"May I ask just how you plan to do that?"
"First," he started into running stance,"I'll need to scout the area. Then, well, you'll see what happens then." He took off. Shatterbox smiled as she gave a lite sigh. Consious made more gagging sounds. Dr. Quest raised an eyebrow.
"Consious, why do you keep doing that?"
"I have to put up with them every single waking hour of my day. After having to hear every sigh of admiration they've given eachother since we all met, it becomes very sickening." Shatterbox slapped the back of his head.
"Admit it, Consious, you are just jealous of the love that Stronghold and I share. Maybe if you had your own girlfriend, you'ld understand why we act they way we do. Our bond is unbreakable. And so is his incredible body!" Consious went to gag but soon became aware of a rather strong hand aroud his throat before he could.
"If you do that one more time, I promise to viciously rip you apart. Are we clear on the situation?" Consious nodded. "Good." Stronghold dropped him. "I checked around and it seems to be a pretty socluded place. It should be safe to use what we can and make this a much shorter trip." He noticed how surprised the Quest team looked. "One of my abilities is superspeed. I also have super- strength and a rather extensive vocabulary. I got the last one from both my mom and dad. They're both leading scientists, but try to spend as little time messing with that as possible. Usually they just spend time with the other scientists who do about the same. Well, that's not important. Right now, we must continue our mission. Now, does anyone know where we landed?" Everyone looked at Dr. Quest. He thought a moment.
"The last coordinates on the console read somewhere over Mass. About 20 miles from the border, if I'm correct."
"Good. That means we only have a short bit to go until we reach our destination in Rhode Island. Shatterbox, you ready?"
"As ever, Stronghold." With that, the red-head jumped high in the air, and stayed there. She then swooped down and picked up Consious, who used his powers to place a traveling force-field around them. He nodded at Shatterbox, who in turn nodded at Stronghold. They started moving. Rather fast, at that. After traveling for half an hour, the scenery turned to hustling cities, and as they slowed, a large pavillion with over a thousand people in it.
"Is the place?" asked Jonny.
"Yep," said Stronghold, who then pulled out a device, smaller than the other ones, with what looked like a timer on it. Shatterbox scanned the area.
"How much longer?"
"He should arrive in approximately 5, 4, 3, 2, 1." As if on cue, a large light flashed in the sky signaling the opening of a portal. All movement throughout the pavillion stopped as everyone turned to the sky. A large persona moved slowly through the portal. The Gaurdians seemed confused.
"It has something with it. Why else would it be so large?" said Shatterbox. Stronghold nodded in agreement. As the second being became visible, everyone gasped. Consious wanted to scream.
"What are you doing here?" he directed to the girl atop the creature with sharp eyes.
"What do you think? I was tired of being the one always left out, so I took the first chance I saw for escape. True, it does involve the death of innocents, but some things are just more imporatant than others. Besides, you act like you don't know how it's going to end. Everyone knows that the Gaurdians always win. If they didn't, then things wouldn't be the way they are." She grinned. "Right, big brother?" The Quest team nearly went into shock. This girl, the younger sister of Consious, looked just like Anaya Zin. Consious was becoming slightly aggitated.
"Then why bother?"
"I don't know," she shrugged. "Guess I just got Mom's old personality. You know, the one she lost after finally admitting how much she loved Dad? Huh. I still have trouble with that. Every time I hear her tell me when she gave up her family life of trying to kill him, and saved his life to prove she loved him. Speaking of which, that's one of the reason's I'm here."
"What are you talking about?"
"Don't tell me you don't remember where Dad said he and Mom had finally agreed they belonged together?"
"You mean, you did this because.."
"Because they remembered what happened and told me. They quite plainly told me that if I didn't do this when the time came, that we wouldn't exist because they would never have actually fallen in love." Consious tossed a look to Hadji and then to the sound of movement in the mob below. His sister got the first clear view and started to press buttons. Slowly STUD started to lock on the position where Hadji was standing. By the time they heard the laser, it had already been shot. Just as it was about to hit Hadji, someone knocked him out of the way. Before anyone could get a clear look at the haze of a person who had beat the knick of time to save Hadji, lasers started to bombard everywhere around them. A battle had begun. STUD wasn't as stable as was thought, for it was easily brought down. Consious walked up to it. He gave his little sister a stern look. She gave an innocent one as he pulled her off. Hadji was still looking over the robot when he heard a groan from the other side. He remembered that his saviour was there, and walked around to finally see who it was. He helped the person turn over, and didn't know whether to scream or smile.
"Anaya," he said softly. She looked up at him.
"Hadji. I'm sorry I always tried to hurt you and your and your family. I was only trying to make my father proud. A few days ago, when he slapped Milana across the face just because she miscalculated something that he couldn't do, I realized he would never be proud of me. He doesn't even care that I'm his daughter. He just wants someone to take the blame every time there's a screw up. I....I.." She started to freeze when she saw something blinking on the back of the robot. She raised her hand to point to it. When Hadji turned around, he freaked. He picked up Anaya and started running to the others.
"Clear the pavillion! Now!" Everyone started to run when they heard the instructions from the people who had saved their lives. "We have to leave, too. There's a built in time bomb on the back of STUD. If we don't get out within the next five seconds, we are all dead." The group began to run. Stronghold looked at something similar to a watch. He pulled something out of his pocket and started pushing buttons. Just as the bomb went off, they all made it through a wall of light. Then they fell.
UH-OH UH-OH UH-OH
Merlin looked worried. "When should they be back?" Dr. Quest put his hand on Merlin's shoulder.
"Soon, cousin, very soon." The doctor turned to wife, who looked at her watch. Then, no one looked at anything as a blinding light erupted into the room and everyone came tumbling through. Stronghold stood up and walked over to Consious. He helped him up, then pulled his hand out to give him something.
"Next," he shoved the device into his friend's hand,"YOU drive!" Sronghold turned to sound of someone clearing their throat.
"Young man," said the doctor,"you have with you people from the past. Do you know how many laws you could've broken?"
"I know, I know. It's just..hold it, hold it. Could've?"
"Yes could've. You could've if what you did hadn't already been written into time."
"You mean I did a good thing?"
"Yes, J.J. You did something good," said a young female voice.
"Aunt Dede!" he yelped. He ran to hug her. Dede looked at her sister, then stepped aside, letting her nephew ram into his uncle Billy.
"Look, Dede, I know you can't withstand his bullet-hugs, but do you really think that I can?"
"Well, you Quest men have always been so self-suf"
"Hold it!" Jonny said. "At first, I had no objections, but then you started to insult the Quests and that was the straw that broke the camels back!" Jesse nodded in agreement as she spoke.
"Plus, you're fighting like children right in front of us and we don't even know who you are." Dede and Billy blushed. The doctor decided it would best to give a few explanations.
"Forgive my brother and sister-in-law. They never really got along too well. Now, I would like to tell you all something that is very important. You are about to be given information that no one has ever been directly told before. First, I shall give few introductions. I am Doctor Jonothan Quest and this is Doctor Jessica Bannon Quest. This," he pointed to a couple standing not too far away,"is Sultan Hadji Singh and Sultaness Anaya Zin Singh." The two waved at the group, particularly the young Hadji and Anaya standing with their mouths gaping open. The doctor continued when a new set of couples walked in. "This," he said smiling,"is my father, Doctor Benton Quest, and my mother, Rachel Quest. And these two are my parents-in-law. Race and Estella Bannon." He heard someone rudely clear their throat.
"Aren't you forgetting someone?"
"Oh, so sorry," he said extremely sarcastically. "And this impolite little jerk is my brother Billy. The slut standing next to him is my sister-in-law Dede." Both punched at the exact same time. He smiled weakly. He regained his composure and walked over to the four teens standing near by. "Now, it is only fair that you learn the real names of these rascals. The blond who is capable of one day being smarter than both his parents is Jonothan Benton Quest, Junior. Most of us just call him J.J."
"Yea," dazed Shatterbox,"I think it makes conversation about him a lot easier." Consious and his little sister gagged. The doctor laughed.
"Whatever you say. Now, this air-head here is a lot more difficult to explain. You see, she was part of the cloning project. While she does have the Bannon DNA code that causes the basis of her form, it's code has just enough of a seperation difference that she has no relation to J.J. Which makes both of them happy."
"And both of us sick," said Consious for him and his sister.
"And the heartless spike is Haresh. The lunatic standing next to him is his younger sister, Milana. She was named after her aunt, who is currently om patrol after serving time for killing her father." Merlin tapped the doctor on the shoulder. He nodded confirmation. "Well, I'm afraid you have to go now. It was nice meeting, uhh...seeing, umm, oh, you know what I mean." Jonny snapped into reality with one word.
"No."
"What?"
"I don't want to leave yet."
"You have no choice."
"For 6 years I have grieved over the loss of my mother. I don't plan on leaving just yet." The doctor remembered this moment. He had the urge to let him stay for awhile longer, but knew he couldn't.
"I'm sorry," he said as he pushed a button that opened a portal right on the Quest team. When they stood up after their fall through time, they noticed they were standing next to a fully repaired Dragonfly. So, without a word said, everyone walked aboard the jet, including Anaya. A lot of thing s happened over the next few years. Then the time came.
UH-OH UH-OH UH-OH
Merlin looked worried. "When should they be back?" Dr. Quest put a hand on Merlin's shoulder.
"Soon, cousin, very soon."
THE END