Disclaimer: I do not own Jonny Quest or related characters.

A/N: Just re-watched to Bardo and Back, one of my favorite episodes from season 1 (even if it was a QuestWorld episode). This idea popped into my head, and I just had to write it. Also, before things get confusing, this story dose NOT take place in my universe, it takes place in the universe of RA S1. It is my theory that the reason Race is done with government work is because the government abandoned Corvin and left him to die, Race tried to save him but he didn't make it in time. Hence why Corvin is referred to as dead. Jade is also referred to as dead because hey, why not? She never appeared in S1 after all.


Race couldn't help the momentary satisfaction that he felt watching Surd disappear in the dark, stormy forest that was the afterlife. Looks like they were finally rid of him. It was about time. Race didn't have time to dwell on it though, as he suddenly felt weak and the same orbs of light that had taken Surd were now swirling around him, trapping him in some kind of force field.

"We're losing him!" he heard Hadji cry.

"No!" Jonny cried, his voice holding a faint tremor.

The boys' voices were lost as suddenly Race heard voices he hadn't heard in ages calling out to him, telling him it was time to come home. He heard his parents as well as friends he'd lost a long time ago. He felt the familiar sting of pain, brought on by the memory of their deaths. To once again see his parents and Jade and Corvin and everyone else he'd lost, to no longer feel the pain of their deaths - or any pain at all really...

"Dad, p-please... do-don't d-die." Jessie's trembling voice broke through, reminding him that, while there were many he would join again, there were also many he would leave behind. One of them being Jessie. "I n-ne-ed y-you..."

No. He couldn't do that to her, or to Jonny or Hadji. He wasn't going to die today. With renewed strength, he broke free from the orb, dropping into the river.

"He's coming back!" Hadji sounded amazed as Race approached the rainbow barrier floating several feet above the meadow. "We can pull him out... now!"

And in a bright flash, Bardo vanished.


A/N: In the future I may add a second chapter, I don't know yet. For now, it is complete though.