-Manipulation-
by Time Guardian
Prologue - Tragedy
-five years ago - Palm Key, Florida-
On a bright sunny day, Jonny Quest played in the sand happily at Palm Key.
He had finished his lessons early for once, so as a reward, Race brought
him down to the beach for some sun and fun while Hadji stayed with their
dad in the lab, gathering material for a report on science that Race wanted.
His father was working and Race was keeping a close eye on him,
so he felt safe.
However, It was after the twenty-second time that he built and conquered
the sand castle he built that he was tired and wanted something to drink-
and sure enough, he noticed Race was fast asleep. Jonny nudged him as
hard as he could, but Race simply snorted and began snoring off-key.
-Of all the-
Jonny understood that Race was there for his safety and all,
but when his dad made him promise never to go far without Race, he didn't
expect to feel as if he had a collar on his neck like Bandit.
He sat on the sand and absently scratched Bandit behind one ear.
"It wont take that long," Jonny thought aloud, "I'll just get a soda from the
main house and come right back. Nah wait, I'll get two, that way maybe Race
wont be too mad when I get back."
Jonny gave a stern look at Bandit. "Stay, boy. I'll be right back."
He got to to his feet and ran the few yards to the main house.
Bandit yawned and laid down at Race's feet to wait.
The little dog was just starting to doze off when the main house exploded
into a ball of fire.
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Chapter One - Painful Mobius
-present day - Maine-
The summer night was silent, save for the occasional chirp of crickets, and
the obstinate gurgle of a toad or two.
The solitary figure stood on an outcropping of rocks on the coast. Dressed in
traditional Ninja garments and carrying a black backpack and a sword slung
behind his back, he took out a pair of binoculars and studied the compound
that was only a few hundred yards away from his position.
His mission was clear. The victim should be asleep in the main house. He
would kill him, then he would raid the lighthouse laboratory for the VR
technology that his employer had requested he steal.
He stashed the binoculars back into his pack, and slipped a black hood
over his face.
Time to get the job done. He broke into a full run, until he reached the perimeter
of the compound.
The security systems were easy enough to infiltrate. The intruder found the boxes
around the perimeter of the compound, and disabled each of them. He came back
around to the east wall, and using a grappling hook he had in his pack, climbed the
the wall with ease, and made his way to the main house.
The floorplan the intruder had studied indicated that his victim's bedroom was at the
top of the stairs. He carefully crept across the floor and slowly up the stairs.
At the top of the stairs, he found a small white dog sound asleep in front of a
closed door.
He had been told that the dog posed no challenge, so he turned the door handle,
stepped over the sleeping canine, and carefully creeped into the bedroom. At the
center of the room was the target he was seeking. He noted a middle aged man
sleeping in the middle of a massive bed.
Looking the sleeping man over, his description matched the one that the inruder was
given for the intended victim.
The intruder stood at the edge of the bed, and unsheathed his sword. He raised it
over his head, ready to finish the first part of his mission.
It was then a ball of white fur pounced on the intruder with a joyful bark. Taken by
surprise, the intruder stumbled and fell to the ground.
He was none to pleased, and attempted to push the dog off of him.
"Get off of me, mutt," his voice was low and menacing.
But the dog would have none of that. Continuing the happy barking,
the dog grabbed hold of the intruder's hood, and pulled it off.
Dr. Benton Quest was by no means a sound sleeper, but it took a few moments for
his sleep-fogged brain to register that he wasn't alone in his bedroom. Waking quickly,
he scrambled out of bed, taking in the scene of Bandit tugging at an intuder. He madly
scrambled for the pistol beside his bed, switched off the safety, and aimed for the intruder.
However, his frustration mounted when he couldn't get a clear shot, for Bandit
continued to pounce on the intruder.
"Bandit!! Get away from him!" Dr. Quest commanded. However, the effect he got
wasn't quite what he expected.
Dr. Quest looked on in amazement as he saw the intruder stiffen almost in reply to
the command he gave Bandit. Seeing an opportunity, he rushed toward the intruder,
but was met with a fist to the jaw. Stars danced in front of his eyes as he staggered
back.
As his vision cleared, Dr. Quest heard the smashing of his bedroom window. He
massaged his jaw, and being mindful of the broken glass, stepped carefully to the
window and looked out across the compound.
He could see no sign of the intruder. Walking over to a control panel near the light
switch, he flicked a button.
He spoke quicky. "IRIS...location of intruder."
The computer's monotone reply was precious minutes in coming. "Intruder has left house
and escaped over east wall."
He walked back over to the scene of the struggle and kneeling, Dr. Quest picked up
the hood that the intruder used. He turned it inside and out, looking for clues, and managed
to spot a couple of blond hairs caught in one of the seams.
Bandit carefully walked over and sat down besde him, giving him a quizzical look.
"Well, Bandit, it seems our assasin left a calling card," he mused as he stroked the
dog's hair, "but why did you want to play with him?"
Dr. Quest got to his feet, donned a dressing gown from a nearby hook, and made the
journey into the main living room. He took a seat at the edge of a large table,
and pressed a few controls that were inset into the wood. A small compartment
slid open.
When he had first located his laboratory here in Maine, he set to work developing
a computer system that would respond to his smallest command, and thus IRIS was
born.
He extracted one of the hairs from the hood, placed it inside, and the compartment
slid closed.
-I usually like to extrapolate DNA myself, but I would like to know who is trying
to kill me.-
Dr. Quest touched more controls on the table.
"IRIS, extrapolate DNA, and compare with known database archives," he commanded
the computer. After another thought, he added, "Also implement security percaution
level 2."
"Understood," came the monotone feminine voice from the computer.
Yawning, Dr. Quest got to his feet, and turned to go back to bed. The level 2 security
protocol would lock down the compound enough to get a good night's sleep. Usually
if IRIS had to search all of the available DNA databases, it took most of the night.
A completion tone issued from IRIS, and he turned in some surprise.
"That was quick, IRIS. Display results on monitor one."
Dr. Quest turned to the far wall as it switched on- and promptly staggered back.
-It can't be-
"IRIS," his voice has half astonishment, half anger. "Enough with the jokes."
"DNA study completed," came IRIS's curt reply, "sample matches 99.9% with subject
on file."
Dr. Quest felt the blood drain from his face. -Oh My God-
Numbmess washed over him. His last question would erase any doubt in his mind,
but he was afraid to ask it. So many years of heartache...but he had to find out.
"Probability DNA has been cloned?" he choked out.
There was a pause before IRIS replied, "Probability of cloning: 10.654%. Age of
sample and genetic markers inidcate that this sample is legitimate."
He hung his head, completly overwhelmed. Years of grief came back to the surface
in an instant. If what he was seeing was true-
Spurred into action, Dr. Quest dropped back into the seat at the edge of the
table and adjusted a few controls.
"IRIS, Priority One. Locate Roger "Race" Bannon."
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Well this was a spur of the moment idea that is growing like crazy.
If all goes well, another chapter will come in the next week or so, because
there is also a small matter of a FF X-2 fic that needs finishing.
Till Later,
Time Guardian