Se7en Angels: by Vanessa S. Quest
Venus: Do you suppose we should tell Jessie she doesn't have to help us co- write this anymore? Vanessa: Um. myes. I'll get to that email PRONTO. I swear, by MONDAY she'll know. BWAHAHAHAHAHA! Venus: Vanessa, you do realize Jessie can READ that. Vanessa: *Gulps* Well, it's alright. because I'll hide behind YOU! BWAHAHAHAHAHA! Venus: You do realize I *also* just heard you, and that *I* unlike Jessie, possess a taser, a stun gun, knock out gas AND the Anarchist's Cookbook. Vanessa: *Gasps!* But you are no anarchist, criminal, or sexually deprived teenager. Damn you, you stole my copy didn't you! Venus: All's fair in Anarchy Babe. Vanessa: Damn you. Damn you to the box. Venus: AHHHH! The box. BTW, which category are YOU in for owning the ACB? Vanessa: I'll kill you. Venus: Was'sat? All three? What a shocker there. Vanessa: *Lunges* In the box you go! Sorry about that all. Now, for the story!
Disclaimer: I own NO brands, nor do I own the characters of Jonny Quest (though I've been said to possess Jonny's soul. SHHHH! I will NOT tell you by whom the quote was made!) and therefore I am a starving college student who makes NO CASH from this fan-fic, SOOooo I do not recommend suing me; Because you will make nothing. Just like me from this fan-fic!
Jonny stared at his callused hands then looked back up at the horse he was brushing. Neither he nor the horse looked all too thrilled to have Jonny brushing him at that moment. The coat of fur bucked at the corners and curled in ways Jonny wouldn't think imaginable. 'And this is AFTER I spent an hour brushing you.' He sighed. 'How in hell am I going to explain this to dad? Oh, I know. Hey dad, guess what, you know Cobalt, yeah our NEW horse, well before anyone BROKE him in I decided to take him for a spin. a tumble and a rinse! Yeah, isn't that great I think he likes me now. And that's going to make him kill me.' Jonny sighed a second time. 'This is just great, just ONE TREK down the path and poof, he gets spooked and runs through the river. I am so grounded when dad finds out.'
Jonny heard Dr. Quest's van pull up the long driveway. 'Crap, he's here. so I have about 20 minutes before he wonders where I am. or have been taken to by force. unless with all my crappy luck he decided to get something for the horse or myself and in which case I have two minutes max before he tracks me down.' He grimaced. "I'm so dead." He leaned his head into Cobalt's long neck.
Cobalt's brown fur felt soft to the touch as Jonny's forehead leaned onto it.
***Meanwhile***
Dr. Quest took the sugar cubes and carrots out of the car. "Well, this should be a fine weekend, Race do you think we should let Jonny help break in the new horse?"
Race looked at Dr. Quest, "If he hasn't beat us to it I'd be shocked." Race smirked; he took out his decorative cowboy boots with rounded spurs on the heel.
Dr. Quest laughed, "And the kids say *my* fashion sense is appalling."
Race looked at him oddly, "And you took that from Jessie? Humph, that's just weird. Besides! There's nothing wrong with cowboy boots. They're fun, and perfectly harmless, these spurs couldn't cut water if you were pressing on them they're so dull."
"Well, I better check in with the kids, I'm sure Jonny's going to want to watch." Benton snickered.
"Hey, what do you mean by 'watch' you had a tone!" Race said defensively.
Benton cackled, "Oh, nothing. nothing. Just a passing BWAHEHEHEHE!" He crowed uncontrollably. "What? Really, nothing!"
Race glared at him, then turned away to think, "I bet you think I'm going to fall on my ass and make a fool of myself dressed like some wannabe Roy Rogers or John Wayne, don't you?"
Benton's laughter halted like a drop of a hat. "Am I that transparent?"
Race face-faulted. "Je-eeeee-sus man, you're supposed to say 'Really Race, I'm insulted you'd think that. it frankly had nothing to do with you, in fact I was thinking of a binary joke from Reboot.' Or something along those lines."
"I can easily arrange that. if you permit me to stop off in front of the lab." Dr. Quest gestured anxiously. Race scowled and Benton laughed again.
"Your son, Benton."
Dr. Quest looked at him, "What about him?"
Race rolled his eyes, "We want to find him, remember, so we can break in the horse without hearing it from the kid."
Dr. Quest nodded, "Ah, I remember now, yes, yes you're quite right. IRIS, locate Jonny Quest and ask him to join us down in the stables in" Dr. Quest looked at his watch, "One minute please."
"Confirmed, but of course Dr. Quest." IRIS squawked.
***In the Stable***
"Jonny, you have 1 minute before your father is expecting to meet you here." IRIS reminded Jonny. He pouted into his hands.
"I am so dead. He's going to murder me. or worse ground me from Questworld for another two weeks. IRIS, do we still have that hologram function."
"Dr. Quest has strictly revoked your access to that function, Jonny Quest."
Jonny hid his face in Cobalt's mane. "Of course he did, after LAST week. Oh-ho-ho." Jonny whined. He began to compose himself, 'Maybe if I say Cobalt got out of his pin and I was trying to catch him.' Jonny smiled, "Of COURSE! That MUST work, IRIS, delete the footage from the stable down to the pathway leading to the lighthouse from 1:00:01 PM to 1:15:00 PM and loop the visual from 12:45:01 PM to 1:00:00 PM. Alright?"
"Working."
Dr. Quest tapped the back of Jonny's head on his corona, "Heh-hem. Do you care to explain WHY you are deleting that crucial security recording Jonny?"
Jonny gulped, "Shit. IRIS, why didn't you give me that count down I asked for!"
"Because Dr. Quest is early by 10: 9: 8: 7: 6:." IRIS began.
"Damn you, you mechanical bird." Jonny spat. "Why, father, it's nothing really. it's just. I uh. I was. um. what I mean to say is I'm screwed if I open my mouth further, aren't I?"
Dr. Quest nodded.
"Then I plead the fifth!" Jonny nodded strongly, "I'll be going to my room now."
"Not so fast Jonathon Quest, first you're going to tell me why the horse is so. scuffed up and matted, then you will proceed with the explanation of why you want to delete key videotape, and THEN you will resume the long walk of doom towards your chambers."
Jonny flinched, 'Double Damn It!' he swallowed hard, "Well, you see. long story short the horse got out of the stable."
Race investigated the door to the horse's pin, "It doesn't seem kicked or damaged, and this horse isn't exactly known for jumping."
"Well apparently that was a bonus." Jonny swore at himself, 'Shut up you idiot, or would you like to get the ROPE for them to hang you with?!' a beam of sweat collected on his brow, "Wow, it IS hot out here today isn't, um. well. you see. so the horse got out and I had to. catch him. yes. that's it. and bring him back to the stable, and he ran all the way down the path and I was. making an ass out of myself while trying to reclaim him SOOOOO for the purpose of preventing black-mail-able Christmas Cards, because we all know how I hate Christmas, and how Jessie and Dad love their digitally printed-out Christmas CARDS. I had no choice but to go ahead and delete it before anyone saw the footage."
"And when you say the horse got OUT, Jonny. saying that your footprints come from INSIDE the pen but disappear right at the gate, only to reappear coming from the opposite DIRECTION, I think you know where this is going. How EXACTLY did the horse get out?" Race added diligently.
Jonny groaned, 'DAMN IT why didn't I sweep up the footprints. Oh right, that was a to-do right AFTER I brushed down the horse's fur. DAMN IT!' He gulped, "Well, you see. when the horse got out. I was. on. his." Jonny's voice grew smaller and smaller, "back. you see. but that. doesn't matter."
"So you were riding the horse to break it in, because you were impatient and the horse's fur got all knotted up. I see. Benton, what do you want to do with the little Rodeo Clown? I do seem to recall you strictly forbidding him to ride that horse alone and unsupervised PARTICULARLY while we were out buying the supplies to properly break the new boy in." Race added, glaring at Jonny punitively.
"Why yes, Race I do seem to recall that as WELL. Well, Jonny what do you think your punishment should be?"
Jonny gulped, "A stern warning perhaps?"
"Try again." Dr. Quest suggested.
"A week without VR?"
"I do seem to recall you STILL being grounded from Questworld from LAST WEEK'S escapades." Race assisted. Benton smiled.
"Funny, so do I. Try again."
".I be sent off to boot camp 'til I turn 21?"
"I think that's getting close. A little extreme though." Benton nodded, "Ah-ha! Perfect. Your grandfather. Doug." Benton said it with such an undying LOVE for the name, "Sent me a such a friendly email the other day asking when you might next happen upon his dwellings." Benton smiled sinisterly, "And saying that you seem to enjoy ranching so much, and OBVIOUSLY need instructions on grooming the animals, I bet your grandfather would LOVE your company for. oh, lets say two weeks."
Jonny scowled, "But. but. PROM. and .I. I'm not getting out of this am I?"
"Nope." Race, again helped.
Jonny groaned, "Nhh. This is so unfair. Since when are you ever EARLY for anything!" Jonny pouted, "I'll go pack. When's my flight?"
"In two days, the day AFTER prom, at a bright and early 5:30 AM, I do believe is fair. No need to cramp Jessie or Hadji's fun at the prom. But, if you drink, you'll regret it." Benton came inches from Jonny's face, "Greatly." He smiled, "You better go get cleaned up son, we'll be having dinner earlier than I expected apparently, I say in another .10, 20 minutes."
Jonny whimpered, "Yes sir." He walked slowly back towards the compound, towards his bedroom.
***Prom Night***
Jessie's hair wrapped into a flawless Edwardian Braid, decorative hair snaps of baby's breath lined the crown of her head, she wore a silk- lined Bodice dress in a scarlet shade of red, it accented her hair making it look like the reddest rose. Her mascara and eyeliner made her eyes bulge from her face, turning her eyes into emeralds, she wore sandal strap heels that gave her an additional two inches, swearing to herself, 'That won't last past pictures.' To top off the entire ensemble, her scarlet purse with the embroidered black "J" in cursive housed her corsage and carried Jonny and Hadji's boutonnières, each were white irises with small stems and sparse numbers of leaves surrounding each set of three flowers.
Hadji came down the stairs next, still fiddling with his black bow tie and his soft violet handkerchief in his breast pocket. His immaculate white dress shirt was covered by an even cleaner black formal jacket and neatly seemed black pants with white trouser socks and well-polished black leather Nuovo shoes. His cufflinks were golden studs with twin diamonds engraved in the center; his long raven hair was curled and layered in a ponytail leaving not one stray hair on his jacket.
Next came Jonny down the stairs, still fastening his blue bow tie and quickly becoming convinced to change it to an ascot. His soft sky blue vest laid over the stark white dress shirt, all hidden by his black jacket, which landed perfectly against the small of his back and ended at his high thigh. His black pants were equally iron-fresh seemed to Hadji's pants and his set of cufflinks, which were golden round studs housing a 1-caret sapphire in each. His well-shined Barcelona shoes were also black leather, and his socks were also white. Jonny checked his watch, "We only have another 20 minutes to get ready. Be honest, bow tie or ascot? Well?"
Jessie rolled her eyes, "Jonny you haven't even done your hair yet. Do you have your wallet and cell phone?" She sighed, "Come here, come HERE! I need to fix your handkerchief. You nimrod can't you do this by now? You've only been going to formal occasions for what? 14 years!" She tapped him in the back of the hair playfully. "Maybe longer." Jonny added seriously. "I don't see how that counts though, those people. in those formals, they only knew dad; I was practically EXPECTED to fly out of my seat like the Exorcist or something." He eyes his father evilly, "Oh, I know the stories you told them." He gestured with his hands pointing at his father then pulling his fingers directly up to his eyes, as he lipped 'I'm watching you.' Benton chortled. Jonny added his final touches on his hair then completely scuffled it up. "I need help." Jonny whined. Jessie laughed, "Oh, I know, sweetie, I know." This time Hadji cackled. "Watch it you!" Jonny bickered.
Jessie finished Jonny's hair with industrial strength hair wax/shiner. "Now not even evil space Nazis could mess up your perfect hair." She smirked.
"But they could've. They've been known to come out of the woodwork for times like this." Jonny smirked.
Jessie rolled her eyes and uttered a 'Smart ass' before she put the boutonnières on each of the boys. Hadji slid the corsage onto Jessie's wrist.
"Oh, Jess, you forgot the necklace and earrings." Jonny said, rushing upstairs to fetch her jewelry, he came back with her opal ring as well. "Here you go." He panted.
Jessie nodded, "Thanks, I almost forgot to wear mom's opals. She'd have been so sad if I had forgotten. Thanks again Jonny."
Jonny smirked, "No need, I'm being bribed by your mom to make sure you wear them."
Jessie growled. "How much?! I don't get paid for wearing mom's jewelry, that's so unfair."
".It's more like she's going to let me go tomb rubbing with her next time she's in town."
"You have such weird hobbies Jonny." She muttered. "Anyways. I'm ready, what about you two?"
Hadji grabbed his three tickets to the prom from his hip pocket. "I, too, am ready."
Jonny grabbed his house keys. "Well, that makes three. So, we going via helicopter or what? We don't want to be late." He teased.
"Oh you'll get all the air travel you need tomorrow, kiddo, no, today we're taking the black luxury sedan." Race said, holding the keys.
Jessie grimaced, "DAD! You promised you wouldn't be our driver if we promised to stay alcohol free tonight."
Race gulped, "Sorry! Sorry, I meant to say you three. Really. I just wanted to get pictures of my baby girl going to her first prom."
"Hire a P.I. next time." She barked, snatching the keys, she grabbed Jonny and Hadji and pulled them into a group headlock by the front door. "Start with the photos dad, Jonny, Hadji EITHER of you touch my hair and I'll snap your necks."
Hadji slid out of Jessie's grasp and fixed his collar. "No problem, it would be foolish to ruin each other's night with mundane and childish stun- Jonny don't you dare, put those water balloons back where you found them. Need I remind you of the movie and novel Carrie?" Jessie tightened her chokehold on the blond.
As he started turning blue, Benton and Race got a bit nervous. Jessie released him. "Hey! They weren't for you Jessie, I swear. I was going to nail the Olsen Twins' car."
Jessie rolled her eyes again. "Hadji, seriously, HOW does a prom meant for your class wind up getting half of the sophomores in the High School on the attendance list?"
Hadji smiled, "Because Jonny bribed the Prom Committee."
Jessie and Dr. Quest glared at Jonny nervously; he smirked evilly, "With what?"
Jonny's smirk grew longer. "Oh, let's just say that sometime next winter the girls will be ice skating in the most exclusive rink in Maine."
"You mean you offered them the lake as a sacrifice?" Race interpreted.
"Actually, I offered them the indoor swimming pool, but yes. We always freeze it over for a week, and dad always says we can have guests over, that we waste it on just ourselves. Don't you dad."
Dr. Quest growled. "4:00 AM."
Jonny gulped. "Touché." He looked at his clock, "Guys, it's almost 6:00, we need to book it."
***At the Prom***
Jessie sipped on her punch. She looked at one of the chaperones, Mr. Johansson; she glanced at his newspaper and his grizzly expression. Jessie waltzed towards him. "Mr. Johansson, is something wrong? You look upset."
The tall, wiry man, with dark brown hair and hazel-yellow eyes looked at her, his almond skin pale even for itself. "It's this paper. Supposedly there's a nation-wide serial killer. What he's doing is horrible. Do you see this?" He showed Jessie a picture.
Jessie's face grew unremarkably pale. "Oh my gosh, that's awful! Were they. alive while that happened?"
"It says the boy died from blood loss probably two days after he was set up there. Anyways, it sure looks like a painful way to go, don't you agree?"
"Indeed." She nodded.
***Midnight***
"Well, boys and girls, it's time for the last dance of this wild Junior Prom, so, all you couples, if you want to dance, now's your last chance." The DJ beckoned.
Jonny, Hadji and Jessie all joined each other on the dance floor from separate conversations and partners. Jonny took Jessie around the waist and Hadji around the shoulder, Hadji followed the same pattern, taking Jonny around the waist and Jessie the shoulder, Jessie took Hadji around the waist and Jonny from the shoulder, leaving them all in a human circle. They began slow dancing the waltz.
"Wow, this dance has been magical." Jonny muttered.
"I'm so glad we have this chance together, one last time, before I graduate and go to India for three weeks."
"Yeah I know; it sure is going to be lonely in the compound with just our dads, Bandit and myself." Jessie sighed.
"Hey, it's only for two weeks, then I'll be back. unless dad decides to leave me there forever though." Jonny chuckled then turned pale, "He wouldn't do that right?"
Hadji laughed, "Doubtfully, Grandpa Doug would probably tie you to his fastest horse and send you back long before eternity was over."
The boys dipped Jessie. "A girl could get used to this." She smiled, "Hadji, this was a genius idea of yours, for us to all dance together for the last dance of your prom. I'm so glad you invited us."
"As I said, it will be one HELL OF A ice skating party come this winter." Jonny smirked.
***Five past Midnight***
"Well, boys and girls, ladies and gentlemen. It's been a great evening, but Prom Night's Over! So have fun at all the parties, and please, DRINK RESPONSIBLY! Goo' Night all!" The DJ cut the music and everyone left filed out; half of the kids were heading to restaurants and private hotels, while the others were going to an assortment of parties or to home.
Jonny opened the door for Jessie and filed into the back. Hadji slid into the driver's seat, yawned once then started the ignition.
Jessie played with her dress and her hair somewhat sleepily, stretched her arms back and carried on with Hadji's yawn. Everyone buckled up.
Jonny started to loosen his tie, unbutton his jacket and vest; then pulled his shirt from his pants and flopped off his shoes. "What a night. This was so much fun. Ugh, tomorrow's going to be hell. I bet Race won't let me sleep on the plane and Grandpa will probably be on the instruction of keeping me in prison-lockdown mode the whole time I'm there."
Jessie smirked, "Yup. But, hey, it's all right, maybe he'll let you ride one of his purebreds. Maybe he'll even let you break one in."
Jonny scoffed, "Sure, and dad will let me play with his lab equipment AND THEN let me drive his Jag."
Hadji laughed maniacally then pouted, "He wouldn't even let ME take that to the prom."
"Yeah, he wouldn't even let RACE take it to the carwash, and not the automated one either, I mean the 'for charity hand washed car wash.' That man's possessed." Jonny cackled.
***3:30 AM***
Jonny's alarm blared. Jonny sat up angrily. 'Wah. huh. what time is it.' Jonny thought sleepily, he yawned excessively. "Oh crap."
Race's angry face stared at him.
"Great, you're not going to be pleasant, are you? Don't you see this is equally as much Jonny-abuse as this is Race-abuse?" Jonny pleaded to Race's stone face.
"I didn't go joy-riding on an unbroken horse."
"But it's justice at least that you're the one that ratted me out." Jonny pulled on his black shirt and stopped his alarm clock finally, with a nice strong flick of the wrist, flinging the clock into the laundry hamper.
Race stepped outside of the room and turned his back to the doorway as Jonny struggled to slide up a fresh pair of boxers and his dark denim jeans, he finally fell flat onto the bed while he struggled to pull up his socks. Race turned back around. "Tick tock Jonny, we don't have all day."
"I'll be done in a minute. I need to brush my hair and my teeth still." Jonny slipped his canvas shoes on and then made his way to the bathroom. Sleepily, he gobbed toothpaste onto his moistened toothbrush and began scrubbing his teeth vigorously. He spat, rinsed and flossed then swooshed with Listerine and fluoride. He took out some facial soap, lathered up his hands and face then rinsed briskly, the towel dried his face, feeling much more awake. He brushed his hair quickly then styled it with gel.
His stomach gurgled. "Hey Race, do we prisoners of Quest Air get a last meal?"
Race handed Jonny a bagel already sliced with cream cheese packets, a butter knife, and a juice cup full of OJ, he also tossed Jonny an apple and a portable bowl of cereal with a one-serving carton of chocolate and whole milk taped to it, the spoon attached to the lid. "Well, at least I can say when I fly Quest Air I get a damn good, well balanced meal!" Jonny winked, "And such a cute stewardess to boot!"
"Oh you're GONNA get a boot, but you're not going to like where, if you keep this up. I had to wait up until 2 AM waiting for you kids and run a security check on the house and a transmission check on the car. And that's not even MENTIONING getting a plane ready for flight with a one man crew in only two days."
"Ah, but so are the risks in letting my dad punish me."
(Status _ Part One: Ange1 One _ Completed.)
Venus: Do you suppose we should tell Jessie she doesn't have to help us co- write this anymore? Vanessa: Um. myes. I'll get to that email PRONTO. I swear, by MONDAY she'll know. BWAHAHAHAHAHA! Venus: Vanessa, you do realize Jessie can READ that. Vanessa: *Gulps* Well, it's alright. because I'll hide behind YOU! BWAHAHAHAHAHA! Venus: You do realize I *also* just heard you, and that *I* unlike Jessie, possess a taser, a stun gun, knock out gas AND the Anarchist's Cookbook. Vanessa: *Gasps!* But you are no anarchist, criminal, or sexually deprived teenager. Damn you, you stole my copy didn't you! Venus: All's fair in Anarchy Babe. Vanessa: Damn you. Damn you to the box. Venus: AHHHH! The box. BTW, which category are YOU in for owning the ACB? Vanessa: I'll kill you. Venus: Was'sat? All three? What a shocker there. Vanessa: *Lunges* In the box you go! Sorry about that all. Now, for the story!
Disclaimer: I own NO brands, nor do I own the characters of Jonny Quest (though I've been said to possess Jonny's soul. SHHHH! I will NOT tell you by whom the quote was made!) and therefore I am a starving college student who makes NO CASH from this fan-fic, SOOooo I do not recommend suing me; Because you will make nothing. Just like me from this fan-fic!
Jonny stared at his callused hands then looked back up at the horse he was brushing. Neither he nor the horse looked all too thrilled to have Jonny brushing him at that moment. The coat of fur bucked at the corners and curled in ways Jonny wouldn't think imaginable. 'And this is AFTER I spent an hour brushing you.' He sighed. 'How in hell am I going to explain this to dad? Oh, I know. Hey dad, guess what, you know Cobalt, yeah our NEW horse, well before anyone BROKE him in I decided to take him for a spin. a tumble and a rinse! Yeah, isn't that great I think he likes me now. And that's going to make him kill me.' Jonny sighed a second time. 'This is just great, just ONE TREK down the path and poof, he gets spooked and runs through the river. I am so grounded when dad finds out.'
Jonny heard Dr. Quest's van pull up the long driveway. 'Crap, he's here. so I have about 20 minutes before he wonders where I am. or have been taken to by force. unless with all my crappy luck he decided to get something for the horse or myself and in which case I have two minutes max before he tracks me down.' He grimaced. "I'm so dead." He leaned his head into Cobalt's long neck.
Cobalt's brown fur felt soft to the touch as Jonny's forehead leaned onto it.
***Meanwhile***
Dr. Quest took the sugar cubes and carrots out of the car. "Well, this should be a fine weekend, Race do you think we should let Jonny help break in the new horse?"
Race looked at Dr. Quest, "If he hasn't beat us to it I'd be shocked." Race smirked; he took out his decorative cowboy boots with rounded spurs on the heel.
Dr. Quest laughed, "And the kids say *my* fashion sense is appalling."
Race looked at him oddly, "And you took that from Jessie? Humph, that's just weird. Besides! There's nothing wrong with cowboy boots. They're fun, and perfectly harmless, these spurs couldn't cut water if you were pressing on them they're so dull."
"Well, I better check in with the kids, I'm sure Jonny's going to want to watch." Benton snickered.
"Hey, what do you mean by 'watch' you had a tone!" Race said defensively.
Benton cackled, "Oh, nothing. nothing. Just a passing BWAHEHEHEHE!" He crowed uncontrollably. "What? Really, nothing!"
Race glared at him, then turned away to think, "I bet you think I'm going to fall on my ass and make a fool of myself dressed like some wannabe Roy Rogers or John Wayne, don't you?"
Benton's laughter halted like a drop of a hat. "Am I that transparent?"
Race face-faulted. "Je-eeeee-sus man, you're supposed to say 'Really Race, I'm insulted you'd think that. it frankly had nothing to do with you, in fact I was thinking of a binary joke from Reboot.' Or something along those lines."
"I can easily arrange that. if you permit me to stop off in front of the lab." Dr. Quest gestured anxiously. Race scowled and Benton laughed again.
"Your son, Benton."
Dr. Quest looked at him, "What about him?"
Race rolled his eyes, "We want to find him, remember, so we can break in the horse without hearing it from the kid."
Dr. Quest nodded, "Ah, I remember now, yes, yes you're quite right. IRIS, locate Jonny Quest and ask him to join us down in the stables in" Dr. Quest looked at his watch, "One minute please."
"Confirmed, but of course Dr. Quest." IRIS squawked.
***In the Stable***
"Jonny, you have 1 minute before your father is expecting to meet you here." IRIS reminded Jonny. He pouted into his hands.
"I am so dead. He's going to murder me. or worse ground me from Questworld for another two weeks. IRIS, do we still have that hologram function."
"Dr. Quest has strictly revoked your access to that function, Jonny Quest."
Jonny hid his face in Cobalt's mane. "Of course he did, after LAST week. Oh-ho-ho." Jonny whined. He began to compose himself, 'Maybe if I say Cobalt got out of his pin and I was trying to catch him.' Jonny smiled, "Of COURSE! That MUST work, IRIS, delete the footage from the stable down to the pathway leading to the lighthouse from 1:00:01 PM to 1:15:00 PM and loop the visual from 12:45:01 PM to 1:00:00 PM. Alright?"
"Working."
Dr. Quest tapped the back of Jonny's head on his corona, "Heh-hem. Do you care to explain WHY you are deleting that crucial security recording Jonny?"
Jonny gulped, "Shit. IRIS, why didn't you give me that count down I asked for!"
"Because Dr. Quest is early by 10: 9: 8: 7: 6:." IRIS began.
"Damn you, you mechanical bird." Jonny spat. "Why, father, it's nothing really. it's just. I uh. I was. um. what I mean to say is I'm screwed if I open my mouth further, aren't I?"
Dr. Quest nodded.
"Then I plead the fifth!" Jonny nodded strongly, "I'll be going to my room now."
"Not so fast Jonathon Quest, first you're going to tell me why the horse is so. scuffed up and matted, then you will proceed with the explanation of why you want to delete key videotape, and THEN you will resume the long walk of doom towards your chambers."
Jonny flinched, 'Double Damn It!' he swallowed hard, "Well, you see. long story short the horse got out of the stable."
Race investigated the door to the horse's pin, "It doesn't seem kicked or damaged, and this horse isn't exactly known for jumping."
"Well apparently that was a bonus." Jonny swore at himself, 'Shut up you idiot, or would you like to get the ROPE for them to hang you with?!' a beam of sweat collected on his brow, "Wow, it IS hot out here today isn't, um. well. you see. so the horse got out and I had to. catch him. yes. that's it. and bring him back to the stable, and he ran all the way down the path and I was. making an ass out of myself while trying to reclaim him SOOOOO for the purpose of preventing black-mail-able Christmas Cards, because we all know how I hate Christmas, and how Jessie and Dad love their digitally printed-out Christmas CARDS. I had no choice but to go ahead and delete it before anyone saw the footage."
"And when you say the horse got OUT, Jonny. saying that your footprints come from INSIDE the pen but disappear right at the gate, only to reappear coming from the opposite DIRECTION, I think you know where this is going. How EXACTLY did the horse get out?" Race added diligently.
Jonny groaned, 'DAMN IT why didn't I sweep up the footprints. Oh right, that was a to-do right AFTER I brushed down the horse's fur. DAMN IT!' He gulped, "Well, you see. when the horse got out. I was. on. his." Jonny's voice grew smaller and smaller, "back. you see. but that. doesn't matter."
"So you were riding the horse to break it in, because you were impatient and the horse's fur got all knotted up. I see. Benton, what do you want to do with the little Rodeo Clown? I do seem to recall you strictly forbidding him to ride that horse alone and unsupervised PARTICULARLY while we were out buying the supplies to properly break the new boy in." Race added, glaring at Jonny punitively.
"Why yes, Race I do seem to recall that as WELL. Well, Jonny what do you think your punishment should be?"
Jonny gulped, "A stern warning perhaps?"
"Try again." Dr. Quest suggested.
"A week without VR?"
"I do seem to recall you STILL being grounded from Questworld from LAST WEEK'S escapades." Race assisted. Benton smiled.
"Funny, so do I. Try again."
".I be sent off to boot camp 'til I turn 21?"
"I think that's getting close. A little extreme though." Benton nodded, "Ah-ha! Perfect. Your grandfather. Doug." Benton said it with such an undying LOVE for the name, "Sent me a such a friendly email the other day asking when you might next happen upon his dwellings." Benton smiled sinisterly, "And saying that you seem to enjoy ranching so much, and OBVIOUSLY need instructions on grooming the animals, I bet your grandfather would LOVE your company for. oh, lets say two weeks."
Jonny scowled, "But. but. PROM. and .I. I'm not getting out of this am I?"
"Nope." Race, again helped.
Jonny groaned, "Nhh. This is so unfair. Since when are you ever EARLY for anything!" Jonny pouted, "I'll go pack. When's my flight?"
"In two days, the day AFTER prom, at a bright and early 5:30 AM, I do believe is fair. No need to cramp Jessie or Hadji's fun at the prom. But, if you drink, you'll regret it." Benton came inches from Jonny's face, "Greatly." He smiled, "You better go get cleaned up son, we'll be having dinner earlier than I expected apparently, I say in another .10, 20 minutes."
Jonny whimpered, "Yes sir." He walked slowly back towards the compound, towards his bedroom.
***Prom Night***
Jessie's hair wrapped into a flawless Edwardian Braid, decorative hair snaps of baby's breath lined the crown of her head, she wore a silk- lined Bodice dress in a scarlet shade of red, it accented her hair making it look like the reddest rose. Her mascara and eyeliner made her eyes bulge from her face, turning her eyes into emeralds, she wore sandal strap heels that gave her an additional two inches, swearing to herself, 'That won't last past pictures.' To top off the entire ensemble, her scarlet purse with the embroidered black "J" in cursive housed her corsage and carried Jonny and Hadji's boutonnières, each were white irises with small stems and sparse numbers of leaves surrounding each set of three flowers.
Hadji came down the stairs next, still fiddling with his black bow tie and his soft violet handkerchief in his breast pocket. His immaculate white dress shirt was covered by an even cleaner black formal jacket and neatly seemed black pants with white trouser socks and well-polished black leather Nuovo shoes. His cufflinks were golden studs with twin diamonds engraved in the center; his long raven hair was curled and layered in a ponytail leaving not one stray hair on his jacket.
Next came Jonny down the stairs, still fastening his blue bow tie and quickly becoming convinced to change it to an ascot. His soft sky blue vest laid over the stark white dress shirt, all hidden by his black jacket, which landed perfectly against the small of his back and ended at his high thigh. His black pants were equally iron-fresh seemed to Hadji's pants and his set of cufflinks, which were golden round studs housing a 1-caret sapphire in each. His well-shined Barcelona shoes were also black leather, and his socks were also white. Jonny checked his watch, "We only have another 20 minutes to get ready. Be honest, bow tie or ascot? Well?"
Jessie rolled her eyes, "Jonny you haven't even done your hair yet. Do you have your wallet and cell phone?" She sighed, "Come here, come HERE! I need to fix your handkerchief. You nimrod can't you do this by now? You've only been going to formal occasions for what? 14 years!" She tapped him in the back of the hair playfully. "Maybe longer." Jonny added seriously. "I don't see how that counts though, those people. in those formals, they only knew dad; I was practically EXPECTED to fly out of my seat like the Exorcist or something." He eyes his father evilly, "Oh, I know the stories you told them." He gestured with his hands pointing at his father then pulling his fingers directly up to his eyes, as he lipped 'I'm watching you.' Benton chortled. Jonny added his final touches on his hair then completely scuffled it up. "I need help." Jonny whined. Jessie laughed, "Oh, I know, sweetie, I know." This time Hadji cackled. "Watch it you!" Jonny bickered.
Jessie finished Jonny's hair with industrial strength hair wax/shiner. "Now not even evil space Nazis could mess up your perfect hair." She smirked.
"But they could've. They've been known to come out of the woodwork for times like this." Jonny smirked.
Jessie rolled her eyes and uttered a 'Smart ass' before she put the boutonnières on each of the boys. Hadji slid the corsage onto Jessie's wrist.
"Oh, Jess, you forgot the necklace and earrings." Jonny said, rushing upstairs to fetch her jewelry, he came back with her opal ring as well. "Here you go." He panted.
Jessie nodded, "Thanks, I almost forgot to wear mom's opals. She'd have been so sad if I had forgotten. Thanks again Jonny."
Jonny smirked, "No need, I'm being bribed by your mom to make sure you wear them."
Jessie growled. "How much?! I don't get paid for wearing mom's jewelry, that's so unfair."
".It's more like she's going to let me go tomb rubbing with her next time she's in town."
"You have such weird hobbies Jonny." She muttered. "Anyways. I'm ready, what about you two?"
Hadji grabbed his three tickets to the prom from his hip pocket. "I, too, am ready."
Jonny grabbed his house keys. "Well, that makes three. So, we going via helicopter or what? We don't want to be late." He teased.
"Oh you'll get all the air travel you need tomorrow, kiddo, no, today we're taking the black luxury sedan." Race said, holding the keys.
Jessie grimaced, "DAD! You promised you wouldn't be our driver if we promised to stay alcohol free tonight."
Race gulped, "Sorry! Sorry, I meant to say you three. Really. I just wanted to get pictures of my baby girl going to her first prom."
"Hire a P.I. next time." She barked, snatching the keys, she grabbed Jonny and Hadji and pulled them into a group headlock by the front door. "Start with the photos dad, Jonny, Hadji EITHER of you touch my hair and I'll snap your necks."
Hadji slid out of Jessie's grasp and fixed his collar. "No problem, it would be foolish to ruin each other's night with mundane and childish stun- Jonny don't you dare, put those water balloons back where you found them. Need I remind you of the movie and novel Carrie?" Jessie tightened her chokehold on the blond.
As he started turning blue, Benton and Race got a bit nervous. Jessie released him. "Hey! They weren't for you Jessie, I swear. I was going to nail the Olsen Twins' car."
Jessie rolled her eyes again. "Hadji, seriously, HOW does a prom meant for your class wind up getting half of the sophomores in the High School on the attendance list?"
Hadji smiled, "Because Jonny bribed the Prom Committee."
Jessie and Dr. Quest glared at Jonny nervously; he smirked evilly, "With what?"
Jonny's smirk grew longer. "Oh, let's just say that sometime next winter the girls will be ice skating in the most exclusive rink in Maine."
"You mean you offered them the lake as a sacrifice?" Race interpreted.
"Actually, I offered them the indoor swimming pool, but yes. We always freeze it over for a week, and dad always says we can have guests over, that we waste it on just ourselves. Don't you dad."
Dr. Quest growled. "4:00 AM."
Jonny gulped. "Touché." He looked at his clock, "Guys, it's almost 6:00, we need to book it."
***At the Prom***
Jessie sipped on her punch. She looked at one of the chaperones, Mr. Johansson; she glanced at his newspaper and his grizzly expression. Jessie waltzed towards him. "Mr. Johansson, is something wrong? You look upset."
The tall, wiry man, with dark brown hair and hazel-yellow eyes looked at her, his almond skin pale even for itself. "It's this paper. Supposedly there's a nation-wide serial killer. What he's doing is horrible. Do you see this?" He showed Jessie a picture.
Jessie's face grew unremarkably pale. "Oh my gosh, that's awful! Were they. alive while that happened?"
"It says the boy died from blood loss probably two days after he was set up there. Anyways, it sure looks like a painful way to go, don't you agree?"
"Indeed." She nodded.
***Midnight***
"Well, boys and girls, it's time for the last dance of this wild Junior Prom, so, all you couples, if you want to dance, now's your last chance." The DJ beckoned.
Jonny, Hadji and Jessie all joined each other on the dance floor from separate conversations and partners. Jonny took Jessie around the waist and Hadji around the shoulder, Hadji followed the same pattern, taking Jonny around the waist and Jessie the shoulder, Jessie took Hadji around the waist and Jonny from the shoulder, leaving them all in a human circle. They began slow dancing the waltz.
"Wow, this dance has been magical." Jonny muttered.
"I'm so glad we have this chance together, one last time, before I graduate and go to India for three weeks."
"Yeah I know; it sure is going to be lonely in the compound with just our dads, Bandit and myself." Jessie sighed.
"Hey, it's only for two weeks, then I'll be back. unless dad decides to leave me there forever though." Jonny chuckled then turned pale, "He wouldn't do that right?"
Hadji laughed, "Doubtfully, Grandpa Doug would probably tie you to his fastest horse and send you back long before eternity was over."
The boys dipped Jessie. "A girl could get used to this." She smiled, "Hadji, this was a genius idea of yours, for us to all dance together for the last dance of your prom. I'm so glad you invited us."
"As I said, it will be one HELL OF A ice skating party come this winter." Jonny smirked.
***Five past Midnight***
"Well, boys and girls, ladies and gentlemen. It's been a great evening, but Prom Night's Over! So have fun at all the parties, and please, DRINK RESPONSIBLY! Goo' Night all!" The DJ cut the music and everyone left filed out; half of the kids were heading to restaurants and private hotels, while the others were going to an assortment of parties or to home.
Jonny opened the door for Jessie and filed into the back. Hadji slid into the driver's seat, yawned once then started the ignition.
Jessie played with her dress and her hair somewhat sleepily, stretched her arms back and carried on with Hadji's yawn. Everyone buckled up.
Jonny started to loosen his tie, unbutton his jacket and vest; then pulled his shirt from his pants and flopped off his shoes. "What a night. This was so much fun. Ugh, tomorrow's going to be hell. I bet Race won't let me sleep on the plane and Grandpa will probably be on the instruction of keeping me in prison-lockdown mode the whole time I'm there."
Jessie smirked, "Yup. But, hey, it's all right, maybe he'll let you ride one of his purebreds. Maybe he'll even let you break one in."
Jonny scoffed, "Sure, and dad will let me play with his lab equipment AND THEN let me drive his Jag."
Hadji laughed maniacally then pouted, "He wouldn't even let ME take that to the prom."
"Yeah, he wouldn't even let RACE take it to the carwash, and not the automated one either, I mean the 'for charity hand washed car wash.' That man's possessed." Jonny cackled.
***3:30 AM***
Jonny's alarm blared. Jonny sat up angrily. 'Wah. huh. what time is it.' Jonny thought sleepily, he yawned excessively. "Oh crap."
Race's angry face stared at him.
"Great, you're not going to be pleasant, are you? Don't you see this is equally as much Jonny-abuse as this is Race-abuse?" Jonny pleaded to Race's stone face.
"I didn't go joy-riding on an unbroken horse."
"But it's justice at least that you're the one that ratted me out." Jonny pulled on his black shirt and stopped his alarm clock finally, with a nice strong flick of the wrist, flinging the clock into the laundry hamper.
Race stepped outside of the room and turned his back to the doorway as Jonny struggled to slide up a fresh pair of boxers and his dark denim jeans, he finally fell flat onto the bed while he struggled to pull up his socks. Race turned back around. "Tick tock Jonny, we don't have all day."
"I'll be done in a minute. I need to brush my hair and my teeth still." Jonny slipped his canvas shoes on and then made his way to the bathroom. Sleepily, he gobbed toothpaste onto his moistened toothbrush and began scrubbing his teeth vigorously. He spat, rinsed and flossed then swooshed with Listerine and fluoride. He took out some facial soap, lathered up his hands and face then rinsed briskly, the towel dried his face, feeling much more awake. He brushed his hair quickly then styled it with gel.
His stomach gurgled. "Hey Race, do we prisoners of Quest Air get a last meal?"
Race handed Jonny a bagel already sliced with cream cheese packets, a butter knife, and a juice cup full of OJ, he also tossed Jonny an apple and a portable bowl of cereal with a one-serving carton of chocolate and whole milk taped to it, the spoon attached to the lid. "Well, at least I can say when I fly Quest Air I get a damn good, well balanced meal!" Jonny winked, "And such a cute stewardess to boot!"
"Oh you're GONNA get a boot, but you're not going to like where, if you keep this up. I had to wait up until 2 AM waiting for you kids and run a security check on the house and a transmission check on the car. And that's not even MENTIONING getting a plane ready for flight with a one man crew in only two days."
"Ah, but so are the risks in letting my dad punish me."
(Status _ Part One: Ange1 One _ Completed.)