A/N: While trying to come up with an idea for another TRAJQ fanfic, I realized that not only were there no episodes of the series that had the team going to the Bermuda Triangle, but to my knowledge, no one on this site has even written about it. So, I decided to give it a shot. Please R & R. And, of course, here's the obligatory copyright statement:
All Jonny Quest characters are copyright Hanna-Barbera/Warner Bros. I'm making no money from this.
It was a balmy late-summer day in the Florida Keys, as Dr. Quest worked in his lab on yet another new project. While he was considering how to solve a difficult problem, I.R.I.S.' voice broke through his concentration.
"Dr. Quest. You have a call from Dr. John Walters."
"Thank you, I.R.I.S. I'll take it in here," the doctor replied as he picked up the phone handset.
"Hello, John. It's good to hear from you," he greeted his friend and occasional colleague.
"Hello, Benton. I'm sure you've heard about the recent increase in ships lost in the mid-Atlantic, near the Eastern side of the Bermuda Triangle. They haven't even been near the Sargasso Sea, just at the edge of the triangle," Walters said, quickly going into the main purpose of his call..
"Could it have been Pirates?" Dr. Quest immediately suggested.
"Not likely. There have been no reported sightings of any hostile ships from the air. Even if there were any, there isn't anywhere for them to hide and they would've been spotted by now."
Benton nodded to himself, thinking of other possibilities. "I'm curious as to why you're involved. I would think authorities from Bermuda, or even the US military, would be handling this instead of an energy researcher."
Walters then explained, "A science station I've been working at in Bermuda happened to pick up a burst of energy about the same time the last ship lost contact. It, along with the past two, was searching for earlier vessels that had vanished. I became interested after I was brought in to study the readings and try to determine a cause. Given that the ships are disappearing just inside or near the Bermuda Triangle, we wanted to ask for your help as a phenomenologist. We've given up on more rational explanations and I thought you might be able to check...other possibilities."
"I would be glad to help any way I can."
At that, the two men began making the necessary arrangements. Time and distance prohibited sailing in Questor to Bermuda, so it was decided everyone would fly to the island with whatever additional equipment Dr. Quest required and then set up on the ship they would be using.
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Dr. Quest hung up the phone and walked out of the lab on his way to the house. As he approached, he met up with Race, who was just going out to wax his sports car.
"I recognize that look," Race said after glancing at Dr. Quest, "Where and when are we going?"
Dr. Quest laughed at his bodyguard's perceptiveness. "We're flying to Bermuda to investigate recent disappearances of ships around the Bermuda Triangle."
Race smiled and shook his head. "You know, with all the crazy stuff we've seen, I'm kind of surprised we haven't been there, yet."
Walking into the living room, Dr. Quest told Jonny, Jessie, and Hadji, "Kids, go pack some suitcases. Dr. Walters called and wants me to assist in investigating the disappearances of some ships around the Bermuda Triangle."
"But Dr. Quest," Jessie began curiously, "Strange stuff goes on there all the time. What makes this so different?"
Benton nodded and explained, "Usually, the strange occurrences don't happen this often. Some of the ships weren't even actually inside the triangle. Dr. Walters said a research station picked up some strange energy readings and, knowing the reputation of the area, they thought I could be helpful. We'll be flying to Bermuda in an hour with everything we need. Once we get there, we'll all be boarding the latest ship to be sent to investigate."
Looking at Hadji, he added, "Due to your familiarity with my work, you and Jessie will be assisting me."
The two nodded in acknowledgement as Dr. Quest then turned to Jonny. "You and Race will be coming along as well, Race in case of any problems and you because I'm not about to leave you here alone. Whenever you kids are here by yourselves, something always goes wrong."
"Got it, Dad." Jonny agreed with a laugh.
Everyone went their separate ways to get packed and ready for the trip Soon, they were all headed out to the airport where they kept their aircraft.
The variety of equipment Dr. Quest would need was loaded into the Dragonfly and everyone prepared for takeoff. Race went through his pre-flight checklist and soon the large aircraft was in the air.
During the flight, the group discussed the various theories about the Bermuda Triangle. Unlike most, they accepted even the stranger possibilities as valid, given the experiences they already had with the Anasazi, the other-dimensional beings they had to repel from a research facility in Louisiana, and a wide variety of others. It actually wouldn't be the strangest thing they had ever experienced.
Eventually, the group finally landed at Bermuda International, Dr. Walters was waiting for them at the airport terminal.
"Benton! It's good to see you," Walters greeted Dr. Quest warmly, extending a hand.
Dr. Quest shook his hand and replied, "It's great to see you, too, John. I believe you know everyone, especially my bodyguard Race and my son, Jonny. Besides them are Race's daughter Jessie, and my adopted son Hadji." As he named everyone off, Dr. Quest motioned to them each in turn. Bandit barked as if trying to make sure no one forgot him.
"And this is Bandit," Dr. Quest laughed.
Walters nodded. "It's a pleasure to meet you all. Has Benton told you about what's going on?"
Jonny, Jessie, and Hadji all answered in the affirmative, with Hadji adding, "We are anxious to help solve this mystery."
"I Just hope you can find something. This is the last ship to be sent on the search. If it wasn't for how some weren't even within the Triangle, we wouldn't even be going out this time," Dr. Walters explained soberly, "That just makes it stranger than usual.
"Don't worry. We'll find them," Dr. Quest said reassuringly.
A car was waiting outside to take the Quests to a hotel, where they could drop off their things. Dr. Quest and Race, and Jonny and Hadji each shared a two-room suite, while Jessie got a single room to herself. The family went to a nice restaurant for supper, before settling in for the night.
The next morning found everyone at a dock loading equipment into a large research vessel. Race was both helping and overseeing this part, while Dr. Quest was inside getting everything installed and prepared for the work that lay ahead.
Eventually, the large craft was ready to set off to the region they would primarily be searching, which range from about 50 nautical miles south of Bermuda and as far west, toward the Sargasso Sea, as possible. Once they arrived in the first section, Dr. Quest began his work with Hadji and Jessie assisting him. Race mostly alternated between standing in the lab or the helm, and walking outside around the main deck, alert for any signs of trouble.
Meanwhile, Jonny was beginning to get bored as he wandered the deck with Bandit. "I really expected more excitement than this," he said to the dog, before looking out at the open water.
After spending much of the day searching without any luck, Dr. Quest told Race, "Go ask the helmsman to move closer to the Sargasso Sea itself. I'm not finding anything out here."
"Are you sure about that, Doc? We don't want to get stuck."
"We don't have to get too close. I just want to run a few scans and can't seem to get any readings from that area." Dr. Quest reassured him.
Dr. Walters then added, "If he is worried about damage to or interference with electrical equipment on board, remind him that we have already anticipated it and should be more than adequately prepared.
Race passed along the message and the helmsman reluctantly piloted the vessel as close as they could safely get to the seaweed-covered region, surrounded by a graveyard of ships that had made ill-advised attempts to pass through the area and never came out.
Nothing changed for the next few minutes after they came to a full stop, until Hadji noticed a warning message on one of the screens monitoring for unusual activity.
"Dr. Quest," he began with a mixture of curiosity and urgency in his voice, "I'm getting some strange energy readings."
"Where from?" came the reply.
Hadji paused to make sure he was correct, before responding nervously, "Directly beneath us."
"Hurry! Get us out of here!" Dr. Quest shouted.
"Uh, Dad. It may be a little late for that." Jonny called from the port deck.
Dr. Quest and Jessie walked just outside to see what he was talking about when they noticed the water glowing brightly beneath them and the water becoming stirred up.
Without further warning, a bright flash of light engulfed the vessel, before dimming almost as suddenly as it had begun. Within seconds, the light had completed faded. The water was now calm, but the ship and everyone in it had completely vanished!