Disclaimer: I do not own Jonny Quest or any characters associated with the show. I am not making any money off of this.
The New Dynasty
Chapter 4
Jonny slumped in his seat, oblivious to the quiet D.C. suburban homes passing by outside the car window. Ever since his father had informed him that everything he had once known in regards to his mother's death was false, Jonny had been flooded by a wave of emotions. The inner turmoil that he currently struggled with was tearing him apart inside. Jonny was angry with his father and the constant thoughts of hurt and betrayal that his father had cast upon him were just adding to his overall frustrations and grief. A feeling of guilt and remorse had momentarily crept into his mind for the manner in which he had rejected Jessie's offer of comfort, but he had been such an emotional wreck at the time, and still was, he lashed out at the one person that he knew was truly concerned with his well being and state of mind. With a quick glance to his right he stole a look at his best fried and even though he wanted to apologize to her for the way he'd acted, he still couldn't dismiss all of the feelings he had expressed earlier. Even though Jessie was dealing with her own personal problems, Jonny still felt that his own were of much higher importance and the last thing he wanted to hear was another attempt by Jessie to parallel the issues.
With an inaudible sigh, Jonny remained silent and turned back towards the window. The mood of the group had been solemn since their departure for D.C. and it hadn't changed since they'd arrived a little over an hour before. With the exception of a brief explanation from Corbin on the current status of the investigation not much had been said. Upon their arrival in the Nation's capital, the first thing Doctor Quest had insisted on was seeing where his former colleague had been murdered, so now they were en route to the scene.
Fifteen minutes later the driver came to a stop in front of a non-descript, two-story house. If the presence of yellow crime scene tape and a few official looking men who lingered at the doorstep had not been visible, Jonny would never have guessed that such a quiet little neighborhood could have been the scene of such a brutal murder.
The group climbed out the SUV that had been provided for their transportation by I-1 and headed for the door. As he approached the house, an overwhelming sense of dread flooded Jonny's body. His eyes darted back and forth around the seemingly peaceful neighborhood, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. He tried to shrug the feeling off, but as they moved closer to the house the feeling began to escalate. Jonny couldn't help but wonder if whatever had happened inside this particular house was the same as what had happened to his mother all those years ago. He attempted to push that dreadful thought out of his mind, but it still lingered on the outskirts of his thoughts.
Halfway to the house, Race and Doctor Quest stopped, so Jonny and Jessie waited alongside the two men. Corbin and Agent Roberts proceeded up to the other men who appeared to work for I-1 and were currently engaged in a discussion that Jonny could not hear. However, he did notice one of the men peer out towards the group, probably curious as to why his superior had brought teenagers to a murder scene.
"Maybe it would be better for you two to wait out here" Race said as he watched the group of agents in front of the house.
"Why's that?" Jessie asked. Jonny noticed that much of the iciness that had come to invade her tone had left, but there was still a hint of anger that remained.
"We don't know what it's like in there" Race answered. "It may be something that you two shouldn't see."
"Whatever happened in that house could very well happen to us" Jonny countered. "We have just as much a right to go inside as you do."
Turning towards his son, Doctor Quest looked the boy up and down. He knew Jonny was right, but it still pained him to expose his son to what could possibly lay ahead. Benton had accepted that he had made some serious errors in decisions regarding Rachel's death and misinforming Jonny concerning what had actually happened, and now he could no longer hide from the truth of the matter.
"No, Race" Benton said. "Jonny's right. We all have to know what we're facing. They have the right to know. I just suggest that we all be prepared for the worst."
Race's displeasure showed in his features, but he did not argue with Benton. Race knew Benton was usually levelheaded in these types of situations and if he felt that the kids needed to be a part of it, then it was not for Race to argue. Even if Jessie wasn't in any real danger he knew that his daughter would be determined to do all she could to help prevent any catastrophe that might befall her extended family.
A few moments later Corbin waved the group over to the front door. As they reached the group the I-1 director spoke. "The forensic team just finished up about thirty minutes ago." In a grim tone he added, "I'll warn you right now it's not pretty inside."
With solemn nods from the group, Corbin crouched under the yellow tape and the others quickly followed behind.
Once inside the house, the first thing that hit the group was the cold; a bitter chill that was both unexpected and somewhat disturbing.
"Why is it so cold in here?" Jessie asked as she crossed her arms over her chest and shoved her hands beneath her arms. "Is the air conditioning on or something?"
"No. The air conditioning is not on" Corbin responded gravely. "We don't know what the cause of the cold is, but it's been present at each of the crime scenes and it never seems to vanish."
"Strange" Doctor Quest mumbled, stroking his beard.
"The murder took place back in the kitchen" Phil said as he led the group down the hall towards the rear of the home.
Jonny glanced at the pictures that adorned the walls; nothing out of the ordinary, just typical pictures of a man, who must have been Doctor Steinbeck, and an assortment of different people and places. As his eyes scanned the photographs he found himself searching for any signs of his mother within the pictures. Rachel Quest had been involved in the project that seemed to lay at the heart of this matter, so it was safe for Jonny to assume that Doctor Steinbeck may have worked with her before. Jonny frowned as he realized that none of the pictures appeared to obtain any clues as to the mystery before them and he did not see either of his parents in the photographs. It made Jonny wonder just what his mother and father had been involved in all these years ago with this man that would cause the Zin's to want to exact revenge.
The air grew colder as they reached the kitchen. With the exception of Corbin and Roberts, both of whom had already been at the scene already, the sight before them was beyond anything they could have imagined.
The kitchen was a decent size, but it was in a state of utter chaos. A small breakfast table was placed towards the rear of the kitchen and one of the chairs was overturned. Jonny could make out part of an outline on the floor, which must have been where Steinbeck had met his end, but what was truly unnerving was the blood. Almost every surface was covered in the now drying liquid and it appeared as if more blood than could possibly be contained within a single human body was splattered throughout the kitchen. Bloody handprints could be seen on the back door, near the knob, the kitchen counter and on the breakfast table. It appeared as if the Doctor had tried to escape from his attacker.
The entire group, even Phil and Agent Roberts, covered their mouth and nose with a hand. Race's eyes expertly took in the scene and he was the one to ask "What is this smell? There's more to it than just blood."
Corbin nodded slowly as he moved back into an area of the kitchen that had as little of the spilled remains as possible. "We're not exactly sure. At each of the scenes there has been an unidentified substances found; some sort of greenish liquid that seems to be mixed into the victim's blood."
"Mixed in? As in it was in the victim's blood itself?" Doctor Quest asked. He had stooped down in front of the spot where his old acquaintance had been, but now he stood back up and faced the I-1 agent.
Corbin shook his head. "Not in with the blood as in a part of it, but more like on top of it. As if it had been spilled and thrown down over the blood after the fact."
"As a means to try and cover it up perhaps?" Jessie asked.
Phil shrugged, but at the same time shook his head. "I don't see how anyone could think they could cover up this much blood."
"You said it was unidentified" Doctor Quest prodded.
Phil nodded. "So far, none of our forensic tests have been able to reveal just what the substance is or where it came from." As an afterthought he added, "It's almost as if it's not of this earth."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Race asked sarcastically.
Corbin just shrugged, but did not respond. Race noticed how uncomfortable his boss looked and he couldn't help but wonder, besides the crime scene, what was bothering the man.
"What else was discovered?" Doctor Quest asked; obviously in an attempt to not only learn more about the crime but also to diffuse another argument between the two men.
"Each subsequent crime scene has become more gruesome and horrendous. The body of one of my agents was discovered as well, not back here in the kitchen, but I wouldn't be surprised if some of the blood in here belonged to him. I also have one agent still missing."
"How could his blood get in here if his body was discovered elsewhere? Especially with no blood being found in other parts of the house?" Race inquired.
"We are assuming that he died in here, but for some unknown reason his body was moved." Corbin replied.
"What about the doors and windows?" Race asked.
"Everything was locked from the inside."
"So how did the killer or killers escape?"
"I don't know" Corbin said again, sounding agitated.
"Murder weapon?" Race asked; his frustration in the lack of any hard facts was growing more and more evident.
"Undetermined here and with the other victims, as well" Phil replied.
"So again, you don't know" Race sneered.
Phil shrugged, "That's right."
"So what the hell have your people been doing?" Race growled.
"I don't think I like your tone, Race" Phil shot back.
"I…" Race started, but was cut short when Jessie interrupted.
"What's this?" Jessie asked as she discovered the cryptic message written in blood.
Phil exchanged a warning look with Race before he turned to Jessie to answer her question. "Some sort of warning left by the killer we suppose. The strange thing about it is that this is the first crime scene something like this has appeared at."
Jessie studied the phrase on the wall as the agent continued. "One of the agents outside informed me that some of the same mysterious liquid was blended into the writings along with the blood. And they found something else in it, as well."
Jessie cocked her head back at the dark haired man. "Huh?"
"Yes, what do you mean, Phil?" Benton asked.
"I'd have to see it when we get back to headquarters, but he said it was something similar to a razor. It was found in the wall at the end of the last letter and it was wedged in fairly deeply. I didn't see it the first time I was here. Oh, and he also said it appeared organic."
"Organic?" Race mused. "As in it may have come from the killer?"
"Perhaps."
Jessie had turned back to the writing on the wall; all other thoughts had vanished from her mind as the words tore at her. "This looks Greek."
"That's what I said" Agent Roberts said speaking up for the first time since entering the house. "It says 'The ancients are coming. Fear Me.'"
Jessie shook her head at the man's reply. "No it doesn't."
"Excuse me?" Roberts asked visibly perturbed at being correct by a teenager.
"That's not what is it says" Jessie replied. "And it's not actually Greek, but very similar."
"So what does it say?" The I-1 linguist asked.
"It says, 'The Ancients have come. Fear Us.' You see the A is capitalized which indicates a proper noun."
For the first time, Jonny spoke. The sight of the blood had sent the boy into a temporary state of shock as his mind raced with horrors and questions as to any similarity between what he was now seeing and whether or not his mother had suffered a similar fate. No one had seemed to notice Jonny's state as they had been too wrapped up in the obscene sight that lay before them. Hearing Jessie's interpretation broke Jonny from his spell and pulled him back to reality. "So what does it mean, Jess?"
Jessie turned to her friend and saw just how pale he looked. She knew for a fact that Jonny was struggling with everything before him, but would never admit it publicly and especially not in front of the unfamiliar I-1 agent, Roberts. Inwardly Jessie wished that men weren't as macho and stubborn as they acted most of the time. She made a mental note to attempt to talk with Jonny the next time they were alone together, despite the reaction she'd received from him the last time she'd tried.
"Yes? What does it mean, then?" Roberts asked with some contempt in his voice, but quickly recoiled as he caught a glare from Corbin across the room. Phil was fully aware of both Jessie and Jonny's intelligence and rationale abilities and if Jessie knew something that they didn't about the message he was more then willing to hear her out.
"Well, like I said, I don't think it's actually Greek. Some of the letters are foreign. But for the life of me, I would swear I have seen something similar to this before."
"Where?" Race asked, his eyes narrowing in concern for her.
Jessie's brow furrowed in thought and frustration as the source of the words eluded her. "I'm not sure, but I know it looks very familiar."
Race went and stood next to his daughter and placed a hand on her shoulder. Jessie was a bit shocked at her father's behavior, since she had assumed he was still upset and angry with her. "It's okay, Jess. I'm sure you and Jonny will figure it out and soon."
Jessie nodded and glanced over at Jonny. Some color had returned to his face and Jessie quickly realized that her father's inclusion of Jonny in his statement was as much for Jonny's benefit as hers. Race knew that Jonny would submerge himself in the problem at hand and hopefully it would take his mind off of his own emotions.
"Is there anything else we need to know about this place?" Race asked as he turned back towards Phil.
Phil shook his head. "Not that I can think of, other than that we could find no indication of an intruder outside the house, either. It's as if the killer just materialized and then vanished. The only proof of its existence being this greenish goo it left behind."
Doctor Quest nodded, but had one more question. "Why do you keep saying 'it' in reference to the killer, Phil?"
Phil was caught off guard by the question and soon all the eyes in the room were on him. "I don't know, Doctor. I've seen a lot in my time, but these crime scenes and the victims…" He paused as if looking for the right words. "I just can't imagine them being committed by another human being."
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Melana Zin stood on the back porch of the rental house and watched her sister emerge from the shack. She could tell by Anaya's hurried step that she had been successful in the summoning and her hasty approach, book in hand, indicated to Melana that the Zin family would revel in revenge this day.
"The summoning" Melana said as her sister came up in front of her. "Which did you summon?"
"The vilest, and deadliest of them all. There is no escape for Doctor Quest, nor those that would try to save him."
"Good" Melana purred, with an evil smile to match her mood. She could feel the blood pumping in her temples as excitement about the coming night rose inside of her. "Come, sister. We must be ready. I've received word that Doctor Quest and his family have come to D.C."
Anaya grinned at the thought. "It will be that much easier, then, for our new allies."
"They are headed to the hospital now. We will be there to witness our ally's abilities on this glorious day for the Zins."
"Of course. I have given the instructions to this creature. We will destroy everyone that Benton Quest loves and only then, once he is completely defeated and nothing but a shell of a man, will he pay for his crimes. Only then will our new dynasty be created."
"Yes. The New Zin Dynasty."
To be continued…
Author's Note: I'd like to give my special thanks to Goddess Evie for taking the time to edit this for me. Thanks for all the help, advice, suggestions, and encouragement!