The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest
Industry of Intrigue
By: Sapphire
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Chapter Six: Escape
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Jonny was struggling against the man restraining him. He was sure Maggie wasn't behind them anymore. They had promised to stick together. He had to find her, because if he didn't, he knew something terrible would happen to her.
"Stop it you little punk," the guard ordered meanly. Jonny kicked him in the shins in response. "Hey!" the guard bellowed. Jonny didn't stop there. Race had taught him how to protect himself very well. With a twist and a heave, he managed to flip the bigger man onto the concrete floor.
The guards who held Price and Devin turned to see what the commotion was. Jonny was giving their comrade a sound beating. Devin managed to pull free of his captor, but Price's guard opened a cell door and shoved him into it before he could escape, locking it once it was closed.
"Hey!" Price yelled from inside, "Let me out!" With the odds now at three to two, Devin was quickly pinned to the floor next to the wall, and Jonny was pulled off his guard by another. Jonny's guard delivered a few kicks in retribution, subduing him. It was a simple task after that for the three guards to throw both Jonny and Devin into separate cells in a nearby cell block.
As soon as the three guards headed off to report to their boss Jonny and Devin approached their respective cell doors and peered out into the corridor. Jonny noted the windows in this cell block were much larger than the cell he'd previously inhabited, but these had bars too close together to allow him to reach out far enough to jimmy the lock and unlatch the door.
"Hey, Jonny," Devin called cautiously. They could see each other across the way through their windows. "What happened to my sister?"
"I don't know. That's what got the fight started." Jonny shook his head in discouragement. "I don't know how I'm going to find her when I'm stuck in here. If they separated her from us…that can't be good." Devin nodded solemnly. "We've gotta get out of here and find her."
"I've been trying to think of a way out for days," Devin said frankly. "I don't think there is one- without help, anyway."
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Race Bannon circled the Hovand Industries Warehouse Building to scout out possible ways in. He had split the team in two; himself and Hadji, and Dr. Quest and Jessie. Bandit had chosen to follow close behind Hadji. Race didn't mind the bull-terrier's company. That dog knew when to keep quiet and when to raise hell. So far he had only been interested in sniffing around the building along the wall.
Suddenly Bandit bounded ahead, racing around the back corner of the building. Race and Hadji followed cautiously, but only found Dr. Quest and Jessie when they peered wearily around the corner. Quickly joining them, it was clear no one had had any real luck. Bandit whined, sensing their discouragement.
"The only possibility I could see would be a vent of some kind. It's pretty small, a tight squeeze, and no telling where it could end up," Race finally said.
"We didn't see anything on our side," Benton said.
"No vents, no doors," Jessie agreed.
"The vent it is," Race decided pessimistically.
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Jack Hardy silently approached the corner, cautious of what may be around it. He kept his daughter close behind him, not wanting to risk losing her so soon after getting her back. Maggie had fallen into a state of shocked disbelief, a delayed reaction to discovering her father. She simply followed where he led, marveling that she was holding the hand of the man that had helped to give her life. He was alive.
Jack slowly peered around the corner, but all he saw was an empty passageway. The pair rounded the corner together and noiselessly progressed along the hall. As they passed through, they both noticed that one of the cell doors was closed. They approached cautiously. When they stood in front of it, they heard an odd thud, like something or someone was moving behind it.
"Is someone in there?" Maggie cautiously whispered at the solid steel door. There were no windows in these cells.
"Maggie? Is that you?" came a muffled but familiar voice. "It's me, Price. I'm locked in."
"Hold on, I'll get you out." She took the ring of keys she still held, and started fitting them into the lock. Finally one turned. "Price!" she said when he emerged, glad to see him unharmed. He gave her a hug, but quickly released her when he saw the grizzled man behind her watching him intently.
"Who is that?" Price asked.
"My father," she answered a bit breathlessly. It was hard to believe even now. "Price?" She peered into the open cell. "What happened to Jonny and Devin?"
"I wish I knew," was all Price could say.
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Race managed to get the vent cover off by undoing the screws with a thin shard of metal he'd found on the ground. The opening was quite small; they would have to carefully squeeze through it, but the duct beyond was about three feet by three feet. plenty of room to crawl. Race tentatively tested the bottom of the vent to see if it would hold his weight. "Let's go in," he said with a satisfied expression.
The bottom seemed quite safe; it didn't even indent when Race put his weight on it. It didn't give any when Jessie, then Hadji holding Bandit, followed lastly by Dr. Quest added their weight to Race's. Slowly and carefully they crawled their way through the vent. It grew darker and darker as they got farther from the entrance.
"Anybody have a flashlight?" Jessie asked in a whisper. "I can't even see my hand in front of my face anymore."
"Never fear," Hadji replied, "I will shed some light on this situation." In a few moments, a dim glow filled the vent tunnel. "I took the liberty of borrowing one of Dr. Quest's experimental glow rods."
"No time like the present to put them to the test," Benton quipped. Hadji passed the glow rod up to Race who headed the line.
"Much better," Race mumbled. They followed the vent for a long time, until finally, they came to a fork. "Right or left?" Race asked.
"Left," came a chorus of quiet voices.
"Left it is," Race said, turning in that direction. The tunnel took a sharp turn, and suddenly, there was another vent cover in front of them with light coming through. "Hold up," Race ordered. He passed the glow rod back to Benton so no one on the other side of the vent might chance to see it. Then Race moved forward to peer through the thin slats in the grate and see where they were.
It appeared the vent came out in a large room, the warehouse floor. He could see the ceiling far overhead. In front of the grate was a huge stack of crates and shipping boxes. Nothing else was visible, and he could hear nothing but the air in the circulation system. The spot appeared to be an excellent place to exit the vent.
"Cross your fingers," Race said. "I'm going to see if this tin lid will open." This grate, unlike the first, was just as large as the duct- three feet by three feet. An easy exit. Race grasped it tightly in his hands, and pressed against the cover. Amazingly, it came loose. It wasn't screwed on like he had feared. Race set the grate on the ground as quietly as possible and they all climbed out of the duct.
"Where do you suppose they put Jonny and Maggie," Jessie asked looking around the huge room from behind the boxes.
"There are two doors," Hadji said from atop a crate. "One on either side of the main floor."
"We should split up," Jessie said. "Two go one way, two the other. We can cover more ground that way."
"It's too dangerous to split up-" Race began.
"It would mean less time spent in this place," Hadji pointed out.
"And it makes the most sense," Dr. Quest put in. Race sighed.
"Alright, we'll split up," he relented.
"Shhh!" Hadji hissed. "Someone is coming." He ducked down behind the crates and boxes as several people were heard entering the warehouse work floor. They were talking as they went, and the Quest Team listened intently, trying to hear what they said.
"Hovand will be mad his kid is in a cell block," one man said to the others.
"Yeah, but at least he's out of the way. Can't cause trouble," said a second.
"Wonder what happened to Lenny and the chick?" a third, much younger sounding man said.
"Lenny can handle her," the first man said. After that, they were too far away for the Quest Team to hear. When they were gone, Dr. Quest spoke up.
"They came from that direction," Dr. Quest pointed to the right, "and from the sound of it, that's where we'll find Jonny and Maggie." Race sighed with relief. There was no reason for them to split up. Cautiously, the four of them and Bandit made their way, weaving among the shipping pallets, headed for the doors. Once through, they silently slipped down a corridor, then they turned down a dim corridor, finally coming to a stop at a bend. They rounded the corner, then stopped short when they spotted a groaning man attempting to get up off the floor.
"Hey!" he shouted the moment he spied them, "What the-?" Race rushed him, and within seconds he was out cold on the floor.
"I wonder what happened to him?" Jessie asked.
"Good question, but I don't want to hang around to find out," her father answered. "Let's go."
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Jack Hardy led Maggie and Price down twisting and turning corridors. He didn't want to take the usual avenues; by taking the back routes, they could avoid any encounters with the guards. He hoped. It was definitely longer, Jack knew, but it was less likely they would be found and recaptured.
"Are you sure you know where they were taken?" Price asked. "This place is a catacomb of cell blocks."
"I'm sure," Jack said, turning to him and leveling a hard gaze on him. "I've been here, and places like it, for twenty damn years." Price wisely remained silent. Jack shifted his attention back to leading the small party. "It's not much farther up ahead. Quiet now, in case the guards are still hanging around."
Maggie kept her hand tucked in her father's. With her other hand, she clutched tightly to Price's hand, so they wouldn't get separated. Price followed close behind her, carrying her shoes, which she had removed to eliminate the clicking noise they made on the cement floors.
Jack stopped at the next corner, and stood flat against the wall, completely out of sight. He tentatively peered around the corner. Everything was clear.
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The Quest Team systematically searched the maze of corridors, avoiding the guards as they went. All of them were aware that the longer they remained within the building, the higher the chances of being discovered. They had to find and rescue Maggie and Jonny, and fast. They understood clearly Price had disappeared along with Jonny and Maggie, but what wasn't clear was whether he had gone willingly or by force. Price was Connor Hovand's son. They couldn't trust him.
"Another cell block," Race whispered as they neared another branch in the maze of corridors. He was flat against the wall, out of sight of anyone who might be down there. Stealthily, he peered around the corner. Then he stepped out, motioning for the others to follow.
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Connor Hovand III looked up irritably as his conversation with Miss Amelia Trencher was interrupted. He gave the burly hired muscle a cool glare.
"I'm sorry to disturb you, Sir," the guard said. "We have a slight situation."
"What now?" Connor snapped with annoyance.
"A patrol reported an open vent on the outside of the building. They think we've got intruders." Mr. Hovand frowned.
"They think?" Connor hissed angrily. "Do you have something more concrete, or do you think I have time to deal with such petty issues?"
"Lenny, Sir," the guard continued. "He got himself licked by the girl. She got away, and she let the old man out." Connor swore.
"The incompetence around here is astounding," he complained. "Find them and lock them up again. Anything else?" The guard reluctantly nodded.
"Lenny saw the intruders, Sir. Four of 'em, and a dog. One was a red head girl." Connor swore again.
"Dr. Quest and his annoying people are here," Connor hissed. "It's got to be them." The guard didn't move. "Amelia," he said to Miss Trencher, "get those lazy, good for nothing security people to block all the exits and patrol the base. I need a team to accompany me to the cell block. That's where we'll find Quest and that's where we'll find Hardy." She nodded and ran off to do his bidding. He turned to the guard. "You, come with me." The guard gave an affirmative nod, and he followed Mr. Hovand from the room.
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Jonny and Devin had been quiet for a long time. At first they had waited, thinking Maggie would eventually be brought to a neighboring cell. They thought Price would be retrieved from the other cell. Neither had materialized, though, and Jonny and Devin wondered if they hadn't been sent to some other fate. Price wasn't so much a worry. He was Hovand's biological son and heir. But Maggie… the imagination provided plenty of horrific possibilities.
"Hey, Jonny," Devin said, breaking the silence.
"Yeah?" came the reply.
"What do you suppose happened to Maggie?" He had asked before, but asking again sure beat letting his imagination run wild.
"Beats me," Jonny replied, again. "I hope she's alright."
"Me, too," Devin said. They fell quiet again. "Jonny," Devin called softly in the same low tones as before.
"Yeah?" Jonny replied.
"How do you know my sister? Are you… related to Benton Quest?"
"Yeah," Jonny replied. "He's my dad."
"Laura said he's her half-brother. So you're Maggie's cousin," Devin said. There was a moment of silence. "I guess that makes you my cousin, too."
"Yeah, it does," Jonny responded. They were silent again. Preoccupation didn't breed good conversation. Excited barking suddenly filled the cell block, echoing off the concrete walls, amplifying the sound. Devin jumped up to look through his window, and Jonny was standing at his own. "Bandit!" Jonny exclaimed as a little black and white moving object came tearing down the hall.
"Jonny!" came excited shouts from both ends of the cell block corridor. Suddenly everyone froze, including the dog. Three people stood at one end, and four at the other.
"What the Sam Hill are you doing there?" Race exclaimed, gawking at Maggie, Price, and the stranger with them.
"Dr. Quest!" Maggie exclaimed, ignoring Race's comment. "How did you get here?"
"We came to rescue you," he answered, just as much amazed as she.
"Dad!" Jonny called. "Am I glad to see you." Benton looked to the cell window that Jonny was peering out of.
"Jonny, are you all right?" Dr. Quest asked.
"Fine, pop," Jonny replied. As he spoke, the strange, bedraggled man with Maggie and Price hurried to his cell door, keys dangling from his hand. "Who're you?" Jonny asked. Jack Hardy wasted no time with pleasantries. He immediately started trying keys in the lock. Jonny looked up and caught Maggie's eye. She smiled wanly.
"He's my dad," she said. "No tricks this time." That got a few awed stares.
"Devin, are you in here?" Price asked, looking around the block.
"Right here," Devin answered, sticking his fingers through the barred window.
"How did you get away, Maggie?" Jonny asked while Jack systematically tried key after key.
"I decided to give the guard a little taste of his own medicine," Maggie replied with a nervous giggle.
"So you would be responsible for the unconscious guard," Hadji deduced, coming out of his amazed shock.
"Yeah," Maggie said, glancing at Jack. "Me, and my dad." The Quest Team turned to look and the tall, gaunt, and grizzled man once again. He had finally succeeded in locating the correct key for the cell doors. Jonny bounded out of his cell, rejoicing in his regained freedom, and Bandit launched himself at Jonny, ecstatic to be reunited with his master. Jack immediately went to the next cell, and quickly let out Devin. The first thing Devin did when he was free was take hold of Maggie's hand and pull her into a hug. When he let go of her, Jack was standing in front of them with a smile on his face, the first in many years to be sure. Both Maggie and Devin reached out to him and pulled him into a family hug, reunited at last. The moment was bittersweet, Laura was not there, nor could she be again.
"I hate to break up this touching reunion," said a voice from behind the Quest Team, "but I'm afraid I have some unfinished business to attend to." Everyone looked to see Connor Hovand standing at one end of the corridor with a small army of guards around him. Bandit started to growl menacingly. Jonny scooped him up off the ground before the little dog could get into trouble.
"Father," Price said, barely managing to contain his anger. Connor Hovand ignored his son.
"Men, I want all of them. Now." His order was immediately acted upon.
"Move it!" Race commanded. They turned and fled. Hovand's men got off only a single shot before their quarry were safely around the corner. The shot served only to spur them on, running faster.
"No shooting!" Connor's voice echoed down the corridors. "You'll hit my son!"
Jack kept up with the others, but not for long. Years of inactivity, sitting in a cell day after day, had taken a toll on his physical abilities. Maggie watched as her father dropped farther and farther back, until he was behind her.
"Dad!" she called with worry, and turned to help him.
"Keep going, Maggie!" Dr. Quest called to her. "Race has him!" Maggie put her faith in Race Bannon to take care of her father, and let Price grab her hand, pulling her along as he ran past her.
Race literally picked Jack Hardy up off the ground to carry him on his back as he ran. He was shocked at how light the man was. Race figured Jack weighed less than Jessie, and she was the smallest among them. And he could feel some of Jack's ribs press into his back. Jack hadn't appeared so thin at first glance, his over-sized clothes gave a false impression, but now Race could tell the man was little more than a ragged skeleton.
They kept running, following Devin, who was trying his best to lead them to the main floor of the warehouse. He had an idea forming in his mind, a plan of escape, but he had to work it just right.
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Connor Hovand knew where they were headed and took the short route to the main floor. He wasn't going to break a sweat over those stupid, headache-causing nuisances. Reaching the main warehouse floor well ahead of anyone else, he climbed up a metal stairway to the foreman's office. From there he had a direct view of the entire floor. He fully intended to sit back and enjoy the show.
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Devin felt relieved when he saw the main warehouse floor dead ahead. The horde of security men trailing them was getting closer. They had had a terrifying moment when a second group of guards had tired to cut them off, but they had just managed to avoid getting caught. There wasn't time to check for traps, so Devin chanced it and bolted right through the doorway to the main floor, the others close on his heels. They met no opposition, for the moment. So Devin took cover among the crates and packing boxes along the wall, the others taking cover with him.
Race was surprised, and relieved, to see they were right in front of the grate they'd used to exit the ventilation system they'd used to access the building. He also noticed that the vent cover was in place, and he had purposely left it off before going in search of Jonny and Maggie. Their entrance point had been discovered, and quite likely, it had been sealed.
Race set Jack down on the floor against a crate, and Maggie knelt beside him, checking to make sure he was okay. She didn't have the chance to say anything when the gunshots began to ring through the warehouse. Jack pushed his daughter away and pulled the gun he'd taken and held it up to Dr. Quest. Race pulled his own weapon from a holster on his shoulder. It had come out of the black backpack he'd picked up early that morning. With two guns, they would at least be able to hold off the enemy until they could make their escape. Race peered over a crate and fired off a few return shots. A scream indicated he'd hit at least one man.
"They screwed the grate back on," Jessie said dismally as she tried to pry it off the opening in the wall. Jonny knelt beside her and pulled with her, but it had been securely attached.
"I guessed as much," Race said, turning toward them for a moment. "See if you can find something to loosen the screws with." Jack immediately started digging through his pockets. He came up with the set of keys he had used to unlock the cell doors. Jessie took them and held them up against the screws. When she found a key that fit into the groove on the head of the screw, it took only a few forced turns to loosen it.
"Good work, Jessie," Hadji cheered.
"Someone twist out the screws by hand once Jessie loosens them. It will go faster," Dr. Quest said. Maggie crawled over and stood on her knees beside Jessie. She started removing the loosened screws by hand.
While they worked on the grate, and Dr. Quest and Race kept the guards occupied, Devin was taking his idea and turning it into a workable plan. He had explored the warehouse when he'd first arrived, before anyone knew he was there. When he did, he discovered the crates and packing boxes on the main floor contained various kinds of explosives, among other things, and he knew how to set one of the explosives off. Which was exactly what he planned to do, now that they had a viable way out.
"What are you up to?" Price asked as he watched Devin pull things from a few nearby packing boxes.
"I'm going to set off these explosives," Devin told him pointing to the detonator switch he had just uncovered in the box. Hadji and Jonny crowded in, ready to get a piece of the action.
"Slammin!" Jonny said.
"Explosives would explain why they aren't firing directly at us," Race commented. "I was wondering why they were shooting over our heads."
"Why are there explosives here?" Dr. Quest asked. "What is Connor Hovand doing with them?"
"Connor Hovand has been dealing in illegal weapons and explosives for decades," Jack spoke up. "Laura's been investigating him for years."
"Here," Devin said, shoving a coil of thin wires into Price's hands, "hold this."
"How do you know how to use this stuff?" Price asked as his adopted brother carefully prepared the charges.
"Remember my trip to Guatemala?" Price nodded. "They were using this stuff to blast rock for a highway. I was helping clear away the rubble from the blasts, and I picked up a few things. Okay, it's ready now. Let's go set them."
"Hey, Race," Jonny said. "Do you think you can distract them while we rig up the explosives?"
"No problem," Race replied. He took a few shots as the four boys stealthily moved out to plant the explosives.
Jonny and Devin slid across the smooth cement floor on their stomachs, army style, carefully making their way to the center walkway of the main warehouse floor. Once there, Jonny helped Devin slip the little charges of explosives into an open crack in the floor. Devin attached the wires connected to the detonator, and set the switch. Hadji, who had been told how to set the charges, took Price with him. They set theirs in another crack that was located several feet off the main walkway. It would be the secondary explosion. By the time they got back, Jessie and Maggie had nearly finished removing the screws. There were only two left, and they rushed to get them out.
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To be continued…
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