The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest

Industry of Intrigue

By: Sapphire

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Chapter Seven: Ends and Beginnings

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Connor Hovand watched the boys as they slipped out to the walkway. He slammed his fist down hard onto the arm of his chair when he realized what they were up to. They weren't supposed to use his own weapons against him. He jumped from his seat, already running, and flew out of the office and down the metal stairs.

"You idiots!" he roared. "They're setting the explosives! Get them now or we're finished!" The contingent of guards moved out. As the first men emerged from their cover, two were hit by opposing bullets, and the rest dove back for cover. Mr. Hovand was irate.

"Idiots! Cowards!" he shouted at them. "Didn't you hear me? They have explosives! They will use them if you don't get out there and stop them!" The horde of security personnel, which had grown with the arrival of reinforcements, charged at the refugees behind the crates.

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"Got it!" Maggie called as the last screw came out of the vent. She and Jessie hurriedly removed the cover. Hadji hurried forward and climbed in with the glow rod, ready to kick out the outside vent cover in case it, too, was replaced tightly over the vent opening. Benton was the next to duck into the opening, and he helped Jack through the tunnel after Maggie and Price handed Jack in to him. Bandit was sent into the duct next.

"They're coming!" Jonny gave the warning, "dozens of them!" Devin poked his head above the crates and watched them come. He watched carefully as the guards approached the spot where he and Jonny had planted the first set of explosives. Jessie manned the detonators.

"Now!" Devin shouted to Jessie as the men came upon the first set of explosives. The group ducked down as Jessie threw the switch. A deafening explosion filled the warehouse, it's reverberating echo just as bad as the initial sound. The building shuddered as if an earthquake had hit. Devin and Jonny were thrown back toward the wall a few feet, but Jessie managed to stay where she was next to the switch. Everyone else dropped to the floor.

Large cracks began to spread along the smooth cement floor of the warehouse. It reminded Maggie of the way cracks spread on a pond in early spring as the ice broke up. They all stood to see what damage had been done, and if Hovand's men were still coming.

"Why do you think I pay you?" Mr. Hovand could be clearly heard screaming. "Get them! Now!" They watched as the other men charged.

"Jessie! Throw the other switch!" Jonny yelled. Everyone ducked as the second explosion was set off. This time, the warehouse building didn't stop shaking.

"We set too big of a charge," Devin said in an urgent tone. "The whole place is going to come crashing down!" As if on cue, the web-like cracks began to spread in the floor, and a large mid-section of the floor fell away into the underground levels as an enormous ceiling lamp came crashing down on top of it. All of them watched it cave in, mesmerized, and then another section began to fall away, the concrete crumbling from the support structure beneath it. As it crashed down, another section separated from the rest of the floor. Sections were crashing down all around the edge of the hole. Hovand's men scattered, shouting about escaping the warehouse.

When another section fell away, it took a piece of floor with it that extended right under Jessie's feet. "Jessie!" Jonny and Race yelled as she started to drop out of sight with a scream. Devin and Jonny lunged for her, and each caught one of her arms. They saved her from her fall, and easily pulled her up onto the floor.

"Thanks, guys," Jessie said recovering quickly from her narrow escape. "Let's get out of here." Her words were punctuated by another large light falling not too far from them. The others complied. When another section of floor began to separate nearby, Price pushed Maggie down on her hands and knees and into the duct. He ducked in right after her. He looked back to see Jessie, Jonny, and Devin right behind him. They hurried down the dark tunnel toward the outer vent. Race came last, bringing up the rear.

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Hadji and Dr. Quest had managed to kick open the vent, and get Jack Hardy through the small opening, no thanks to Bandit who wouldn't stop barking at their feet. They wondered what could be taking the others so long, and were worried when both rounds of explosives went off. They were relieved when they peered into the tunnel and saw Maggie coming toward them. Price was right behind.

"Hurry," Maggie called to them, "Help me out." She carefully, but quickly, started head first out the vent opening. Dr. Quest held onto her as he pulled her the rest of the way out. As soon as she was through, Price came feet first. He and Dr. Quest helped Jessie, then Jonny, then Devin, and lastly Race from the little opening while Maggie and Hadji walked with Jack between them toward the van that was parked a block away.

Once everyone else was clear of the duct, and all were accounted for, they made a run for the van, easily catching up to Maggie, Hadji, and Jack. The group stopped dead in their tracks when they heard a deafening crack. Spinning around, they watched as the warehouse fell apart and collapsed, as if in slow motion. Billowing clouds of dust and debris were filling the air, and the escapee's could hear the first faint sound of the authorities' sirens. There was a collective sigh of relief.

"Looks like it's all over, kids," Race said with finality.

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Once the authorities arrived, the whole area was suddenly swarming with police, fire fighters, paramedics, and other emergency personnel. Even the fed's and the CIA showed up. Maggie, Devin, Jonny, and Price watched with satisfaction as Amelia Trencher and the other people in suits were taken away in handcuffs. Most of the building's security people were also led away by police. The unlucky few were taken from the scene in body bags. They were surprised that there hadn't been more casualties.

The Quests, Maggie, Price, Devin, and Jack were questioned along with anyone else on the scene, and Dr. Quest disclosed information about the documents they had discovered in Laura Hardy's secret hiding place. He told the CIA agents he suspected they contained valuable evidence against Connor Hovand and Hovand Industries. He told them exactly where to find it, and they went after it right away, assuring Dr. Quest that everything would be taken care of.

In the midst of all that activity, paramedics had loaded Jack Hardy into an ambulance and taken him to a local hospital. Maggie and Devin had been allowed to accompany him to the hospital by the officer in charge at the scene.

When the Quest Team arrived in the emergency waiting room, they found Devin and Maggie sitting on a bench along a wall. Maggie was crying into Devin's shoulder, and Devin had a comforting arm draped over her shoulders. Jonny and Dr. Quest slowly approached the two. Price hesitated a moment, but decided to include himself among the family, as he was Devin's adopted brother. The others hung back, giving Maggie and Devin a little privacy in their grief.

"What's wrong?" Jonny asked. He sat down on the opposite side of Maggie.

"Dr. Stevens said Jack won't make it- said he's too malnourished," Devin answered for her. "Most of his internal organs are so deteriorated, they're at failure state. He figures the only thing that kept Jack from having a heart attack or something today was his determination to see Maggie and I escape alive."

"I'm so sorry," was all Dr. Quest could say.

"We were sitting with him earlier," Devin continued. "Jack went delirious. He started to- I don't know- relive Laura's death or something. Connor made Jack watch when he killed her, you know." Maggie couldn't hold back her sobs when he said that, and Devin instantly regretted bringing it up. The looks Devin received from the others were both grim, and horrified. He understood their feelings completely. Jonny rested a reassuring hand on Maggie's shoulder. Jessie produced a tissue and came forward to hand it to her. Maggie made the effort to compose herself.

"Thank-you," Maggie said with a sniffle. "I'll be all right."

"What about you?" Price asked Devin. "You okay?"

"I don't know," Devin said. "I haven't had time to think about it." Hadji and Jessie pulled up another bench, and they and Price took a seat.

"I'm going to speak with Dr. Stevens," Benton Quest said. "I'll see if there's anything else we can do, other than wait."

"I'll go with you, Doc," Race volunteered. The young people watched them go to the nurse's station, all remaining silent as none of them could think of anything to say. A few minutes had gone by before Dr. Quest and Race returned.

"Good news, everyone," Benton said. "Jack has been moved out of emergency into intensive care. He's in a private room. Maggie, you and Devin can go in and see him." Those sitting stood simultaneously, and followed as Benton and Race led them to the intensive care unit. A young, pretty, blond nurse met them with a smile as they approached the nurses station.

"Can you tell me what room Mr. Jack Hardy is in, please?" Maggie asked her. "I'm his daughter."

"Of course," said the nurse. "Dr. Stevens said you and your brother are allowed to see him right away. Everyone else must stay here."

"Can Dr. Quest come, too?" Maggie asked. "He's my uncle. I want him with us." The nurse thought a moment, then nodded. She motioned them to follow behind her, and they went. Inside the hospital room, Jack Hardy was lying motionless on the hospital bed. He was hooked up to all sorts of machines and devices. Maggie almost cried at the sight.

"Who's there?" Jack's faint voice inquired.

"It's me, Maggie," his daughter answered. "Devin is here, too."

"Good," Jack said with a tired sigh. He looked over at them, his eyes focusing and refocusing until he could see them clearly. "And you," he said, his gaze resting on Dr. Quest. "Who are you?"

"This is Dr. Benton Quest," Maggie spoke up. "He's Mom's-"

"Her brother," Jack said with a nod. "She mentioned you, before…" Jack trailed off and shook his head slightly. He didn't have to finish. They knew Laura had told him as much as she could before she was killed. Maggie and Devin took a seat in a pair of chairs at his bedside. Jack reached a hand toward his daughter, and Maggie took it. She noticed, for the first time, how very thin it was, and how very frail her father looked. In her shock at finding him alive, she had missed how sickly he was. In a way Jack seemed content, having his son and daughter with him at last, yet, there was still the underlying grief he had for his wife.

Dr. Stevens quietly entered the room, and Benton took the opportunity to speak with him for a while. Dr. Stevens repeated what he had told Maggie and Devin, and it wasn't good.

Maggie and Devin stayed beside their father until Jack fell asleep. Then they followed Dr. Quest from the room at his quiet insistence. They walked the short distance to the waiting room to join the others.

"I hate seeing him like that. What did he ever do to deserve this?" Maggie asked. "Why does he have to die like this?" Dr. Quest looked at his niece sadly. Maggie's eyes were full of tears. Devin looped an arm around her waist and gave her a reassuring squeeze.

"I think you need to rest," Dr. Quest said gently. "This is a lot to deal with right now, and after everything you've been through in the last few weeks. I'd like for you to go back to the hotel for a while."

"I'm not leaving my father," Maggie told him stubbornly.

"Jack isn't going anywhere," Dr. Quest countered. "Consider how he'll feel when he sees you exhausted and distraught." She looked at the floor.

"Maggie, go," Devin said. "I'll stay here with him."

"No," Maggie said, clutching at Devin's hand. "I don't want to leave you, either."

"Both of you go to the hotel," Race spoke up. "I'll take you, and the Doc and Jonny can stay here with your dad." He glanced at Dr. Quest. Benton nodded.

"Yeah," Jonny said. "If you think about it, he's my uncle, and Dad's brother-in-law. We're family." Maggie wavered.

"Yeah, we'll go," Devin said. "Okay, Maggie?" Maggie finally agreed.

"Just for a few hours," she said. "Then I'm right back here. I don't want to be away from my Dad any longer than necessary. Devin and I just found him, and we don't have long to be with him."

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Location: Ravenwood Care Center, Camden, Maine

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Jack sat watching those around him. He kept a careful eye on his kids, not wanting to let them out of his sight ever again. He'd spent enough of his life apart from them. His gaze slowly wandered the room. This place was far nicer than the hospital had been, even if it was a well disguised nursing home. He was content to live out the rest of his life here, though, because his children would be allowed to live with him in this apartment-like home.

His health was a step from death, he knew, but he was determined to hang on for as long as he could. It wasn't because he wanted to get to know his children- though he desperately wished he had the time to do so- but because he wanted his children to know him. For the rest of their lives they would live with the knowledge of his twenty-year confinement, and the only memories they would have of him would consist of him as an invalid. He wanted them to have more than that to take with them. He wanted them to know how he was before Connor Hovand changed everything.

Maggie and Matthew's future was all that mattered to him. As he glanced around the room, his gaze wandered from person to person, studying the people that had become important to his children's lives. Jonny Quest was the first his gaze encountered. The boy reminded him of Laura, the way he had of looking into you, rather than at you. Benton Quest proved to be a good friend; he was more than generous to him and his children, offering assistance in everything from money to emotional support. Jack wished life could have been different, that he could have known his wife's brother under normal circumstances. Hadji reminded Jack of himself; intelligent and the voice of reason. Jack sometimes wondered if the Quests truly understood the wisdom the young Indian had. He shrugged it off, knowing that Hadji's wisdom may be overlooked, but the young man was no where near being under-appreciated.

Jack had grown to admire Race Bannon and his daughter, Jessica. Race, who was employed by Dr. Quest (though Jack strongly suspected he was at one time a government agent- the man had too many of Laura's 'agent quirks' not to be), saw his job in more personal terms. This wasn't just a job- this was a rather unusual extended family, and Race Bannon had included Maggie, Matthew, and himself within it. Jessie was, in many ways, cut from the same cloth as her father. She and Maggie seemed to be forming a solid friendship, and Jack knew the value of friends like these. Laura had taught him that.

Jack did not, however, appreciate having Connor Hovand's son around, but the young man was Matthew's adopted brother, and he had proven beyond a doubt where his loyalties lay. It wasn't fair to judge a son by his father, Jack reminded himself. Reluctantly, he also had to admit his wariness about the young man had more to do with Price's interest in Maggie than anything, but the interest seemed mutual. It was just difficult to reconcile the baby he remembered from twenty years ago with the grown woman she'd become. Despite his lingering thoughts, life was still happening around him, and he brought himself back to it.

"There's a few things that I can't quite figure out," Jonny was saying.

"What is most pressing upon your mind, my friend?" Hadji prompted.

"Who made the mysterious phone call to Maggie at the Quest Compound? How did he know where she was? How did he get the number?"

"That's quite a few questions, Jonny," Dr. Quest said with a laugh.

"The first one's easy," Devin said with a knowing smile. "I was the caller."

"You?" Maggie said surprised. "I thought Dad somehow did that."

"Nope," Devin continued, "I snooped through Connor's things. That's how I found out about Laura, and where to find her. I started to get the picture when I found the explosives and weapons in the warehouse. She filled me in on the rest once I located her. She knew about her half-brother for years, but she didn't want to drag him and his family into this mess. But she was didn't want Maggie alone if something happened to her, so Laura had her will drawn up with her half-brother as executor and Maggie's guardian. We both agreed Maggie would go straight to Dr. Quest for help when she saw the will, and we hoped we'd find her there. Laura told me the number, and I made the phone call. That's when I was caught."

"I wonder how my sister got the number for the house," Dr. Quest mused.

"She was CIA," Jessie pointed out. That was enough said on that score. "Dr. Quest?" Jessie asked, "What was in the files that Maggie found hidden in the house where she and her mom lived?"

"Concrete proof of Connor Hovand's weapons trade in the international black market," Dr. Quest replied. "They were very cleverly disguised, but these documents she managed to secure were preliminary documents, drafts yet to be cleaned up to look like valid sales of equipment produced by Hovand Industries."

"Something is not making sense," Hadji said thoughtfully. "I looked through those documents, many times. They were much too recent, more than ten years too recent, to have started all of this twenty years ago."

"Hovand slipped up twenty-one years ago, just before Laura took a leave of absence at the end of her pregnancy," Jack said. "He lost some kind of incriminating paperwork. Back then, the government was well aware he was selling explosives and weapons to foreign terrorists. Laura was the one who discovered the connection to Hovand Industries and particularly, Connor Hovand. But he had a contact within the CIA, a double agent who identified Laura to him. Hovand firmly believed Laura had taken the papers when she dropped out of his sight. Laura didn't, though. And the reason he didn't kill Laura at the hospital, along with the doctor, is because he hoped he could get her to give those missing papers back." He looked around at the small group listening avidly to his tale. "I take it Laura finally did get the dirt on Hovand?" Dr. Quest gave Jack an affirmative nod. "Good. She deserved the satisfaction of that, at the very least."

"Wait a minute," Jonny said, confused. "If Laura got the proof she needed to take Hovand down, then why didn't she do it? Why did she hide it?"

"Because," Race said, "if she'd turned her proof over to authorities, her husband and her son would be dead before they could take Hovand into custody. She hid the proof to buy herself some time to find Jack and Matthew. After they were safe, then she'd nail Hovand."

"But he found her first," Jonny finished. Race nodded solemnly. Maggie stood, and leaned over the back of her father's chair. She put her arms around him comfortingly. Jack reached a hand up to cover one of hers. They both missed Laura very much, but they appreciated everything Laura had gone through on their behalf. Theirs was a grief Devin just couldn't share. Devin felt cheated in a way, and slightly jealous that Maggie had had so many years with their mother. He had known his birth mother only briefly, and that's all he would ever have. His gaze connected with Jack's. Jack could sense his son had more on his mind.

"You have more questions," Jack said knowingly. Devin nodded.

"What happened that day at the hospital, when Maggie and I were born?" Devin asked. "Why didn't Connor take her, instead of me? Why didn't he take both of us?" Devin felt both Maggie and Price watching him. They understood what he was asking, and he understood their surprised reaction. He may have been taken from his real parents, but… "I know I had Mother, and Price, but… I want to know why. Why did it happen the way it did? I just… I just need to know." Suddenly, he could tell, it was all right with Maggie and Price both.

"I'm not certain," Jack said, thinking back to that day. "Maggie was safely delivered and in the care of the maternity ward nurses by the time I arrived at the hospital. I stopped to see my new daughter for just a moment, then I went to be with my wife who I was told was having trouble delivering the second twin." He grasped Maggie's hand firmly, his expression turning grim. "When I walked into the delivery room, the doctor was dead, Laura was unconscious, and the nurse was putting a diaper on my son. She was clearly surprised to see me," Jack commented. Then he said, "she was Amelia Trencher." That announcement got a few gasps.

"My father's secretary?" Price exclaimed, shocked.

"Oh, yes," Jack confirmed. "But she didn't kill the doctor. That was Connor himself. I didn't know he was there until he put a gun to my head and forced me to leave my family. That night I got Matthew back when Hovand told me to take care of him. I did, for a few years at least, before Matthew was taken away." He looked at his son. "You were supposed to die that night," he said. "Abigail Hovand saved your life, and she didn't even know it. For that I will always be in her debt."

"That's what she said," Devin replied quietly. "Laura, I mean. We talked a little before they found me. She- she gave me permission to think of Abigail as my mother. I think I needed that from her." Devin looked up at Jack earnestly. "I guess I needed that from you, too." He glanced at Maggie. "And you."

"You don't need my permission," Jack said. "How you feel about Abigail Hovand doesn't make you more or less my son." Devin nodded.

"Your mother is wonderful," Maggie said with an encouraging smile. "She clearly loves you very much, and she's definitely proud to call you her son." Jonny winked at Maggie with a crooked grin, and the word 'overzealous' came to mind. Maggie laughed. "I think she and I will get along just fine." Devin smiled back, relieved. Jack smiled, too. He might not be long for this world, but his kids were going to be just fine.

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Location: Quest Compound, Maine

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August 1999

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Maggie was standing on the lawn beside her uncle and cousin. There was a small gathering of people there, all dressed in black, mourning the death of Jack Hardy. Maggie was sad, of course, but she wasn't letting the grief overwhelm her. She had known her father wouldn't live long, and was glad he had managed to hang onto life until the end of the summer. She had gotten to spend his last days with him, and with Devin, and she would remember it with happiness the rest of her life.

"So what do you plan to do now your father is gone?" Benton asked her. "You know you always have a home here with us."

"Thank you for the offer, but I think I'll go back to school. Mrs. Hovand lives in Connecticut, now that she's sold her husband's company. Price is going into the Air Force. He has a degree in engineering, and I guess he's found a good opportunity to use it with the Air Force. Abigail will be lonely without him, so Devin has decided to move near Abigail. I want to be near my brother, so I've found a school in Connecticut."

"I see you've put a lot of thought into this," Dr. Quest said. "I hope your plans bring you happiness for a change." Maggie smiled.

"I think it's for the best," Maggie said.

"You be sure and let me know if there's anything you need," Dr. Quest said. "I'm the executor of the trust your mother left you, and as it turns out, your father had some money stuck away for Matthew, too, and he's put those funds in my care, as well."

"We're fine, Dr. Quest," Maggie said, "But thank-you."

"Maggie," Dr. Quest said, "I'm your uncle, and you may call me Uncle Benton if you wish." Maggie smiled.

"I'll miss you, Uncle Benton, and Jonny, too." She hugged them both at once.

"Connecticut isn't that far," Jonny said. "You're going to visit on holidays and breaks, aren't you?"

"If that's an invitation, you can expect me for sure," Maggie said. "We're family, and I know exactly how important family is." Dr. Quest and Jonny hugged her again. And when Hadji joined them to see what all the hugging was about, he was the surprised recipient of yet another hug.

"I am not certain what that was for," Hadji said, hugging her back.

"It's a little bit of a thank-you," Maggie said, stepping back, "but mostly it's because you're a good friend as well as my cousin." Hadji looked surprised, but he slowly smiled. He'd never felt less of a son to Dr. Quest than Jonny, but it was nice when that was recognized by people outside the immediate family.

"You are welcome," Hadji replied. "Know that you have my deepest sympathies for the loss of both your parents. But know also that I am happy to be part of the family you have gained." Maggie smiled, perhaps a little sadly, but genuinely happy none the less. A few minutes later, Maggie left them to speak with other guests. Dr. Quest, Jonny, and Hadji watched her go, expressions mixed with worry and affection on all their faces.

"She'll be fine," Race said, joining them, Jessie beside him. "Connor Hovand is dead, and a lot of trouble went with him to his grave."

"I don't know, Race," Jonny said dubiously. "They never confirmed it was his body they found in the warehouse's burnt ruins."

"Come on, Jonny," Jessie said with a roll of her eyes. "It had to be him. He was the only person unaccounted for. And he never came out."

"Still," Jonny said, "It's not impossible." Jessie clearly didn't believe him. Neither did anyone else. Jonny kept further thoughts to himself. Jessie left them a minute later to find Maggie. Maggie smiled when she saw her.

"How are you doing?" Jessie asked as they started walking toward the path that lead to the beach below the lighthouse. "I mean, how are you really feeling?"

"Honestly?" Maggie asked.

"Honestly," Jessie prompted. Maggie sighed.

"Uncertain, I guess," Maggie answered. "I don't know how things will turn out, but I'm going to do my best to make Devin and I a family. And I intend to make Uncle Benton and Jonny a part of it, too."

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To be continued in… Back from the Dead.

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