Manipulation
by Time Guardian

Chapter 7 - Strategies
-Quest Compound-

When they reached the compound later that evening, Hadji and Jessie went to the main house while Race followed Dr. Quest into the lighthouse.

Race whistled in appreciation when they reached the top of the lighthouse. What advancements he had seen from the doctor at Palm Key were surpassed here easily.

"You have been busy. The computer equipment you have here makes the lab you had in Palm Key look like a kid's toy box."

Dr. Quest placed the laptop on one of the wooden work tables and took a seat to the side as Race sat down in front of the unit. He powered on the laptop and tried a typing in a few commands before sliding the unit over to Dr. Quest in frustration.

"Impressive security. Password and encryption protection all the way around. It'll probably take a couple of hours for us to crack."

Dr. Quest sighed, pointing to a nearby computer panel. "We better get started then. Hook the laptop up to that interface on the panel and we will let my computer have a go at it."

Hadji came downstairs after showering and changing into his favorite pair of jeans and a black t-shirt. He tied his long black hair back to allow it to dry, then went into the living room.

He noticed Jessie sitting on the main sofa, taking in what looked like a black and white detective movie on the big screen television. The movie looked to be nearly over.

Not wanting to disturb her, Hadji took a seat in a nearby armchair. The flight from Bombay had been frantic and exhausting. If it were not for Pasha and the favors he pulled in order to get him on that flight, Hadji doubted that he would even be sitting here now.

From what his father had told him on the way home, it would probably take some time to crack the security on the laptop. He settled back and closed his eyes, intent on catching some sleep.

"What happened that day, Hadji?"
Race monitored the decryption process while Dr. Quest worked with some equipment in the far corner to pass the time.

After a half hour had passed, Race got to his feet and stretched. He noticed that Dr. Quest was still working on the same equipment.

"So What's the big project your working on this time, Benton?"

Dr. Quest looked up from his work. "A fully interactive virtual reality world that will allow us to work from within the computer. We will be able to conduct experiments in VR that are normally deemed dangerous in-

A loud beep from the computer interrupted him.

"Hmm, IRIS must have made some progress. Status of decryption IRIS?"

The smooth computer voice was quick to reply. "Level one decryption complete. Thirty percent of data now accessible. Shall I continue with Level two decryption?"

"Yes IRIS, also go ahead and show us the data decrypted thus far."

A panel inset into the counter slid back revealing a computer touch screen.

"Now let see what we here," Race mused as line after line of data came across the screen, "Looks like we got the email for the past week or so."

"Well at least we can get a trace off the IP addresses in the headers, but that usually takes time, especially if they do not want to be found. There's quite a few emails here and they look to be from the same source."

Dr. Quest started reading one of them, but when he finished his eyes grew cold.

Race noticed the change and leaned closer to the screen. "What is it?"

"Listen to this: 'Project progress excellent. Dr. Zin sends his compliments. New training regiment attached to this message. Keep up the good work. Father'
Hadji opened his eyes to find Jessie staring at him.

"What happened the day Jonny went missing? Dad refuses to speak about it and since I only got to visit you guys only once, I barely even remember him now."

"That is a day that I will never forget. Simply put, we were all distracted in one way or another, and someone took advantage of our distraction. Your father refuses to discuss it because he was incapacitated during the whole event and he feels like it was his fault."

Hadji could hear the disbelief in her voice. "How could he? No one saw this coming right?"

"We-were always at risk. I-1 agents kept a pretty tight hold over the lab in Palm Key. Dr. Quest discovered that Race was hit by a sleep dart , but instead of looking at this evidence, they discounted it, and made Race feel like he failed."

Hadji realized how bitter his voice sounded. He sat up straight and watched Jessie go over to the window and look out at the lighthouse in the distance.

He sighed. His tiredness allowed emotion to creep into his thoughts. "I miss him. We became fast friends the day we met in India. When Jonny was thought to have died, Dr. Quest sent me to school in India to keep me safe. I wanted to stay, but he told me that he didn't want to lose another son. I was so mad... he didn't realize that I was hurting too. I had just lost my brother after all."

Jessie looked back at Hadji. "With both of our dad's working together, they'll get him back. You'll see."
"Zin. I can't believe he would turn my own son against me. and it looks like he has help from someone calling himself 'father.'"

Dr. Quest shivered. He walked towards a window at the far side of the lab to look out the window. Outside, the turbulent ocean seemed as chaotic as his thoughts.
He thought once he knew who his opponent was, things would fall into place but instead, it only fueled his feelings of helplessness. The brainwashing his son must have went through for five long years-

Race's voice broke through his thoughts. "Benton, whoever set this up has put Jonny through the ringer. I just peeked at his training schedule and the stuff they are having him do would break most rookie agents in their first year at I-1. It's brainwashing pure and simple. Zin wants you dead for a reason, so we need a plan."

He turned around. "I promised my friend that I would lecture at the school, and that's what I am going to do-"

"but-"

Dr Quest held up a hand. "Let me finish. I want ALL of us there. Since Jessie spotted Jonny on campus, I know that is where he will try to strike at me next. I have a feeling whatever brainwashing Jonny has been through is not 100%, and if we can jar enough memories, maybe we can get him back. If what we are seeing here is true, Zin is going to be watching things from a distance while his man does the dirty work. If we muck up his plans, the last player in this drama should show up."

"That's a mighty big gamble."

"I'd like to call it instinct mixed in with a gut reaction. Race, you didn't see him jolt with recognition when I called out Bandit's name that night."

"You were also dodging a sword to your head."

Dr. Quest nodded ruefully. "True, though I believe this is the right track for us. We better get some sleep. I want to get there early tomorrow to prepare for trouble just in case."

He shut the laptop down, and they both exited the lab.
Jessie looked out the window, and noticed the light in the lighthouse had been turned off.

"Looks like our dads are done. Think we should press for details?"

Hadji stretched, got to his feet, and headed for the stairs.

"It is very late now, and if we are to be prepared for Jonny, we need to have all of our senses on alert. According to Dr. Quest, he has proven to be quite the assassin. I do not want to 'lose my head' before we try and un-brainwash him."

She gave a wry smile. "Point taken. Night Hadji."
Let the showdown begin...and find out the identity of "Father" - next time.

-ties muse to chair- I dare you to escape again! Muwhahahahaha!!!

Muse: --;; help???

Till next time,

Time Guardian