'hmmmph…… Who's cooking bacon?' Jessie thought as she rolled over from her previous position on the couch. When she opened her eyes she quickly regained her senses of her surroundings of being in the living room on the couch, and missing the person that she had fallen asleep with. 'Jonny's cooking? I didn't know he could cook.'
Sitting up on the couch she quickly noticed both Mariah and Carrie stirring from their sleep but missing the other males that had slept with them on their respective places. "Where did the guys go?" Carrie whispered in between a couple of yawns and stretching. Jessie nodded towards the kitchen and said. "I don't know but it smells like someone is cooking breakfast, so maybe we should check there first." As Jessie stood and wrapped a the blanket she had been sleeping under around her she walked into the kitchen to find Steven standing in front of the stove. "Good morning ladies. I'm making omelets if you want any." He said after he had noticed the entrance of the three young ladies." Mariah sat down at the table and looked around the asked. "Where are Jonny and Anthony?"
Steven walked over to the table with three glasses and a gallon of Orange juice setting the down on the table in front of each girl he smiled and said. "Race and Dr. Quest woke us up about an hour ago and said that they wanted to chat after we had breakfast and got ready. So Jonny is in the shower right now, and Anthony is walking Bandit while I cooked breakfast." Carrie Mariah and Jessie just yawned and smiled as they took turns pouring juice into their glasses. "I wasn't sure if you guys drank coffee, but I am making some for us guys if you want any." Steven continued as he walked back to the stove and continued to work on preparing the food.
The kitchen was quiet for a couple minutes until the door leading outside opened and a very energetic Bandit came bounding inside and straight into Jessie's lap. "Hold on Bandit you know your not allowed to do that." Anthony smirked as he limped in after the small dog. "Don't worry about it Anthony. I usually let Bandit sit with me and get some scraps when eating. Just don't let Dr. Quest or Jonny know, ok." Jessie replied as she softly scratched Bandits right ear. "Who's talking about me?" came a husky voice behind Jessie. "Nothing. Don't worry about it Hotshot." Jessie said. She then ushered Bandit off her lap and turned to face Jonny. She smiled as she noticed his hair was still damp and he was wearing only a pair of sweatpants that allowed her to see his chest, and unfortunately allowed her to see the huge bruise on his ribs from the previous day.
"Ok, whatever you say." He replied with a smile and then continued. "How are you ladies feeling?" Carrie spoke first before Jessie could say anything. "I'm fine, Jessie looks her normal glorious morning self, and Mariah probably hasn't woken up yet. But really we should be asking you boys that question." Anthony quickly frowned and started to walk slowly with a definite limp towards the living room and quietly said. "Im fine, but its my turn to shower and I'm not hungry so I am gonna go do that now." On that note he walked towards the stairs. Jonny noticing the change in the rooms mood smiled and said. "I feel better, just sore. Oh and don't worry about him, he just doesn't like it when people worry about him." "Why is that? Mariah asked as she put her now empty glass on the table. "Anthony isn't used to having people look after him, he's used to it being the other way around and him being the one too look after everyone else." Steven stated as he came walking towards the table with plates and a skillet. "Oh my bad." Was Carrie's response. "Ehh don't worry about it, he'll be fine after the shower. Anyways breakfast is served." Steven said as he placed the skillet in the middle of the table.
30 minutes later.
Anthony had come back down to the kitchen after his shower and had joined the others drinking only coffee which Jessie had made fun of him for asking how he got so big if he didn't eat. After consuming the Omelets and Bacon which were surprisingly good to the girls, and numerous cups of coffee and juice the girls had excused themselves to go take their respective showers and the guys sat in the living room talking about sports when Race walked in.
"Where are the girls?" he asked to no one in particular. "Oh they are changing and taking showers." Jonny replied while flipping the TV to a morning news channel. Race just snorted and walked to the foot of the stairs and yelled. "Girls come down here, the Doc and I need to talk to everyone, and so the showers can wait." Jonny Anthony and Steven looked at each other with a concerned look. Race noticing that decided to let their thoughts stew as the three girls came walking downstairs attempting to get back into various stages of dress. Race motioned for everyone to follow him as he lead them into Dr. Quests office.
Dr. Quest was looking at a screen as they all entered and turned and smiled a warm and generous smile. 'Uh oh that look either means we are in deep shit, or he has some kind of news for us.' Jonny thought to himself and then looked over at Jessie who was having the same thoughts in her head. "Good morning everyone, I hope you are all feeling better, and refreshed?" Dr. Quest asked looking at them all. The six young adults nodded and smiled at Benton as he motioned for them to sit down while he did. Jonny and Jessie had worried looks on their faces that their friends we quickly catching on too and having similar looks. Dr. Quest and Race noticed the looks and simply smiled at each other. Race then spoke up and said. "Relax everyone you aren't in trouble. At least not yet." All of the kids breathed a sigh of relief and turned to Dr. Quest who stood up and walked over to the screen he had been looking at when he first walked in.
"Kids the reason I wanted to talk to you about is that I actually need your help with a huge project I am working on." He then turned to them and hit a button on a remote and the screen quickly changed to a map of Europe and Russia. "You see about a week or so ago there was a huge explosion in Kiev at a closed former USSR laboratory. The cause is undetermined but the Ukrainian authorities have asked for my help since the lab used to focus on alternative energy sources that I had been working on in the 1980's." Dr. Quest motioned at the screen as it changed into an image of a blown out building that to Jonny seemed like it had been do to a nuclear blast. "I want your help, though I know its summer and you are all not experts because I simply cant do this alone. Jessie you're a biology major so maybe you can help me in that respect. Mariah you are an Anthropology major so with some knowledge of Archeology you can do some digging, and Carrie you can help me with the environmental impact as well as help with the impact of the materials they were using in the fuels."
Each of the girls nodded at Dr. Quest and then looked at Race who had walked over next too the boys. Jonny decided that it was probably good to speak up since he felt out of place. "Dad. Why do you need us guys. We aren't science majors at all, infact we wouldn't know what to do since I'm a Business major, Steven is a Psych Major, and Anthony is a History major." Dr. Quest nodded and then motioned at Race who then spoke up. "Well Jonny to be honest you three are muscle. Each of you is an expert in martial arts, and after yesterday the Doc and I both agree we could use those skills as back up. Plus Anthony with his history research background might be able to help me as I poor through official documents on the lab on what happened, Steven with a Psych major is our bloodhound who is to read the Ukrainian officials during interviews and at the sight to see what he can get outta them. And well Jonny you with your nose for trouble will be encharge of that department." Jonny groaned as everyone smiled at the comment and Race continued. "I talked to Phil at the agency and he agrees with me that not everything seems right or normal here. This place hasn't been in use for over 10 years and now it blows up? I've been in the old USSR both before and after it collapsed and my instincts tell me that this is a red herring, so the more back up and help for me and the doc the better."
Anthony Jonny and Steven pndered this for a minute before Anthony spoke first. "A couple of questions. First I don't have a passport and I have no Idea who does, so how can we even get into another country? Second why would they cover this up? Third how are a couple of banged up 21 year olds supposed to help you out with security? I'm no security person. And Lastly what Agency are you talking about?"
Dr. Quest turned to Race who nodded at him and then Dr. Quest quietly walked to the door and closed it and then turned to the kids who had turned to face him. "The agency Race speaks of is I-1. As you know Race was placed here at first as Jonny and my bodyguard well he worked for, and still does unofficially, I-1 which is a deeper and much more covert government intelligence and special operations agency than the military, FBI, CIA, or NSA." Dr. Quest stated quietly. On hearing that four faces quickly had all color drain out of them as they looked at the other two who simply smiled and blushed. "Jessie, I just thought you dad was with the FBI or at most the CIA, not that deep or serious." Carrie said astonished.
Race spoke up feeling the need to put nerves at ease, and said. "Relax everyone, I retired officially but still help when they need it, and no you wont be killed now, Phil Corvin the head of I-1 agreed to allow us to tell you all this." Anthony and Steven quickly exhaled and felt their strength return to them while still looking at Jonny who simply blushed and tried to avoid their looks.
"Anyways. To answer your other questions Anthony, I-1 and the Feds have all already made passports for you all and the Ukrainian government will be contacted to inform them of your joining us if you agree. And how can you in your state help since you aren't like Race, well Jonny has spent years learning from Race and I plan on the trip over to log you into Questworld with Jonny and Race who will train you as fast as they can, and also if necessary you will be armed." Dr. Quest said as Anthony and Steven looked from Jonny to Race and then to Dr. Quest having already experienced Questworld at school when Jonny had set it up at the house for them to play with. "And finally they would cover it up because they don't want anyone to know what really was going on, or to let people know that all this time they were in danger." Dr. Quest finished.
Steven then spoke and asked. "So basically we are helping honestly with the investigation, while also spying and snooping on what really was going on, for our own government, right?" Dr. Quest laughed a slight laugh and nodded his head in reply as he said. "Basically yes, that is true. You do not have to do this, but if you say no then you must never speak of what you heard to anyone, understand?" all six nodded in agreement. "Good. Now who is in?" Dr. Quest asked. "I am" Jessie and Jonny said almost simultaneously. "I'm down." Was Anthony's response. "Hell yea I'm in, never would let these guys leave me behind." Was Stevens response with a smile. Carrie and Mariah looked at each other before Carrie said. "Hey lets do it. I've always wanted to go to Russia." Mariah continued to think for a minute before she spoke up. "Sounds incredibly dangerous, but I am in. I love adventure." Dr. Quest smiled and looked at Race who though showing his serious agent face Benton knew was smiling underneath.
Jonny stood up and walked over to the screen they had earlier been looking at and then turned to Dr. Quest and said. "Ok dad, now that we are all in, brief us on what is up there." Dr. Quest walked over to the screen next to Jonny and to Jonny's surprise turned it off and put his arm on his sons shoulder. "Relax Jonny that will come later. First things first, we are leaving in 4 hours, so everyone needs to pack for the trip, while Race and I ready the Dragonfly and the equipment. So Jonny I want you to take one of the speedboats to the mainland with everyone and go to the mall with the company credit card, and get professional looking clothes to use on the trip if you don't have any. And that means a suit for the guys and business attire for the girls." Jonny groaned at that last comment, while the girls smiled. "Shopping Trip!" Jessie, Carrie, and Mariah yelled in glee. "Hold on everyone." Race said. "You are pressed for time, so boys here's the name of an express Tailor and girls don't go crazy! I want you all at the hanger and ready to go in 4 hours or you will all be in deep trouble."
Six Heads quickly nodded as they got up and quickly piled out of the office and towards the front door.
4 Hours Later……………
Race and Dr. Quest had just finished loading the backup Quest Rover into the Dragonfly along with two of the Honda CBR 600 F4i's, for transportation while on the ground. Race also had placed off to one side of the plane a case carrying 3 Glock pistols, a HK pistol, an old Colt .45, and 4 M4A1 Assault Rifles. And then had loaded and checked his own personal P99 pistol putting it in the back of his pants. 'I hope this trip to Kiev isn't like the last one I had, but if it is I want to be ready for a small war.' He thought walking down the ramp and then stood next to Dr. Quest as the 6 younger members of the team and a small dog came into the hanger.
Race had to contain his laughter as he noticed Jonny in a Black suit with a white suit and blue tie, Steven in a dark gray suit, blue shirt and striped tie, and Anthony in a nearly black gray suit, black shirt, and silver tie. He also noticed that the girls all were in very nice blouses and Jessie was wearing dress pants while Mariah and Carrie were both in skirts. "You all look perfect and very professional, but you didn't need to change into them until we are close to landing." Dr. Quest commented with a snicker. Race just shook his head and motioned towards the planes ramp while saying. "Come on everyone. Get settled in, its time to get going." Race watched everyone enter as he followed, and though smiling could not shake the feeling in the back of his head where is instincts are, that something did not seem right about this trip.