Spring Break in Bangalore
Disclaimers: I don't own any of the characters from The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest. They all belong to Hanna-Barbara. However, this story is mine, as are all the characters seen here that did not appear on the show.
Jessie Bannon stepped onto the airfield with her carry-on in one hand and her jacket in the other. It had been so cold when she'd left New York, but here in Bangalore, the breeze was hot against her skin. She smiled with pleasure and headed toward the Bangalore Airport complex. It was her first spring break since becoming a student at Columbia University, and she was ready to relax and spend a whole week not thinking about Early American Literature, Marine Biology, Calculus, Organic Chemistry or Political Science. Nope, she thought, I am not going to think about school until I go back to New York and that's that.
She strode across the airfield and entered the building. She stood for a moment, blinking as her eyes adjusted to the dim fluorescent lighting. The large airport was quite busy, with travelers from many continents coming and going. Somehow, it was busier than Jessie had expected. She'd never actually been in here before today since every other time she had visited, it had been in the company of the Quests, and they had always taken Dr. Quest's private jet. This time she had come alone, and full of the power of her new independence, she'd chosen to pay for the ticket with her savings, as befitted the self-reliant woman she was now. She wasn't so self-reliant that she wanted to take a taxi to the palace, however, and she was pleased to see a uniformed man of average height holding a sign that had Jessica Bannon printed on it in large black letters. Leave it to Hadji to leave nothing to chance. He was always so careful about everything he did. Even when they were children together, he had been the voice of reason, in direct contrast to Jonny's recklessness. Jessie approached the driver and introduced herself.
"Hi, I'm Jessica Bannon."
The brown-skinned man smiled and bowed. It was just a quick up-and-down movement, but felt a little strange to have someone bow to her. She supposed it was just something that royal servants did.
"What's your name?" She asked him.
"I am called Anand. Shall we get your suitcases?" Jessie nodded and went to the baggage claim with him. She located her two pieces of luggage fairly quickly. They were part of a set that matched her carry-on, and were made of rich burgundy leather with brass plates that had her initials engraved on them. Jessie's mother had given them to her as a going-away-to-college gift. Jessie had been touched by the symbolism of the gift. She felt that her mother was giving her permission to spread her wings and fly, and she loved her mother all the more for it.
"Please follow me, Miss Bannon," Anand said in heavily accented English.
Jessie did so and was mildly surprised when the man opened the door of a silver-grey limousine. It seemed a little ostentatious. Still, she supposed that a Sultan had to keep up appearances. The driver opened the door for her and she slid inside. On the seat next to her was a cream-colored envelope with her name on it. She opened it and read the note inside:
Dear Jessie,
I regret that I am not able to greet you this morning. I have a meeting with my advisors than cannot be postponed; however, I look forward to seeing you this evening at dinner.
Until then,
Hadji
Jessie put the slip of paper back into the envelope and tucked it into her coat pocket, and then she settled back into the smooth black leather seats of the automobile. I wonder what the meeting is about, she thought. "Not that it's any of my business," she mumbled to herself. Outside the car, Anand had finished putting Jessie's bags into the trunk and closed it. He got into the driver's seat and they were on their way.
The drive took about forty-five minutes because of the horrible traffic in the city. Once they were on the open road, though, it was a fairly easy drive. Worn out from the twenty-two hour flight and lulled by the motion of the car, Jessie dozed.
Jessie awakened when the car slowed and stopped. She ran her fingers through her long red hair quickly, and then stepped out of the car when Anand opened the door for her. They were in front of Hadji's palace. Hadji's mother Neela was waiting on the steps with a welcoming smile on her face. The older woman made a lovely picture, framed as she was by the elaborately filigreed archway of the main entrance. She was wearing a mauve sari trimmed in gold, and her silver-touched black hair was pulled into an elegant bun at the nape of her neck. Jessie was excited to see her. It had been more than a year since she had been here, and she was glad to be back. She had always found Hadji's home, palace that it was, to be a relaxing place. And that is exactly why I am here, she reminded herself once again.
Jessie raced up the steps and embraced Neela tightly. Neela returned the hug happily. Both women drew back, smiling widely at each other, and then both began to talk at once.
"How are y--" Jessie began. "I am so pleased to--" Neela started to say. They laughed and Neela signaled Jessie to go first as she led the young woman inside.
"How are you? I haven't seen you in so long!" Jessie exclaimed.
"I am well, as you see," said Neela serenely, "and I am very pleased to see you. How is school?"
"Alright. I'm learning a lot. I'm glad to have this break, though."
The women caught up on family news as Neela took Jessie through the palace to her room. Anand followed behind them with Jessie's bags. Finally, Neela stopped and opened a door, then beckoned Jessie inside.
The room was beautifully decorated in traditional Indian style. The bed was a huge, lavishly carved creation draped with brightly colored silk hangings that made the snow-white mosquito netting seem to glow. It dominated the room. There were thick carpets covering the wooden floor, and the heavy brocade curtains at the tall windows were pulled back to let in the sunlight. The room also contained a wardrobe that was carved in the same manner as the bed, a long, low, wooden bench piled with rainbow-hued pillows, and a variety of potted plants.
Neela opened a door that led to a large, fully-appointed private bathroom. "I hope you have everything that you need, Jessie. If you do not, please do not hesitate to ask one of the servants. I will let you rest now. You will be informed when it is time for supper." The older woman smiled again. "Wear something pretty."
Jessie blushed a little, but all she said was, "Thank you, Neela." Left to herself, Jessie took a quick shower, then collapsed upon the big, soft bed and slept.
When the servant woman had come to rouse her for dinner, Jessie had been awake for a couple of hours and had killed time reading a novel she'd started on her flight. Now she'd made up her face and done her hair, but she kept changing her mind about what she was going to wear. She was standing in front of the full-length mirror in the bathroom, trying to decide between the forest-green silk sheath dress that showed her slender figure to advantage and the short black dress that made her legs look really good. Jessie had just determined that the green silk was her best choice when someone knocked on the bedroom door.
She glanced at the clock, realizing she only had five minutes before dinner. She pulled the sheath over her head, being careful not to mess up her hair, and called out, "I'll be right there!" After a brief moment of fumbling and only a small amount of contortion, she managed to close the zipper at the back of her dress, then she slid her stocking-clad feet into high-heeled black pumps. After one quick glance in the mirror to be sure she looked presentable, she opened the bedroom door. Waiting for her was not the servant woman from two hours ago, but the Sultan himself. Hadji!
Author's Note: This is my first TRAJQ fanfic. I hope you will forgive me for any OOCness you will encounter because it has been a long time since I've seen this show. If you enjoy the story, please review it. I would love to hear form you. Of course, constructive criticism is always welcome, as I am always trying to improve my writing. Thanks for reading this!
Author's Second Note: I am finally picking this story up again after about two years. I apologize to all of you who have been waiting for me to complete it. When I began to write, I had intended for this tale to have only seven chapters, one for each day of Jessie's week, but before I knew it, the story got away from me and took on a life of its own. I should have known that anything involving any of the members of the Quest clan would soon begin to go awry. Nothing can be simple for them! At first it was okay, but then I started having some health problems which were eventually resolved, only to be followed by a difficult pregnancy (the result of which was a sometimes difficult but always beloved little boy) followed by yet more health problems that culminated in surgery. I just had too much going on to sit down and write for my own pleasure, but I never forgot the story. Now that I'm beginning to feel better, and more in control of my life, I'm hoping that the time I spent mulling over the adventures and intrigue I plan to include here may have helped make the story a better one than it might otherwise have been. I leave it to you to decide.
I would also like to send out a huge thank you to my test readers, Palin 1 and Alta. I can't begin to express the extent of my appreciation for all the comments, advice, and yes, even the criticism they offered which allowed me to refine this story to the extent that I have. I'd also like to thank them for all the moral support that has convinced me to keep going with it!
