Chapter 7

Sorry about the wait, guys. Here's the next chapter. Hope everyone enjoys.

Pasha tisked at the three teens as they boarded. "About time. I was starting to wonder if you kids were coming back."

Jonny rubbed the back of his head. "We got a little side tracked."

The older man chuckled. "In that case, I guess it's a good thing I got some beef stew ready, then."

After everyone had eaten, Jessie went to use Pasha's laptop to check if the Questor was still in Athens. "Well?" Jonny asked as he peeked over her shoulder.

"It's still there. But that doesn't mean we'll find everyone there, Jonny. Melana and Anaya may have simply docked the Questor and abandoned it."

"I know that. But, at the moment, it's our best lead."

Jessie changed the subject. "Has Mei found out anything from the map pieces we recovered?"

"I don't know. Maybe we should go ask."

~~~~~~~~~~JQ~~~~~~~~~~

After reading over their parts of the map, Mei paced and massaged her forehead. This makes no sense. There's no way it could be where the map seems to be leading us.

She looked up as Jonny and Jessie entered. "Hey," Jessie greeted her, "find out anything new?"

The girl frowned. "I'm not sure. These pieces aren't much use without the rest. The one we retrieved from the labyrinth makes me think the gate to Atlantis might be on Mount Olympus."

"Mount Olympus?" Jonny asked. "That place is a tourist hot spot, isn't it? Wouldn't someone have found the entrance if it was there?"

"That was my thought. Of course, I suppose the gate could be hidden like the ones in Troy and Knossos."

Jessie yawned. "I'm gonna get some sleep. Tomorrow's gonna be a busy day."

Mei sank into a nearby chair. "I've translated all I can until we get the remaining ones."

"It's probably a good idea to go to bed. No good will come out of staying up all night if you've translated all you can on those."

Mei hesitated. "Ummm …. I wanted to say thank you again ….. for not leaving me behind back in Knossos."

Jonny smiled a little at her. "No problem. I wouldn't be much of a man if I'd done something so cowardly."

~~~~~~~~~~JQ~~~~~~~~~~

After waking up and getting dressed, the three teens disembarked in Athens. Following the map Jessie had printed out, they walked along the dock. The companions passed by five boats before spotting the Questor.

"Let's watch for a little bit to try and see if this is a trap." Jessie suggested.

As they sat, Jonny began asking Mei more questions. "If we're caught, will your sisters kill you?"

"Probably not right away. Depending on how the translations your father is doing are progressing. Since I know the language they might try to force me to read the map for them."

"Doesn't everyone in the temple know it?" Jessie inquired. "They could get the person working for them easier."

"No. There's only a handful of us trained to decipher the ancient text. Some are trained for the specific job they're put into. Such as the government and police positions. Others are just trained as fighters to help protect the secret, along with those of us who were chosen to learn Atlantean."

"So, how'd they decide who went where?" Jonny asked as they watched the ship for any signs of movement.

"For the most part, we each got to choose the position we wanted. Of course, there were those who excelled more in certain settings. Like I did with learning a new language. Well, it was new to me at least. It also didn't hurt that I'd had some self defense training before ….. arriving there."

Jessie turned her attention back to the Questor. "It's been almost an hour. Think it's safe?"

Mei rubbed a hand over her eyes as she considered it. "I'm still wary about it, but sitting out here isn't accomplishing anything."

While Jonny agreed, something in his gut made him nervous about all of them going. "Maybe one of us can go check it out. And I call dibs on that." He grinned at Jessie.

"I'm not sure about this." The dark haired girl stated. "This is something you were dragged into. It's really my responsibility."

"Yeah and you're still recovering. I can go in with a radio and a tracking device on me. Then, should something happen, you two can trail me."

"We'll give you twenty minutes." His girlfriend said. "Then we're coming aboard. That's my condition for agreeing to sit on the sidelines."

Sighing, the boy knew there would be no arguing. "All right. I'll radio if I find anything. And if anything suspicious happens, you two leave. With or without me." With that the blond youth made his way over to the ship and carefully boarded.

~~~~~~~~~~JQ~~~~~~~~~~

Jonny looked around as he stepped onto the deck. Everything looked normal enough. Still, he couldn't shake the uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach. He went to the helm first. It was damaged slightly but nothing major. Then he made his way to the cabin that held the navigation equipment. It was in shambles. Someone had trashed the room. They were probably looking for that map piece Jess found. I guess we can assume they took it.

Taking out the radio, he reported to the two girls. "It's quiet up here. Though the navigation room's a wreck and I don't see that piece we had. Looks like they made off with it. Everything okay out there?"

Jessie replied. "Yeah, we're fine."

"All tight. I'm gonna check below deck now."

He paused at the stairs and took a deep breath before descending. Exploring the cabins, Jonny found nothing out of place. Everything appeared just as they'd left it. At the end of the hall was the galley. After checking the other rooms, the young man entered. Once he was inside the door slammed shut. Anaya stood with a zinja beside her.

Glaring at them, Jonny took on a defensive stance. "Where's my family?"

"You'll be reunited soon enough, Quest." Anaya replied as she pointed at him. "Don't kill him …. yet. Just capture him."

He jumped back from the robot's first attempt to grab him. Looking around, Jonny snatched up the only weapon he could find. Although the dishes on the counter could hardly be called weapons. I feel like I'm in a Tom and Jerry cartoon. The boy couldn't help that thought as he threw the plate at his enemies. Anaya backed away, but the zinja didn't seem effected.

Instead the plates merely broke on it as it moved forward, towards its target. Pulling out the extending faucet of the sink, Jonny turned the water on and sprayed the zinja. It slowed a little and he grabbed a cast iron skillet. The boy rushed towards the robot. It grabbed his wrist before the skillet could make contact and threw him against the counter. Then faster than the young man could move it closed the distance and grabbed his throat before delivering an electric shock to him.

As Jonny cried out in pain, Anaya retrieved his radio from the floor. "We got him. Did you finish your part, Melana?"

"Yes, sister. Mei and Jessie are restrained in our helicopter. Bring Jonny out and let's head back."

Anaya nodded at the zinja who tossed Jonny's limp body over his shoulder and followed her out. They boarded the copter and she smiled at their other two "quests". "Hello, Jessie. Good to see you again, sister."

Jessie glared her contempt. "What'd you do to Jonny?" She demanded.

"He'll live." The young woman sneered as they took off. "Unless you two decide to try anything stupid."

Okay, tune in next time and see what happens. I'll try not to make you guys wait so long this time.