Disclaimer: I do not own Jonny Quest. I am making no money off of this and it is purely for fun and enjoyment.

Chapter 15

Race rubbed his injured throat as he emerged from the alleyway back into the heart of Wenceslas Square. Shaking his head with a sigh he stopped and watched as emergency personnel rushed back about, attending the injured and frightened civilians that had no idea about the real catastrophe Race and his team had prevented. His eyes drifted towards the stage where paramedics worked on the injured Mayor. White sheets, stained dark red in some sports, covered Vostok's other three victims. Race grimaced, realizing that while they had stopped the Russian from carrying out his ultimate attack, they had not been stop the killings completely.

Waving off a young police officer as he approached the battered agent, Race headed towards a group that included Jade and Kovar. Approaching, he smiled haphazardly when he saw they stood over Colonel Yasimov and one other Russian. Both men sat on the curb, hands secured behind their backs, heads hung low shame.

Seeing Race, Jade smiled and trotted over to meet him. As they met, she flung her arms around him, squeezing the injured American in a tight embrace. Pulling back, she saw the disappointment and anger in his eyes, "Vostok?" She asked, but since Race didn't have the Russian mastermind in custody, she really already knew the answer.

"The son of a bitch got away." Race grumbled.

Jade could hear the self-directed anger in Race's voice, but from the looks of him, he definitely put up a fight. Squeezing his hands encouragingly, she smiled in an attempt to alleviate his pain. A moment later, Corbin joined the duo. He still held the modified M14, but Race saw that Phil had removed the magazine and locked the bolt to the rear; it was obvious to both men that the Russian threat was over, at least fot the time being.

"Too bad about Vostok." Phil rested the rifle on his shoulder as he spoke.

Shaking his head, Race replied, "I let him get away."

"Trust me, Bannon, I know what that brute's fists feel like," Phil replied lightly, "and by the looks of it, so do you."

"That's not the point, Phil." Race muttered.

At that moment, one of Kovar's men came over and set the recovered black gym bag down in front of the group. Yasimov and his man briefly looked up, but then lowered their heads again in defeat.

Smirking at the Russians' dejected state, Kovar stated, "So much for them. We have the bomb and the bio-agent and by these two's reactions, this was the last one."

Race stroked his chin, "True, but Vostok is still on the loose."

Walking up to the group, Alena Stasny announced with firm determination, "We've already put the word out for our forces, both law enforcement and military, to be on the lookout for him."

"Let's just hope they find him before he gets back across the Russian border." Phil stated.

Nodding thankfully at the assembled group, Alena then added, "The Czech Government thanks each and every one of you for what you've done."

"That's what we do." Race replied. "But I'd feel a lot better if I hadn't let him get away. Damnit!"

"Relax, Race." Phil suggested in response to Race's frustration. At the same moment his Czech spotter came up next to him and with a frown Phil handed the M14 back to the Garrison soldier. Continuing he offered, "Sometimes we don't always get our target."

Race saw the subtle look Corbin gave Jade as he spoke. He also noticed that Jade picked up on it as well, her lips curling into a faint, almost smug, smile.

"Vostok is on the run. You have his second in command in custody and we have his bomb. For now, I'd say he's done for. Overall, I think that's some pretty good work." Jade threw in, trying to lighten the mood.

Seeming to accept her statement, Race nodded. Turning his attention to Phil, he asked, "So what now?"

Shrugging, Corbin sighed. "Now, the fun stuff begins; writing reports and briefing the boss."

"I'll take this opportunity to hand command back over to you." Race smiled as he slapped Corbin on the shoulder.

"Thanks," Rolling his eyes, Phil motioned for Race to follow him off to the side. Once out of ear shot of the others he said, "You did a hell of a job, Bannon. Rest assured it will reflect in my report."

"Thanks, Phil. I appreciate that. I don't know about you, but I could use a drink right about now."

"Agreed. The sooner I start writing this report, the sooner it'll be done and over."

Looking back at the group, Race shook his head as he realized that while he and Phil had been talking, Jade had taken the opportunity to quietly slip away.

Seeing, Race's reaction to the woman's disappearance, Phil chuckled and slapped his friend on the shoulder. "It appears you are in for some interesting times with that woman."

Race nodded with a sigh, "She's something else, I'll say that much."

"I bet she is." Phil teased. "Let's finish up so we can head out of here."

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Finishing the last of his scotch, Race set the glass down atop the wooden bar and motioned for the bartender to bring him another, as well as another for Corbin. The two men had relocated to a bar across the street from their hotel once they had seen Colonel Yasimov and the other Russian carted off by the local police. Not wanting to be in the way of the emergency responders, the I-1 men had made their exit with Phil ensuring Inspector Kovar, Major Horak, and Alena Stasny that they'd be in touch prior to departing their country.

The bar was dark and solemn, which to Race was just fine after the chaotic rollercoaster he had just been through since arriving in Prague; he was happy for a moment of peace and quiet.

"That was some pretty fine shooting you did from that rooftop," Race said with a subtle raise of his glass in Phil's direction, a silent thanks to his partner for having his back. "I had no idea you were a marksman."

Shrugging, Phil replied, "Thanks. You were pretty good yourself back there at the Symposium. I read your file, knew you had the skills, but seeing you work…seriously, man, that was impressive. You didn't even flinch when you were disarming that bomb."

Race responded with a laugh, "I'm just glad I didn't have to do it a second time. Having to diffuse or disarm a device more than once on the same mission is considered bad luck."

"I didn't know you were superstitious." Phil said as he sipped his drink.

"I'm not really, but hey, why push it, right?"

"Agreed." Phil replied. Glancing at his watch, he took another sip and said, "Look, Bannon, why don't you take the rest of the night off. I'll contact HQ to pass along the verbal and then start writing up the initial report."

Race set his drink down, "Are you sure?"

"It's really just a one man job at this point. I'll have to write up the final report when we get back to D.C."

"Thanks, Phil."

"You earned it, Race." Phil said in his trademark serious tone. "We could be heading out as early as tomorrow morning, so enjoy your last night in Prague."

Tossing the last of his scotch back in one gulp, Race stood. Slapping Phil on the shoulder, he said with a cheerful leer, "Try not to spend all night writing reports, if you know what I mean."

Rolling his eyes, Phil joked, "I'll see you at seven A.M. tomorrow morning in the hotel lobby."

"See ya then." Race nodded with sly grin. Tossing the appropriate amount of korunas on the bar to cover the drinks, he grabbed his jacket from the back of his chair and left, headed back to the hotel.

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When Race rounded the corner to his room, what he saw almost knocked him flat. It certainly stopped him in his tracks and he stood staring mouth agape and unable or unwilling to do anything about it. Slowly, his lips turned upward into a knowing smile as he finally managed to shut his mouth and stop drooling.

Jade stood in his doorway, wearing the epitome of a little black dress: short, curve-hugging and with a V-neck that teased the line between classy and inappropriate. Her arms were raised over her head, leaning against either side of the doorframe, her hips cocked to one side, intentionally showing off her luscious curves. In one hand she held a champagne bottle, in the other a pair of crossed champagne saucers.

She wore a mischievous smirk that got Race's blood pumping. Even with all the time he had already spent with the racy woman, the way her stare now bore through him suggested that he hadn't even begun to experience what she was truly capable of doing to him.

Her eyes, piercingly green and slightly narrowed, continued to pin Race right where he stood. She waited until he finally met her gaze full on before letting her eyes sweep down along his body and up again.

"So," Jade purred as Race finally dislodged himself from where he stood and approached. Lowering her arms, she playfully swirled her index finger along the stem of one of the champagne saucers; the suggestive motion was enough to send Race's heart pounding into overtime. "You always keep a girl waiting, handsome?"

"I," Race started, however instead of continuing he leaned down and furiously wrapped the woman up into his arms, their lips locking with turbulent passion in a heartbeat.

Reaching into his pocket, Race fumbled with his room key as Jade nibbled at his ear. Once he had inserted the key, he kicked the door open with such force that for a slight moment he thought he might have actually damaged it. Half carrying, half pushing, Race led Jade through the threshold, before giving the door another swift kick to ensure it closed.

"Woah there, tiger," Jade giggled as the couple moved as one deeper into the suite. Barely managing to set the saucers and champagne bottle down without breaking them as they whisked past a random end table, she pulled back ever so slightly from her companion in order to gaze into his hungry eyes. "You're awfully feisty."

Staring back at her, Jade discovered the yearning in Race's eyes; a deep yearning that caused a fiery shudder to course through her veins and ignite a longing for him that up until that moment, she had mistaken for just a playful, sexual attraction to his ruggedly handsome visage.

As he bent slightly and pressed his lips to the underside of her chin, she moaned involuntarily as his tongue teased her soft skin ever so lightly. At the same time, his strong hands explored her back, working to alleviate her of her little black dress. Leaning into him, she felt the tightness of his muscled chest and ab as she slid her hands up and under his shirt. Her fingers grazed delicately across the now healing gunshot wound that he had received back on the stairs of the Castle; as they did she felt a momentary twitch from him in response to her touch, but just as quickly as it happened, it was gone.

As the rush of excitement grew, she pushed his restricting clothing upward, forcing Race to lean back and pull the shirt up and over his head. Flinging it aside, he immediately pressed his mouth against Jade's again, their tongues working in tandem as they kissed with a deep desire that neither had felt for anyone else before. Seconds later she felt her dress slip from her shoulders; she moaned with unbridled lust in response to Race's groaning reaction as he watched her garment slip to the floor, revealing nothing more than her scant, silk panties beneath.

Lips still locked in fierce passion, Race shuffled his feet, guiding Jade backwards until the back of her legs bumped up against his bed. She shot him a seductive look moments before he leaned down into her again, a hand cupping and fondling her firm, perfect breasts as her own hands worked to unclasp his belt before moving on to finish loosening his pants.

Stepping back, Race smiled and kept his eyes locked with Jade's as he finished undressing. Moving back to her, he grasped her hips, hooking his thumbs under her panties, tugging them free with a slow, seductive motion. As their lips met again, Race pressed his body against Jade's, pushing her down and pinning her under him, as they both moaned with heightened anticipation, lust, and want.

Lips exploring her neck, hands travelling up the inner portion of her thighs, Race burned with such a furor that he poured every ounce of strength he had left into his sensual and erotic aches.

Wrapping her arms around his neck, her legs hooking over his hips, Jade bit down on her lower lip and moaned with throbbing pleasure as she allowed Race Bannon do with her as he pleased.

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The next morning, Race grumbled when he saw the smirk on Phil's face. Even with the amazing night he'd spent in the company of Jade, she had managed to once again give him the slip. Sometime in the early hours of the morning Jade had made her exit, leaving Race with nothing more than a kiss on the cheek and a note with the words 'Until next time, handsome' lying on nightstand. However, this time he had been ready for her.

Walking up to his partner, Race saw the amused, but also somewhat tired look spread across Corbin's face; he also took note that Phil did not have his bags with him.

"What's with the sour look?" Phil asked with a smile as he crossed his arms over his chest. "She get the best of you again?"

"How was your night?" Race asked in an attempt to direct the attention away from himself.

"Tiresome," Phil replied with a mock yawn. "And by the look on your face, yours was about the same."

"I need the plane." Race grumbled.

Phil burst out a laugh at Race's statement. "Oh really? You just need the plane?"

"I'm going after her, Phil. I need to know what she took from Doctor Arman's office. There's no way she was only after a bag of jewels."

"What makes you so sure?"

He decided to leave out the details of his overnight encounter with Jade, but he also knew that Corbin was no fool and guessed the other man knew full well what was going on between him and Jade. 'Besides,' Race told himself, 'it's not like he's hiding his relationship with Alena either.'

"She thinks she gave me the slip, but I got the one up on her this time." Race explained with a sly smile as he reached into his pocket and held up a cell phone. Pulling the protective cover off the back of the device, he revealed a small foreign electronic chip that was nestled just over the battery. "A few nights ago I cloned her number and used this trap and trace to start recording her calls. After she gave us the slip at the Square yesterday, she made three calls to the same number. I even managed to get a wide area trace on the location of the cell phone that she called."

Nodding approvingly, Phil asked, "And where would that be?"

Standing a bit straighter, Race replied, "Bangkok."

Phil cocked an eyebrow at Race with a guff, "So you want to use the plane to go to Thailand and chase down Jezebel Jade?"

"Pretty much." Race nodded. "And besides, I see you don't have your bags with you at the moment, so,"

Once again, Phil gave the other man an approving nod. Then clasping a hand on Race's shoulder, he said, "Lucky for you, I haven't been cleared to fly at the moment. I guess my head isn't as hard as yours. Thanks to Vostok using my face as a punching bag I now have to take a train to Landstuhl to get tests done before I'm cleared to fly back home."

"How long is that going to take?"

"Oh at least a week," Phil grinned sarcastically. "I mean, I hate to get stuck in Europe, but I guess that's the price I have to pay."

Race laughed. For a man seemed to adhere to protocol more often than not, he found it refreshing to know that Corbin could also bend the rules for a little well deserved R&R. "At least you'll have someone to keep you company, right?"

"Yeah." Phil muttered with a smile as he thought about Alena; Race wasn't the only one on this assignment that had found time to get intimately acquainted.

"So can I have the plane or what?" Race finally asked, snapping his partner's attention back to the task at hand.

With a wave, Phil said, "Take it. I'll get a commercial flight back to D.C. whenever I'm cleared and done here. Just let the Captain know what's going on."

Shaking hands with his partner, Race said, "Thanks, Phil. I appreciate it."

"Good luck. Just keep me updated. I can cover for you for a couple weeks, a month at the most before the Director will start to get on my ass about where you're at. If you haven't tracked her down and recovered whatever it is she stole by that time, you'll have to let it go. You get what I mean?"

"I hear what you're saying, Corbin." Race responded as a quiver of eagerness jolted through his blood; he was about to head out on his first overseas solo mission.

"When you get back to D.C. come by my office. I have a few upcoming assignments you might be interested in."

"Will do." Race said as Phil turned to go back to his room. Before he left Race added, "And thanks again for bringing me on this assignment, Phil. It was quite an experience."

"It sure has been." Phil nodded. "Like I said back at the Square, you did a hell of a job, Race. Regardless of what others back at I-1 headquarters may think, I never doubted your abilities or your dedication. And for what it's worth, I think you can finally put Greenland and Greg's death behind you."

Pausing for just a moment to let his statement sink in, Phil then headed off to get ready for his trip.

Race digested Phil's words for a moment as he watched him go before realizing he had to do the same. It was a long flight to Thailand and he had to be ready as soon as he landed; he wasn't about to let Jade give him the slip again.

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With both his hands and feet shackled and chained, Nikolai Yasimov was forced to shuffle forward as he was led out into the bitterly cold morning. Unsure of the actual time, Nikolai did know that it was many hours before dawn just by the pitch black darkness of the star filled sky.

The air was filled with the heavy smell of exhaust fumes coming from the unmarked, black SUV waiting to take him across Europe, eventually depositing him in another prison cell in The Hague, where he would wait to stand trial for his crimes before the International Criminal Court.

Scowling, he was not happy with his fate, however his loyalty to not only General Vostok and the cause, but also to Mother Russia was so solid that he had infuriated his captors by not giving them any information. No matter how much they promised Nikolai, or how much they slapped him around, he had remained silent, never uttering a word except his name and rank once they had carted him off from the Square.

Shoving him into the far back seats of the SUV, his jailers laughed as Yasimov stumbled, due to his restraints, and smacked his forehead against the interior roof of the vehicle.

'Laugh all you want,' the blonde Russian grumbled inwardly, 'Eventually you all shall see the might of the Soviet Union.'

Sometime later, Yasimov blinked a number of times as he witnessed the blackened darkness night began to transform in to the grey calm of dawn. He must have dossed off, as he did not remember when they had left the city and ended up in the lonely European countryside. Glancing out the window, he watched as nameless villages, nestled amongst the brownish-green hills, rolled by as each passing marker brought him closer to his final destination. He was the only prisoner in the vehicle and the other four occupants were Czech prison guards that had been tasked to deliver him to the International Authorities.

He scoffed at the knowledge that the Americans had so nonchalantly dumped him into the hands of the locals. In typical American fashion, the Intelligence agents had moved on to whatever was next for them, not even giving a second thought to Yasimov. 'They will come to regret such a decision.' Yasimov thought to himself with a sneer.

A panicked shout from the driver tore the disgraced Colonel from his inner monologue. Looking forward, Yasimov smiled as he saw the guard in the front passenger seat pointing straight ahead down the road. The driver hit the brakes, screeching the tires and sending up a cloud of smoke in response, but at the speed they were travelling the large vehicle could not stop fast enough. Attempting to brace himself, Nikolai grinned as the tires of the SUV ran over the almost invisible stop-spikes that had been stretched across the gloomy, deserted road.

Jerking the wheel, the young, inexperienced driver sent the disabled vehicle into a frantic spin as the loss of traction and grip caused the heavy SUV to tip then roll. Anxious screams and grunts of pain filled Nikolai's ears as the vehicle continued to flip and roll down the lonely road.

Seconds later, the SUV stopped with an agonizing bounce. Amazingly it was right side up, but just hovering near the edge of a short drop off on the side of the road. Moans of pain and confusion came from the guards as they attempted to ascertain what had just happened.

Nikolai grinned as he saw the blood-covered driver glance wearily out the shattered driver's door window only moments before he shrieked; a terrified cry that was drowned out from the sickening impact of another large SUV slamming head on into the door. The transport SUV, now damaged and immobilized, was launched over the edge and into the ditch, tumbling down to come to a rest on its side.

Coughing, Yasimov felt a warm, wet trail of blood running down the side of his own face as the interior began to fill with smoke and haze.

Shouts came from outside and as his eyes attempted to adjust to the scene, he saw the lifeless body of the driver being yanked out of vehicle through the hole that once held the windshield. Mumbles laced with confusion and fear came from the other three guards as they were also pulled free of the wreckage.

Crawling on his hands and knees as best as he could, Yasimov reached one of the openings and felt a pair of hands reach in and drag him clear as well. Being hauled to his feet, Yasimov's head spun as a result of the wreck, and it took him a moment to realize the men that pulled him from the vehicle still held on to him, one securing each of his arms in an effort to keep him steady.

Looking around in confusion, he raised one arm and wiped blood from just above his eyes. "What is going on here?" He asked to no one in particular. He saw that the three remaining guards were on their knees, hands clasped behind their heads as another man armed with an AK-74 stood before them.

"Good to see you again so soon, comrade."

Yasimov smiled at the sound of his friend's voice. Striding through the fog, General Vostok came to stand before the Nikolai. Placing his strong hands on the Colonel's shoulders, Vostok said, "We could not let them take you to The Hague. Your loyalty to myself and the Motherland would not allow it, Nikolai."

"Thank you, Sir." He replied as he attempted to stifle a cough. "I told them nothing."

Nodding with approval, Vostok said, "I know that, old friend."

The big Russian snapped his fingers and one of the men holding Yasimov worked to remove the Colonel's restraints. Once free, Nikolai stretched; he was sore and in pain, but would never show such weakness in front of the General or their nameless confederates.

"Now, Nikolai, we must leave no witnesses." Vostok said with a devilish grin as he handed the Colonel a revolver.

Without hesitation, Yasimov took the weapon, opened the cylinder to verify it was loaded and with an audible snap, closed it in such a way to cause the three terrified guards to flinch.

"We will wait for you at the top of the hill, Nikolai." Vostok said and motioned for the other three men to head back. As he walked up the bank, Vostok looked back over his shoulder and added, "It is good to have you back at my side."

"It is good to be back, General." Yasimov responded.

Standing next to their own vehicle, a vicious grin spread across Vostok's countenance as three shots shattered the peaceful grey dawn of morning. The sharp cracks sent a group of quails into a startled flight and signaled to any soul that might be within earshot that General Vostok would never be stopped so easily.

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To Be Continued…

A/N: So far I have received a lot of assistance with this story from Goddess Evie. From her initial suggestion of writing a Race Bannon "prequel" of sorts, to help with a lot of areas where I was stuck or not as comfortable writing certain types of scenes as I am with other types. I wanted to give her the proper recognition she deserves! This story wouldn't be what it is without her!

The scene with Jade waiting for Race at his hotel room was all thanks to Goddess Evie. I needed help and she provided what you see of Jade up to the point where they begin to get intimate. I did some fine tuning, but the body of those paragraphs are from G.E.