Disclaimer: The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest is owned by Hanna-Barbara. No money is being made from this story. It is simply by a fan for other fans.

A/N: To all: This chapter has some elements in it that might be a disturbing to some readers. Please read at your discretion.

Chapter 8

Present Day

Jessie, lying on her side on the old, reeking mattressslowly moved her arm back and forth, cognizant of not making too drastic a motion. She assumed that she was being watched, but she had been unable to locate any hidden cameras in her room, but she knew that did not necessarily mean they were not there.

She had been able to pry a piece of metal off of the bedframe, and so far her captors had left her undisturbed. She hoped that it meant they did not suspect her of anything. She attempted to mask her actions by crying, some of which was real. She wanted them to believe they had succeeded in scaring her into submission, but that was not entirely the case.

Was she scared? Yes.

Was she going to let that stop her from trying anything and everything to escape and somehow get a signal out to her dad or Jonny? Hell no.

But first she had to get past her guard. That was the first step.

For the hidden camera she began to whimper, bobbing her shoulders up and down. She didn't know if there was listening devices, but again she had to assume the worst. And the whimpers would help disguise not only her movements but any sounds she inadvertently made.

She continued to scrap metal against metal. It wasn't much, but her makeshift "shank" as she knew they were called, would have to be enough to at least take down the guard. She'd love to plunge it through the throat of her tormentor, but she reminded herself, one step at a time.

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Estella was a bundle of nerves. She felt like she was going to break down at any moment. The van she currently occupied with her captors had been parked in a quiet residential neighborhood for the last two hours. They had arrived earlier, and the men had spoken to each other in their native language, effectively keeping Estella in the dark about their motives. Afterwards they had drove around randomly, stopped at a local grocery store for more food, gassed up the van and then drove back to the neighborhood.

Estella glanced towards the front of the vehicle, in the general direction Malik and Pavik had been gesturing towards earlier. As the sky turn dark she observed a car pull into the driveway of the house that she assumed they were watching.

"Get ready." Malik ordered.

The other two men nodded. Estella watched as they armed themselves with handguns and knives.

Once armed, Malik turned towards Estella, "Follow us and do as we say. Make any move to escape or do anything stupid and you will regret it." He raised his hand as if to strike as a reminder of what happened earlier when she spoke out of turn. She nodded here compliance.

"Alright, let's go." Malik opened the door and exited the vehicle. The others followed. Estella was pushed between Pavik and Donsik, the latter keeping a firm hand in the small of her back to direct her forward.

The house the approached was small and non-descript. Stepping on to the lighted porch, Malik withdrew a cloth from one of his pockets and reached up to unscrew the lightbulb that illuminated the group. He stood in front of the door, with his underlings standing to each side, Estella was directed to stand next to Malik and Donsik.

Malik rang the doorbell and withdrew his suppressed pistol that he had tucked into the back of his pants. Estella held her breath as she heard footsteps approach. Moments later the door cracked open, but she couldn't make out who had opened it due to the light being out.

"Yes?" A man's voice said, but before he could react, Malik kicked in the door, knocking the man back and to the ground. Estella was surprised as how quickly the big man could move and before she knew it they were all inside the house, with Donsik quietly shutting the damaged door as best he could.

Malik had his handgun trained on the man on the floor, "Don't try anything funny." He said, cocking the hammer back for good measure.

The man slowly raised his hands in the air. "Who are you? What do you want?" He stammered, his eyes darting to each of his assailants. When his eyes met Estella's they narrowed, "I know you." He said, but before Estella could answer that she recognized him as well, Pavik reached down, grabbed the man by his shirt, and pulled him to his feet.

The group filtered into the house, "If it's money you want," The man started.

"Quiet." Malik growled and slapped the man on the back of the head. "Where is your computer?"

The man jerked his head towards a hallway that led off to the left. "That way." The group proceeded and a few moments later they entered the man's study.

The walls of the study were adorned with various military awards and decorations, one of which held a folded American flag. Estella noticed that on a bookshelf there was a glass case that held a combat knife; she was too far from it to read the inscription on the plaque.

"Sit," Malik said and Pavik forced the man into his own desk chair, then quickly pulled out zip-ties that he used to secure the man's wrists to the arms of the chair. Once secured Malik sat on the edge of the man's desk, his pistol pointed at the man's chest and said, "Tell us where the girl is."

"What are you talking about? What girl?" He replied.

Malik shook his head and Estella watched as Donsik landed a hard punch across the man's face. His head snapped to the side and blood appeared on his lips. Estella watched, but slowly inched closer to the bookshelf.

"Do I need to ask again?" Malik sneered, biting his finger nails. His nonchalant attitude make Estella's skin crawl.

"You have me mistaken for someone else." The man pleaded.

"Wrong answer," Malik said and Donsik slugged the man in the gut. "You're name is Doctor Michael Wellington. You recently retired from the U.S. Army Special Forces Command and now practice medicine locally here in the Fort Bragg area." Malik paused for effect. "We know who you are and what you've done. So tell us where the girl is and we will be on our way."

"What girl?" Doctor Wellington protested. Estella saw him shoot her a subtle glance. He knew what they were after and he knew that she was aware as well.

Malik's patience was wearing thin. "The girl you and this woman helped twelve years ago!"

Wellington turned his gaze towards Estella, "I thought I recognized you. Why are you doing this?"

"They kidnapped my daughter." Estella's voice was thick with shame. "Just tell them where she is."

Wellington gritted his teeth and shook his head.

Malik's anger rose and he landed another punch to the man's face. Almost immediately Wellington's left eye started to swell.

"Tell them, Michael!" Estella pleaded, "Corbin was just as stubborn and now he's dead!"

"Then kill me too." Wellington stated.

Malik slammed his fist into the desk, rattling the items that adorned the top. "Damnit!" He reached for Wellington, but the ex-Special Forces doctor lashed out and landed a kick to Malik's groin.

The room erupted into chaos. Malik stumbled back into the desk, knocking over a lamp and a number of items. His face was flushed with anger and pain. The other two men stood frozen momentarily, confused as to what was happening while Malik started to shout at them.

In his attempt to do something Donsik released his hold on Estella and she too her opportunity. She lunched for the bookshelf and rammed her elbow into the small glass enclosure that held the combat knife. She had no idea if it was even sharpened, but she did not care. She grabbed the knife, gripping the handle has hard as possible, turned and lunched at the closest enemy. It was Donsik. Slamming into the shocked man, she plunged the knife into his belly. His eyes wide with amazement he staggered and fell, Estella crashing down on top of him.

"Donsik!" Pavik yelled and rushed to his brother's side. Estella clambered to her feet and lashed out with the knife at Pavik, catching him on the forearm that he had raised to deflect the blow.

Malik, recovered from Wellington's attack, stood and released a guttural scream. He pushed the desk to the side and rushed at the bound man, who was helpless to defend himself further. Pavik knelt by his brother's body, completely oblivious to the mayhem around him. Estella pushed past him and went for Wellington, who was trying to push himself away from the enraged Malik. Estella reached him first and slid the knife under the zip tie on the man's left arm, quickly sawing it off. Just as it snapped Malik was on the two, but Wellington stood and with some fit of adrenaline fueled strength swung his still bounded arm upward, bring the desk chair up and smacking into Malik who had raised his arms to block the blow, but not fast enough.

Estella heard a pop and saw the Doctor wince in pain. She imagined the weight of the chair and the odd, almost impossible, angle of his attack had dislocated some joints.

The chair splintered as it made contact with Malik, he staggered backwards and fell to one knee, but was quickly getting up again. Estella was amazed that he could take a hit like that and not be out cold.

"Run!" Wellington pushed Estella towards the door, but she tripped over the fallen body of Donsik.

"Grab her!" Malik barked, snapping Pavik from his daze. Pavik reached out and wrapped his hand around Estella's leg. She kicked out with her free leg and grazed Pavik's chin, but not hard enough to cause him to let go. He jerked his arm back, pulling her leg with him and then she slammed down onto the floor, the back of her head smacking against the hardwood.

Spots clouded her vision as Estella faltered on the ground. She tried to wriggle away, but Pavik kept a firm hand on her leg as he pulled her towards him.

Her head rolled to the side and she saw Malik and Wellington grappling. Wellington was a man determined, he knew if he didn't kill Malik that he would be dead. Malik had a size and strength advantage over the ex-Special Forces operative, but Wellington wasn't giving up. Estella watched as he lunched at Malik's midsection, but the other man anticipated the move and stepped aside at the last moment, then brought his knee up into Wellington's path, connecting with the man's midsection. Wellington went down. Malik bent over the fallen man, rolled him onto his back then lifted Wellington from the ground. Estella stared in amazement, shock, and horror. Malik slammed Wellington down onto the floor, the crunch of bones breaking was deafening.

"You American bastards." Malik spat over the fallen man. He lifted his eyes towards Estella and she cringed at the vacantness of Malik's orbs. This man was nothing but a cold-blooded killer.

"Stop." Wellington coughed, his words obscured by the blood that was gurgling in his throat. "Leave her alone. I'll tell you."

"No!" Estella breathed.

Malik was so enraged, but he turned back towards Wellington. "Tell me and I'll kill you quickly."

"She's…."

Malik knelt down and grabbed Wellington's shirt. "Tell me where she is!"

"Philadelphia." Wellington mumbled as blood dripped down his chin.

"What is her name?" Malik growled.

Wellington gurgled again and his eyes rolled in his head, his body going limp. Malik sneered and let go of Wellington's shirt, the man's body hit the ground.

"This is all your fault." Malik's voice was filled with wrath. He grabbed Estella and yanked her to her feet. Then he reached down, grabbed his handgun that he had dropped during his fight. He forced Estella to her knees next to Wellington, who she saw was still alive, but barely.

"His blood is on your hands." Malik proclaimed and then fired his silenced handgun point blank into Wellington's body four times. The bullets pierced his flesh, and blood splattered onto Estella as he was forced to watch the man die in front of her eyes.

Estella cried. The trauma was overwhelming and she couldn't tear her eyes from the man that she once knew. All those years ago she, Corbin, and Wellington had worked to save a life and now they were all paying for their good deeds with their own blood; their own lives.

Estella wept; the tears just would not stop. She touched Wellington's lifeless shoulder and whimpered, "I am so sorry, Michael."

She heard commotion behind her, but she didn't care. Let them kill me. She thought. It doesn't mattered anymore.

"Grab the laptop and let's go." She heard Malik say.

"What about Donsik?" Pavik asked.

Malik huffed. "Leave him."

Pavik rose to his feet. "What? He's my brother."

"He's dead." Malik's tone was final. "It'll look like a robbery gone bad. Donsik died for the cause. Now get the computer and trash the place. We have a location, but not a name."

Pavik stood in defiance for a moment, but eventually nodded. He wouldn't defy his superior, even for his brother.

Estella felt Malik's hand grip her upper arm and pull her to her feet. He turned her towards him and said, "You will pay for this. You and your daughter."

Estella, fully expecting to be punished again but not caring, spit in the man's face. Malik raised his hand and slowly wiped the spittle from his face. To Estella's astonishment, Malik grinned at her. "About time you got some fighting spirit in you."

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Jonny nodded approvingly at the office of Tech Analyst Penelope Garcia. The space was cramped, but she had the latest high tech equipment throughout her workspace. It was dark and cool in the room, better to keep all the equipment working properly, but it didn't bother Jonny at all; his blood was hot with his desire to find Jessie.

"Wow." Hadji whistled as he took in the sites of the office as well. "This is very impressive."

"Thanks," Garcia beamed. Her admiration made Jonny feel a tad uncomfortable. She sat down at her main workstation and motioned to the boys to have a seat in the other chairs.

"How'd you get a job like this?" Jonny asked. "I mean, I don't want to be rude, but you don't exactly seem to fit in with standard FBI regulations and protocols."

Garcia smiled, sipping tea from a large mug with a picture of the TARDIS on it. "You know how you always hear about people hacking into Government systems and then getting hired by that organization?"

"Yeah?"

"Well, that was me." Garcia grinned. "SSA Hotchner offered me jail or a job. I took the job."

"Wise choice." Hadji pipped in.

Garcia nodded, her earrings dangling in unison. "I don't think I'd do well in prison. I prefer helping the team put creeps there instead."

"Speaking of creeps," Jonny started.

Garcia swiveled in her chair. "Right, so let's get started shall we, junior crime fighters?"

Jonny smiled, he liked her and from the look on Hadji's face, Jonny figured his brother did as well. He watched as Garcia's fingers flew effortlessly over her keyboard. "Don't tell anyone this, but I've tried to hack into Intelligence One's system, but no dice."

"Didn't Agent Hotchner tell you to do so?" Hadji asked as he watched data fly across the woman's monitor.

"I mean…like…before…for fun," Garcia mumbled, "That's what us hackers do. But you, kids, wow, you built something pretty amazing."

"May I?" Hadji motioned to the system before him.

Garcia nodded her approval and logged him on.

"I've been in I-1's databases before," Hadji said as he typed. "I might be able to bypass the security protocols if my credentials are still valid."

"How do you have credentials?"

"Well, since Hadj, Jessie, and I helped design this system," Jonny explained as his brother concentrated, "They gave us access to it. Also, as you may know we're a pretty unique bunch."

"You're telling me!" Garcia snorted.

"Getting into the system is not the difficult part," Hadji explained, "It's finding the data we need. Accessing classified or protected files will be difficult, especially when it comes to Director Corbin's files."

"Why doesn't he just tell us what we need?" Garcia asked as she turned back to her monitor, trying to find information through her own sources.

"Government protocols," Jonny shrugged. "He's a good person, but he's so bound by regulations it's crazy. It drives Race nuts some times."

"Or he's protecting something or someone." Hadji suggested.

"It must be in that family's blood," Garcia quipped, taking a playful shot at her own boss.

After a few minutes, Hadji's system beeped and he leaned back in his chair approvingly. "I'm in."

"No way," Garcia said, her mouth agape. "I thought I was good, I mean, I know I'm good, but that's…I've never seen someone get into a system like that so fast."

"Like we said," Jonny added, "We kind of had a way in already."

"Now, to try and locate Corbin's files on this Yuri Delic."

Garcia typed away at her own system and Jonny got the feeling she was suddenly competing against the two teens.

Hadji trudged through the system, bringing up and closing database after database. Jonny watched, adding a helpful suggestion every now and then, but he itched at the inactivity. He wanted to be out there, looking for Jessie. He knew deep down that this was the best way to get to her, but sometimes he felt he was better suited to follow in Race's footsteps than his father's; he needed action.

Twenty five minutes passed and finally Hadji let out a long whistle. "I think I found something."

Jonny leaned in over his brother's shoulder and Garcia looked on as well. "What is it?"

"Maybe what Race said was true." Hadji said as he scanned the files.

"What? What did he say?" Garcia asked.

"He said Corbin told him that Yuri Delic is dead. I'm looking at a death certificate here."

"But if that's the case, then Delic is a dead end, no pun intended." Jonny suggested.

"Hmmm," Garcia mused.

"What are you thinking?" Hadji asked.

"Well, from experience, I'll tell you that sometimes people in these positions of authority can, well, how do I say it, manipulate the data." Garcia started typing. "Where does it say he died?"

"In Dubrava Prison, Kosovo. Two years ago." Hadji answered.

"What do you mean, 'from experience'?" Jonny asked.

"Well, you remember Emily from the conference room, right? Well, some bad dude was after her, beat and stabbed her and then escaped. Hotch, with the help of the State Department, faked Emily's death to convince Doyle he had killed her." Then she added, "The messed up part was he didn't even tell us. We were all kept in the dark, for Emily's sake."

"Woah, that's cold." Jonny said.

"Well, all is good now. Emily's back and Doyle is dead." Garcia's desk side phone rang and she hit the speaker phone button with her pink gel pen she had clutched in her hand. "Speak and be wowed by your amazing techie and her wonder kids."

Hadji and Jonny glanced at each other and smiled, "Definitely not standard FBI practice."

From the phone, "Garcia,"

"Yes, Sir," She perked up at Hotch's voice. "

We're headed back. We found a DVD that I need you to analyze. Not sure what's on it, but I don't think it is anything good. I'll bring it to you personally."

"Yes, Sir." Garcia replied.

"Anything on Delic?"

"We've accessed some files, but are still compiling the data. Should have more when you get back."

"Good, thanks, Garcia." Hotch said and hung up.

"Ok, so back to the death certificate and Dubrava Prison."

Hadji turned back to his screen and kept searching. A few minutes later, Garcia blurted out, "Oh boy."

"What is it?"

"I think I might have found out who has your friend."

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"What is she doing?" Kosta peered at the video monitor that played the feed from Jessie Bannon's room.

"It looks like she's just crying, probably scared." The man that sat in front of the monitor responded. Kosta hadn't bothered to learn the man's name; hired thugs did not matter to him, as long as they did their job and kept their mouths shut.

Kosta studied the monitor. "I don't know."

"Should I call Drazen?"

"No," Kosta replied. "I'll handle this." He spun on his heels and quickly left the control room. He didn't think it was necessary to disturb Drazen with something that was probably nothing. He could handle a teenage girl. Drazen was busy buying more time from their backers, who were, rightfully so Kosta thought, growing impatient.

If we don't deliver soon we will all find ourselves with bullets lodged into the backs of our necks. Kosta thought as he made his way to the girl's holding cell.

Striding down the hall, he motioned to the door guard to open the cell. The man nodded and did as he was instructed.

Kosta stood in the doorway, glaring at the girl who had turned her head towards the door when she heard it open. She made no other moves.

"What are you doing?" He asked.

"Nothing," Jessie sniffed. "I'm just scared…and in pain." Then she added, "I'm hungry."

"Move away from the bed." Kosta ordered, pointing towards the far corner or the room.

Jessie sat still for a moment and Kosta barked, "Now!"

Jessie shirked at the sudden ferocity in his voice and did as she was told. "Stay there." Kosta said when Jessie was standing in the far corner. He searched the bed, looked around the bedframe, even lifted the mattress slightly, but found nothing. He turned towards the girl. "What were you doing?"

Jessie lowered her eyes, "Nothing, just picking at the wall." Kosta turned and saw scratch marks on the wall. He assumed she was scratching at it with her fingernails.

"Why?"

"To keep my mind occupied, I guess; to stop from thinking about my mom."

"Your mother is fine." Kosta replied.

"Can I see her?" Jessie pleaded, trying to sound fragile and innocent.

Kosta glared at the girl, wondering how the daughter of Race Bannon could be so weak. "Your father is Race Bannon, no?"

Jessie perked up involuntarily at the mention of her father's name. "Yes."

"I know of him." Kosta said.

Jessie wasn't sure how to take that. "I doubt you want to meet him." She said, a small bundle of bravery seeping into her at the mention of her father.

Kosta laughed, it was a frightening laugh, "Oh no, little darling. I do want to meet him. I want so very much to meet the infamous Race Bannon."

"Why?"

"So he can watch as I kill you and your weak mother." Kosta sneered.

Jessie's mouth went dry, but she spat in the man's direction. "Well, I'll be happy to watch him kill you and your sick, crazy boss."

Kosta approached Jessie and knelt down in front of her, he touched her cheek. His fingers were rough and callused. Jessie felt revolted by his touch. Very quietly, so low of a whisper she had to strain to hear Kosta shook his head, "No, no, little darling, your father won't have that opportunity. As soon as we get what we came here for, I'm going to kill Drazen myself."

As he stood he bent down and kissed Jessie on the forehead. She jerked her face to the side. Kosta smiled, snickered, and turned away. "The guard will get you food and water."

Jessie watched as the man, the man she realized was truly the more evil of the two she had encountered, left. The cell door slamming shut behind her.

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"Pull over." Pavik demanded. He sat in the back of the van, where his younger brother had sat on the trip to Fort Bragg; the trip to kill Wellington.

"Shut up." Malik growled.

"I said pull over." Pavik demanded.

"We have to get back with the laptop. We know the girl's location and I've already called it in. The laptop should have her name."

"I don't care about that anymore." Pavik hissed.

"Well you should."

Pavik glared at Estella. He hadn't taken his eyes off of her since they got back into the van and drove off from the latest murder scene.

"Malik, find a secluded spot and pull over. It won't take long."

Estella heard Malik groan. They had been on the road for over an hour, back on the interstate heading north, there was very little traffic. She was surprised when she saw him pull off the interstate. He followed a lonely road and Estella felt fear welling up inside of her. He was driving to a secluded area, for what she didn't dare want to think about.

Twenty minutes later the van stopped. They were down a dirt road, deep in the woods somewhere. "Make it quick, you fool." Malik said and lit a cigarette.

Pavik grinned at Estella; a horrible grin that showed his intentions. "No one will hear you scream out here." He said and reached over and grabbed her hair. Estella pulled away, but his grip was tight and pain shot through her scalp.

"I'm going to make you suffer for killing my brother." Pavik said, drool dripped from his lips as he taunted her.

"He got what he deserved." Estella shot back.

Setting his handgun down, Pavik grabbed her arm with his free hand and forced her to the floor of the van. Estella squirmed, he was going to rape her.

She fought against him, kicked at his legs as he hovered over her, but he was too strong. He released her hair and then ripped at her shirt, exposing her flesh. He grinned and his drool splashed against her skin, she wretched.

"I like it that you are struggling." He said as he reached down to unzip his pants.

Panic flooded over Estella, her eyes darted around for anything she could use as a weapon. He wasn't pinning her hands down, but it was dark in the van. She felt him lean down against her and she was repulsed, she had to fight back or she was dead; raped and dead.

Feeling around the floor her hand grasped something smooth and hard. It was a small fire extinguisher that must have come loose as they drove down the bumpy dirt road. Without hesitation she grasped the object and swung it as best she could at Pavik's head. It connected and cracked against his skull. He fell to the side, but the blow wasn't hard enough to knock him out completely.

"You bitch!" His words were slurred and blood was running down the side of his face.

Estella scrambled out from under him, grabbed the handgun he had left sitting on the bench, aimed it at him and fired.

The shot sounded like a cannon in the small enclosed van. The bullet slammed into Pavik's neck and jolted him against the interior wall of the van. Estella fired again, this round hitting him in the face. He was dead before his body slumped against the bench.

It had only taken seconds.

"What the hell?" Malik roared, dropping his cigarette. He tried to open the door, but Estella fired again; two rounds through the back of his seat. He slumped forward and didn't move.

"How's that for fighting spirit, asshole." Estella snarled.

Estella kept the gun pointed at Malik. She had no idea how long she sat like that, but when her hands started to ache and neither man moved she relaxed. She dropped the gun and burst into tears. Then her rage took over and she beat her fists against the lifeless body of the man that had wanted to rape her.

Exhaustion took over and finally she stopped hitting the man. They were dead. She had killed all three of them.

"I need to get out of here. I need to call Race." She said out loud.

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To be Continued…

Author's Notes: I have never been a fan of Questworld. I didn't like it back in 1996 and I still do not like it now. That is why I do not include it in my stories. I had Hadji and Jonny reference IRIS, which I am fine with, and I used their knowledge of that system to assist them in getting into Intelligence One's network.