Into the Life of Hadji Part 2


     Hadji and Miana had become very close in the space of just a few
weeks.  Miana was spending a lot of time on the Quest compound, and she
had become like family to the Quests.  However, she was becoming more and
more withdrawn, even in spite of her and Hadji's happiness, and it had
everyone worried.  There was one weekend that no one had heard from her,
and that had Hadji very upset and hurt.  Hadji was alone in his room
pondering the situation when Jessie knocked on the door. 
     "Come in." 
     "Hadji, I have something you may want to see." said Jessie, handing
him a newspaper. 
     "What is it?" 
     "An obituary-- for Luella Scolari, Miana's mother." 
     "Oh no... she mentioned that her mother was in the hospital, but I
did not know it was like this..." 
     "There is something more, isn't there?" 
     "I am not sure, but I think Miana is having problems at home--
something to do with her father." 
     "You know, Hadj-- you could talk to Dr. Quest about her coming to
stay..." 
     Hadji's head snapped up. 
     "You know, I just may do that." 
     Days went by, and still no word from Miana.  She had started missing
class, and finally Hadji took it upon himself to go to her house.  He rang
the bell, and a lady not much older than Miana answered the door. 
     "Yes?" asked the lady. 
     "My name is Hadji.  I am here to see Miana." 
     "Well, Hadji," she said in a curt manner, "she isn't here." 
     "And you are?" asked Hadji. 
     "I'm Mrs. Scolari. What's it to ya?" 
     Hadji started scratching at the back of his turban as his eyebrows
went up. 
     "Can you tell me where she is?" 
     "Hey Lester!" shouted Mrs. Scolari back into the house.  "That
towelhead your kid has been seeing is here!" 
     "No need to be rude, madame.  I will leave you now." 
     Just then, a kid on a bike rode up. 
     "You Hadji?" asked the unkempt little boy. 
     "Yes. And you are?" 
     "I'm Kenny-- Miana's brother.  She left a couple of days ago, and I
don't know where she went!" continued the boy, tearing up.  "Please find
her-- you're the only thing left she cares about!", and the boy sped away
on his bike. 
     "Hey!" came a shout from the house. "If you want to find her, she
works at Sam's Pub!", and the door slammed shut. 
     Hadji sped back to the compound and went in a frantic search for
Race. 
     "Race! Race!" 
     "Hadji, slow down!  What's the problem?" 
     "Sam's Pub" panted Hadji. "Where is it?" 
     "You don't want to go there, Hadji-- it's trouble." 
     "Miana..." 
     "'Nuff said. Let's go." 
     Race and Hadji drove to the bar, which was in a questionable part of
town.  They went in, and found Miana behind the bar.  Miana didn't notice
who it was that came up to the bar. 
     "Whaddyahave?" asked Miana, listlessly. 
     "An explanation." answered Hadji. 
     Miana looked up with tears in her eyes. 
     "I can't." she cried, throwing her towel on the bar and starting to
leave.  Hadji grabbed her arm with a surprising strength and pulled her up
to him. 
     "I cannot help you if you will not let me.  Where are you staying?" 
     "In a sleeping room upstairs." she whimpered. 
     "Miana!  Back to work!" shouted a fat, balding man.  "Screw around on
your own time!" 
     "She is on her own time!" snapped Race.  "She quits!" 
     They pulled Miana up the steps and found her room. 
     "What are you doing?" she shouted. 
     "Getting you out of here." answered Hadji.  "Why did you not tell me
what was wrong and where you were going?" 
     "I didn't want to burden you with my problems." 
     "Why here, Miana?" 
     "I had no place to go.  They needed help, and I needed a place to
stay.  It was the best I could do on such short notice." 
     "I would like it if you came to stay with us." requested Hadji. 
     "Don't you think Dr. Quest might like to be informed?" 
     "He suggested it to my daughter." answered Race. 
     Miana broke down and fell into Hadji's arms.  Race gathered her few
belongings and took them back to the compound.  Race called ahead and
filled everyone else in on the situation, and a room was prepared for
Miana.  By the time they got back to the compound, Miana was asleep. 
Hadji carried her upstairs and put her to bed.  He kissed her lightly on
the lips. 
     "Good night, my love." he said softly as he was leaving the room. 
     Hadji went downstairs and told everyone what he had found out. 
     "It is apparent that her father remarried immediately following his
late wife's death.  It is my impression that Miana had problems all along,
and could not handle this latest development.  As a result, she left
without any notice or preparation." 
     "What kind of person could do such a thing?" asked Jessie. 
     "Obviously a man of limited character who cheated on his sick wife
and had no regard for his children." answered Jonny. 
     "She is a really good actress.  I would never have guessed that there
were any problems." stated Jessie. 
     "Obviously she wanted it that way." said Hadji. 
     "Well, I think we all need to give her the love and support she never
got at home and make her stay with us as pleasant as possible.  If my
guess is right, she'll be here for a good long time." replied Benton. 
     "I think the first thing we should do is give her some sort of
diversion to get her mind off her troubles."  suggested Race. 
     "I think a trip into Questworld would be just the thing!" exclaimed
Jonny. 
     "I agree, Jonny.  However, I will go in with her.  Dr.  Quest, would
you monitor the system while we are in?" asked Hadji. 
     "You going into Questworld?  Man, that sure is a first!"  quipped
Jonny. 
     "Of course, Hadji." answered Benton. 
     The next morning, Miana came downstairs to find everyone sitting at
the breakfast table.  Hadji immediately got up from the table and went to
greet her. 
     "Miana, I have been so worried about you!" exclaimed Hadji, taking
her in his arms. 
     "I thought I was only dreaming last night-- I awoke, and found myself
here-- and was thanking God it wasn't.  It's so peaceful-- no screaming,
no drunks, no insults..." 
     "That's how it was at the sleeping room?" 
     "No. At home.  I took it that you saw my father?" asked Miana. 
     "No, but I saw his new wife-- a very prejudiced woman."  answered
Hadji. 
     "Ah! You met Sharon.  I had many reasons to leave there, but she was
the straw that broke the camel's back.  My father is worse than she is,
and wasn't happy to find out that I was seeing you.  His favorite term is
'towelhead'." 
     "That is Mrs. Scolari's favorite term as well." 
     "Oh, Hadji!  I'm so..." 
     "It is not your fault.  You are not responsible for the actions of
your family.  Karma is watching them-- they will see one day.  Come and
eat breakfast-- we have something to show you." 
     After breakfast, they took Miana to the lighthouse and told her all
about Questworld. 
     "Virtual reality?!  I've only heard about it!  I didn't realize that
it was quite this advanced!" exclaimed Miana. 
     "Do you want to try it?" asked Hadji. 
     "Would I! I'd love to!" 
     Hadji and Miana both took a seat, and Hadji showed Miana how to put
on the headgear.  The phone rang, and Jonny announced to Benton over the
intercom that he had a call.  Benton had Jonny come up from the house to
monitor Hadji and Miana while he was on the phone. 
     "You don't mind monitoring, then." asked Hadji. 
     "Sure, Hadj!  No problem!  Questworld logon:  Subjects Hadji Singh
and Miana Scolari.  Going hot!" 
     The computer counted down, and Hadji and Miana were pulled into the
fantastic landscape of Questworld.  Miana looked down at the standardized,
vectorized body she had. 
     "Wish I was this thin in reality!" she quipped. 
     "You are beautiful to me no matter what you look like.  Jonny, two
virtuaspeeders please." 
     Just then, two virtual reality hovercraft appeared before them. 
     "Hop on, and follow me." 
     It took Miana a few minutes to get a hang of the system, but soon she
was off and running, and doing well.  She had followed Hadji through the
streets of a virtual city, and were heading out of it and into a barren
desertscape.  Suddenly, Miana noticed virtual Hadji holding his head. 
     "Hadji!  What's wrong?  You are disappearing from my screen! 
Hadji!!!!" screamed Jonny. 
     "Miana!  My mind is being pulled... I have never felt..." 
     All of a sudden, Hadji and Miana's virtual forms burst through a ball
of white light and appeared inside of a translucent hollow ball.  Outside
the walls of the ball could be seen a virtual landscape of a beautiful
garden.  The ball set down on the ground, and expanded around them to
encompass them and the garden, and became to what appeared to be the sky. 
     "My God!" exclaimed Miana.  "This place reminds me of the Garden of
Eden!" 
     "We were pulled here, but where is here?  This is not any known part
of Questworld." 
     "I don't know about you, Hadji, but I'm not complaining.  It's
beautiful." 
     It was then that they turned around and noticed their virtual forms
were altered.  They were still vectorized, but more true to form.  Miana's
form was no longer thin, Hadji's form was missing the turban... and both
were missing other things as well. 
     "My God!!!  This computer stripped me!  And I'm not thin anymore!"
panicked Miana as she was frantically trying to cover herself up. 
     Hadji's handsome, lean, muscular form went over to her and took her
arms. 
     "No need to be embarrassed, my love.  It is just the two of us here,
and you are still beautiful to me.  Very beautiful!"  he said as he pulled
back and fully took the sight of her in. 
     Miana took the opportunity to look him over well and was very
impressed. 
     "And you look like this in reality?" 
     "Yes, I do." answered Hadji. 
     Hadji took Miana's hand and they went exploring the virtual garden. 
It wasn't long until they had come to a large meadow in the center of the
garden.  Hadji and Miana looked around the garden and were getting so
caught up in the peace and serenity of it that they started to forget they
were in a game.  Meanwhile, in the real world, Jonny was in a panic. 
     "Hadji!  Wake up!  You're not on my screen!  DAAAAAAAAAD!" 
     Benton got off the phone and ran into the room. 
     "What's the problem, Jonny?" 
     "A few weeks ago, I found a game on the Internet and incorporated it
into Questworld.  Obviously the game has some dynamics that conflict with
Questworld, and now Hadji's in there and I can't get him out.  They're
forgetting they're in a game, dad!  They're losing touch with reality!" 
     "You need to go in after them." replied Benton. 
     Meanwhile, inside the game, Hadji and Miana were enjoying the
pleasures of the garden in ALL respects.  Hadji and Miana were oblivious
to their surroundings.  Jonny took a seat next to them and put on the
headgear, while Benton prepared to log him in. 
     "Questworld logon: Subject: Jonny Quest.  Going hot!" 
     The computer counted down, and Jonny appeared in the same garden as
Hadji and Miana, and in the same state. 
     "Oh, geez!! This game worked better than I thought..."  thought
Jonny.  "Uh, dad!  Can you send some clothes in here?" 
     "I can't, son.  You are not even on my screen." 
     "The challenge here is how to get them out, as well as myself.  This
place has quite an effect on a person..." 
     "Jonny, you need to try to get their attention.  This could be
dangerous if they don't leave soon." 
     Just then, Jonny tried the obvious. 
     "Hadji! Miana!  Where are you?" 
     After several attempts, Hadji and Miana emerged from some bushes. 
     "Jonny!  What are you doing here? How..." 
     "You and Miana got pulled into an experimental program I put into the
system.  It needs more work before it can be used safely.  We need to find
a way out of here." 
     "First, could there be a way we can find some covering?"  asked
Hadji. 
     "No way I know of, unless we can pull some leaves down from some
trees or something," answered Jonny.  "But we need to find a way to get
out of here.  How did you get here to begin with?" 
     "A bubble brought us here." answered Miana. 
     "A bubble?" asked Jonny. 
     "Yes. Look up.  The 'sky' is the bubble that brought us here.  It
found us in Questworld and brought us to this place." answered Hadji. 
     "It 'found' you?" 
     "Yes.  Can you think of how the normal game is supposed to go?" asked
Hadji. 
     "It runs according to the story of the Garden of Eden.  The way to
end the game is to eat the apple, and then the game ends." answered Jonny. 
     "In a normal videogame environment, that would be simple.  But
enhanced by the dynamics of Questworld, that could be a challenge." 
     "According to the story, the serpent took Eve to the Tree of
Knowledge, and tempted her with the fruit.  If we could find the serpent,
we could find the tree."  replied Jonny. 
     "It would be easier to find a serpent than an individual tree.  But
how do we find the snake?" 
     "How do you figure it would be easier to find the snake?" asked
Miana.  "Trees are stationary, snakes are not." 
     "Never mind that." said Jonny.  "We have no choice but to do it the
hard way.  We look." 
     It wasn't as hard as they had thought, as the snake found them. 
     "Ahhh, welcome players!  How can I tempt you today?  What fantasies
can I tease you with?" 
     "We're feeling kind of hungry." answered Jonny. 
     "You could have any fantasy fulfilled, and you want something to
eat." commented the serpent. 
     The snake lead them to a grove of exotic trees, and explained in
detail what each kind of fruit could do-- all except for one simple apple
tree in an obscure corner of the grove-- almost to obvious to miss,
despite its location. 
     They headed toward the apple tree. 
     "Oh, no.  You wouldn't want those." scolded the snake. 
     "On the contrary, it's exactly what we want!" exclaimed Jonny. 
     He threw Hadji and Miana apples.  They all took a bite, and
immediately the large bubble that was the sky shrank around them and took
them back to Questworld.  The bubble disappeared, their forms were back to
normal, and they were seen on Dr. Quest's screen. 
     "Good job, son.  Ready to come home, boys?" asked Benton. 
     "Most definitely, Dr. Quest." answered Hadji. 
     "That's quite a game, Jonny.  I think I need a shower."  replied
Hadji. 
     "A cold shower?" teased Jonny. 
     Hadji looked embarrassed, and Miana followed closely behind. 
     "I think the program needs to be encrypted until we find out how to
use it more safely." suggested Jonny. 
     "I'm inclined to agree, Jonny." replied Benton.  "I'm inclined to
agree." 
     Hadji and Miana both cleaned up, and they were sitting in Hadji's
room in silence.  There was an awkward feeling between them that they had
trouble dealing with. 
     "Hadji, is something wrong?" asked Miana.  "You haven't said a word
to me since we logged out of Questworld." 
     "No, it is nothing with you.  It is just ever since the game, I feel
so strange..." 
     "Vulnerable? Compromised? Violated?" 
     "No! Do not say that!  I could never feel violated by you!  It is
just that game was so intense!  So realistic, and for someone who has
never..." 
     "Never?! You're a..." 
     "Yes, Miana.  I am.  What surprises me is your reaction.  I take it
you are not?" 
     "It's not by choice.  Let's leave it at that, ok?" 
     Hadji caught her meaning and dropped the subject. 
     "We'll never speak of it again." said Hadji as he embraced her
tightly.  When he let go of her, he could see s look of longing and desire
in her eyes.  She lowered her head, and he tipped her chin up and kissed
her with such depth and power that the passion of it totally overwhelmed
her.  Her legs lost stability, and she started to fall to the floor. 
Hadji scooped her up and gently layed her on the bed.  They started to
become passionate with one another, when Miana realized what was
happening. 
     "Hadji, we can't.  Not now.  I want to, but I just can't." 
     "It is alright, love.  It will just give us something to look forward
to." 
     Hadji went to bed that night full of desire and longing... and
loneliness.  His bed was empty, and for the first time in his life, he
realized it.  He felt a decision had to be made, but it would take some
time to think about.