Disclaimer: Jonny Quest belongs to Hanna Barbera and Turner Productions. I am not affliated with the mentioned companies in any way. The JQ characters here are used without permission of the owners. No cash is made from this.

A Question of Identity: Chapter 1

by Ina-chan

For the billionth time, a thousand thoughts flashed through Jonathan Quest�s mind all at once. One of them was the mysterious: �Why do I always find myself in this kinds of situations?� Then for the billionth time, Jonny brushed them all aside to focus on the answer to one: �How the heck do I get out of this one now?�

An ordinary person will find it amusing that ordinary situations almost always turn into a life threatening adventure for him. It�s unexplainable, but this was Jonny Quest�s gift or curse, depending on whose point of view.

It all started with a simple call from the government, asking his dad help for some kind of top secret operation involving making human cells multiply faster. Just another boring trip that Jonny would have gratefully traded to go with Race for some fun in the sun. Then again, knowing Race, it would have been better to let him go without any non-adult supervision. He could have stayed behind, if Jessie and Hadji hadn�t expressed their enthusiasm to get to know the famous Dr. Jonathan Harrison.

What really drove him to come along, however, was the feeling of apprehension he sensed in his Dad when they were discussing the trip. Though he never really says it out loud, Jonny always worries about his Dad, and always feel very protective of him when something doesn�t feel right. Something didn�t feel right indeed, when Dr. Harrison came to greet them when they arrived. Though his father seemed cheerful to see his of friend again, Jonny sensed the tension between the men that he could almost feel it squeezing the breath out of him.

Jonny observed his father�s friend nonchalantly. He was quite an impressive looking, for a man in his mid-fifties. The perfect image of the absent-minded but lovable professor. An inch or two taller than his dad, though an inch or two thinner as well. A shock of salt and pepper hair, a few lines etched on his shaven chiseled face, complete with the silver-wired spectacles framing his steel gray eyes. Dr. Harrison was talking cheerfully and animatedly with his Dad, Jonny could see that his eyes did not reflect his words and actions. So much like he was hiding something...

�...now Benton, you are being rude as usual,� Dr.Harrison continued, �Who are these intelligent looking young people.�

�This is Race Bannon�s daughter, Jessie,� Dr.Quest introduced

�It�s an honor to meet you, sir,� Jessie began shaking the older man�s hand

�No, the honor is mine,� Dr.Harrison argued playfully, �Ahhh, now I understand why the o�l boy gave up the exciting and intriguing life of spying to protect my old foggie of a friend here.�

Jessie laughed good-naturedly.

Jonny smirked. Bandit squirmed in his arms.

�So where�s the old buccaneer?�

�I�m afraid he�s in the middle of a well deserved vacation,� Dr. Quest replied then motioned to Hadji, �This is my adopted son, Hadji.�

�How do you do, sir?� Hadji greeted politely

�And you remember...� Dr. Quest began

�...Jonathan,� Dr.Harrison said almost to himself, as he looked down at the boy with an unreadable expression on his face.

Jonny looked back at the man and saw the transformation of his gray eyes soften the older man�s expression from the earlier guarded one. It creeped him out. As if reflecting his unease, Bandit growled softly.

�Hi,� Jonny called out, thanking the gods his voice didn�t crack.

Dr. Harrison broke a genuine smile, �So, this is my namesake.�

Jessie raised an eyebrow.

Hadji blinked.

Jonny looked back in confusion.

Dr. Quest broke into a grin then laughed with Dr. Harrison at some private joke.

�I suppose your Dad never told you of the deal we had,� Dr. Harrison explained, �That is, that I would only give your Dad my blessing regarding his marriage to your Mom if they would name their first born son after me.�

Jonny perked up, �You knew my Mom?�

Dr. Harrison laugh, �I knew your Mom, your Dad before your father became an acclaimed scientist and all the embarrassing stories behind it. Maybe I�ll tell you some later.�

Dr. Quest laughed nervously, �Now don�t be too hasty Jon.�

�Ahhh, it�s only payback Benton. For all the hell you and Rachel put me through.�

Though he said it in a jesting manner, Jonny felt a heavy undertone in that remark. And a chill ran through his spine. He glanced at Hadji and Jessie and saw a �What-was-that-all-about� expression on their faces looking back at him. But before he could ponder anymore on that comment, they were escorted into the hulking building.

�Do you see him, anywhere?� Jonny asked as he tried to catch his breath.

�I am afraid not,� Hadji replied after quickly scanning his view of the area.

�Stupid mutt,� Jessie muttered under her breath.

They were of course obviously looking for their four legged companion, who managed to squirm out of Jonny�s arms to chase a weird looking robot the size of a house cat wandering around in the corridors while they were being guided to the living quarters. In mere moments, both dog and machine disappeared in the maze like halls, not that the people coming and going about helped their situation. In fact, they even lost their guide somewhere back.

�I can�t believe that thing could get around so fast,� Jonny commented, referring to the small object that expertly whizzed through the legs of passing people in the busy corridor

�I can�t believe your dog is stupid enough to chase anything that moves,� Jessie said sarcastically

Jonny made a face at her.

�I think it would be better if we take different paths. We would cover more ground that way,� Hadji interjected before another argument erupted.

The trio parted ways and began their search. Jonny was halfway through the end of an almost empty corridor when he thought he saw a familiar face look at him at the end. Before he could make sure, the figure turned around with a flash of dark hair and briskly walked out of sight.

�No way,� Jonny said out loud as he sprinted to the direction the figure took.

He found himself in an empty section of the building without the mysterious stranger in sight. He stopped and listened for a while. He thought he heard footsteps and ran toward the direction of the sound... to bump into a person as he rounded a blind corner.

She was a girl around his age. Short blonde hair with icy blue eyes, her mouth forming a thin line of a scowl. If looks could kill... well let�s just say she was not amused

�This is a restricted area.�

�I�m sorry,� Jonny began to apologize, �I was just looking for my...�

*smack* *thug* *whoosh* *thump*

�...dog,� Jonny finished breathlessly

And there he was in his newest �situation.� One moment he was trying to apologize for bumping into a stranger, then the next he was flat on his back. The breath knocked out of him. This strange girl straddling him. Him looking up at a semi-automatic pistol aimed between his eyes.

�Who are you?� She asked coldly

�Jonny Quest,� Jonny replied weakly

�So Jonny Quest,� She repeated with a sinister grin, �Prepare to die.�

�Can�t we talk about this?�

�No we can�t.�

His blond nemesis aimed the gun at his throat...

�JONNY!� he thought he heard Jessie scream

... and fired.

(to be continued)

Has the story ended before it�s begun?