Subject: JQ: FIC:  RATHIKA [2/3]

FIC: RATHIKA [2/3]
Warning:  This fic is rated PG for AS.  
Disclaimer:  See previous one.  I do not own Jonny Quest.  I do own all 
the characters that you probably do not recognize.  Rathika is my own 
creation.
Archivers:  Yes, but please tell me where.

THE STREETS OF BANGALORE
	She caught her breath at the end of a street.  She had to get out of 
Bangalore. He would send his men searching for her soon.  She would^�
	"Gotcha."  It was the impossibly blond American again.  He smiled 
smugly at her.  She gasped in surprise.  She let a reasonable amount 
show on her face, while she desperately tried to turn the situation to 
her advantage.
	"Hello."  She smiled timidly.  

HADJIS PALACE
	Hadji could not stop thinking about the girl they had arrested last 
night.  Although he was Sultan, he rarely had time to actually 
participate in most arrests, trials, and punishment.  Only the important 
cases come before him.  Seeing her, seeing himself in her, renewed 
memories he had forced himself to forget.  Life was not easy on the 
streets.  He remembered being hungry, and having to steal and beg for 
food.  Luckily, Pasha had helped.  If it werent for Pasha..
	He shifted slightly.  While Pasha hadnt been able to give him 
everything, at least he had given Hadji a way to survive.  The fact that 
the girl was still alive and in good health puzzled him.  He knew that 
she had to be smart and lucky.  She was probably very clever.  He was 
worried for her. 
	He had done his best to eradicate most of the crime, and poverty, but 
he knew there were street rats out there.  Today was just the first time 
that he had ever actually encountered another one since his American 
family had rescued him.  He had seen others, on the streets, but had 
never had to actually sentence a fellow orphan.  
	He was really confused.  
	He wanted to help her.  He knew that situations would never get better 
for her.  Little kids could usually survive, if they were lucky.  People 
would fell sorry for them, maybe give them some food.  It was tough, and 
if you lasted until you were 10, you considered yourself invincible.  
But things didnt get better.  You couldnt beg anymore.  People were 
scared of you, and didnt come near you.  This girl was smart.  She had 
stolen some clothes, managed to make herself look middle class.  No one 
would suspect her.  But Hadji knew she would not be able to keep it up 
for long, soon, she would probably have to sell herself.  The temples 
gave out some food, but it wasnt enough to live on.  Hadjis stomach 
turned at the thought of anyone having to sell themselves.  He hated the 
idea, and couldnt imagine her or Jessie
	He shook his head.  There was no way he could save all the orphans and 
impoverished children on the streets outside his city.  But, he couldnt 
turn away one either.


	"What is your name?"  Hadji gently asked his prisoner.
	She shrugged, smiling at him, "Rathika, Safia, Janaki, Devika, Rajani, 
Kanta, Aisha..  You take your pick."
	Hadji was surprised to discover the girl spoke English.  And nearly 
perfectly also.   There wasnt the slightest hint of an accent.  "The 
first one, Rathika will have to do for now."  
	"That is fine with me."
	"As you know, I am Hadji, the Sultan of Bangalore--" he began.
	"Really?!?  You really are!??!"  What kind of idiot does this guy think 
I am?!!?  She kept an interested, ditzy smile on her face.
	"Yes, and I was--"
	"Whats it like to be the Sultan?" Hadji could not believe it.  She had 
to be smarter than this.  He was looking straight into her eyes.  If she 
was lying, she was the best lier he had ever encountered.  He wondered 
what she was doing and why.
	"Well, its..nice.and um."  
	"Hello."
	"Hello." Jonny and Jessie came into the room, and sat down next to 
Hadji.  He glanced over uncertainly at his friends.  He had told them 
earlier what he planned to do.  
	"Hello!"  She smiled brightly at them.
	"Where did you learn how to speak English?" Jessie asked.
	"My uncle taught me."  She let them catch her on that lie.  She turned 
to Hadji. "Who are these people?"
	"These are my friends, Jonny and Jessie."  He gestured with his hand.  
This was not going how he planned at all.
	"Nice to meet you, Jonny and Jessie." She loved working him up.  Poor 
guy.  He was kind of cute when flustered, he was trying to help her, and 
expected her to behave like a little lost girl begging for help.  She 
wasnt being mean, she had never had friends before.  Never sat down and 
had a nice conversation with anyone her age.  She was used to tricking, 
and lying and stealing, and she wasnt ready to suddenly change.  She 
was actually very envious of Hadji and his friends. They probably never 
starved on the streets.  She didnt think that they could really help 
her. They knew nothing of being an orphan. Hadji had his warm palace, 
and his two friends certainly werent poor.  She might as well just 
humor them, since they could never understand her.
	"Boy, you have very white hair."  She said it as stupidly, but as 
friendly as believably possible.
	"Uh, yeah."  Jonny smiled, "So Ive heard.  Do you want to play a game 
with us?"
	It caught her completely off guard.  Her expression did not change, and 
she remained in her position, but she almost lost it.  A game?  
Seriously?
	"Sure!"  She decided that it was better to test these strange people.
	"What games do you know how to play?"  Hadji asked curiously.
	She had to think hard.  She couldnt remember the last time shed 
played a game.
	"Why dont we teach her?" Jessie suggested.  "I have some cards, we can 
play card games."
	
SOMEWHERE OVER THE ALANTIC OCEAN
	Race glanced at Dr. Quest.  "Do you think we should try it?"
	He sighed, "Im really not sure.  Hadji was a very exceptional case, 
and I never though I would be asked to adopt another."
	"Those kids."  Race smiled and shook his head.  "They sure are 
something."  He brought the plane down wards.  "Still.  I remember when 
Jessie was little, shes always ask for 2 things for her birthday."
	"And what were those?" Dr. Quest curiously asked.
	"Me, and a sister."

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Authors note:  The Hadji in these stories is a new one Im trying out.  
Tell me what you think of him.  He is more like the classics Hadji in 
that he does more, and actually gets in on the action.  Rathika is an 
actual name, it is the name of a girl I go to school with.  The 
character is loosely modeled after her.  This is the first character 
introduced as part of a team. I currently have more characters than 
needed.  Tell me what you think of her, give me plenty of suggestions, 
comments and facts.  If she is liked, she will be the first member of 
the team, if not, Ill scrap her. Tell me what you think.
Mary.  Comments/suggestions/death threats/marriage 
proposals/facts/nonsense/food/sugar/insanity are all welcome.  
Especially sugar and food.  Send em to [email protected]