Subject: JQ: Fic: RATHIKA  [3/3]  PG  not the end!!

First, I want to say gratzi! to the many people who wrote me concerning 
Rathika. I have made the suggested changes, and tried to assure people 
that Rathika WILL NOT take the place of our beloved Jessie.  Once again, 
think you all so very much. Remember to vote!!!!

FIC: RATHIKA [3/3]
Disclaimer:  See part 1 for the full thing.  I dont own Jonny Quest.  
All the characters in this story that you do not recognize are mine.  
Warning:  this series has a PG rating for AS.
Archivers:  Yes, go right ahead!!!

HADJIS PALACE
	"Take it off!!!  Take if off!!  Come on, Jonny!!!"  Jessie pulled on 
his shirt.  "Dont be a baby."
	"Okay!  Okay!"  Jonny pulled off his shirt, and then glared at Jessie.  
"How do you have so much on?!"
	"You too, Hadji!"  She threatened the Sultan.
	"All right." He paused and glanced down at the small pile of clothing 
gathered at his feet.  His turban and shoes were already gone.  He slid 
out of his socks and neatly laid them on top.  Rathika pulled off a 
bracelet, and tossed it to the side.  
	She scooped the cards up in her hands, and swiftly shuffled the deck.  
They had played cards all yesterday and today.  She had learned how to 
play, Uker, Blackjack, Hearts, Crazy 8s, Go Fish, Egyptian Ratscrew, 
Spoons, Tongues, Triples, Oh Shuckie Darn, Suck and Blow, and their 
favorite, poker.   They were currently on their seventh round of strip 
poker.  Rathika had never played the game before, but was learning fast.  
	"When do you think Dad and Dr. Quest will get here?"  Jessie asked 
Jonny.
	"In the next hour or so.  Three please."  He slid three cards over to 
Rathika.  
	"One please."  Hadji concentrated on the hand before him.
	"Uhhhhhhh, three for me."  Jessie handed over her extras.
	"Dr. Benton Quest, and Race Bannon, his body guard, right?" Rathika 
raised an eyebrow.
	"Yes."  Jonny nodded.  "Just call them Dr. Quest and Race."  She was 
learning fast.
	"Go."  Rathika nodded at the blond.
	"Two pair of tens."  Jonny dropped his cards.
	"Full house."  Hadji smugly spread his cards on the floor.
	"Oh!"  Jessie threw her cards down, "Are you cheating Hadji?  Youve 
won one too many hands."
	"It is luck, my friend.  You have to--"
	"Its not fair that jewelry counts."  Jonny interrupted.
	"It is." Rathika replied, "You can always wear some if you want."
	"Ive got nothing!!!"  
	"Just shut up and strip, Quest."  Jessie grinned.   She pulled off her 
socks.  
	Rathika dropped her sandals on the floor.  
	Jonny found some lint in his pockets, and triumphantly dumped it on the 
floor.
	Hadji had won most of the rounds, with Rathika second, and Jessie close 
behind.  Jonny lost every time.  
	"Why do I keep getting all these bad cards?"  He wondered aloud.  
	"Who know." Rathika responded, she taped the deck, "Deal."
	He handed it out the cards, and glanced at his own hand, a sour 
expression on his face.  "Someone must have rigged the deck."  
	"You dealt Jonny." Hadji reminded him with an amused expression on his 
face.
	"Two please." Hadji slid two cards over.
	Jessie gave Jonny a card.  "Do you think youll actually won one?"
	"Who knows." Jonny grinned.  "Today might be my lucky day."
	"I dont think so."  Rathika grinned at him.  "Ill stay."
	Jonny suspiciously watched her as he picked up five more cards.  
	They all spread their cards out in front of them.  
	"I won."  Rathika smugly grinned at Jonny.
	"Not again!!"  Jonny groaned.  
	Hadji pulled off his shirt.  "I think that he will be forced to quit if 
this game continues any further."
	"One more round, and then Im gone."  Jonny wriggled out of his pants.
	"One more."  Rathika doubtfully looked at him.
	"Ill get a towel."  He shrugged. "Youve gotta take something off 
Jessie." 
	"Im thinking, Im thinking."  She paused, and then unhooked her bra, 
and slid it out one of her sleeves.  "Ill have to be gone next round 
also."
	"Fine, one more round, and then we play something else."  Rathika 
suggested.
	"What do you want to play?"  Hadji asked, shuffling the cards.
	"Something besides cards, please."  Jonny groaned.
	"Sure." Jessie picked up her hand.
	Dr. Quest and Race walked in to see Jonny sitting in his boxers, Hadji 
turban and shirtless, and the girls with apparently most of their 
clothes on.
	"What are you playing?  Strip poker?"  Race laughed.
	"Im losing!!  I cant win a hand!" Jonny replied.
	"I noticed."  Dr. Quest responded, watching the new girl more than his 
son. "You must be Rathika."
	"Yes."  She smiled up at him, "And you are Dr. Quest."
	Jessie was surprised, since they hadnt given her descriptions.  
	"And Im--"
	"Race Bannon."  She finished.
	"Hm.  I didnt realize we had already been introduced."  Race curiously 
watched her.  It was hard to guess her age, when she was lying on the 
floor, she looked around 15, but then she sat up, and managed to look 5 
years older.  He suspected she was used to pretending to be all sorts of 
ages.  
	"She reminds me of Hadji."  Race murmured to Dr. Quest.
	He nodded, "In more ways than one."
	"YES!!!! I WON!!!!"  Jonny through his hands up in the air.
	"For once." Jessie disgustedly tossed her hand into the pile.  
	"Ha ha ha ha ha!"  Jonny pulled his clothes back on.  "I actually won!"  
	"Good job."  Hadji slapped him on the back before he could put on his 
shirt. "Who knows, maybe you might actually win again sometime."
	Jonny just laughed, and jumped to his feet.  "Lets play soccer."
Rathika and Jessie followed him out the door, laughing and talking.
Hadji stayed behind, and glanced at Dr. Quest.  "No fights yet."
Dr. Quest chuckled.  "I saw how well you all interacted, and she seems 
like a very nice girl, but--"
"If we dont adopt her, I have no where to put her.  Ill never ask you 
to adopt a never Indian child again, I just dont want to her to go back 
on the streets.  She would have to sell herself, and I could never to 
that to another person.  Shes really friendly, and we get along without 
any fights, and--"
Race interrupted as Hadji paused to take a breath.  "Dont worry, 
kiddo."  He laughed, "Im adopting her." He smiled and dropped his hand 
on the boys shoulder.  "We werent planing on leaving her on the 
streets."
"Hadji!"  An irritated voice called from the doorway.
Hadji turned to leave. "Thank you very much Dr. Quest and thank you 
Race.  This means a lot to me."  He hurried out to join his friends.  

Jessie caught the ball easily between her feet.  She kicked it to Jonny, 
but he didnt notice, and the ball bounced off his shoe.  He was 
watching Hadji and Rathika arguing or laughing about something by one of 
the goals.  She retrieved the ball, and walked over to stand by him.
"She and Hadji look a lot a like."  
"Yeah, she reminds me of when we first got Hadji."  He was only giving 
her half of his attention.  
"Youve never told me that story."  She reminded him.
"Okay."  He finally looked over at her.  "Where should I start?"

P.S.  Should the team be set in Maine, or Palm Key?  I need votes.  
JQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQJQ
Authors note:  Welcome to the Quest Team!!!  Most people gave Rathika a 
favorable opinion, so she is now a new member of the Quest Team. 
Congratulations Rathika!!!!!  P.S.  Suck and Blow is a REALLY fun card 
game.  I recommend it for all boy-girl parties.  
Mary.  Comments/suggestions/death threats/marriage 
proposals/facts/nonsense/food/sugar/insanity are all welcome.  
Especially sugar and food.  Send em to [email protected]