Team QueSt: The Next Generation

Star QueSt Part 5

	Miana was in a panic as rescue crews came in and pushed her aside.
She rushed into Hadji's loving arms and started crying frantically.
Jessie left Jonny with the remaining children, and she went back out to
comfort Miana while rescue efforts continued.
	Hours seemed like days as the digging continued, and six hours
later, they finally broke through.  They went in, and found Rajan
unconscious.  He had many cuts and bruises on him, and he looked like he
had lost a lot of blood.  They carried the little Indian prince out,  and
immediately transported him to the Med Center.
	"RAAAAJAN!!!" cried Miana as she rushed up to a medic.  "My son!"
	"Mrs. Singh, he has lost a lot of blood.  I suggest you go to the
Med Center immediately.  We can't tell you anything here."
	"Miana," started Jessie.  "I'm so sorry... we should've left the
children..."
	"Jessie," sniffed Miana.  "It's not your fault.  We have to go--
Rajan needs us."	
	The Med Center was the first "real" building that was built in the
colony.  It was a large, full-scale hospital that rivaled the best
hospitals found on Earth.  The doctors and medical staff were orginally
contacts of the members of the Consortium, and volunteered to join the
project and move permanently to the moon colony.
	Both families gathered at the Med Center and were waiting for news
about Rajan.  Hadji was rocking Miana in his arms when the doctor came
out.  All recognized the familiar face that approached them, and all were
immediately relieved, as Rajan was in good hands.
	"Dr.  Wallace!" cried Miana.  "How's my son?"
	"Miana, your son will be alright.  He lost a lot of blood and
needs to stay overnight, but he will be ok.  By the way, it's good to see
you again.  You look well, and the accomplishments of your family here is
absolutely amazing."
	Miana smiled and wiped the tears from her eyes.
	"Thank you, doctor.  It's good to see you again, too."
	Hadji clasped arms with the doctor and gave him a deep, heartfelt
thanks.
	Late that night, the QueSt team was crowded into the Singh's
family shack.  All had been up for hours and were showing signs of having
had no sleep.  Miana and Jessie both had on loose t-shirts and baggy
shorts.  Jonny and Hadji were both shirtless, and all bags under their
eyes and looked very tired.  Hadji did a rare thing as he was turbanless,
but not only that, his beautiful long hair was down and disheveled.
Jonny's long hair was in the same state as Hadji's, but the family was not
concerned with their appearance.  They were more worried about their
reoccurring problem of what to do about their children.
	Miana finally broke the silence.
	"What are we going to do?" she asked.  "It's not safe for them
here."
	Jonny stood up and threw his arms in the air and started pacing.
	"Jonny?" asked Jessie.
	Jonny turned around and regarded his wife with fire in his eyes.
	"You see, Jess?  I told you!  It could've been Benny trapped in
that cave!"
	"Now wait a damn minute!" shouted Hadji in a very
uncharacteristic tone.  "It was your son that coerced Rajan into that
cave..."	
	Jonny turned around, preparing to confront Hadji.
	"Stop it!" shouted Jessie, getting between them.  "Fighting and
laying blame won't accomplish anything!  I'm surprised at both of you!"
	Hadji sat down.
	"Of course, Jessie.  You are right.  I apologize." replied Hadji.
	"Jonny?" asked Jessie.
	Jonny snorted and re-seated himself.
	"It doesn't matter who did what." commented Miana.  "That's not
our problem.  Our problem is what to do with the children.  I don't know
about you, but Hadji and I are sending our two back to India."
	"I agree with you." said Jonny.  "Jess, it has to be unanimous."
	"It seems I'm outvoted." said Jessie despondently.  "And despite
my feelings, it would be best for the children."
	Both families were up the rest of the night and into the following
day.  They all managed to clean up and make themselves presentable before
going to the Med Center to pick up Rajan.
	They came back, and Hadji tucked Rajan into his cot.  Hadji pulled
the curtain that divided the children's part of the room from theirs, and
came back into the center of the room and turned the lights down.  The
Quests had gone home, and Hadji was thankful for the time alone with his
wife.  Hadji stripped down to his loincloth and took off his turban.  He
sat down on the floor and leaned Miana back against him.  He pulled his
hair down from its bun and it flowed over her shoulders like a blanket.
She leaned her head back against his chest and wrapped herslef up in the
protection his loving arms provided.  She never felt safer than when she
was in his arms.  He started rocking her and kissing her neck.  She spun
around on her knees and looked deep into his eyes.  He clasped her face in
his hands and pulled her into a passionate kiss.  They fell back into the
floor where they made passionate love before drifting off to sleep.

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	Erly the next morning, the QueSt team was up and in the docking
area, ready to leave for Earth in one of the cloaked shuttlecraft provided
by the Anasazi.  Both families boarded the shuttlecraft and left the moon,
bound for India.  All were quiet on the trip back-- the ship was fast so
the journey would be a short one.  They were not looking forward to
leaving their children again.
	The ship docked and decloaked behind Bangalore Palace, and
everyone disembarked.  The ramp lowered, and the children ran down with
great excitement, glad to be "home".
	Hasrani came out to meet them, and was very curious as to why the
children were back to soon.
	"Hadji!" exclaimed Hasrani.  "It is so good to see you and the
Quests again.  Tell me-- why are you bringing the children back so
quickly?"
	"The moon is no place for them." answered Hadji.  "A moonquake
injured Rajan, and realizing things could be much worse, we decided not to
take any more chances."
	Hasrani nodded, and Hadji could tell by the look in her eyes that
she felt this way all along.

*******************************************************************************

	"Race, I just got word from Sharad Singh that the family is in
Bangalore.  They are taking the children back, and are going to stay a few
days before returning." informed Moniri.
	Race had watched his long-time friend grow worse over the months.
Benton was in the hospital once again, and of course, forebade anyone to
tell the family.  Race knew that having the family in would be against
Benton's wishes, but he also knew it would be best.
 
*******************************************************************************

	Everyone had just finished dinner-- the best meal they had had in
months,  which was a welcome change from the freeze-dried rations they
survived on on the moon.
	"So how is the complex coming?" asked Sharad.
	"It is coming along well." answered Hadji.  "Many public
facilities are nearing completion, and should be open within the week.
Residential facilities are taking slightly longer, and should be ready in
another month."
	"I imagine that this meal was a welcome relief to the not-so-fine
cuisine you have on the moon." observed Hasrani.
	"Very true." replied Miana.  "The sad thing is, even though we can
move out of our shacks reasonably soon, the crops are taking longer and
we'll be on rations for Lord knows how much longer."
	"The newest technology combined with the special genetic
engineering should yield a sufficient crop within three months." said
Hadji.
	Just then, Ramesh stepped into the dining hall.	
	"Your Highness, there is a call for Mr. Quest."
	"Thank you, Ramesh." said Hadji as he nodded at Jonny.
	Jonny stepped into the next room and took the call.  A few minutes
later, he stepped back into the dining room, his face a ghostly white.
	"Jonny, what's wrong?" asked Jessie.
	"It's Dad!  He's in the hospital!"