Team QueSt: The Next Generation

Star QueSt: Part 6

	Jonny's face fell further. 
	"His health has been failing for months, but Dad forbade anyone
from letting us know." 
	"It's like Dr. Quest to be so selfless." said Jessie softly. 
	"We have to go.  Hasrani, we are going to be away for a few days,
and the kids will be coming with us, right, Hadj?" asked Jonny. 
	"Correct.  Dr. Quest has yet to meet Lou." 
	Late that evening, they all boarded the shuttle, and made the
short trip around the planet back to the Quest compound.  The shuttle
landed, and everyone, including Bobby who piloted the shuttle, went into
the main house.  The mansion was empty and quiet, almost to an eerie
degree. 
	"Dad?" shouted Jessie into the air. 
	Race and Moniri walked slowly into the living room.  Bobby and
Moniri's eyes locked, but the somber mood in the house kept everyone
standing where they were.  Race stepped forward, and Jessie ran into his
arms.  Moniri ran into Bobby's arms, while tears were welling in Jonny's
eyes. 
	"Dad?" asked Jonny to Race. 
	"Let's all go to the hospital." said Race despondently.  "Your
father is not well." 
	Race told everyone what had been happening the past few months,
and made it clear that Benton didn't want anyone to blame themselves. 
	They all arrived, and Hadji and Jonny were the first to go in and
visit Benton.  Jonny went up and embraced his father, who was hooked up to
oxygen and various monitors. 
	"Dad..." Jonny cried.  "If only..." 
	"Don't blame yourself, son.  Your involvement with this project is
so important...  Race has been keeping me up to date-- I'm so proud of
both of you...  Hadji..." 
	Hadji stepped up to Benton, and Benton took Hadji's hand and
squeezed it weakly.  Their eyes locked, and for the first times, the true
closeness between father and adopted son had fully come to their
awareness.  Tears were streaming down Hadji's face. 
	"Father..." he whispered, for the first time. 
	"My eldest son-- you have come to become as much my son as
Jonathan.  I love both of you more than you'll ever know.  And Miana-- she
is so beautiful... just like Jessie..." 
	"Father, I brought someone for you to meet." said Hadji, with a
shaky voice. 
	"Lou?" 
	"Yes." 
	Hadji nodded at Jonny, and Jonny stepped out for a minute.  A
moment later, Miana stepped in, carrying her daughter. 
	"Miana, Hadji, she is beautiful!" 
	Benton seemed to gain some strength, and attempted to sit up. 
	Jonny helped him up, and Hadji gently set Lou on Benton's lap. 
	"Lou," started Miana.  "This is your grandfather." 
	"Grampa?" asked Lou, putting her hand on Benton's mouth, and he
laughed. 
	Jessie snuck in with the remainder of the children. 
	"My, how they have all grown!  I am so relieved Rajan is
alright..." said Benton, then he started coughing. 
	"Dad?" 
	"Jonny, I have been in and out like this for months.  It's not as
bad as it looks, really.  It's just some chronic ailments that recur from
time to time." Benton smiled weakly. 
	All the children crowded onto the bed while the adults stood back
watching. 
	A nurse came in and saw how crowded Benton's room was, and ushered
everyone out. 
	Later on that evening, the children were put to bed, and Race and
Moniri were gathered around the fireplace with the rest of the family. 
	"It's good to have everyone together again." started Race. 
"Although the circumstances..." 
	"Race, is Dad going to die?" 
	"I honestly don't know.  The doctors have never mentioned it, and
Benton's health fluctuates, I think he would be almost back to normal,
provided this project is over soon." 
	Everyone looked around at each other. 
	"We don't know when that will be." commented Jessie.  "Granted,
the base complex is nearly finished, but who knows..." 
	"I intend to come back home once the main reactor is up and
running." said Jonny emphatically.  "And it will be activated when the
complex is completely open.  Our jobs will be done.  We leave someone in
charge, and the population can grow without us." 
	"It will still be necessary for us to be involved through the
population process, but with our ship, there is no reason why we can't
come and go as needed." replied Miana. 

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

	Days turned into weeks, and Benton's health started improving, as
visits from the family turned out to be an effective treatment.  Benton
came back home, and all were relieved and glad that he was doing so much
better. 
	All were gathered for the usual routine in the evenings, with the
exception of Hadji, who was in touch with the moon base.  A few moments
later, he came into the living room, and sat in the floor behind Miana. 
	"What's up, love?" asked Miana. 
	"Well, all public facilities are open, as are the residential
buildings.  The population has started moving, and the camp is being
dismantled.  Our things have been moved as well." 
	"The reactor?" asked Jonny. 
	"The reactor is going to be activated in a few days.  They need us
back for final testing and activation." 
	"It's almost done!" exclaimed Miana. 
	Jessie beamed. 
	"And once population is under way, we can come home!" exclaimed
Jessie. 
	"We'll only be away from the children for a couple of months!"
beamed Miana. 
	"And you're happy about that?" asked Jonny. 
	"Of course not!" frowned Miana.  "It could be that we would be
away from them much longer.  I'm happy that it will only be a couple of
months." 
	Benton smiled a quiet smile, and all knew that he was anxious to
have his family home again.  Then, his face fell slightly, as he came to
realize that they would have to leave early the next morning for Bangalore
to drop off the children.  Upon this, all gave their good-nights and
headed off for bed. 

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

	Everyone but Bobby were in Bangalore the next morning, and were
bidding sad farewells to the children before leaving for the moon.  The
children were crying, as were the adults, as good-byes were being said. 
Hadji thanked Hasrani once again for tending them, and they boarded the
shuttlecraft, headed once again for the stars.  The QueSt team landed back
inside the dome, and were immediately escorted to their new homes. 
	Hadji and Miana stepped into their apartment, and were very
surprised at how luxurious it was.  It was ultramodern, with windows
facing the heart of the newly completed moonbase.  It was beautiful, and
the view was breathtaking. 
	"You know, now that this is completed, and the seismic stabilizers
will be activated along with the reactor, we could have brought them
back." observed Miana. 
	"Very true.  Maybe in the future, but now we have to concentrate
on finishing here and getting back home.  Father needs us." 
	"Very true, although this place is so beautiful..." 

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

	"This completed complex is incredible!" beamed Jessie.  "I can't
believe how well this has turned out!" 
	"It is nice." admitted Jonny.  "Although I will be glad to get
back home." 
	"Agreed." said Jessie.  "But we'd better get to bed-- reactor
tests begin tomorrow."