The Ultimate Vengeance Part 1



	Hadji and Miana were in Hadji's yoga studio located in the attic

of the main house.  Miana was pursuing the path of yoga under Hadji's

instruction, and he started her out by having her do basic yoga postures.

	"Yes, that is right-- steady yourself... get your balance--now,

straight up.  Good!  Now hold..."

	Miana was having her first attempt at a headstand away from the

wall.  She managed to keep her balance for about ten seconds before she

came tumbling down.  Miana got up and dusted herself off.

	"It's so much easier doing that against the wall..."

	"Yes, my love-- it is.  But just like how children must learn to

walk on their own without their mother's hand, a yogin, or in your case,

yogini, must learn to stand without any external support-- as what you

would figuratively call a 'crutch'.  Anyway, you did very well.  Since you

have had a full workout of asanas, it is time for relaxation.  Stretch out

on the mat, legs parted slightly, with the palms of your hands up."

	Miana did as instructed, while Hadji dimmed the lights and turned

on a tape of Indian music he used for meditation.

	"Ok, now... breathe in and out slowly... that is it-- concentrate

on the breathing.  Note the transition from inhaling to exhaling, exhaling

to inhaling... clear your mind-- concentrate only on your breathing. 

Relax your body totally-- starting with your toes and working to the top

of your head.  Relax your toes... ankles... calves... relax your your

knees... thighs... hips... abdomen... chest... every now and then,

mentally go back to your toes to make sure that everything that is relaxed

stays relaxed."

	Hadji continued naming off body parts, then told Miana to keep

concentrating on her breathing.  Hadji sat down behind Miana's head.  He

put his hands near both sides of her head, near her temples-- almost

touching, but not quite.

	All of a sudden, Miana's body felt heavy, but part of her felt

light at the same time, as if she were trying to lift out of her body. 

She felt a warm, tingling sensation all over.  She felt as if she was

going to lift out of herself and into the astral plane.  She saw colors--

mainly blue and green-- and then the sudden and startling image of a

woman's face...

	Miana's eyes snapped open and she sat up with a start, breathing

fast almost to the point of hyperventilation. 

	She looked Hadji square in the eye.

	"You have seen her." observed Hadji.

	Miana's eyebrows knitted.

	"Who is she?" asked Miana.

	"I do not know.  I have seen her many times during meditation, just

like seven years ago when--"

	Hadji stopped short.  He swore never to reveal to Miana he had

seen her as the Dancer.

	"Seven years ago when..." prompted Miana.

	"Never mind..."

	"Hadji, you started something very deep, and you owe it to both of

us to finish it."

	Hadji put his head in his hands.

	"Hadji!"

	Miana went over to comfort him.

	Hadji then went over to a trunk in one corner that hadn't been

opened for years.  He went over to it, opened it, and took out two sketch

books.  He blew the dust off, and set them on a table.  He turned away

fast, and then closed the trunk.

	Miana started leafing through the books.

	"My God... I thought I was only dreaming... I forgot all about

seven years ago.  It just now clicked in my mind that it was you I saw in

my dreams, and I knew there was something familiar about you when we first

met...  And you saw me then meditating--first, as how I wanted to be,

then me as I really was... Hadji, why didn't you show me these books

before?"

	"Because I was afraid that you would think I was comparing you to a

dream.  I was afraid of the repercussions.  Your image, your personality,

your presence, even your name came to me seven years prior to our meeting. 

I have loved you for that long."

	"And I you, Hadji.  But about this new face-- she comes to you in

the same fashion?"

	"Not quite.  I see her face, but that is all.  The only thing I

feel is a negative presence associated with her.  Did you feel anything?"

	"The only thing I could pick up is that she reminds me of one of my

half-sisters.  I never knew them very well, but they would be thirty now.

They came from my mother's first marriage.  My mother had no contact with

them or her ex, and she had no other family that i knew of."

	"What are their names?" asked Hadji.

	"Moniri and Shamica Monesson.  I believe that image we saw was Mica. 

Why we would see them after all these years is beyond me." replied Miana. 



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



	Even though more than ten years had passed since Jeremiah Surd's

imprisonment-- both in Questworld, and in the local asylum, Julia remained

ever faithful.  It was surprising how many connections her family had

around the country, and both her and Lorenzo were released after a few

short years.  Julia had been working quietly and covertly on a

multifaceted plan that involved freeing Jeremiah and avenging themselves

against the Quests.  Her influence was unknown to society, but well-known

in the Underworld, and those connections she had were working

beautifully-- way beyond just freeing herself from prison.

	Julia was exercising her hacking skills by breaking into various

records in different city offices, as well as researching the latest

happenings with the Quests.

	"Let's see... Benton Quest retires... Johnny Quest and Jessie Bannon

marry... son turns two, Jessie graduates from UCLA and returns once again

to Maine.  Hadji Singh marries Miana Scolari... now there's a new face--

accessing city records..."

	Julia's fingers flew over her keyboard as she pulled up just about

everything there was to know about Miana.

	"The third of four children-- Miana Scolari and her younger brother

William.  Two older half-sisters-- Shamica and Moniri Monesson.  Shamica

has quite a history, and it seems Miana is totally unaware of it. 

Lorenzo-- it seems we have found our weak link." 



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



	"Jessie!  I am so glad you and Jonny are back!  These months you

were gone were just endless!" exclaimed Miana.

	"It's good to be back!  And hey-- having an executive position at

Quest Enterprises was a wonderful thing to come home to!  I'm surprised

you didn't beat me to it, Hadji!"

	"Every time we think he is going to graduate, he finds more classes

to take or another major to pursue." laughed Miana.

	"What is it this time, Hadji?  Underwater basket weaving?" quipped

Jonny.

	"Oh, no, my friend.  I am way beyond that!  I am doing advanced

underwater basket weaving." joked Hadji, with a completely straight face.

	"Mail call!" announced Mrs. Evans, coming into the living room.

	Miana was handed a letter.  Her eyebrows knitted as she opened it,

and she shot Hadji a look.

	"What is it, love?"

	"A letter from Mica.  She is down on her luck, and needs a place to

stay.  I'll read aloud:

	Dear Miana,

	I know it has been a long time.  The last time we saw each other,

you were just a baby.  You must think I have a lot of nerve contacting you

after all these years, but I really have no place to turn.  I was 

devastated to hear about Mom's death, but I was overseas and unable to

come in for the funeral.

	Up until a month ago, I was happily married and living in London,

England.  But, unknown to me, my husband was having an affair.  He sent me

away on a plane back to the States, but with no money and no where to go. 

I am currently in a homeless shelter, but my time here is running short. 

I have heard that you have made quite a life yourself among good people. 

Perhaps all of you can find it in your hearts to give some aid to someone

who is currently down on her luck.  Please forgive my imposition, but I

have no where else to turn.  Signed, Mica Monesson Thurston."

	Awkward glances shot around the room.

	"We should have foreseen this, love." replied Miana.

	"Foreseen what?" asked Benton.

	Miana and Hadji proceeded to tell Benton their story.

	"That's quite a story, Miana.  Well, I see we have no choice but to

help.  Go ahead and write your sister and tell her she can come here to

stay.  We'll work out the details later." replied Benton.

	"Benton, are you sure this is a good idea?" asked Race.  "After all..."

	"I know-- we know nothing about her.  But, we took a chance with

Miana, and now she's a member of the family.  Maybe Mica will turn out the

same way.  However, to be on the safe side-- Jessie..."

	"Right on it, Dr. Quest."



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



	"Wow, Julia-- that's amazing how you managed to completely change

and falsify all of Mica's records!  A graduate in computer science from

Oxford turned Underworld goddess..." praised Lorenzo.

	"Wanted internationally under the name of Tralesta Bane, who did

everything from drug trafficking to weapons smuggling for Earnest

Thurston... but, under her real name-- Mica Monesson-- graduate of Oxford,

married Alexander Sebastian Thurston, business tycoon and playboy, but

was recently ousted from her life of luxury and had to go crawling to her

estranged and long-lost sister, Miana Singh, for help..."

	"And then what?  Then what?" asked Lorenzo anxiously.

	"You'll just have to wait and see, now won't you?" sneered Julia.



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



	"Dr. Quest, I sent the letter out..."

	Miana had a strange look on her face.

	"Miana, is something wrong?" asked Benton.

	"Not really... I had another vision, and it was strange."

	"What was it?"

	"I saw what looked like an underground compound on an island

somewhere, and we were forced to stay there.  Does something like that

exist?"

	Jonny and Benton looked at each other.

	"Actually, it does.  It is an experimental project that has been in

the works for a few years now.  I had no particular use in mind for it

except for research purposes, and in the worst case scenario, in case of

war.  In fact, it's nearly finished."

	"Good."

	"Why?  As Jonny would say, have you been meditating too much?"

joked Benton.

	"I hope so." said Miana.  "I don't know exactly what is going to

happen, but I have a feeling we will be utilizing your experiment."

	"Miana, I have never known you to be so psychic.  Did all this come

about since you started practicing yoga?" asked Jessie.

	"No-- I have always had premonitions in one form or another.  The

yoga is just helping me to be in better touch with myself and giving me

self-confidence.  I just never voiced my visions because I was never sure

of myself.  Now I am."

	A couple of days later, Miana got a call from Mica, and Race went

to pick her up and brought her back to the compound.

	All were in the living room when Race and Mica returned.  Mica was

a tall girl of about 5'10", and approximately 135 pounds.  She had long,

straight black hair down her back, and striking green eyes.  The only

features she had in common with Miana was the pale complexion and the

full lips.  Jessie's eyes narrowed as soon as she saw her.

	"Jess, what's wrong?" whispered Jonny.

	"If Hadji was single, he'd go for her."

	"What makes you think so?"

	"Come on, Jonny!  Think about it!  Tall, evil women with long black

hair... remember the pattern?"

	"Come to think of it, you're right.  But how do you know she's evil?"

	"I feel it, Jonny.  I feel it."

	"Miana!  It's been years!" exclaimed Mica superficially as she went

to embrace her long-lost sister.

	Miana stepped back and offered her hand.

	Jessie picked up that Miana got the same vibes she did.

	"Oh, ok, Miana-- a little resentful, but understandable.  Thank you

anyway for allowing me to come.  And thank you to your family?"

	"Oh, yes-- this is my adopted father-in-law, Dr. Benton Quest, his

assistant, Race Bannon, Jessie Quest-- Race's daughter, my adoptive

sister-in-law, best friend, and wife to Jonny Quest..."

	"Your adoptive brother-in-law.  The question is, who was adopted by

the Quests?"

	"...And my husband, Hadji Singh."

	"That was quite an intro, Mi!" quipped Jessie.

	Miana shrugged nervously, and Mica eyeballed Hadji.

	Mrs. Evans came in and took Mica to her room.

	"I have a bad feeling about her, Benton." replied Race.

	"So do I." agreed Jessie and Miana in unison.

	Hadji's eyebrows were knitted and he had his chin resting on the

back of his hand.

	"Contemplating the similarities between Mica and all the other

tall, black-haired women in your life?" teased Jessie.  "I was just

telling Miana it's a good thing the two of you are married."

	Hadji winced and left the room.

	"I have heard about Elise and Anaya.  I take it Mica is similar to

them?" asked Miana.

	"Not similar-- identical.  In every way."

	"That remains to be seen." replied Benton.  "I hope you are wrong."

	"So do I." agreed Jessie.  "So do I."

	Mica sensed the reservations the Quests had, and decided she would

have to improve her acting job.  She would have a lot of work to do in

order to gain the confidence of those around her. 



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



	A number of weeks passed, and over that time, Mica slowly managed

to get the trust of the Quest team.  She kept to herself mostly, and

decided it was to time to interact more with the family.  She had recently

turned down invitations for various activities, but decided she would get

involved where it really counted-- Questworld.