The Ultimate Vengeance Part 4



	Months passed.  Surd had anticipated that the Quests would catch

on somehow to the fact that he was "back", and decided to let things "cool

down" before his next move.  He would wait for them to drop their guard,

and then he'd act.  Over this time, Surd had regained full use of his

muscles and no longer needed the electrobraces. 

	On the Quest compound, things were unchanged between Hadji and

Miana, except for the fact that Hadji was thinking of returning to India,

and Miana and Moniri were considering going to school either out west or

down south. 

	The impending end of their marriage hung like a cloud over the

compound, coupled with the fact that they were waiting for the other shoe

to drop where Surd was concerned. 

	"I don't understand it, Benton.  It has been quiet for months."

commented Race. 

	"It could be that he is lying low, waiting for us to drop our

guard." replied Benton. 

	"But we never had any proof to begin with that Surd is back in

action." 

	"I trust Hadji's intuition, Race.  If Hadji says Surd is back,

then I believe him.  What scares me is somehow, Surd is always one step

ahead of us.  No matter what we do, no matter what precautions we take, he

is always one move ahead in the game." 

	Just then, the phone rang. 

	"Dr. Quest, it's the foreman from Project X?" replied Mrs. Evans. 

	"Hello? Richard!  I have been waiting for a long time to hear from

you.  How is the project going?  Yes..mhmmm...yes...yes... great!  Thank

you, Rick.  Good-bye." 

	"Is it finished?" asked Race. 

	"Yes.  The last of the men are leaving tonight." 

	The phone rang again, and Benton picked it up. 

	"Hello?  One moment please." said Benton into the phone.  "Race,

could you get Moniri please?" 

	Race went and got Moniri and she took her call. 

  	"Hello?  Hello, father! What? Going into the hospital... for what? 

Yes, I'll fly out immediately.  Thanks for calling. I love you. Bye." 

	"Something wrong?" asked Benton. 

	"I have to leave immediately.  My father is going into the

hospital.  Could someone give me a lift to the airport?" asked Moniri. 

	"So soon?  You won't even get to say good-bye to Miana." replied

Benton. 

	"I know, but my father has been diagnosed with cancer, and it

doesn't look good." 

	"I'm sorry." said Benton.  "Race, could you take her?" 

	"Sure, Benton.  Moniri, whenever you're ready." 

	Moniri packed her things, and Race took her to the airport. 

	"Miana, are you sure you want to do this?" asked Jessie, taking

Miana into the inner offices of Quest Enterprises. 

	"I have to, Jess.  I need to be able to stand on my own, without

Hadji.  And I'm NOT going back to work at Sam's Pub.  I really appreciate

you getting me this job." 

	"No prob, Miana.  Anything for my best friend." 

	Miana started her new job as Jessie's executive administrative

assistant. 

	Hadji resumed his classes, both teaching and attending. 

	That evening, all returned to the the compound, and Miana was

disappointed that she didn't even get to see Moniri off.  The evening was

uneventful, and everyone went to bed early. 

	That night, Surd made his move. 



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	"Julia!  Log me into Questworld!" demanded Surd. 

	"Questworld logon: Subject: Jeremiah Surd. Going hot!" 

	"Open Rachel program-- time period: sixty million BC." 

	A time vortex that was carefully calculated down to the very

millisecond appeared before him, and a virtual Surd ran through. 

	His physical form appeared right behind a Tyrannosaurus Rex, and

he ducked behind a tree and remained perfectly still.  Just then, another

time portal opened up, and a truck with a very disoriented Ezekiel Rage

rumbled through.  Surd jumped out from behind the tree. 

	"Rage!  Over here!  Hurry!" 

	Rage looked at the bomb: thirty seconds.  He saw Surd, and his

only way out.  Rage jumped off the truck, and the two of them jumped back

through the portal in the nick of time.  The portal disappeared behind

them, and they got up and dusted themselves off. 

	"What is going on?" asked Rage.  "Who are you?  Where am I?" 

	"I am Jeremiah Surd.  My associates and I came across a time

program developed by our mutual nemesis, Dr. Benton Quest.  And since we

both have scores to settle with him and his family, I went back in time to

get you..." 

	"'And the forces of darkness will merge and conspire the downfall

of the infidels', so sayeth the Book of Rage." 

	With that, they shook hands, and the dark alliance was formed. 



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	Early the next morning, Benton woke everybody and called them down

for a "surprise". 

	"What's the surprise, dad?" asked Jonny. 

	"Son, you remember the 'project' that has been underway for so

many years?" 

	"Yeah?" answered Jonny. 

	"It's finished." answered Benton.  "We are going to our

underground research compound in an island in the South Pacific.  It is

top secret-- only Race, Hadji, Jonny, and I know about it, and the

construction crew have all signed non-disclosure statements.  There is no

record of it in the Quest database.  It was created in the event of war--

my main objective was in case of biological warfare, so research on the

contagions could be done with no danger coming in from outside.  It also

doubles as protection from a nuclear threat." 

	The Dragonfly landed safely in the underground entrance to the

small, unnamed island off the Pacific coast.  The entire family was amazed

at the size and technology that this place presented.  It had full living

quarters very similar to the compound mans ion, and the underground

environment was sustained by an enclosed oxygen system that recirculated

both air and water.  There was a large greenhouse complex that grew enough

food to last the family for years.  The complex resembled a small city, as

there w ere multiple buildings-- one that served as main headquarters, and

others for research and development.  The complex was entirely automated. 

There were even trees and plant life, and an artificial light source that

was timed like night and day-- all powered by a thermal connection that

went straight into the earth's mantle. 

	"Dr. Quest, why are there so many buildings here?" asked Miana. 

	"Of there was a biological threat, I had plans to bring the finest

minds both in and out Of Quest Enterprises here, along with their

families.  There is a roadway that leads further back, where there are

living quarters separate from the research area.  The only living quarters

in this area is ours." 

	"Dad, I have a somewhat trivial question." 

	"Yes, son?" 

	"What do you do with all this food, with no one here to eat it?" 

	"I have it secretly exported to needy areas, only I canceled that

order last night." 

	Benton took everyone inside the main house, which was almost an

exact duplicate of the mansion house.  Everyone smiled as they went in, as

they could appreciate the familiarity this new place presented.  All went

upstairs and assumed the rooms that corresponded to their own at the

compound. 

	Early the next morning, Hadji made his way to the "lighthouse" to

check the computer systems.  Hadji turned on the computer, and his eyes

grew wide at what he saw.  He immediately called the family, and they all

came to see that had him in such a panic. 

 They all came in as Hadji sat behind the screen, and he showed them a

message that popped up. 

	"'The Ultimate Vengeance is at hand-- doom to all non-believers',

so sayeth the Book of Rage." 

	"Hadji, see if you can get past the message and access the

system." said Benton. 

	"I cannot, Dr. Quest.  It seems as if our access has been

blocked." 

	"It seems Hadji's vision has come to pass." replied Race. 

	While Benton and Hadji were trying to get back into Questworld

systems, Race decided to turn on one of the many monitors in the room and

watch the news. 

	"And the latest news this morning.  A national bulletin is

released from Washington, DC.  Dr. Benton Quest is wanted by the Federal

Government.  Last night, Dr. Quest hacked into the top secret files, and

made numerous threats against both the President and the United States

Government." 

	The news broadcast caught the attention of everybody, and they all

gathered near Race in total shock. 

	Just then, the "image" of Benton broke in on the news broadcast. 

The image started to reveal top secret facts openly, many of which were

incriminating to the government.  The largest secret that was leaked was

the truth about the government's involvement with extraterrestrials. 

Video footage that was irrefutable proof was shown, including full details

of government involvement with the beings known as the Zeta Greys, who

were permitted to abduct citizens in exchange for technology.  Government

footage showing actual aliens was broadcast, along with examples of alien

technology given to the government, including stealth aircraft and other

advanced military equipment. 

	"My God, Race.  Not only does that broadcast imply that I am

responsible for what is being shown, the material that has been broadcast

nationwide is likely to cause a national incident." replied Benton. 

	"It also means that we're stranded here." added Race. 

	Everyone stood in shocked silence. 



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	"Operation successful, Jeremiah.  The broadcast is complete, and

Questworld is inaccessible to everyone but us." said Julia. 

	"Good!  Program Rachel for the year 2194.  Rage, whenever you are

ready." 

	"'And the knowledge of the future will seal the fate of the past'

so sayeth the Book of Rage." 

	Rage sat down and put on a console, and he logged into Questworld. 

He went through the time corridor that Julia opened up, followed by hired

thugs of Surd's to assist him in his task. 

	"Jeremiah, what exactly is Rage going into the future for?" asked

Julia. 

	"Rage has been doing covert research into future times for a

weapon.  He found what he needs in the year 2194-- a war-torn era in which

there is still technology present-- and in Rage's case, just what he is

looking for-- anti-matter weaponry." 

	The world that opened up before Rage was that of a devastated,

war-torn landscape.  He met little resistance as he found his way to an

all-but-destroyed laboratory, and it was there that he found all that he

needed.  While there, he constructed numerous small devices--small

magnetic bottles with detonators and containing single atoms of

anti-matter-- enough to destroy everything from single buildings to entire

continents or even larger, depending on the amount of anti-matter in the

bomb.  Rage took his arsenal back through the time portal. 



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	Many hours passed has Hadji and Benton continued attempting to

regain access to Questworld.  Benton asked Race to keep and eye on the

news for any more "tricks" that Surd and Rage might pull. 

	"Benton, I think you should see this." replied Race. 

	Benton went over to watch the monitors. 

	"The entire population is in a panic, Benton.  There have been

uprisings and revolts in every major city.  People are in a panic about

what is being referred to as an "outrage" on the part of the government. 

The worst occurrences are happening in Washington , DC." 

	"...And police and other authorities are responding accordingly. 

In the most extreme circumstances, military intervention has been

implemented." 

	Race turned off the newscast. 

	Benton turned around with tears in his eyes. 

	"Dad?" asked Jonny. 

	Benton turned around and regarded him. 

	"For the first time in my life, I am at a loss.  I am at a loss."