Fall had come, and it was quite evident by the activities of those on 
the Quest compound.  It was evening, and all were gathered around the 
fireplace after a long day.  Jonny and Jessie were still in Maine, as 
Jessie decided to take some classes that she found out could transfer to 
UCLA.  Jonny left the reserves entirely, and Hadji and Miana had also come 
back from a long day of classes.  Race and Benton had also wrapped up 
their work for the day as well.  
     "You know, Hadji," started Jessie.  "I never knew my classes here 
would be as challenging here as they were at UCLA.  It was my mistake for 
expecting an academic vacation-- it seems one of my main instructors 
taught there."  
     "It just goes to show you should never assume anything."  replied 
Hadji.  
     "Today we discussed the theoretical possibilities of time travel-- it 
was fascinating.  He was saying it wasn't possible... I didn't have the 
heart to tell him I was actually involved in it at one time..."  
     Jonny's head popped up.  He had forgotten all about it-- after all, 
it was so many years ago.  The conversation also turned the head of 
Benton, who had also forgotten the incident that happened almost eleven 
years ago-- he hadn't been there when Jonny, Jessie, and Hadji stopped 
Ezekiel Rage, but they told him all about it, and ever since, in the back 
of his mind, he wrestled whether or not to go back and save Rachel...  
     Late that night, Benton woke up from a nightmare that was nothing but 
a flood of bad memories surrounding the situation.  He tried getting back 
to sleep, but it wasn't happening.  Before he knew it, he found himself in 
the lighthouse.  He had long since discovered the cure to Rachel's 
ailment, and it was discovered shortly after she died.  This fact also 
added to Benton's pain and haunted him for years.  Benton was fully 
dressed, and had a medical bag and other paraphernalia with him.  He 
booted up the program, and logged into Questworld.  He had preprogrammed 
the computer to tell it where he wanted to go, so as soon as he logged on, 
he went straight through the corridor without looking back-- without 
considering what effect his actions would have on the present.  
     After going through the corridor, Benton found himself in Rachel's 
hospital room.  It was the night before she died.  It was dark, and the 
younger version of himself was asleep in a chair next to Rachel.  He 
looked down at Rachel's frail form and stroked her face.  
     "Dearest Rachel-- I thought I'd never touch you again..."  
     "Benton..." she said softly as she touched his hand, then she 
noticed...  
     "Benton!"  
     "Shhh... you're only dreaming dear... I know I look so much older-- 
go back to sleep."  
     Benton took out a large syringe full of a glowing green liquid.  He 
injected it into her IV, and immediately watched her start to stabilize.  
He smiled with tears in his eyes as he realized she was going to be 
alright.  
     Benton looked back as he stepped back through the portal.  

     * * * * * * * * * * * 

     Benton appeared back in the lighthouse.  The portal disappeared, the 
program disappeared.  In fact, he didn't even know why he was there in the 
middle of the night, and holding a medical bag?  Naaa... what a strange 
dream-- all these people he had never met before-- how could he dream such 
a horrible dream as Rachel's death?  He went back up to the house, and he 
was approaching his and Rachel's room, looked at how much space, how many 
vacant rooms were in this house, and how they should be occupied... Race, 
Jessie, Hadji, Miana... who were these people?  For some reason these 
rooms should be filled... Benny?  His grandson... he did like that idea, 
but Jonny was a confirmed bachelor-- confirmed after a number of girls 
turned him down flat. After all, he turned out to be a rather clumsy, 
socially backward young man with thick glasses and no sense of style.  
Benton was proud of how he was doing academically-- following his father's 
footsteps in studying the sciences, but he had to face it-- his son was a 
geek.  He and Rachel tried everything they could to get him out and 
involved, but he never quite caught on.  
     Benton climbed back in bed with his wife.  He looked at her-- time 
had been good to her.  Her hair was a nice color of blond with hints of 
gray, and her face still had its youthful glow.  Still slim as she was 
twenty years ago-- she always knew how to take care of herself.  And 
somehow he wondered why he was regarding her as if he hadn't seen her for 
almost that long...  

     * * * * * * * * * * * 

     Neela, Hadji, Jessie, Race, and Estella were all seated in the dining 
hall of the palace having dinner.  Hadji had a puzzled look on his face.  
     "Hadji, what's wrong?" asked Jessie.  
     "I had a vision when I was meditating this morning."  answered Hadji.  
"It seems that something is not quite right..."  
     "Nonsense!" said Jessie.  "What could be wrong?"  
     The happy group continued reminiscing.  
     "Anyway," continued Race, "After I left the agency, I couldn't find 
work.  I could not find another assignment anywhere, even with my 
credentials and reputation.  The secret service wouldn't have me for some 
reason, and I wasn't going to be a mere security guard.  Estella and I had 
been talking reconciliation for quite some time, so I joined her here in 
India where she was working on one of her archaeological assignments."  
     "And the rest is history!" exclaimed Jessie.  "Mom's car broke down, 
and her equipment was stolen.  Pasha came to the rescue with some 
equipment that he had just come across {I wonder how, -snicker}, sold it 
to mom at an inflated price, and she was able to continue with her work.  
Hadji was a beggar in the company of Pasha at the time.  He was streetwise 
and always able to find food, but both my parents and Pasha agreed this 
was no life for a young boy.  Hadji always wanted to see America, so it 
was decided we would adopt him..."  
     "And all was well until Hadji got the letter from Pasha a few years 
ago," continued Race, "fully disclosing Hadji's past and how he was now 
running for his life now that Vikram had finally found him."  
     "So, we all came here to try to find Pasha," replied Hadji, "only to 
be captured along with Pasha and my mother.  We all managed to escape, and 
Vikram was killed in the process."  
     "And the rest is history!" chimed Jessie.  
     "All would be even better if my son were to marry."  hinted Neela 
subtly.  
     "I just haven't found the right woman." commented Hadji.  
     Hadji still had a perplexed look on his face.  
     "And yet who are Benton and Jonny..." thought Hadji.  "And this girl 
that haunts my dreams... this dancer who is so beautiful..."  

     * * * * * * * * * * * 

     Miana had been out of school two semesters now.  Life was difficult 
since her mother died, and working in a bar and living in a sleeping room 
was not what Miana wanted to do with her life.  She lived a simple life 
with very little money and even less food-- the only good thing about 
these circumstances was she finally lost the extra weight she was trying 
to get rid of for years.  But, after a year of scrimping and saving, she 
finally managed to save enough money to get her back in school part-time, 
but her grants came through and she was able to return full-time.  
     So here she sat in chemistry class, feeling like a freshman, although 
she was a junior.  She kept feeling the eyes of someone on her.  She 
turned around, and saw this blond-headed nerd staring at her.  She smiled 
politely and turned back around.  
     "Oh, geez... I know I need a man in my life, but is he the best I can 
do?" she asked herself, putting her head in her hands.  All of a sudden, 
she heard a loud "thud".  She looked down, and the geek was at her feet, 
looking for the glasses that had fallen from his face.  Behind him were a 
group of the popular crowd, snickering.  She winced at the cruelty they 
displayed by tripping him.  
     "Here, let me help you up."  
     Miana got up from her seat and helped her clumsy admirer up.  
     "Don't let them get to you.  People of such limited character aren't 
worth giving the satisfaction."  Miana helped the boy to a seat next to 
her.  
     "Th-thanks," stammered the boy, trying to steady his glasses and hold 
out his hand at the same time to shake hers.  
     "I-I'm Jonny Quest.  Gee, you're awfully pretty!  What's your name?"  
     Miana looked away and pulled at her collar.  
     "I'm Miana Scolari.  Are you ok?"  
     "I-I'm fine.  Wanna go to a movie?"  
     "I'll tell you what.  I'll go to a movie with you, but as your 
friend, ok?"  
     "Oh, ok." said Jonny with disappointment in his voice.  "I was hoping 
you'd be my girl, but since I don't really have any friends, I guess 
friends will do."  
     "Good. I'm glad." smiled Miana.  "I need a friend, too."  
     "What time should we pick you up?" asked Jonny.  
     "We?"  
     "Yeah-- I don't drive, so my dad will be taking us-- that is, unless 
you have a car."  
     "No, I don't."  
     "Ok then, it's settled. Where do you live?"  
     "Do you know where Sam's Pub is?"  
     "Yeaaah?"  
     "I live above it."  
     Jonny looked uncomfortable.  
     "Never mind." said Miana.  
     "No-- that's ok!  I just thought a nice girl like you..."  
     "Jonny, lemme tell you something.  A girl has to do what she can to 
survive.  I work as a bartender to pay the bills.  I live in a sleeping 
'cuz it's all I can afford..."  
     "Heey, I'm sorry!  No need to bite my head off, ok?"  
     "I'm sorry, Jonny.  I'm just kind of sensitive about these things."  

     * * * * * * * * * * * 

     "Mooom!  I have a date!" screamed Jonny as he bound into the house, 
followed by his father.  
     "That's great, honey." said Rachel, coming out of the kitchen.  "Have 
you met her, Benton?"  
     "No, but from what Jonny tells me, she is a victim of circumstance."  
     "Why?" asked Rachel.  
     Benton proceeded to tell Rachel what Jonny told him.  

     * * * * * * * * * * * 

     The movie ended, and Miana was invited back to the compound for hot 
chocolate.  
     "...and that's the story.  I have been there ever since mom died.  I 
hate that place-- it's gonna be so hard to work and go to school at the 
same time, and I'll still not be able to afford to move to a better 
place..."  
     "Benton, can I speak to you a minute?" asked Rachel.  
     "Yes, dear."  
     Benton followed Rachel into the kitchen.  
     "Benton, that poor girl shouldn't have to live like that, and we have 
so much extra space here..."  
     "Enough said, love."  
     Benton and Rachel returned to the living room.  
     "Miana, we have a solution to your problem."  
     "You do?"  
     "Yes.  Miana, we have so much space here-- we would love for you to 
live with us.  Having someone his own age in the house would be good for 
Jonny, and having the stresses of living lifted from you would be good for 
you as well."  
     "What would the rent be?"  
     "No rent.  We're just happy to be able to do our part in the name of 
higher education." smiled Benton.  
     Jonny smiled a big, toothy, lop-sided grin.  
     "Jonny, things will have to be purely platonic..."  stressed Benton.  
     "I already made that clear, Dr. Quest." replied Miana.  
     Jonny looked down in disappointment.  

     * * * * * * * * * * * 

     "Well, that was a wonderful dinner, Neela." complimented Race.  
     "I thought your last meal here should be a good one.  We only have 
the best chefs here in the palace." smiled Neela.  "Hadji, have you 
decided if you are going to return with them?"  
     "Yes, mother.  Since Estella is going to be teaching archaeology at 
Rockport College, I think it would be a good opportunity for me to take 
some classes as well." answered Hadji.  

     * * * * * * * * * * * 

     Many weeks had passes, and Benton finally finished his preparations 
for the big archaeology convention that was to be held at Rockport 
College.  All the biggest names in archaeology would be speaking there, 
including one of Rockport's newest faculty, Estella Valesquez Bannon.  She 
had a great reputation in the science world, and he was looking forward to 
her presentation.  
     Saturday evening came, and there was a large reception in the main 
convention hall following the presentations of various speakers.  
     "Slow down, Benton-- I know you're anxious to talk shop with her, but 
I doubt that Dr. Bannon will be disappearing any time soon." panted 
Rachel, trying to keep up with her husband.  
     "Dr. Bannon?" shouted Benton, trying to squeeze through the walls of 
people, with his family following close behind.  
     "Yes?" she said, turning around.  
     "I'm..."  
     "Dr. Benton Quest!  I have heard so much about you!  And your 
presentation..."  
     "Paled in comparison to yours.  Let me introduce my family."  
     Rachel, Jonny, and Miana came up, and Hadji, Race, and Jessie came up 
as well.  
     "This is my wife, Rachel, my son Jonny, and a live-in student, Miana 
Scolari."  
     "My husband Race, adopted son Hadji Singh, and my daughter Jessie."  
     Everyone finally got a chance to look at each other.  
     "Race, Hadji, Jessie... Miana!" thought Benton.  "My dream..."  
     Hadji's eyes connected with Miana's as she looked up at him with a 
star-struck look.  
     "The dancer..." he thought.  "Benton and Jonny!  My visions..."  
     "We have only been here in Maine a couple of weeks-- not fun living 
in a hotel room..." commented Estella.  
     "Haven't found a place yet?" asked Rachel.  
     "No, not yet." answered Estella.  
     "Benton?" asked Rachel.  
     "Come with us." replied Benton.  "We have plenty of room at our 
house..."  

     * * * * * * * * * * * 

     "Aaaaaaaaaaaaaah!" screamed Jonny as he woke up with a start.  "Geez, 
what a dream!" he thought.  "Beautiful that mom would've lived, but me as 
a GEEK!"  
     Everyone came running in.  
     "Jonny, are you ok?" asked Benton.  
     "He is, but my hearing's not." commented Jessie, waking up with her 
hands over her ears.  
     "I'm ok, dad-- but Lord, do I have a story to tell all of you!  Let's 
go downstairs and let me tell you about the dream I just had..."