A Week to Remember
by TimeGuardian

Chapter Thirteen

Hadji typed as fast as he dared as he listened to Doctor Quest dictate through the phone a long series of numbers to enter into the program interface. The teen avoided looking at the countdown as he finished. "Okay Doctor Quest, I have the numbers entered."

Doctor Quest's voice came through the phone quickly. "Excellent Hadji, now go ahead and save the numbers and re-launch the program. Hurry, we have less than three minutes left."

After calling for help, Race looked around wildly before looking around on the ground and grabbing the biggest rock he could find. He then ran to the side of the cabin and hurled the rock at the window, cracking the glass easily.

Using his sleeve, Race carefully broke out the rest of the glass in the window frame. He then hauled himself inside the cabin.

He spotted the computer equipment on a rolling cart over in the opposite corner of the room he was in. Race rushed over and found a monitor attached to the equipment. After a cursory glance, he realized that Hadji and Doctor Quest managed to get into the system. Numerous lines of numbers were being entered quickly but the countdown itself was still proceeding, nearing the ninety second mark.

With one eye on the monitor, Race quickly located the power cord and moved closer to it. He wanted to be at the ready in case they couldn't stop it.

Doctor Quest was on the edge of his seat as he waited for Hadji to re-launch the cloaking program. By his estimate there was little more than a minute left on the countdown.

Suddenly on his screen, a connection window came up showing a familiar view. He had access to the computer. Hadji did it!

Doctor Quest quickly started typing as he spoke out loud. "I'm into the system now, Hadji. Sending kill command – now."

He pressed the button to transmit the command and waited.

Twenty seconds was left on the countdown.

He knew he wouldn't get an immediate confirmation, but the waiting was getting to him.

Ten seconds left. Doctor Quest closed his eyes. Race, I hope you've found my equipment.

Mere moments later, he heard Hadji's excited voice. "Doctor Quest, the command went through! The countdown has stopped!"

Doctor Quest slumped back in his chair, opened his eyes, and saw the confirmation for himself on his monitor. The countdown showed as stopped with five seconds left. "Good work, Hadji. Go find the others - I have a phone call to make."

Race had the power cord in hand and ready to yank it out when he saw that the countdown stopped with five seconds blinking on the screen.

They did it.

He nearly jumped as he heard a familiar ringtone from his phone. Snatching it off of his belt clip, he answered automatically. "That was close, Benton, too damn close."

He heard a tired sigh emanate over the line. No words needed to be said, Race knew where his friend's mind was.

Quieter now, Race spoke again. "That was mighty fine work, Benton. I'll grab Hadji and Jessie and meet you at the hospital as soon as I can."

Twenty-four hours later

Jonny woke up, opening one eye before determining if the light was going to hurt. Surprisingly, it didn't. He opened his other eye and much to his chagrin found that he was in another hospital bed in yet another hospital room.

"Jonny?"

Cautiously to avoid a headache, Jonny slowly turned his head until he spotted a chair beside the right side of his bed. The voice was all too familiar and sure enough, there sat his father. The clothes were wrinkled, the beard longer, but there was no mistaking his dad.

Jonny managed a weak smile. "Hi. How long was I out for this time?"

"Roughly twenty four hours," his dad replied. "How do you feel, Jonny?"

It took a few minutes as Jonny took stock in how he felt and what he could remember. "My head feels like I hit a wall but I remember everything from before, including the kidnapping and what happened over the past few days."

Jonny could see the relief in his father's eyes as he responded. "We have a lot to talk about once you have recovered, Jonny. I do want to say one thing though – you scared me when you snuck out after Phil talked to us that night."

Jonny closed his eyes briefly before opening them again. "I figured as much when I planned it out, dad. I didn't mean to, but it seemed to be the quickest way to get answers."

He noticed an odd look come over his father and it worried him. "Dad?"

Doctor Quest was exhausted and his emotions were raw.

This was a conversation he did not want to have now. He knew his son was very adventurous and headstrong.

In the past, Doctor Quest promised himself that he would not try to limit Jonny's involvement in his work because of it. After the events of the past few weeks though, he was beginning to wonder if he should.

He reached for Jonny's right hand and clasped it tightly. "As I said before Jonny, we have a lot to talk about once we have you out of here."

After a moment, Doctor Quest released his son's hand and stood up. "I'm going to go get the doctor to let her know that you are awake. I'll be right back."

Jonny watched his father leave the room, leaving him alone with his thoughts.

Sighing, he looked up at the ceiling. There was no missing it - Jonny saw the fear in his father's eyes and it worried him.

Overall, Jonny counted himself lucky about life – who else could boast seeing the world alongside his father, long before he was legal to drive?

Still, this was way too close to danger than he ever wanted to experience ever again, which Jonny was sure was the reason behind his father's fear. He made a mental note to be open and honest when his dad was ready for that talk.

For now since he was safe and he had his memory back, he decided that he would relax, recover, and simply be a kid.

Well this could have gone a little better, but I am satisfied with the conclusion. If you stuck around to the end, I hope you enjoyed it.

TimeGuardian