"JessÉ. Wake up!" A familiar voice drifted into her subconscious.

Jessie Bannon slowly opened her eyes. Her friends, Jonny Quest and Hadji
Singh stood in front of her, looks of concern clearly written on their
faces.

"Are you all right?" Hadji's clipped East Indian accent inquired.

The girl nodded perplexed. "Yeah sure! Why?"

"She has no idea!" Jonny exclaimed to the other boy.

Jessie frowned at the blond. "What do you mean?"

"We were testing the subatomic readings from the dig samples Dr Quest had
brought backÉ" Hadji started.

"And I asked you to change the calibration settings for the next test."
Jessie finished. Then her eyebrows furled. "But that's all I remember. Until
I heard you calling my name. What happened?"

Jonny ran a hand through his golden blond hair. "One word. SURD. He invaded
the program just as we were starting the third test. We tried to shut it
down, but he was too quick. Before we could even warn you, we were locked
out. It took Hadj five minutes before we could get to you. When we did, you
appeared to be asleep. We tried to wake you and just now managed to do it."

The girl sighed shaking her head again. "IÉ I don't remember any of that."

Her dark friend was studying her. "You appear to be ok. Nonetheless, we
should have Dr Quest check you out just to be certain."

Jessie agreed. Upon standing up from the cocoon, however, she nearly
collapsed.

"Jess!" Her two male friends cried in unison as they rushed on both sides to
steady her.

"Whoa!" The girl remarked with a slight laugh. "Don't know what that was all
about, but I suddenly feel light headed!"

Both boys helped her to sit down. "Just wait here. I'm going to get dad."
Jonny called out as he sprinted off.

"Doesn't look like I have a choice!" Jessie muttered half to herself.

                                 **********

"Your plan is perfect!" Julia exclaimed with a content sigh.

"Of course it is." Jeremiah's voice hissed through the vocorder. "And the
beautiful part? Young Jessie Bannon isn't even aware of what I've done!"

"So, what have you done?" Lorenzo mumbled.

"Watch your tone Lorenzo!" Julia growled.

Before her cohort could reply however, the scientist interrupted. "It's all
right my dear. I don't believe I have to remind him that he could have been
used for the experiment insteadÉ"

The burly bodyguard blinked rapidly and swallowed hard. "No. I-I'm aware of
that Dr Surd. I really am."

Surd's brown eyes flashed. "I thought you were." He looked at the main
monitor. Hidden cameras that had been placed at strategic parts of the Quest
compound gave him a "fly on the wall" view. Right now, the subject of his
experiment and the East Indian were waiting in the Lighthouse for the
arrival of Dr Quest. A second later, the doctor, his son, and Race Bannon
all joined them.

"Ah. Here's daddy to check on his little girl." Jeremiah sneered. "How
delightful! Check away my friends. You'll find absolutely nothing!" He
allowed himself a laugh, which made his paramour smile and his bodyguard's
blood run cold.

                                 **********

"Well?" Race asked again for the umpteenth time.

Benton Quest shook his head. "Nothing. She appears to be just fine. Care to
try it again?"

Jessie nodded and took his outstretched hand. With her dad's help, she
returned to a standing position. This time, her head didn't swoon. "Much
better!" She exclaimed.

"What do you make of it Benton?" His friend and bodyguard inquired.

The doctor rubbed his beard thoughtfully. "I don't know what to think Race.
It's very puzzling. And you say you can't remember a thing until Jonny and
Hadji were calling for you to wake up?"

"Yes. Its like I have amnesia between those two events!"

"And you two say Surd hacked in?" Race demanded of the boys.

Hadji shook his turbaned head yes. "We didn't have time to pull Jessie out.
He was there, and then they were gone!"

"I don't like it." The former Navy SEAL commented.

"Neither do I." The doctor agreed. "It seems that Surd is up to something.
Now, only if we can figure out what."

"Well, while everyone's studying this, mind if I go lie down? I have a bit
of a headache and I could use a nap." Jessie pleaded.

Her father was instantly next to her. "Of course honey. Here. I'll help you
to your room.

                                    ^^^^^

"That feels much better!" Jessie said with a groan as she lay down on her
back. Her father sat down at her side, worry etched deep in his tan face.

"Don't look so worried dad!" The girl remarked with a slight giggle. "It's
going to be ok!"

Race smiled softly and gently ran his fingertips over her forehead. "I hope
so pumpkin. I sure don't want anything to happen to you. I'd never be able
to forgive myself!"

"Oh daddyÉ." Jessie whispered as she drifted off into sleep.

"Rest well sweetheart." Race whispered, leaning forward to kiss the top of
his daughter's head.

                                    ^^^^^

"Rest well indeed!" Surd's voice rasped as he watched his archenemy leave
the room. "Julia!"

His assistant turned to him. "Yes Jeremiah."

The doctor looked at her. "It's time to test our little experiment."

Julia's dark eyes glinted with joy. "I'm ready."

"Lorenzo!"

The bodyguard appeared instantly. "Yeah Boss?"

Jeremiah's eyes narrowed. He hated being called that. He took a calming
breath before he addressed the man. "I want you constantly monitoring Ms
Bannon's condition. Inform me of any change that occurs with her that could
be potentially harmful."

The man scratched his head. "I don't get it. You're worried about her
safety? I thought you wanted her dead!"

There was no mistaking the growl that emitted from the vocorder as the
scientist drove his container towards the burly man until he had him pinned
against a wall. "ENOUGH!" Jeremiah cried out.

Wrong thing to say. Lorenzo raised his hands in a calming gesture. "Sorry."
He tried soothingly.

The doctor's eyes burned brighter than the hottest flame Lorenzo had ever
even seen. "If you ever talk like that to me againÉ" Surd hissed
threateningly.

The bodyguard barely managed a gulp and a slight nod. Fortunately, this
satisfied his employer who backed off and returned to his position by his
assistant.

"He's insane. And I'mÉdead if I don't shut up. He'll kill me. I know he
would." Lorenzo shook his head and let out the breath he'd been holding.

"I'm not scared of him!" He thought with a triumphant smile. It quickly
faded though as the doctor glanced at him out of the corner of his eye, the
fire still there. "No, I'm not scared of him." The man's thoughts continued.
"I'm terrified. Absolutely terrified."

"Log me into QuestWorld Julia." Surd commanded.

His assistant immediately began the sequence. "QuestWorld log on. Subject,
Dr Jeremiah Surd."

In a matter of seconds the computer had counted down to one. The familiar
green and black haze filled the screen that Julia was monitoring Jeremiah
from.

"Start the DM Program." Her employer said and again Julia began the
sequence.

"DM Program initiated. Commencing in 5É4É3É2É1.

                                 **********

"It's so peaceful here. I just love the country!" Jessie thought to herself.
The rolling hills, the quaint farm houses, the animals. She'd always lived
in the city. And, because of what her father did for a living, she'd managed
to visit some pretty exotic places. But she always marveled at the country.
Peaceful and serene. Way different from the hustle.

"I wish I could stay here forever." She thought with a sigh as she turned to
continue her walk up the dirt road.

"Why don't you?"

The teen gasped startled. She wheeled around looking for the source of the
comment.

He sat on a fence about 15 yards behind her. Tall, tanned. Hair as dark as
night with eyes as lavender as the flower. Muscular, he wore a western shirt
that hugged his body. Tight jeans covered his long legs. Cowboy boots and a
ten-gallon hat completed his perfect ensemble.

"Did you say something to me?" Jessie inquired stepping a bit closer to him.

The man smiled and it was like the sun lit up the sky. His eyes sparkled and
his entire countenance brightened. "I did. I said, 'why don't you?'"

"Why don't I what?" The girl questioned perplexed.

The man laughed. Not mockingly, but rather warm and pleasant. Jessie felt
herself smile. "You're already getting into the country spirit! Can't
remember your last sentence. That's a good sign!"

Now the teen was even more confused. "I'm sorry. But you've totally confused
me. What are you talking about?" She insisted.

The man took his hat off and ran an arm over his forehead wiping off the
noonday sweat. He smiled, but now it seemed sad. "There you go again. You
city people can't relax and take a joke for nothing! I was just playing with
you Jessie. I'm sorry."

Jessie backed up a step surprised. "You know my name!"

The man licked his lips and nodded, a bemused expression crossing his face.
"Why wouldn't I know your name? This is your dream after all."

"OH!" Jessie suddenly hollered out with a laugh. "I almost forgot! This
seemed so real, I nearly forgot I was dreaming!"

The man smiled brightly again. "He really is quite handsome," Jessie thought
to herself.

"So, are you going to answer my question lady?" He asked.

"Your question." The girl stated as she tried to focus her thoughts. You had
asked me 'Why don't you.'"

She struggled to recollect. "Oh!" She exclaimed again. "Why don't I stay
here forever!" She finally realized.

He nodded placing his hat on his lap. Turning his head away from her, he
gazed at the horizon where the sun was just beginning to set. When he did
so, Jessie was quick to notice that his hair was in a ponytail which hung
down between his shoulders. He turned back to her. "Why don't you?" He asked
yet again.

The teen sighed and walked towards him. He moved and motioned for her to
join him on the fence. She had no problem doing so. "I don't know. Too much
to do. School. Work for Dr Quest. Helping my dad with problems. Helping
Jonny and HadjiÉ"

"Whoa little lady! Slow down!" He exclaimed with another warm laugh.
"Problem with you is you've got too much going on. You need to take it easy
and relax for a bit. Too much for a young lady like yourself to be doing."

Jessie grinned. "I'm not that young. I'm fifteen. And I take care of myself.
I play sometimes too." She justified.

The man's eyes gazed into hers and suddenly it was like the only thing that
existed was the two of them. Jessie smiled, so comfortable she felt. He
returned the smile. "Fifteen. Why, you're just a babe in the woods darlin.
You've got your whole life ahead of you. Relax! Take time for yourself! You
deserve it! And anyone who thinks differently is being down right rude if
you ask me. Pretty lady like you shouldn't have to spend all of her time
taking care of others." He finished with a slight humph.

The girl giggled. "That's very noble of you kind sir!" She playfully
replied. She was delighted to see the wonderful smile light his face once
again.

"Just doing my duty ma'am." He nodded to her as he jumped off the fence
replacing his hat.

"Where are you going?" Jessie asked him unhappily. She was really enjoying
his company.

He walked over to her and took her dainty hand in one of his. Tanned,
weathered and large they were. So big, his hands easily engulfed hers. "I
gotta go honey. Things to do. But don't you worry none. You just sit here
and soak up as much of this pure country air as your soul needs. And don't
worry 'bout your problems. They's gonna be there tomorrow."

The teen's lips curved into a smile. "I'm so glad I got to meet you. And
talk to you. Thanks."

The man responded to her comment by gently lowering his head and tenderly
placing his lips on the knuckles of her hand. "As am I." He whispered.

Then, with a slight wave, he began to walk down the dirt road in the same
direction Jessie was going to go. She watched him leave a sudden feeling of
peace and tranquility overcoming her. As he was about to disappear over the
hill, however, a thought entered the girl's mind.

"Wait!" She called.

He stopped and turned to look at her, concerned. "What is it?"

Jessie giggled. "Your name. I never got your name."

With the dusk, his smile was even brighter than the sun this time. "Jay. You
can call me Jay."

Then he was gone.

                                    ^^^^^

Jessie yawned and slowly stretched. "I must've slept good!" She said to
herself as she looked outside and saw that it was dark. Her stomach growled.
Of course, she hadn't eaten anything since breakfast. She threw on a robe
and padded downstairs.

Her father and Dr Quest were sitting at the kitchen table drinking coffee
and chatting. They both looked up and smiled when Jessie came in.

"Glad to see you up and about!" Benton remarked.

"Thanks. I feel much better." The girl replied.

She walked over and gave her dad a huge hug. Race grinned broadly. "Yep.
You're feeling better all right!" He declared. His daughter laughed.

"We still have tests three, four and five to run on the samples. Feel up to
jumping back on to those?" The doctor asked.

To his surprise, however, Jessie nodded no. "Not really. I'm sorry, I just
don't feel much like doing anything at the moment. Perhaps tomorrow?"

Hiding his reaction Dr Quest grinned. "Understandable. Seems you've had a
rough day. Rest is the best thing for you."

The teen placed a hand on his arm. "Thanks Dr Quest. I promise to jump right
on it first thing in the morning."

                                 **********

"It's been four days! I've never seen Jess so lazy!" Jonny commented to Race
at the dinner table.

The older man frowned slightly. "I know. She's usually so full of spunk. I
just don't get it. At first, I chalked it up to that incident in QuestWorld
with Surd. But, when her teacher called today to say that Jessie wasn't
listening in class and hadn't done her homework this week, that's what did
it. It's like, she doesn't have a care in the world. And she's not concerned
about anything anymore!"

"Indeed, I too have noticed this." Hadji added. "I was talking to her
yesterday about the fact that another logging company has put a bid in to
cut on the Anoii Rain Forest. She just nodded and said something like 'I
guess everyone's got a right to that'. Now I know for a fact that this is
NOT like Jessie. Usually she'd be upset and threatening to call the Anoii
government to try and save the Forest!"

Benton set down his cup of tea. "We all agree that Jessie's behavior is
somewhat unusual. However, before we go calling in the Calvary, I think we
need to really observe her. Everyone deserves a 'down time' now and then. As
unusual as it may be, she could be experiencing such a time."

"Yeah well. If this is the case, I sure hope she gets over it quick. I miss
the old Jessie!" Benton's son exclaimed.

Everyone else had to admit that they did too.