"What are you saying?" Jonny shot back angrily.

Jessie shook her head. "You know exactly what I mean Jonny Quest!"

Hadji stepped in between his two friends. "Please stop. This arguing is
doing no good. I am certain there is just a slight misunderstanding that can
be easily cleared up if everyone will just stop to listen."

"I don't have a problem. It's Miss Pig-Headed over there!" Jonny spat as he
thrust a finger in Jessie's direction.

The girl snorted. "Miss Pig-Headed! Oh that's real cute Quest! So now, since
Mr. Big Shot can't have his way he's resorted to name-calling. Real pro!"

"PLEASE!" Hadji cried out. Startled, both his friends looked at him with
surprise. "Enough of this bickering! If you can't agree, then perhaps it's
time to back off. Why don't we let this go for now, and we'll discuss it
later?"

His friend and adopted brother frowned. "Fine with me, but I doubt her
Highness will approve!"

Jessie also frowned. "Oh, another brilliant stab from the blunt JQ!" She
hollered. "Forget it then! I'll just do it myself my own way! Who needs you
stupid guys anyway?!" And with this the girl stormed off.

Just then Race and Dr Quest entered the room. Immediately, they could tell
that something was wrong from the looks on the two boy's faces.

"Jessie?" Race inquired wearily.

Jonny was so angry that all he dared do was shake his head lest he blow his
top at the older man.

The bodyguard sighed. "I give up Benton. I don't know what else to do. I
have tried everything!"

The doctor stroked his beard a sad smile on his lips. "I know you have old
friend. And I'm out of advice. I don't know what else to do either."

"If I may make a suggestion?" Hadji's gentle voice spoke up. All eyes turned
towards him. "Perhaps it is time to call Estella. It's apparent that none of
us men are fairing too well. Perhaps what Jessie needs is another woman's
presence and comfort."

Race brightened. "What a great idea Hadji! Tell me why I didn't think of it
sooner?"

The East Indian teen smiled. "Too much on your mind?" He offered helpfully.

Everyone laughed.

                                    ^^^^^

"Too much on his mind indeed!" Julia spat. "If you think this is bad, just
wait!"

Lorenzo humphed. "I still don't know what the big deal is. So the girl's
having dreams. Woopee."

It took every effort on her part for Julia not to smack him. "You're so
stupid." She growled.

"He is indeed my dear." Surd's voice from behind her made her turn. She
smiled.

Lorenzo shrugged. "I don't get it. What's the big deal? I just wanna know
what's going on."

"You can't fathom it. Don't even try." Jeremiah commented flippantly. "Just
leave the work to Julia and I and do what you're told."

The bodyguard sneered. "Just like a trained dog is that it?"

To his dismay, his employer's eyes clouded. His fingers tapped uneasily on
the hand rest of the container. "You are dangerously close to pushing me
over the edge. And believe me, that is NOT something you want to do!" He
exclaimed vehemently.

Lorenzo backed away. "Once again I've gone too farÉ" His brain warned.
Unable to speak, he just nodded at the scientist.

"Are we ready for the final step?" Julia asked hoping to distract him.

"Yes." Surd replied. "Now for the Finale. Are you ready my dear?"

His lover laid a hand on his container. "Whenever you are Jeremiah."

"Then, let the fun begin!"

                                 **********

"Commander, we have the alien vessel in sight."

Commander Jessie Bannon, First Division Flight Squad stood up from her chair
at the center post. "Helm, can you identify it?"

The helmsman shook her head. "No Sir. It doesn't match anything in our known
database."

Jessie frowned. "I wonder if this alien is a friend or a foe?" She thought
to herself.

"Ensign, try to contact the alien vessel. Use all forms of linguistics."

Immediately, the officer did as she commanded. A moment later he let out a
cry of triumph. "Commander! We're receiving a reply!"

The teen walked towards the Ensign. "Audio only, or is there a visual?"

The man entered her request and waited but a second for the reply. "Visual
is available if you'd like it." Was his response.

The girl licked her lips. "By all means! Put our visitor on screen!"

The viewer lit up with an image the likes of which the Commander was not
expecting. She was looking at what she immediately assumed was the bridge of
the foreign ship. High tech computers and other devices she couldn't even
identify covered every available space. At first glance, no one appeared to
be present. However, a slight movement from the shadows told Jessie her
first assessment was wrong.

"I greet you in the name of the United Earth Space Fleet! We come in peace.
I am Commander Jessica Bannon, First Division Flight Squad. Thank you for
responding to our hail."

For a moment there was no reply. Then the alien visitor stepped from the
dark. He appeared to be masculine and he was tall. Ten meters at least. Long
black hair. His face was that of a human's. He had eyes that were a solid
lavender color, no pupils at all. And there was no mistaking his mouth for
it curved in a rather demonic looking smile. His skin was also a purplish
color. The rest of his body was unidentifiable, a long black robe like
garment fell almost to the floor. Jessie couldn't see any legs or feet,
however, on which he stood. As a matter of fact, he appeared to have no
substance at all from just below the tops of his shoulders down. He seemed
to be floating in the air.

"I greet you in the name of the Imperial Armada." A low, warm, definitely
masculine voice responded. At first, the Commander wasn't sure if it was her
visitor who spoke, as his lips didn't move. Then she realized he was
communicating telepathically.

"Am I the only one who can hear you?" Jessie questioned out loud.

The alien's eyes closed briefly indicating a yes.

"Why?" She asked out loud again.

The alien's smile broadened. "Because you are the only one who's mind is
susceptible to me." The voice in her head replied.

"Oh." The Commander commented. She decided to try something. "Can you read
my thoughts?" She inquired in her head.

Again, the alien closed his eyes briefly in a yes.

Turning to her second in command she ordered, "Take over the bridge. Ensign,
relay this message to my personal quarters. Top Priority clearance only."

Immediately her request was done. Satisfied, the teen left the bridge and
headed to her personal chambers. Upon entering, however, she wasn't greeted
with a viewer image of the alien. Apparently he had relocated himself as
well. Directly into her quarters!

"Oh!" The girl exclaimed in alarm. Instinctively she reached for her laser
pistol.

"I'm very sorry. I didn't mean to startle you." His voice soothingly
consoled.

The Commander put her pistol back into its holder. "No. I'm sorry." She
thought apologetically. "I just wasn't expecting to find you in my
quarters."

The alien seemed surprised at her comment. "Why? You said you wanted this
message relayed to your personal quarters did you not?"

"I-I did. Wait a second. Are you telling me that you're not real? That
you're just some kind of projection?"

This time the alien actually nodded his affirmative. "We have not sent an
Surian out on a mission for over a thousand of your years."

"Surian?" Jessie thought. "Is this the name of your race?"

"Yes. I am Je'Su. Imperial leader of the Surian Constituate."

"It's an honor to meet you Je'Su." Jessie commented.

"It is more of an honor for me." Her visitor replied.

"I'd offer you a seat, but I don't think you sit down." The teen finished
with a laugh.

To her delight, the alien/image actually laughed out loud. A very pleasant,
yet somehow eerie, sound. "You are correct. I do not require rest. Thank
you, however, for the kind offer."

The Commander took a seat behind her desk, not sure where to start. "There's
so many questions I want to ask you."

The maniacal smile returned to the lips of her visitor.

"That smile seems somehow so familiar to meÉ" Jessie thought to herself.

"It should be familiar to you. I would hope that by now I am familiar to
you." The alien responded to her question.

"What do you mean?" The girl asked out loud.

"You don't recognize me?"

"I don't understand. What are you saying?" The teen asked. She was quickly
becoming scared.

"First I was a cowboy. Then, a rogue knight. Finally, a Mafia godfather. And
now, I'm an alien. And you still don't know me?" The voice questioned in
somewhat surprise.

Jessie tried to clear her head. Suddenly she realized she was dreaming.
However, try as she might, she couldn't make the dream end. "Who are you?
What do you want?" She cried out.

The alien laughed again. A lustful, evil sound. "I've already have what I
want. You. Your last three dreams? I've been in them all. And with each one,
I've managed to further alienate you from your friends, your family, the
very life you knew! Now, you belong to me!"

                                 **********

"Talk to me sweetheart. What's the matter?" Estella ran her fingers gently
through her daughter's hair.

Jessie sighed. "I don't know mom. It's like, no one will leave me alone. I
just want to be on my own. Do my own things. Be my own person. But it seems
like everyone wants me to do what they want!"

Jessie's mom smiled sadly. "Welcome to the harsh reality called life. You're
discovering your independence, and realizing that the world makes a lot of
demands on you."

The girl sighed again. "It's not just that mom. It's justÉ" and here she
drifted off. "I don't know. Lately I've had this desire to just do my own
thing. And, the crazy thing is, at times I'm questioning myself. It's almost
like there's two of me fighting for control!"

Estella bent down and kissed the top of Jessie's head. "Believe it or not, I
went through a similar phase when I was your age. It's ok. You're a human
being Jess. You have a right to your own opinions and ideas."

"But these aren't my ideas!" Jessie cried. "I don't know how to explain it.
It's as if someone has planted thoughts in my head. Somehow, these thoughts
make sense, but at the same time, I don't agree with them. Oh this is so
stupid!"

As her daughter started to cry, Estella held her close. Motherly instinct
told her something was very wrong. And that what Jessie was experiencing
wasn't just some sort of a phase. She told her daughter to relax. And to try
and rest. Weary, Jessie fell into sleep almost instantly.