Into the Life of Hadji 2  Part 1

	It was a night of quiet celebration on the Quest compound.  All
were gathered around a fire after a huge dinner in honor of Hadji and
Miana's first wedding anniversary.  The only one not present was Neela,
wno sent her best wishes and regrets at having been unable to come in for
the occassion. 
	"Well, Hadj-- you made it!  After a very topsy-turvy and more than
interesting year, you have officially joined the 'old married mens'
club'!" quipped Jonny. 
	"Yeah, Hadji, The only thing left is for you two to have a kid."
replied Race as he patted Jessie on the shoulder. 
	Jessie looked down at her growing belly, reflecting her four month
pregnancy.  She then flashed a smile at Miana.  A smile grew on Miana's
face that stretched from ear to ear as she produced a small box and handed
it to Hadji. 
	"Happy anniversary, love." 
	Hadji smiled as he took the small package and proceeded to open
it.  His mouth dropped in shock as he pulled out a small pair of
light-blue knitted baby booties. 
	"Congrats, Hadj!  Miana, when did you find out?" asked Jonny. 
	"Just a couple of days ago.  I'm about two and a half months
along.  I knew the knowledge of it would be the perfect anniversary gift
for Hadji." 
	Hadji was still speechless as his eyes were still fixed on the
booties. 
	"How do you know it's going to be a boy?" asked Jonny. 
	Miana smiled. 
	"Intuition, Mr. Quest.  A mother knows these things." 
	"Well, Hadji, it seems things are going well for you.  You just
received you masters in both computer science and philosophy, and now you
are going to be a father.  All I can say is, it's about time." smiled
Benton. 
	"It seems we have a family of children either with or pursuing
double majors." replied Race.  "Jessie received hers in biology and
archaeology, Hadji has his now, and dear ol' Jonny finally made up his
mind." 
	"Yeah, chemistry and marine biology were not my big things growing
up, but heey!  I can't let Jessie and Hadj have all the fun!" teased Jonny
while scratching his head. 
	"Yeah, he's just a freshman!" teased Jessie. 
	"Ahem!" coughed Miana.  "I guess astronomy and parapsychology
don't count for anything?" 
	"I thought you were doing philosophy." replied Jonny. 
	"As a minor." answered Miana.  "And I have only one semester to
go!" 
	"Hadji's ahead of all of us." started Jonny.  "He has his masters
while the rest of us have bachelors or are pursuing bachelors." 
	"The pursuit of knowledge is not a race to be won, but rather a
journey to be pursued for the enlightenment of the individual taking it." 
	Jonny rolled his eyes. 
	"Twenty-eight years old and he still quotes those damn proverbs!" 
	Benny hobbled up to Jonny and put his hands on Jonny's leg.  Jonny
picked him up, and Benny put his hand on Jonny's lips. 
	"Baa wood." uttered Benny, who was now a toddler. 
	"I think your son is offended by your choice of words, my friend."
replied Hadji.  "And to you, Benny-- thank you for defending me." 
	Jonny rolled his eyes as everyone around him laughed. 
	The next morning, everyone got up and was heading out to start
their day.  Jessie was off to work at Quest Enterprises, while Hadji went
off to Rockport College to teach classes, as he was now faculty.  Jonny
and Miana went in with Hadji, as they were both attending classes. 
Benton and Race were left alone with noone else except little Benny. 
	"You know, Benton-- I remember a day when we saw nothing but
action.  The kids were always here, as I handled most of their education. 
Now they're off either to work or school, and things are slow here, now
that you're retired.  And at the same time, our family is growing, and
the times when all of us are together, may call for more protection than I
alone can provide." replied Race. 
	"Race--" 
	"No, Benton!  I'm not leaving.  All I'm saying is our family has
nearly doubled in size over the past few years-- since Miana joined the
family, Jessie had Benny, and now both girls are pregnant.  I think we
need to bring in an additional bodyguard." 
	"Who do you suggest?" 
	"An old friend of mine from the agency-- Robert Channing-- has a
son who just left the agency and is looking for another assignment. 
Robert asked me to see what I could do." 
	"What's the boy's name?" 
	"Bobby Channing.  I've seen him in action.  He's good.  Robert
calls him "Race Jr.'" 
	"Well, if he's earned your nickname, then he must be good.  Feel
free to contact whomever you need in order to bring him in.  How old is
he?" 
	"Thirty-five." answered Race.  "Benton?" 
	"Yes, Race?" 
	"Thanks." 
	With that, Race left and proceeded to make arrangements to have
Bobby assigned to the Quests. 
	When the day ended, everyone came back, and the house livened up
once again.  Benton requested everyone to gather in the living room. 
	"What is it, Dr. Quest?" asked Jessie. 
	"I'll let Race tell you." answered Benton. 
	"This morning, I was telling Dr. Quest that over the past few
years, that not counting him and I, this family has nearly doubled in
size.  With this in mind, we are bringing in Bobby Channing as an
additional bodyguard." 
	"Bobby Chan-- isn't he the son of that friend of yours from the
agency?" asked Jessie. 
	"Yes, he is.  He left the agency not too long ago, and Robert
asked me to find an assignment for him.  It was perfect considering that i
need help here." 
	"What's wrong, Race?  Gettin' old?" teased Jonny. 
	"Jonny!" scolded Jessie.  "Actually, Jessie-- I'm not as young
as I used to be.  Granted, mid-forties isn't ancient, but as many people
as there are in the family now, with two more on the way..." 
	"I see your point, dad." 
	Just then, the phone rang, and Miana answered it. 
	"Hello? Moniri! Hi!  Geez, it's so good to hear from you!  Yes,
everything is great!  Hadji and I just had our one year anniversary, and
I'm ten weeks pregnant.  You did? That's terrific!  Oooohh.... god, I'm so
sorry... yes, I'll tell everyone. Bye." 
	"Good and bad news?" asked Benton. 
	"Moniri's father passed on a few months ago, but following his
death, Moniri went out west and finished her education that she took a
break from the last time she was here.  She just graduated with a teaching
degree!" 
	"Bittersweet circumstances." observed Hadji. 
	Hadji had a worried look on his face, but he tried his best to
conceal it. 
	"Dr. Quest, is it alright if I retire for the night?  I am quite
tired." 
	"Yes, Hadji.  I think our business here is done for the night." 
	"Thank you." 
	Miana's brow knitted as Hadji kissed her on the lips and he
proceeded to go upstairs. 
	"Wow!  I wonder what's bothering him?" asked Jonny. 
	"I don't know.  With as many good things that's been happening, he
should be as happy as a clam." answered Miana.  "Please excuse me." 
	Miana went up to her and Hadji's room. 
	"Hadji?" 
	Hadji had changed and had on only his loincloth and turban.  He
was standing next to the window, looking out at the ocean. 
	"Hadji, what's wrong?" 
	Hadji folded his arms and turned around. 
	"I just have a lot on my mind." 
	"Sit down, love.  Tell me what it is." 
	Hadji sat down on the bed. 
	"I have had a lot of disturbing thoughts recently.  I do not know
exactly what is going to happen, but all around I feel the presence of
death." 
	"Death?" 
	"Yes.  I feel that there is going to be an accident.  I also feel
that two people are going to die, but I do not know who, and if they are
going to die in the accident, or from some other cause." 
	"Oh, god, Hadji!  I hope you are wrong!  Things have been going so
well..." 
	"I hope I am wrong too, my love." 
	Hadji embraced his wife. 
	"I am tired, love.  I need to sleep.  Are you coming to bed?" 
	"No-- I think I'll go back downstairs for a while." 
	"Alright, Miana.  Good night." 
	"Good night, sweetie." 
	Miana kissed him, and closed the door behind her as she left. 
	"Mi!  What's wrong with Hadji?" asked Jessie as Miana came back
down the steps. 
	"Hadji says that he feels the presence of death all around.  He
feels that there is going to be some kind of accident, and two people are
going to die." 
	"Who and how?" asked Jonny. 
	"He doesn't know who, and he doesn't know if they would be killed
in the accident, or from some other cause." 
	"That's scary," replied Jonny.  "Usually Hadji's premonitions are
right on the money." 
	"It's no wonder he's been bothered.  It's like all of us are in a
game of Russian Roulette." replied Jessie. 
	Miana's brow knitted. 
	"Miana?" asked Jessie. 
	"I just got a flash." said Miana. 
	"Of what?" 
	"Neela.  I think Hadji's vision is related to her." 
	"Oh, no.  You don't think--" started Jessie. 
	"She said in her letter that she was under the weather.  That
could've been an understatement." answered Miana. 
	"If her leukemia has come back, Hadji will be crushed." replied
Jessie.  "Are you going to tell him?" 
	"No.  He's worried enough.  We'll just wait, and hope and pray I'm
wrong."

	
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Into the Life of Hadji 2 Part 2


	The next day, a call came in while everybody but Race and Benton
were out.  Benton had just hung up the phone when Race walked into the
room.
	"Benton!  What's wrong?!  You're as pale as a sheet!" 
	"That was Sukinder for Hadji.  Neela is sick again and close to
death.  He wants Hadji to go to India immediately." 
	"My God... and just when things were going so well..." 
	"I'm going to call the college-- Race, make preparations.  No
doubt, Hadji will want all of us there." 
	Race nodded and left to make arrangements. 
	Benton called the college and had them pull Hadji, Jonny, and
Miana from class, and he called Jessie at work.  Half an hour later,
everyone came rushing into the house. 
	"Dr. Quest, what's wrong?  They pulled me from class and said it
was an emergency." 
	"Sukinder called for you.  Neela is sick again and close to death. 
We've made arrangements for all of us to go to Bangalore immediately, that
is, if you want us along." 
	Hadji's face fell. 
	"Of course Dr. Quest." Hadji said in a near-whisper.  "I suggest
we all pack." 
	All packed and were on the dragonfly inside of an hour.  Everyone
was silent during the trip, while Hadji was trying his best not to break
into tears.  Just then, everyone's silence was broken when the Dragonfly
started to shake and rumble.  Race's voice came over the intercom. 
	"Everyone buckle up!  Something has gone wrong with the number two
engine and control systems.  We're going down!" 
	Inside the cockpit, Race was frantically looking for a place to
land.  They were over the dense jungles of India, quite a distance from
the Bangalore Palace landing strip. 
	"Mayday...Mayday...Dragonfly to Bangalore Control Tower... we're
twenty miles from Bangalore Palace and having to crash land..." 
	The plane started to dive and Hadji looked into Miana's eyes as
the plane shook and tumble downward.  He could see that she was terrified
as knowledge of his vision came to their consciousness.  All were strapped
in and bent over heads between legs as the plane crashed and slid along
the jungle floor twenty miles from Bangalore Palace.  The jungle behind
them burst into flames along the path the downed plane had made.  The
Dragonfly tore and crumbled like an aluminum can, and broke in half just
behind the cockpit. 
	Race managed to get the control tower of Bangalore's main airport
to send help out, and they were flying out to the crash site as the plane
was going down. 
	
***********************************************************************

	Hadji awoke to the smell of smoke and charred metal.  He was
hanging upside down, bleeding, and his head hurt. 
	"Miana..." he whispered.  "Miana... Miana!" 
	Hadji looked over at his unconscious wife, who was also upside
down and covered in blood.  When his head cleared, he realized that not
only was he the only one conscious, but there were still flames not far
from them and that they were all in danger.  Hadji unfastened his belt
and he fell to the ground.  He managed to get everyone down, and he worked
as fast as he could to get them all out of the plane and out a safe
distance.  Race was the hardest to get to, as the cockpit was broken from
the body of th e plane, and there were flames in the way.  However, after
some creative strategy and several attempts, Hadji managed to get Race out
of the cockpit.  Just as Hadji pulled Race to safety, the plane exploded. 
He looked around at his unconscious family, and at their various states
of trauma.  Jessie and Miana were the worst.  Benton and Jonny were bad,
but better off than the girls.  Benny was relatively unharmed compared to
the rest of the family.  Hadji was relieved that they had left Bandit
behind in Maine, as he would not have made it.  Hadji tried to tend to
everyone's wounds as best as he could, and it seemed like an eternity
before the rescue crews arrived. 
	Firefighters and investigators came to put the fires out, and
paramedics took them all to the closest hospital, which was in Bangalore
city. 
	Hadji passed out in the ambulance, and awoke hours later in a
hospital room. 
	"Your highness?" asked a voice. 
	Hadji's head was spinning. 
	"Your highness?" 
	"Please call me Hadji." he whispered as he put his free hand on
his head (his other had an IV in it). 
	"I am Dr. Chandra.  You are going to be alright-- just some minor
head injuries." 
	"My wife, my family..." 
	"Her highness is in critical condition, as is Race Bannon and his
daughter.  Dr. Quest and his son are stable and sleeping.  The young boy
is sleeping, and had only cuts and bruises." 
	"The women, they are pregnant..." 
	"Mrs. Singh's pregnancy is at great risk now, and Mrs. Quest lost
her pregnancy." 
	"Miana... my God... Jessie's baby..." 
	Hadji broke into tears. 
	"That is not all.  Your mother is in this hospital.  Her illness
has returned.  She originally had a week to live, but that was four days
ago.  It is just a matter of time."
	Hadji started to get up. 
	"Hadji, you can't..." 
	"I can, and I will." said Hadji sternly.  "My wife and my
mother..." 
	"Your wife is in no condition for visitors, but I will take you to
your mother." 
	Hadji was escorted to Neela's room. 
	"Hadji...I'm so glad you are alright..." whispered Neela. 
	Neela was emaciated to just a ghost of her original form, and her
complexion was paler than that of a white person.  All color was drained
from her, and she looked as if she were in death's grip. 
	"Hadji, I tried to hold on as long as I could... Miana will pull
through-- I feel it." 
	"Miana is pregnant, but I do not know if the baby will survive." 
	"Both will, my son.  I am so happy she is pregnant... when your
family comes out of this, you must take the throne." 
	"Mother..." Hadji cried. 
	"I am so proud of you, Hadji.  You have grown into a fine man with
a beautiful spirit, and your family is just as beautiful." 
	Neela's eyes grew glassy as she looked up toward the ceiling.  She
stetched her thin arm into the air.  "Haresh... I see your father! He is
here for me..."  With that, her arm dropped, and her eyes closed. The
monitors hooked up to her flatlined.  She was dead. 
	"Mother!" Hadji cried aloud. 
	He dropped to his knees and started wailing.  He felt a cold brush
on his shoulder, and as he looked up, he saw the faint outlines of both
his parents fade into nothing. 
	The nurses came in and escorted him back to his room.  Although he
had Neela's assurances that Miana would be alright, he had his doubts.  He
then realized his prediction came to pass.  The plane crash claimed
Jessie's baby, and his mother had just passed.  The two deaths he foresaw
had occurred, although he was questioning whether Jessie's baby would
count, or if the death would be someone else who was already in the world. 
The anxiety of this, combined with the recent losses and the questionable
health of his family were almost too much for Hadji to bear. 
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Into the Life of Hadji 2 Part 3

	The next day, Jonny became conscious and was told everything that
happened.  He was devastated by the loss of his baby (which was a boy),
which was further compounded by the health of his family.  He was informed
that Hadji was conscious, which was a small relief to him.  Jonny went
into Hadji's room, and saw him in an almost catatonic state. 
	"Hadji?" asked Jonny. 
	No response. 
	"Hadji?" 
	Hadji slowly turned his head and looked up at Jonny.  Jonny was
shocked at the empty, hollow look in Hadji's eyes.  It was like another
person-- a stranger-- was in bed before him.  Jonny pulled up a chair. 
	"Hadji..." said Jonny, breaking into tears.  "I'm so sorry about
your mother..." 
	"It is ok." whispered Hadji.  "Your baby..." 
	"It was a boy." cried Jonny. 
	"I am so sorry, my friend." 
	"How is Miana?" asked Jonny. 
	"She is critical.  Her pregnancy is at risk.  And Jessie?" 
	"She's critical, as is Race." 
	"How is Dr. Quest?" 
	"He's sleeping, but he's ok." 
	Hadji nodded. 
	"Well, Hadj-- looks like it's just the two of us.  This is what
you saw, isn't it?" 
	"Yes, it is." 
	"Mr. Quest?" said a nurse as she came into the room.  "Your father
is awake." 
	"Gotta go, Hadj.  I'll be back." 
	Jonny followed the nurse to Benton's room. 
	Hadji sat up and looked around, and climbed out of bed.  With
great stealth, Hadji managed to sneak into the intensive care unit.  He
looked in on Miana, and saw that she didn't even look like herself, as her
head was bandaged, and she had all sorts of tubes and monitors hooked to
her.  He looked into the next cubicle, and saw Jessie was in similar
condition.  Jessie and Miana were both comatose, as was Race, whom Hadji
saw in yet another cubicle.  Hadji went back up to his floor, and heard
Jonny's voice .  He went into the room from which he heard the voice, and
found Jonny there with Benton, who was wide awake. Benton looked up at
Hadji. 
	"Hadji, I'm so sorry..." 
	"That is ok, Dr. Quest.  But now I am concerned about..." 
	"How is she?" 
	"She, Race, and Jessie are unchanged.  I saw them in ICU." 
	Days passed, and Jonny, Hadji, and Benton spent their many empty
hours together passing the time and trying to keep their minds occupied. 
	"Dr. Quest?" said a nurse as she came into the room. 
	"Yes?" 
	"Your friend, Mr. Bannon, is conscious." 
	"Will he be alright?" 
	"Yes.  His condition has been upgraded to stable, and he will be
moved in here with you, if you'd like." 
	"Definately, nurse.  I could use the company.  Nurse?" 
	"Yes?" 
	"Has he been told?" 
	"No." 
	"Let us inform him." 
	"Yes, Dr. Quest." 
	Race was moved into Benton's room.  He was no longer on a
respirator, and he only had an IV and a couple of monitors hooked to him. 
	"Good to see you, Benton, boys.  Where are the girls?" 
	"They are critical, Race.  Jessie lost the baby." 
	Race's face fell. 
	"My god... Ponchita..." 
	"That's not all.  Hadji's mother passed." 
	"Hadji..." 
	"It is ok, Race." 
	Race nodded. 
	Dr. Chandra entered the room. 
	"Hadji, you and Mr. Quest are free to go, as is the young child. 
Dr. Quest, you and Mr. Bannon will be here a while longer.  Hadji, is
there some place you would like us to contact?" 
	"Yes.  Sukinder at Bangalore Palace.  Inform him of my mother's
passing, and have him come get us and prepare our chambers." 
	"Hadji, should we..." 
	"We have to go somewhere, Jonny.  Plus lingering here will do our
wives no good.  They would want us to go on with our responsibilities."
said Hadji stoically.  "I am going to get dressed." 
	Hadji left the room. 
	"Dad..." 
	"Hadji's right, son.  Besides, we'll be here." 
	"Not just that-- Hadji's mood..." 
	"You have to consider his losses, Jonny.  This may be his way of
coping.  Besides, he has a kingdom to run now." 
	Jonny and Hadji got dressed and packed their few belongings, and
Sukinder picked them up.  Jonny and Hadji wondered around the huge, empty
palace.  The palace had an eerie silence to it as Neela and the rest of
the Quest family were not there.  Just then, Sukinder came in and told
Hadji he had a call.  Hadji took it, and then came back to Jonny. 
	"Sukinder, we need a ride to the hospital." 
	Hadji looked at Jonny. 
	"Jessie is awake, and is being moved from ICU.  She knows about
her loss." 
	Jonny was happy and sad at the same time. 
	
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	"Jonny!" cried Jessie. 
	Jonny embraced her. 
	"The baby..." she weeped. 
	"That's not all, Jess." 
	"What?" 
	"Hadji lost his mother, and Miana is still critical." 
	"My god... and his predictions..." she sniffed. 
	Tears ran down Jessie's face. 
	"So much death..." she whispered as whe touched her empty belly. 
	"He's not taking it well.  Jessie, our loss has been hard on is,
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