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Date: Sat, 14 Feb 1998 22:50:54 -0500 (EST)
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To: jq@edc.ml.org
From: Ina-chan 
Subject: JQ: fic:Union(6/6)
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Disclaimer: JQ not mine. Story idea mine. No $. All for fun.
Rating: Harmless... but some mature concepts
Category: I’m not sure about the humor part anymore, but definitely episodal
and AGALAINHRA’n
Archivers: Tell me where.
Summary: Behold! The emotionally gripping ending!

February 14, 1998

Puerile Union (6/6)
by Ina-chan

        “This is not part of the plan, is it?” Gheeta whispered stating the
obvious, “I hope Mama Neela is fine.”
        Jonny didn’t reply as he looked cautiously around the clump of thick
bushes that they were hiding from. His eyes narrowed as a  man in dark
clothing searched an area a distance from their refuge. He turned to the
girl beside her, “C’mon, we have to move.”
        “What about Hadji and Jessie?” Gheeta asked as she crawled behind
the blonde
        “We can’t do anything for them if we get caught,” Jonny whispered
urgently as they made their way soundlessly through another location. 
        “Who was that woman?”
        Jonny smirked, “Let’s just say that she, her family and their
lackeys are big annoying pains in the backside.”
        “You seem to know them very well...” Gheeta remarked
        “Hadji was almost engaged to her,” Jonny replied
        Gheeta blinked, “So there really was another woman?”
        “Well... I have to stress ALMOST,” Jonny added, “They’re really a
dangerous bunch...”
        “Do you have any weapons with you?” Gheeta asked thoughtfully
        “No,” Jonny replied, “That’s why we really have to bolt for safety
and think of a plan.”
        Gheeta stopped on her tracks, “Give me a moment.”
        “We don’t have any ti---” the blonde boy started with a frown as he
turned to face his best friend’s bride, only to stop and gape in surprise at
the sight that met him. “What in the world are you doing?” He squeaked in a
loud whisper
        “These clothes are too heavy to for me to move quickly, I will be
ready in a second,” The girl explained as she shed the last of her outer
ceremonial garments, leaving her not very modest underclothes. But it was
not her clothing, or her lack of, that made the boy freeze on his tracks in
bewilderment. It was the fact that while she was doing so,
she expertly pulled out parts of a dismantled Smith and Wesson from various
folds of her apparel, put it together and loaded it within the time range of
sixty seconds. 
        “Now I am ready,” Gheeta announced with the cock of her gun

***		
        “Hadji... HADJI!”
        Hadji stirred at the harsh whisper, then winced as the afternoon
light filtered painfully through his eyes and flooded his cloudy
consciousness. He tried to get up, only to find out that his movements were
limited with his arms tied behind his back. 
        “Hadj, you hurt?” Jessie whispered again
        “Just my pride,” Hadji replied, “How long have I been out?”
        “Not very long. But it does not necessarily mean that I was any less
worried about the both of you,” Neela responded
        Hadji turned to his mother in surprise, “Mother? What are you doing
here?”
        The matriarch looked at her son sternly, “I was going to ask you the
same thing.”
        Jessie cleared her throat, “I’m sorry to interrupt, but we hafta
find a way to get out of this. Hadji, you think you could use some of that
yoga training you have on these ropes?”
        The boy struggled with his bonds then sighed, “Not in the very near
future. It would seem that Anaya made an extra effort to make sure none of
us will be able to stop whatever it is they are planning to do.”
        “What are they doing here, anyway?” Jessie wondered out loud
        This time, it was the older woman’s turn to cough nervously and
clear her throat, “I am afraid I have not been entirely truthful to you.”
        Both teens looked at the regent in surprise.
        Neela bowed her head in apology, “I am truly sorry for the
deception. But it is necessary to protect Gheeta. Apparently my efforts are
not enough.”
        Hadji frowned, “Protect Gheeta? From what?”
        Neela looked at her son solemnly, “The story I told you about your
uncle Hasaad dying was total fabrication. In reality, he is very much alive,
under protection, and living with another identity. Before  a week ago,
Gheeta herself did not exist legally in the eyes of the law.”
        “But why?” Jessie asked, confused
        “Before his ‘death’, Hasaad was one of  India’s top military
advisors. He was also one of the people in charge of  the UN security.”
        “That explains some things,” Jessie remarked, giving her best friend
a knowing look
        “No,” Hadji disagreed, “It explains MORE than a lot of things.”
        “An incident that happened several years ago, I know not the nature
and was not disclosed to the public, forced your uncle and his family to go
in hiding under protection. I have not heard anything from him until I
received that clandestine message some time ago.”
        “And it would seem that you’re not the only one who found out about
the truth,” Jessie commented, “But if its so dangerous for Gheeta to go back
to public light... why did she?”
        “Family honour is a treasure worth much more than life, I am
afraid,” Neela replied. She looked at her son sadly, “The agreement was
presumed broken at the time of your disappearance. I assumed that it was
invalid myself, with the assumption that Hasaad and his family had left this
mortal coil.”
        Jessie chewed her lower lip thoughtfully, “I see...When Hadji
returned...”
        “I cannot help but feel that this is all my fault,” Hadji said
mournfully
        “But it is not,” Neela insisted, “Had I been more truthful...”
        “No mother,” Hadji cutted in, “We ourselves have not been entirely
truthful.”
        “This isn’t the time to blame ourselves,” Jessie said assertively,
“We have to figure out a way to get free and stop whatever it is Zin is
planning this time...” 
        Anaya’s laughter interrupted Jessie’s sentence, “Do not even bother.
It will shall only take a few moments more, then we shall out of your hair.”
        “Do not count on it,” Hadji said quietly but with conviction in the
seriousness of his voice
        Jessie glared at the older woman dangerously “You know that there’s
no way you’re getting away with this.”
        “My, my. How very cliché,” Anaya remarked with an amused smirk, “I
expected something more original than that.”
        “How about this one?” A voice suddenly called out from behind her
        As the Asian terrorist turned around in surprise, the ground before
her suddenly exploded with a billow of smoke.  And as the saying goes...
‘all of hell broke loose...’ The action eventually lead to the older woman
sprawled on the ground, stunned with disbelief and weaponless... as the
smoke cleared to reveal the cause of her downfall. The three hostages gaped
in surprise at the image that greeted them.
        “This is the end of the line Zin,” Jonny announced smugly with a
small army of palace guards surrounding them, “We already called for back up
and you have no where else to run. Oh, and if you’re looking for your
lackeys, don’t bother.”
        “They are resting,” Gheeta added, her sweet smile contrasting
against the sinister glint of the weapon on her hands
        “But they were kind enough to lend us these,” Jonny continued as he
played with two small smoke screen cartridges in his hand
        Anaya smiled as she got on her feet and dusted herself, “It would
seem that I have underestimated you again. I will let you win this time, but
do not expect the same outcome on the next time we meet.”
        Jonny frowned, “There won’t be any more next times.”
        “You think?” Anaya teased with an amused expression as she pressed a
button from a small rectangular object hidden in her palm. Before anyone can
react, the ground a short distance away from the group exploded. Watching a
helicopter appear out of nowhere to pick up the daughter of  Zin was the
only thing he can do, as Jonny struggled
to get back up on his feet. The guards that recovered quickly launched their
spears at the departing vehicle in vain. And with her hair flowing in the
wind and a flirtatious blow of a kiss, Anaya was gone.
        Gheeta sighed as she helped the young sultan out of his bounds, “You
really should consider upgrading your system of defense.”
        “Yes, I will make a note of that,” Hadji agreed
        “Well... that was quite an experience to remember.  So Jonny, what
have you been up to when we were out cold,” Jessie grinned mischievously as
she eyed the other girl clad in her underclothes and Jonny’s jacket
        Jonny turned into a healthy shade of red, “This wasn’t my idea.”
        “Leave a girl with Jonny for a couple of minutes and she comes back
as Xena,” Jessie teased
        “This isn’t my fault!” Jonny yelled defensively as he turned to his
other bestfriend, “You know none of this would have happened if  you just
told your mother...”
        His voice trailed as he saw Neela looking at them expectantly, “Tell
me what?”
        Hadji and Gheeta looked at each other nervously before the sultan
cleared his throat, “Mother... I am afraid that we have deceived you. The
truth is... We do not wish to consummate the agreement...”
        Neela nodded her head, “Very well.”
        The four teen-agers blinked.
         “Very well?” Jessie exclaimed
        “What about the years of tradition and family honour?” Jonny asked
        Neela bowed her head solemnly, “It is true that this will be going
against every traditional principle instilled by our ancestors.” She lifted
her head and looked at her son, “In your father’s place, it is my duty to
ensure that the promises he made before his passing are met. However, I am
your mother first. And a mother’s greatest joy is to secure her child’s
happiness before everything else. I cannot favour a bond that will lead to
your unhappiness, my son.” Neela laughed, “And besides, you are the ruling
Sultan of Bangalore. You have the power, authority, and the right to refuse
to partake on this particular official duty.”
        The couple’s faces brightened. Hadji hugged his mother in gratitude,
“Thank you Mother.”
        “WAIT A SEC!” Jonny exclaimed in exasperation, “You mean we didn’t
have to go all through that...”
        “...because Hadji could have just said ‘NO’ in the first place?”
Jessie continued in a dangerous tone
        Colour drained from the young man’s face as he slowly backed off
from his visibly upset and ‘dangerously advancing with an oath of severe
physical pain’ friends, “Ah... heh... heh... my friends... at least
everything is back to normal now... right?”

***
        Hadji took a deep breath as he leaned on the balcony and watched the
setting sun. He took a moment of silent reflection, thanking the heavens
that the whole fiasco was finally done and over with. The sound of rustling
cloth behind him claimed his attention, and found a now properly and
comfortably clothed Gheeta standing beside him. She
cocked her head and gave him a shy smile, “Is it all right if I join you?”
        Hadji grinned and motioned the girl to take a place beside him.
        “I see that Jonny and Jessie was in a more forgiving mood than I
expected,” Gheeta commented at the unbruised  young man
        Hadji laughed good naturedly, “I survived. How about you? When are
you going home?”
        “Later this evening. Mama Neela is just making the final
arrangements,” Gheeta replied with a shrug, “Now that my father is confirmed
still alive, the longer I stay here, the more I put my father at risk...”
        “I see.”
        Gheeta laughed, “Though, I have to admit, I believe I will look back
at all of this with some... regret. It has been... fun... being married to
you.” 
        “It was a rather interesting experience, was it not?”
        “Well... you will never know. We might meet again someday,” Gheeta
offered cheerily
        “Perhaps.”
        But both silently doubted it as they watched the sun paint the
horizon with a bright palette of pink, orange and gold. The girl looked at
the young man seriously, “It seems rather anti-climatic to end something so
eventful just like this, do you not think so?”
        Hadji gave her a puzzled look.
        Gheeta shrugged, “It just feels like there is a need for some kind
of ceremony for some closure.”
        Hadji nodded thoughtfully, “Then let us start one.”
        The girl grinned, “How?”
        After a moment of pensive silence, the young Sultan unsheathed his
Kirpan from underneath his clothing and handed it to the girl. He then
unwound his head gear and used a portion of it to tie one of his wrists with
his former bride. Understanding his purpose, Gheeta offered the religious
dagger. Together, in each other’s witness with the setting of
the sun, the bride and the groom symbolically cut the ropes that bound them
together.

***
Epilogue: (weeks later in the Quest Compound)

        “Well, Mother heard word that Gheeta is well,” Hadji announced as
folded the letter in his hands
        “That’s great news!” Jessie remarked sleepily with a yawn as she
took her seaT on the`breakfa3t table-
        Race poured himself a cup of coffee and looked at the kids
curiously, “Gheeta? Hey, who exactly is this Gheeta?”
        Jonny shrugged as he reached for the cereal box in front of the
ex-military man, “Hadji’s ex-wife.”
        Race blew a sharp breath of surprise, unfortunately spraying coffee
in the air. Jonny yelled in disgust and gave the older man a sarcastic
glare, “Thanks a lot Race, I was thinking of  having a shower this morning.”
        “It was just one of those mix-ups we managed to fix during our stay
in India, Dad,” Jessie snickered before taking a sip of orange juice
        “And I am very pleased to announced that I am currently happily
unmarried,” Hadji added
        “I’m glad to hear that...” Race said uncertainly, “Though saying I’m
surprised is a very big understatement. Marriage can be very complex.
Sometimes complications can really make things out of whack even with
inhuman efforts.”
        Silence filled the room from the deep comment as Jessie turned her
glass absently in her hands, while Hadji put the letter on the table. Jonny
nodded thoughtfully before turning to Race in full innocence and giving the
older man a serious look, “Were you impotent?”   
	  

---FIN---

Comments, criticisms, bricks to inachan2@ican.net

Author’s squawk:

        IT’S DONE! IT’S DONE! MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA! This chapter is a tad
bit longer than others ‘cause I wanted to finish this damn thing and get on
with my life. And in celebration of my final chapter, I reposted the earlier
chapters of the fic. It’s been a while since I last sent the preceding
chapter, ne?
        Anywayz, I know that the story telling style on the action sequences
on this one is very highly HB stylized. I honestly have no other idea how to
do it so I just took the easy HB style way out. I just hope that it worked
for you guys.  Well, it’s been fun writing this! I just hope you guys find
it fun reading it! ^_^. Thanks for bearing with me!
        BTW, a “KIRPAN” is a symbolic dagger and an element of the Sikh
religion. Every Sikh practitioner (men and women) are required to carry a
kirpan to symbolize their ‘readiness’ to fight their enemies. I dunno if
Hadji is a strict practitioner of Sikh and would carry a dagger around, but
I would assume that at least in more formalized situations he would observe
the traditional aspects of Sikhism. At least as far as I know with the TRA
series is concerned, Hadji is Sikh.

Ja!
Ina-chan


========================================================
Classic Humour on Classical Music...
Rating: Egotistic...

Three famous conductors, Szell, Bernstein & von Karajan, were discussing
which of them is the greatest.

Szell: I believe I'm the greatest because I took a relatively unknown
orcheastra and turned it into one of the greatest in the world.

Bernstein: I believe I'M the greatest because I am a composer as well as a
conductor. When I conduct music, I can feel the soul of the composer. And
when I conducted my own Mass, God himself inspired me.

Karajan: No, I didn't.


Ina-chan
e-mail: inachan2@ican.net
insanity site: http://www.fortunecity.com/lavendar/psycho/66
ICQ UIN:  3364641


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