Thank-you goes out to Spense for betaing this story! Thank-you!

Archivers: Sure just tell me where please!

The Promises We Make
Chapter 5
By Kara

From a distance, Race Bannon sat behind his desk with his chair facing the
window. He had been watching his daughter and godson run around outside. It
had been a little over two weeks since Kai’s parents died, and two weeks to
the day since he first arrived at the Quest Compound.

At first, thing were rough for the young adult. When he first arrived at the
Quest Compound, he was greeted by two faces whom he had never met.
 

"Welcome to the Quest Compound." Race announced over the planes PA system.
Kai looked at his watch, "It’s 4:00 and it’s already dark?" Kai asked in
disbelief, he then looked back out the window as the plane made it’s way to
the hanger.

"You dork, you forgot to change your watch." Jessie said from the other side
of the plane.

"Okay," Kai said as he fiddled with his watch, "then it’s 9 o’clock."

Jessie then glanced at her Quest watch, which was controlled by satellites
and was automatically configured to change time depending on the location of
the watch. "No, it’s 10 o’clock," she said.

"Wait, wait. Hawaii is five hours behind eastern time, so that would make it
9 o’clock." Kai protested.
 

"You’re correct about that, but, have you ever heard of daylight savings?"

"Vaguely."

"Well, basically in April we spring ahead an hour, and in October, we fall
back an hour. So as of right now, we are an extra hour ahead of you."

"And the point of this would be?"

"Gives people more time to enjoy the sun in the summer months after work
hours." Race said as he exited the cockpit. "It was originally created for
use during World War II for economic reasons."

"Great, now I’m really off on my time zones."
 

Off he was, Race thought. He continued to look out the window even though his
two kids were now inside. The past week had been busy for Race. Not only did
he have to help move Kai in, but he also had to enroll Kai in his new school,
Albert Einstein High School, a private school in Rockport. He also had to
play mediator, councilor and guardian for the boy. Almost everyday Race had
to deal with a call from the big boys at I-1, and almost every time, they
were about wanting to take the boy away. Funny, Race thought, they trust him
with the worlds greatest scientist and his two boys, but not the 17 year old
boy of his former partner.

Race yawned. The past week he had got less sleep then he had ever got while be
ing in the Navy. Not only had he been getting up at odd hours of the night,
so had Dr. Quest, and Kai. Every night, he and Dr. Quest would wake up to the
sound of the television in the den, or the sound of someone walking around at
night.
 

"Damnit, what is Jonny doing up at this time of the night?" Race cursed as he
walked down the hall towards the den. In the distance he could see flashing
lights and he could hear the sounds of infomercials. When he reached the den,
he was surprised to see who was watching TV.

"Kai. What are you doing up?" Race asked the blonde boy who was laying on the
couch.

"Couldn’t sleep. My body still thinks it’s only 8 o’clock, not 2am."

"That’s right, 2am." Race grumbled as he rubbed his eyes.

"Sorry if I woke you."

"Your fine. Just keep it down." Race said as he walked back towards his
quarters.
 

Watching infomercials wasn’t the only thing Kai did at night. The two days
later, Dr. Quest told Race about Kai’s eating habits.
 

"Race, I thought you might want to know this, I found Kai in the kitchen
cooking an egg at 1am."

"I swear Benton, when I was that boys age, I could easily stand the time zone
changes."

Dr. Quest chuckled.

"I’ll have a talk with him tonight."

"Don’t Race. Let him get use to the transition on his own. Besides, I told
him he could do whatever he wants in this house. I even gave him his own
Questworld Laptop, so he could get online in his room at night."

"You know Doc, I really appreciate you letting Kai stay here," Race said.

"Don’t think anything of it Race. You know that my home, is your home."

"Thanks Doctor."
 

Race yawned again. He then stood up and walked towards the end of his office,
eyeing his black leather couch. When he reached his couch, he laid down, and
closed his eyes. Sleep quickly swept over the exhausted man, swiftly taking
him to the land of slumber.
 

The dark figure pulled up to the gates of the Quest Compound in a dark blue
Ford Explorer. The figure then slowed down when he reached the opening of the
gates, rolled down the window, and punched in a code that had been implanted
in his memory. Slowly, the gates opened just as the sound of a woman’s voice
welcomed the guest, but the welcome was unnoticed, because the dark figure
had already rolled up the window. As his journey ended at the door of the
main compound, he turned his SUV off, got out and walked towards the back,
where he opened the back hatch and pulled out two duffle bags and placed them
on the driveway. Quietly, he shut the glass on the back hatch, and turned to
face the windows of the compound. In the distance, he could see a faint light
turned on inside the compound. He then glanced down at his digital watch,
which illuminated in the dark light. "It’s 3am, I hope Dr. Quest isn‘t
waiting up for me," the young Indian boy said slightly distressed at the
thought as he picked up his bags, and headed towards the door. He pulled out
his key, and unlocked the door. Curiosity getting the better of him, he
walked towards the den. The sound of a low volume TV could be heard as he got
closer.

"I’m home," he said to the figure that was laying on the couch. When the head
popped up, he was caught off guard by the face the appeared. His eyes stared
into the dark brown pupil of the young blonde teen. "Oh my, so sorry."

"Aloha. I’m guessing your the yogi, I mean, Hadji."

"I see that you know my name, but unfortunately, I do not know yours." Hadji
said as he made his way towards the newly met teen.

"Hi, I’m Kai Wilson."

"Oh that is right. I had forgotten, Dr. Quest mentioned you were living here.
I deeply apologetic towards not remembering that you were staying here, and I
am truly sorry to hear about your parents passing."

"Thanks." Kai said. He was hoping that this would be the last time he would
hear someone say they were sorry for his parents. He had heard it enough that
the words had lost their meaning.

"I hope to finish this conversation in he morning, my friend. I just got back
and I feel that there is too much to get done before the morning sun rises."

"Night," Kai said as the Hadji walked away from the den, noticing he was out
of hearing distance, "Yogi," he quietly said as he yawned. His body was
slowly catching up with the time zone change.
 

The morning sun glistened through the frosty bay windows that light the
otherwise dim kitchen. As Jessie walked into the kitchen, she shielded her
eyes from the bright sun rays. She looked around the room, noticing all her
family members, except one. She twisted around, letting her plaid, pleated,
skirt float with the wind. She then stomped her black Mary Jane shoe on the
floor and yelled, "Kai Andrew Wilson, get your butt moving or we will be
late!" She then walked over to the table and took a seat next to Hadji, who
is reading the front page of the USA Today.

Race looked up from the sports section of the paper he was reading to give
her the look that most parents gave to their kids when they were acting out
in a public place.

"Looks like Jess won’t be needing her coffee today." Jonny said trying to
squeeze in a quick jab on Jessie’s behalf. "And to think, for years all we
needed was Kai to get her up in the morning, not coffee. I guess that means
the grocery bill will be going down."

Jessie glared at the blonde boy who was sitting across from her. He smiled as
he shoved another spoon full of Fruity Pebbles in his mouth. Jonny glanced in
the corner of his eye to see the same look that Race had been giving Jessie
moments ago.

"You know my friend, you shouldn't be in such a hurry." Hadji said as he
glanced away from the article he was reading.
 

" True, but you don't have to drive thirty minutes to go to school." She said
with a grin.

"Speaking of traveling, did you have a good journey back home?"
 

"It was a pleasant trip, though I did not get much time to enjoy my countries
beauty."
 

"Maybe next time, Hadji." Jessie said. She then glanced down at her watch,
7:05. "Kai!" she screamed, but was interrupted before anything else got out.
 

"Whoa, whoa, what's with all the lung power, Jess?"
 

"Because, were going to be late." she said as she admired the blonde boy in
his navy school uniform. She looked at his navy pants, which accented his
tall stature, her gaze then moved up to his white polo short sleeve shirt,
which brought out his tan arms, which were holding his navy blazer.
 

"Is the polo shirt alright to wear?" He asked as he looked down at his own
appearance.
 

"Great." She said as she stood up from her chair. She then smoothed her skirt
out and walked over to the living room, which was located behind Kai. She
then picked up her navy blazer, and put it on over her white, fitted blouse.
She then picked up her black backpack and green duffle bag. Kai stood there
and watched.
 

"You all ready to go?" she asked bringing the boy out of his trance.

"Sure thing, Britney Spears!" Kai said as he made a reference to her outfit
resembling the one Britney Spears in her first music video.

"Jonny!" She said in a loud tone as she glared once again at the blonde boy.

"Hey, I can’t help it that someone else thinks you look like Britney Spears."
 

"Grow up." She said, she then turned around and focused her glare on Kai. She
then relaxed, and glanced down at her watch. "Do you have clothes to change
into?" She asked Kai as she played with the buttons on her digital watch.
 

"No. Do I need them?"
 

"In less you want to ride home in that." She said pointing to his uniform.
 

"I think I'll go grab a pair of shorts!"
 

"Good choice."
 
 

"I’m not paranoid Will, I just don’t feel comfortable sending Jessica to
some school before she’s ready."

"Race, it’s just Pre-School. All they do is sit around, read, take naps, and
make friends with kids their age. What’s the worst that can happen? She
learns how to tie her shoes."

"No, I’m just worried that she’s not ready." Race said while tracing his
hand around his cup of coffee.

Will stared at the man. For a guy who never wanted kids, Race sure was
turning out to be a father who will never let his kid see the light of day.
He felt sorry for her, heaven only knew what would happen when she wanted to
date. He then leaned across the table, letting his eyes meet the white haired
man’s eyes. "Race, your daughter is smarter than any kid twice her age. If
anything, she’s too advanced for Pre-School. Let her go and have fun."

"Let me guess, Stella’s been talking to you again?"

"Nope, but she does talk to my wife. But anyways, Kai’s going, so she will at
least know one person."

"Fine, fine, you win!"
 

To be continued...

C and C's are always welcomed!

*~Kara~*
Snowbunny Princess
"I gotta tell you your Questworld Navigator is about as useful as snow in
hell. Next time we go driving in the jungle, we're getting ourselves a real
map."
Race Bannon from "Attack from Within"--an unproduced episode script