 Jessie Bannon , age 15 , was characterized to be just as tough , smarter , and more thoughtful than Jonny . Written as " more of an egghead " , she elected to spend time with Dr. Quest as Jonny did with Race , and was " more in tune with Hadji " . Turner conceived Jessie as cool , independent , and a strong role model for contemporary girls . Peter Lawrence took pains to ensure Jessie would not be written as " a guy in a skirt " , and made her more mature than Jonny . Race Bannon ( Jessie 's father ) age 38 , retained his classic , laconic sense of humor and fearless , dependable nature . He retired from government work over ethical scruples with his former intelligence agency . Writers noted that Race was helplessly overprotective of Jessie , and Jonny was " the boy Race never had " . Race was also given a western @-@ US accent and a knack for crafting elaborate , colorful similes . Peter Lawrence sculpted Race to be a " cowboy philosopher or philosopher @-@ warrior " . Writers tasked Race with physical and self @-@ defense training for the Quest team . 
