The Voyager's Aide

Story I

Chapter 1: Seaport Rescue

SPLAT...SPLAT!

"Yuck! Gross! Bogg, what'd we land in now? Nothing beats that dung heap!"

"It's soft, squishy…stinks! Blech! Fish guts!"

Phineas Bogg and Jeffrey Jones slid off the pile to observe their surroundings. The air was damp and chilly and the sky hung low with threatening gray clouds. Giant stacks of crates lined the area, creating the illusion of a maze. Loud boat horns blared from across the harbor.

"Looks like a dock, hey, are those what they call skyscrapers? Like your building, the one that could've killed me? Don't tell me we're back in New York again?"

Jeffrey's eyes lit up and he grabbed Phineas' arm.

"You bet! Bogg, look, it's the Statue of Liberty! This is South Street Seaport. But…where is everybody? Where's all the tourists and gift shops?" Jeffrey paced around; He was familiar with this particular spot. "You know right here's where they put a huge sailing ship for people to walk on and tour. You should've seen it! It was so fun, Bogg."

Jeffrey's excitement dimmed and he lowered his head as memories of his family outings flooded back to him. By now Phineas read Jeffrey like a book. In these moments he always needed reassurance. Phineas put an arm over his shoulders and hugged him to his side.

"I'm sure it was, ships are always fun. Let's see what the omni says, Jeff."

To their pleasant surprise, it rang a green light.

"New York City, February 17th 1941. Date mean anything to you?"

"Nothing I know of in New York, but that explains why South Street Seaport's missing, it hasn't been designed yet. My dad said they opened for business in the nineteen sixties."

"There's no sense hanging around and freezing our tubas off. Let's head for warmer pastures."

Phineas tried re-setting the omni dials, but they wouldn't turn in either direction. He pulled harder and banged it against his palm annoyed. Phineas caught Jeffrey's eye and gave his trademark sheepish laugh.

"Heh! All right! Darn thing must be stuck in automatic again. Those gears get dirty fast. There's no need for us to worr…"

Phineas' excuses were cut off by the piercing screams of a frightened child. Jeffrey pointed to a loading area and they saw a small figure running fast. Two churlish brutes hopped out of a black automobile and made chase. Before Jeffrey could say anything, Phineas sprinted toward them.

"We gotta help that kid!"

"Right behind you, Bogg!"

The child skidded to a halt and crawled among a tower of crates.

"We're gonna find ya, little rat! We want that omni!"

Phineas nearly stopped short. They had to be Voyagers. The child could've stolen the omni from them. There wasn't time to ponder. If they were Voyagers, they weren't the good kind. He waved at Jeffrey to find the child and took a flying leap into the taller of the two men. They tumbled to the ground and the man rolled over and grabbed Phineas' vest, shaking him violently.

"So! They sent you to protect the child? Stay out of this, Voyager! You have no business here!"

The would-be captor was built solid, with a long nineteenth-century mustache and half-moon shaped scars across his pointed chin. He and his bald partner looked twenty-years out of place in ill-fitting, black Zoot suits. Phineas wasn't intimidated and yelled back at him.

"It became my business when you decided to attack an innocent child! What kind of Voyagers are you?"

The man didn't reply, he jumped up and grabbed a crate to fling at him. Phineas leaped right, and it smashed against drum canisters. The enraged man ran at him waving his fists. Phineas clutched his arms and swung him full circle, then tossed him into a large pile of broken crates and hay.

"And stay down!"

Jeffrey found the trembling child in a dark corner behind a large crate marked Singapore. The child wore a brown news-cap pulled low over his face, a shabby gray coat, and patched blue corduroys. When he saw Jeffrey he curled into a ball.

"Hey, it's okay! I'm one of the good guys! My name's Jeffrey, but there's no time to chat. We gotta get out of here."

Jeffrey spotted the other attacker shifting his stout, bull-like body through the maze.

"Come out, child, you cannot hide forever! Just give us what we want!"

Jeffrey pulled the child to his feet. "Quick! Start climbing!"

The child obeyed and Jeffrey followed up the stacks. The brute spotted them and narrowly missed Jeffrey's ankle. After a few daring moments they sprawled top, but their safety was short-lived. From his vantage point, Jeffrey saw Phineas resume his battle with the mustached attacker. In a matter of seconds Phineas gave him the knock out punch with his licensed weapons, otherwise known as his fists. The man landed on the fish guts, finally unconscious.

"Bogg! Help! Up here!" Jeffrey waved.

The brute laughed. He hoisted himself on the Singapore crate and shook the whole mass. Jeffrey grabbed the child's hand and they gripped the sides. The wood splintered into their skin.

"Hold on tight!" Jeffrey cried, wincing.

Phineas seized the brute by his hefty shoulders just as he was about to use all his force to knock the children down.

"Get away from those kids!"

The brute shoved Phineas backward, then flung him over his back. Phineas hit the dock so hard, it knocked the wind out of him. Jeffrey tried to help the child climb down the other side, but it was too late. The brute turned back and pushed harder. Jeffrey staggered on the edge.

Phineas groaned and pulled himself up. He rubbed his head and lower back, and gasped. It was too late to get to Jeffrey.

"Jeff!"

"Ahhh! Help me! Bogg!"

The child reacted quickly and tugged on Jeffrey's shirt. Jeffrey toppled forward to safety, but the child lost his footing. With a shriek, he plunged into the rough, dark waters. The bearded Voyager awoke and staggered from the fish pile. He turned bright red in anger. He grabbed his partner's jacket and opened his omni.

"We will be back for the child, Voyager! You can't stop us forever!" They disappeared.

Phineas sprinted across the dock and dove into the freezing water. Jeffrey ran to the edge as he surfaced, but he was empty handed.

"I don't see him!" Phineas shouted.

Jeffrey was near tears, if anything happened to the child, he'd blame himself. "Please Bogg! You gotta try!"

Phineas took a deep breath and plunged under again. The Voyager Training Unit at Headquarters had taught recruits various swimming and breath-holding techniques, which he'd mastered. If absolutely necessary, he could hold his breath upwards to five minutes. But not an untrained child. Phineas a floating dark hat. He swam further down and was took hold of the child's arms. Phineas swam up gently, but fast. As they broke the surface the child sobbed between breaths and clung to him for dear life.

Phineas took a closer look at him. Long dark blonde hair hung soaked around her tiny shoulders, Phineas felt his heart give way staring into her wide turquoise eyes. Her lips were tinged purple and her teeth chattered. Phineas hugged her close.

"It's gonna be okay, sweetheart. They're gone. I have you. Hold on tight." He whispered.

They waded to the pier. Jeffrey helped her onto the dock and Phineas climbed up and wrung out his clothing. A tiny fish popped out of his shirt and floundered until he threw it back in. He pulled off the seaweed stuck to his shoulders and shivered.

"Bat's breath! It's cold as the ocean on Shackleton's voyage!"

"All right, Bogg! You got…her? I thought he looked a little small…and screamed like a girl."

Phineas crouched alongside her, and grasped her hands. "Quick, we have to warm her up! She'll freeze."

Phineas removed her soaking coat, sweater, and boots, leaving her chilled in a white undershirt. She was shaking now. He removed her pants. Jeffrey spotted a large torn canvas and raced to get it. He dragged it to Phineas.

"This should help for now, boy it weighs a ton!"

"Just get it over here fast, kid."

Phineas vigorously rubbed her hands and feet to keep her from losing more body heat. He wrapped her in the canvas like a burrito. Jeffrey stood at a distance with his back to them. He didn't want her to feel uncomfortable as Phineas covered her. All the while the child kept silent, but she never removed her gaze from Phineas. After warming up, she spoke in a sweet voice.

"My…My name is Kayla Sheppard. Who are you? Where'd you come from?"

"My name's Phineas Bogg, you already met my partner, Jeffrey Jones. We…ahh…we were taking in the sights of New York and saw that you needed our help."

"Yeah, Bogg's a tourist, he's my uncle! I was showing him around the City." Jeffrey chimed in. He knew just what to say to keep suspicions at a minimum.

Kayla tilted her head in disbelief, and the round brass object on Phineas' belt startled her. Her entire face lit up with a sincere, beautiful smile. She jumped up and hugged them both. Phineas and Jeffrey laughed. They were very relieved she wasn't traumatized.

"Did you fall from the sky? I know who you are! You're Voyagers! Did you come to help me?"

They glanced at each other; despite the green light on the omni, they had to stick around for a while. Phineas also needed a few hours to field strip the omni and full concentration for the task…but he couldn't tell Jeffrey he just plain forgot how to do it. The full instructions were in the Guidebook.

Kayla looked on earnestly, so Phineas held her tiny hands and winked. "Yes, we are here to help you. But you have to do something for us. Can you tell us how you know the Voyagers? Maybe you can help us find a place to get clothes and warm up?"

Kayla agreed happily. Phineas picked her up and the trio headed out of the loading area. As they approached the entrance he saw the black Ford the cruel Voyagers left behind. He grinned at the kids.

"Hey! We have a ride. Those bullies left their car."

Jeffrey ran ahead and hopped in the front. "This sure beats walking. I don't think you wanna in those soggy pants, Bogg."

"No way! I also hate wet boots…and underwear! It gets so itch…"

Kayla giggled and Phineas turned red and dropped his sentence. "Err, it's uncomfortable."

Phineas put Kayla in the back seat and sat behind the wheel. He peeked at Kayla. She looked adorable all bundled up inside the canvas, staring at him full of curiosity. Phineas crossed his eyes and made silly faces at her in the mirror. She laughed cheerfully.

"Tell me where to go, Kayla. I'm the driver, you're the navigator."

Kayla leaned forward excited. She rested her arms between them. Phineas thought she was a real trooper, bouncing back from near death quickly and in good spirits.

"Please, you hafta take me to Artie! He's always meeting people like you. They come with the little compass and he fixes them and puts in new parts. He has all kinds of stuff in his pawnshop. Go to 34th St. and Sixth Ave. Not many people know he's there. They bring him jewelry and furniture and trinkets. Artie has a story for everything and everybody! He's kind, I wish he could take care of me, but he's a little old and real busy. I told him I could help. I'm eight years old. I can do it! I really want to."

Jeffrey sighed. "First things, first, Kayla. It takes time to learn all that stuff, you don't just fall into these things."

Phineas smirked. "I seem to recall someone literally falling into a Voyager's job not too long ago."

Jeffrey sank into the seat and snorted a laugh. "Ya got me there! I guess everyone's gotta start somewhere."