Voyagers!: The Aurora Frequency

Chapter 6: Meeting the Voice of the Past

Saratoga Springs, October 11th, 1933, 3:00am

Phineas' legs felt heavy as lead as he stared the wicked Voyager down. Drake had a gun drawn on him and aimed at his heart. He casually descended the ladder.

"Did you think you would get out of this, Voyager Bogg? I told you in London, it's never that simple!"

"Why are you here, Drake? What will ruining the history of Thomas Dewey do for you? You plan on getting a cut of the winnings with Luciano and Lansky?"

Drake circled Phineas. "You really think I care about this stupid money? About any money? It's all in the game, my friend. You have dedicated your life to correcting history, I am dedicated to seeing it goes wrong and stays that way!"

Phineas wouldn't take his gaze off him and followed him in the circle. "Ahh, then that's where you're wrong, my friend. It's very simple to me, just a pure matter of good versus evil. So, are we going to circle each other for the rest of the night, or shall we box step?"

Phineas didn't wait for a reply. He ducked and threw himself into Drake's mid-section, pummeling him into the wall. Drake was not easily apprehended and slammed his arms onto Phineas back. The butt of his gun hit him between the shoulder blades. Phineas fell to his knees and Drake kicked him. Phineas rolled over and flung a crate at him, Drake ducked and it broke into pieces. Drake picked up the sharpest one.

"I have nothing against using guns, but it would serve me better to see this plunged into your heart!"

Lost in frenzy, Drake ran toward Phineas, who was weakened from the blows. Drake barely missed his chest when Phineas grabbed his arm and they fell into another struggle. The two tumbled all over the small cellar, punching and clawing. Phineas was surprised at the fighting skills Drake picked up throughout his travels. He was extremely winded and couldn't keep him down.

Phineas tried to kick the gun away, but Drake knocked him over. He cursed himself for being easily caught off guard and attributed it to being confined for days in a cramped cellar with no food or drink. Drake swung him around and forcefully pinned him to the wall.

"Look at you, Bogg! You've become soft, haven't you?" Drake panted, holding Phineas' arms across his back. "All because you have to play daddy to that little brat. I'm going to deal with him permanently when I finish with you." He threatened.

Phineas struggled to free himself. "Don't you lay a hand on him, Drake! I'm warning you!"

"I'm going to get my final payback now!"

Drake reached for the gun with his boot and slid it over. As he crouched down to pick it up, but Phineas leg shot out and kicked him in the jaw. Drake tumbled back with the gun in hand and it went off, striking the barn ceiling. He wiped the blood from his mouth and aimed it point blank at Phineas. Phineas stared at the muzzle and closed his eyes. There was no escaping this time.

~Oo~

The low whistle that pierced the air stunned them both. Jeffrey landed feet first onto Drake, Phineas leaped aside and the gun went flying across the cellar, letting loose a bullet through the opposite wall. Tricia landed atop of Phineas, and fell backwards. He grabbed her tightly and they collapsed in the small mound of hay in the corner. Jeffrey leaped off Drake and was relieved to see him unconscious. Tricia was frightened to death and grabbed Phineas for safety.

"What's happening! What's going on?"

Despite the pain wracking his body, he smiled compassionately and put his arms over her. "You're okay, don't worry. So, you must be Tricia. I've heard many nice things about you." He murmured, immediately smitten with her appearance and the warmth of her body against him.

Tricia's expression went from shocked to terrified and she screamed and wriggled away. She scurried behind Jeffrey.

"Jeff…Jeff…that's him! The guy who was buried! Is it? Is it?" She didn't know why she screamed, but the suede vest and clothing was instantly recognizable from the grave.

Jeffrey was awed to finally meet the man over the radio. Bogg was much younger and handsomer than he'd imagined him to be, considering the man told him he was a pirate. A low sigh escaped Tricia when Bogg crawled into the light and stood up. Jeffrey recognized it as her sigh of attraction. He wanted to roll his eyes, but then remembered the situation. His expression lit up.

"Yeah Tricia, that's Phineas Bogg and this is nineteen-thirty-three! We traveled through time! Phineas, I found the omni because you hid it. I guess that was the last message you tried to give me, but we lost the frequency."

Phineas staggered to his feet and supported himself against the wall. He was drenched in sweat, and blood from the cuts and scrapes he'd sustained seeped through his shirt. He looked at the young man with as big a smile he could muster.

"Owww! Yeah, you are definitely my Jeffrey Jones! That face…that hair…just doesn't change, does it? I can't believe how tall you got. You grew like a weed." He rambled.

"Still not as tall as you, I guess. I'm not a six-footer."

"You're tall enough, kid." Phineas' focus landed on Tricia. She peeked out from behind Jeffrey's back and slowly came forward. She pitied his condition. Phineas tried to lighten her mood.

"I… I don't think I've ever had a woman scream like that when they've just met me." He grinned.

Tricia raised an eyebrow and returned the smile. "There's a first time for everything. Oh, I can't believe all this happened! One minute we're about to be shot by this man looking for money and he…you…"

Tricia's face paled and her eyes welled with tears. To imagine this beautiful and lively young man in the condition before they came here distressed her to the very core. She wiped her eyes. "Well, the next second we're flying at warp speed through outer space. I thought we were gonna die."

"No, it's much too quick for that. But the landings are still a little rough on the backside."

"Thanks for breaking my fall."

"It was my pleasure."

Jeffrey went up to Phineas and a tremendous sadness and recollection coursed through his mind. How many times had he looked into those serene, blue eyes and felt his protection and a strong bond of friendship and trust? It dawned on him now. He had just altered his own future in an immeasurable way. He reached out his hand.

"Bogg, I'm so happy to see you alive! I know what this means now. I know who you really are. It all makes sense. It's starting to."

He looked at his sneakers and kicked the dust around. Phineas grasped his arm. "Jeff, I…" He choked back a sob and grabbed him in a strong embrace.

"You're still one heckuva kid, Jeff. No matter what time zone or version I'm with."

Jeffrey's heart swelled with pride. Regardless of everything, he had saved another human life from a future of murder and decay in the cellar. Phineas pulled away with a long sigh of relief. Tears clouded his eyes as the significance of what Jeffrey accomplished for them hit home. He patted him gently on the shoulder, full of pride.

"You can't kill this old pirate that easily. I've got too much work to do and I can't do it without you, Jeff."

Tricia looked down and realized she was standing right beside the would-be murderer. He was coming back to his senses and groaned. She hurried over to the others. Phineas pulled his aching body off the wall and nearly tottered over. Jeffrey let him fall upon him and hoisted him upright. Tricia went to his right side and put his arm over her shoulder.

"I'm warning you Tricia, I don't smell that great." He joked wearily.

She looked up at him fondly and sniffed him. "Eh, believe me, you could be much worse. You smell like a working man." She thought he smelled wonderful because it proved he was alive. "What you need is a full day at the spa to get back one hundred percent. I'd love to design a treatment for you."

Jeffrey snorted sarcastically. "Oh Jeesh, Trish, always the businesswoman. Whatever you do, Bogg, don't let her talk you into the mud bath, you'll be cleaning goop for weeks out of places you didn't even know you had."

"I think I can take it, I'll try anything she gives me…" He faltered. "A little mud is good for the pores."

"That's right, a milk bath would be great too." Tricia suggested.

As they approached the ladder, Phineas nudged Tricia forward. "Ladies first, Jeffrey can hoist me up to you."

She climbed up and leaned over the edge. "Okay, Jeff, end him up." She lowered her arms to help lift.

Every step was labored, but Phineas started to catch a second wind. Tricia tugged him, trying not to strain his muscles too hard. Phineas finally clamored beside her and wanted to fall face down on the barnyard floor. He couldn't enjoy his freedom yet. He saw Drake reach into his waistcoat.

"Hey! Stop him, Jeff!" Phineas yelled. "He has an omni!"

"No way! You aren't gonna get away with trying to murder my friend!"

Jeffrey dove for him and wrestled the silver omni from his hands. He wanted to lose it on the villain right there and make him pay for all the pain he'd caused, but he held back. He couldn't let rage cloud his emotions. Phineas Bogg was safe for now and that was all that mattered. Jeffrey stood up and spit aside Drake's head.

"You're a nothing but a jealous, spineless, coward. Phineas told me all about you, with that bogus trial and how you tried to kill us! You're a sniveling wimp that needs to be banished…not killed! You need to live on for as long as it takes and always know that Phineas Bogg is better than you. He always was and always will be!"

Drake could only gape in astonishment at seeing this older version of Jeffrey Jones berating him. He slowly gritted his teeth.

"What do you know?" He seethed.

Jeffrey cracked a sardonic grin. "I know plenty, Drake, but you'll never get it outta me!"

"I don't know how this happened, but you have not seen the last of me! I will be back!" He tried to attack him, but Jeffrey put a firm grip on his shoulder, and forced him down.

"No matter what you do, Bogg and I will always be there to stop you!"

Jeffrey suddenly thought of Bogg's omni. The original version was still in the hay pile. He rushed over and shook it out until it fell into his hands. Now he had both. He spotted the gun. Drake made a feeble attempt to grab for it, but Jeffrey kicked it away.

"No way, these aren't toys."

Jeffrey left Drake and picked up the weapon. He climbed up the ladder and Tricia smothered him with kisses on his head.

"Jeffrey, that was awesome!"

Phineas smiled, feeling his strength and adrenaline return. He couldn't resist the moment and grabbed them both in an all-encompassing hug.

"It sure was! I always knew you had it in you to stand up to these bastards in history! You were never afraid." He pulled away and stared apprehensive at the house.

"We have to get out of here. Jeffrey…I mean…you are in that house! Before our transmission broke Drake had taken you away from me. I hope they didn't hurt you because if they did…"

Jeffrey helped the Voyager to his feet. "Then let's not wonder about it and save me!"

Tricia grasped Phineas' arm. "Wait, Phineas…what about him? We can't just leave him like that, he'll get away again!" She darted to the cellar door and slammed it closed, then threw herself against the dresser. "Come on, I could use a little help, men."

"Wow, I like resourceful women, kid." Phineas elbowed Jeffrey with admiration. "She's great and you're right, she's very…hot." He used the word as if it was foreign and Jeffrey laughed.

They all pushed hard, and the dresser was over the door in no time.

"NO! Get me out! You can't do this to me, Bogg! I will kill you for this!" Drake raged from below.

"Enjoy the rest of the sausage and Peppers, Drake." Phineas sneered.

The trio ignored Drake's rants and ran out of the barn. Phineas doubled over, taking long and refreshing gulps of air. Tricia held him steady and rubbed his back. He took her hand and caressed it, they felt smooth as cream and his thoughts wandered to the rest of her skin. He grinned lopsided and made small talk.

"So, uh, you work in a Spa, huh? Those Turkish baths are wonderful."

"Really? We use some of their methods, did you visit one?"

"Ohhh, umm…I was there for the opening, fifteen eighty-four. Sinian ran into a little trouble with the plumbing, but I'm a pretty handy guy."

Tricia laughed and gently raised him up. "You do have great hands, so strong." She whispered, and he clasped her fingers comfortingly.

"Not too rough, I hope."

"No, they're just right." She smiled and dusted off his clothing in a wifely fashion.

Jeffrey rolled his eyes. "Why do I get the feeling this is something I have to put up with all the time?" He said aloud. "Okay, we can't just bust into the house if there's gangsters with more guns, but don't forget I have this one."

Phineas put his hand over Drake's weapon. "No Jeff, we want to do this without guns, I never use them and I don't plan to start."

"Okay , but we have to take them by surprise and I'm still bringing it. This house has four entries. I'm sure the gangsters are all downstairs and Dewey and me are probably up in the bedrooms…wow, that sounds weird." Jeffrey stopped talking to grasp the enormity of it all.

"Once you get used to it, it becomes as normal as eating and sleeping." Phineas reassured him. "The fact that we found each other over the radio, amazes me. You said it was because of the Northern lights. I used to see them all the time in Norway…ever been up there?" He asked. He gazed at Tricia and admired the glow of purple and pink bathing around her.

"No, I hear it's beautiful. I would love to visit." She said shyly. She pointed to the omni. "I guess you can go anywhere with that little thing, right?"

Phineas nodded slowly and flashed a smile. He was about to make the offer for another time when he stopped himself, was he delirious from the lack of oxygen? He had to rescue his kid. He gawked at the house, trying to figure out a plan. Jeffrey suddenly had an idea.

"There's a ladder in the big barn. If we get it fast, I can climb in and free me or Dewey."

Jeffrey pointed to the room on the second floor, a yellow light emanated from the window.

"Great! Once you're in, I'll follow." Phineas suggested.

"Okay, but only when I give you the go-ahead. We don't know who's up there and how many people are in this house."

"Last I saw, it was two. Rossini and Louie, but Luciano can come back at any time and bring more company!"

"Rossini! Hey, that's the name of the guy that attacked us. Nicky Rossini was Tricia's boyfriend in…"

Tricia gaped at him. "Jeffrey, what are you talking about? I never saw that man in my life. I wouldn't even dream of dating that monster!"

Jeffrey scooted over to Phineas. "She did date him, but then history changed." He mumbled.

"Ah, I got ya, kid. Don't worry. He must've been a close relative if he was looking for the booty."

"Booty? You really are a pirate! You mean cash." Jeffrey laughed and took off to get the ladder.

~Oo~

Phineas led Tricia into the shadows behind the barn. "Okay, Jeff and I are going in, you are gonna stay put here."

"What do you mean stay put? I want to help you." She demanded. "You're still feeling weak."

"No way. I'm ready for action, Tricia. But I can't worry about all of you."

"I didn't ask you to worry about me. Phineas, you need a doctor."

He held her shoulders. "I think you're still a little cosmic shocked. Do you understand that you traveled through time? I'm not only trying to save Thomas Dewey, but Jeffrey also! Your nephew and I are time-travelers, we're called Voyagers. I picked him up from nineteen eighty-two in Manhattan and we've been traveling ever since. It's our career. We time-travel to prevent history from hitting a colossal botch! At this moment, thirteen-year-old Jeff is trapped in this house."

Tricia stared at him mystified. "But how, Phineas? Jeffrey's right here with us and he's seventeen. I took him in when he was fourteen, after I got my job and the house together. Does this have to do with the brass compass?"

Phineas gazed at her earnestly. "Yes, that's the omni. I know it's a lot to understand, but trust me. Can you give me another explanation how you got away from that creep in the barn? I'll tell you everything soon."

'Or not…' He thought. Once they saved Jeffrey, older Jeff and his aunt would cease to exist here and everything would go back to normal. He decided against frightening her even more. It was time to put on the old Bogg charm. He put a warm hand on her cheek and stroked it.

"I promise all this will blow over and you'll be back safe and sound in nineteen eighty-seven before you know it. Please believe me."

He moved from stroking her face to playing with her soft hair. She closed her eyes, enjoying the sensation of his fingers. He leaned forward and breathed in her delightful scent. He licked his lips and she smiled softly, raising herself to his level. She couldn't resist him and her lips caressed his.

"I really don't understand, but it's happening, and I do believe you, I want to. Jeffrey picked quite a winner to be his friend." She whispered.

Scooping her in his arms, Phineas fell into a deep, tender kiss.

Jeffrey appeared, struggling to drag a long ladder behind him without making noise.

"Oh great, Trish…" His looked on surprised when he saw Phineas jerk his hand and wave him away. His aunt's liplock with him intensified.

"Oh, yeah sure, I get it. This probably goes on all the time too." He grumbled. "Time Travelers!"

Jeffrey finally had to tap Tricia to get them apart. Phineas staggered into him wide-eyed and ecstatic. He could barely catch his breath. Tricia rested against the barn wall holding her mouth with embarrassment and desire.

"Woah! Wow! She is some kisser. We are definitely going to see her again." Phineas nearly gasped.

"We'll see about that, Cyrano, we have work to do now. Help me get this ladder up, without smashing it into the house." Jeffrey ordered, leading him away.

Phineas blindly went to the task, and then realized something different. "Cyrano? He was a lovelorn poet with a big nose. You always call me Romeo."

"There are other lovers in history, Bogg. Cyrano couldn't get the girl, just like you can't."

Phineas placed the ladder easily against the window, keeping the noise at a minimum.

"What do you mean I can't? I have a knack for these things and your aunt is fantastic." He exhaled, trying to keep his senses from being carried away.

"Yes, she is, but she's from nineteen eighty-seven. Your omni only goes up to nineteen-seventy. Tough cookies, Cyrano!" Jeffrey said, being protective.

"You're still a smart kid that gives me a pain." Phineas muttered, but then chuckled. He liked dealing with older Jeffrey. Even though they didn't know each other, it was as if they'd never left one another.

Phineas turned back to Tricia and waved her to go into the big barn. She reluctantly did, making sure to grab the rusted pitchfork lying off to the side.

"She's in. Start climbing, Jeff. I'll hold it steady."

"You sure you can manage?"

"Right now I feel like a million dollars! I feel like the stash of booty...cash everybody's moaning about!"

"Oh brother, okay, I'm goin' up there. Don't let it go."

"I'd never let you go." Phineas promised.

"Somehow I get the feeling you really mean that."

"You can always trust me, Jeffrey. And you do."

Jeffrey climbed up sprightly and made it to the top without a hitch. The window was unlocked and slightly ajar, so he peeked inside. He gasped and nearly lost his footing. Phineas clutched the ladder tight, but had to resist calling out. Jeffrey righted his body and nearly hugged the wall. He turned his head toward Phineas and gave him an, 'okay' sign. Looking back into the room he couldn't describe the intense emotions that struck him.

He saw himself and it was a pitiful image. The little guy was red-faced and puffy-eyed from crying, his arms and legs were tied against the wooden posts of the king sized bed. Jeffrey looked up at the Aurora Borealis. The phenomenon made it possible to bring history in alignment and he couldn't back out now. He lifted the window and crawled inside.