To Help A Raging Voyager Spirit
Author Note: I *borrowed* an Original Character from my Voyager Aide Series-Bobby Peters. I often use him whenever Bogg and Jeff go back to VHQ, however this story is not connected to that series.
Chapter 8: Why do you want me?
Voyager Peters led David, Phineas, and Jeffrey down illuminated corridors toward the main complex. David and Jeffrey's expressions went from shocked to amazed. They passed a large, glass window and David slowed to look inside at the young man in the center. The room was otherwise empty, with padded white walls. A chill ran down his spine. He remembered the time he'd worked at the Valley View Sanatorium. He'd inadvertently discovered unethical procedures with mind control. The head surgeon had him drugged numerous times and forced into a padded cell. The surgeon's assistant believed him before an illegal brain operation could be performed. David wound up transforming into the Hulk to save her, when she was taken captive by the wards and nearly forced to undergo the surgery herself.
David pressed his hands against the glass with widened eyes. Phineas noticed the consternation on his face. He patted his arm and David swung around nervous.
"What? What's wrong?"
"Nothing David, but is something wrong with you? You look worried."
David smiled halfheartedly. "Uhh…it's nothing. I was just remembering something I went through."
Phineas gave him a look that said, 'we'll talk man to man later.'
"Ah, Bobby, what is he doing…and why is he dressed as a knight?" David questioned.
The dark-haired man was covered from chest to toe in armor, and after tripping up a few times, gained his footing. A pair of thick, black specs were placed around his head. Sweat dripped down his full cheeks. He swung a hefty broadsword with a blunt end, striking at the air.
Jeffrey watched interested. "Yeah, is he practicing or something? What's with those funky glasses?"
"This, mates, is what we call the time-imaging chamber. We padded the walls for the Voyager's protection. Those glasses take a bit getting used to, it kinda distorts the equilibrium at first. Right now he's engaged in a medieval battle."
David rubbed his chin and folded his arms. "You mean he can literally see the battle?"
"That's right, mate. For all Danny knows, he's having a massive sword fight in the fourteenth century. Nearly all his senses are engaged. VHQ uses this as a training technique. You can't see them, but our sword experts are controlling the virtual images and observing him. As soon as they feel he's had enough, they'll give him an overall evaluation and help him with his weak areas. You remember this course, don't you, Bogg?"
Phineas smiled. "Sure do! And it's not just the Middle Ages; they train us in all different periods of history and teach us a variety of fighting styles and weaponry. I wasn't too keen learning about the guns, but it was necessary to complete the courses. I turned out to be a crack shot."
"That's awesome! That totally beats PAC-MAN and Pong!" Jeffrey kidded and David laughed. He and Jeffrey had a lot to share, having come from the same time zone.
"Old Phin here was an excellent student in the training courses. You should've seen him, grinning like a fox he was, especially during the Seventeenth century. He loved showing off!" Bobby recalled.
"I would expect so, he's a pirate after all." David said.
Phineas shrugged modestly. "Yeah…maybe I showed off a little. But I swung that sword around pretty darn good!"
"I can vouch for that, remember on the beach with Pierre Lafitte and those two barmaids? You dumped that guy right into the ocean! He nearly had you." Jeffrey said.
"Oh yeah, that was real fun. Those pirates didn't know who they were messing with."
"Right, I'm sure you were the scourge of the seven seas." Bobby rolled his eyes.
David could only nod in amusement. Having a sword fight was not his idea of fun. He imagined how it'd be if he were to engage in one now. Without the Hulk or training, he'd surely lose the battle.
"Bobby, why don't we show them one of my other favorite areas?" Phineas asked.
"You mean besides the cafeteria and women's gym? I was just thinking that. Follow me mates, we're going to see the Time Zone replication division."
They walked across a bridge that connected the white-bricked buildings, Bobby had a ready smile and wave for all the laborers that passed by. Some carried paperwork and briefcases; others were casually dressed and driving small trucks with building and other materials. A lot of them wore period clothing. Everyone that held a position at the Headquarters were relatively happy in fulfilling their assignments. They stepped into a dome shaped glass elevator and Bobby pressed the hand-activator to the lower level. When they came out, Jeffrey remarked with a laugh that it resembled a massive movie studio.
"You're not far off there, kiddo. Our own version of Hollywood. Even better. After a Voyager completes his virtual training, we send them here. They're allocated to different time zones. Everything on these 'sets' are one hundred percent authentic from their respective zone. We have trained actors to complete the scene, and as the Voyager goes through the town or city, they're never out of character."
"Don't they give you something to heighten the effect of being in the past?" Phineas asked.
"That's right, because this is indoors, our medics administer a small shot of VRZ-200. It's a treatment that enhances the right side of the brain, and it temporarily dulls their senses to the reality. This may look like a warehouse to you, but someone on the VRZ might very well believe he was roaming the Sahara desert. You'll have to talk to our medics for the details, but it's harmless. If I know anything about Headquarters, we're not a bodgy bunch."
After another brief tour, Bobby led them outside of the building. David's hand instinctively flew to his throat and he covered his mouth. He nearly expected it to close from lack of oxygen. However, the air was cleaner than earth and the atmosphere almost as crystal clear as he'd imagined when the earth was newly created. Billowing clouds hung low in the sky, reflecting swirls of colors from pink to purple. Right now, they stood on a cement surface, but he could see far beyond the grounds of the Headquarters and noted the landscape was almost exactly like earth. It was covered with lush trees and mountains in the remote distance. He took a few deep breaths. Bobby patted his shoulders.
"Get used to it, Dr. Banner, should you choose to stay after your treatments, this will be your permanent home."
The smile on David's lips faded into open-mouthed surprise. "My…my home? Why? Why do you want me here?"
"The same reasons they took Bogg and Jeffrey and countless others. The Voyager Tribunal saw something in you that would prove valuable to our cause. For one, You're brilliant, Dr. Banner. Can you just imagine the discoveries and experiments you can conduct with our superior technology? We have equipment here that you haven't dreamed of yet, and it would all be yours to discover and master. You'll have plenty of time to conch out, if that's your thing. Everything you need would be provided for you, food, clothing, and housing. Think of Headquarters like a productive city."
Bobby paced with his hands in his khaki pockets and looked at David seriously. "To be very frank, Dr. Banner, you've suffered long enough. Now is your chance to continue your life's work and aid in other areas of science and medicine. Bottom line is, we need you, David."
David stared at their earnest faces and he threw his arms up in a willing defeat.
"What can I say? I always tried out anything I could on Earth that could cure me. I'm not below sweeping the floors of this place, either. Whatever it takes. I try to earn my keep wherever I am."
Bobby laughed in surprise. "Earn your keep? David, do you realize the good you have done on earth? All the lives you've saved and altered for the better? Even if you haven't kept count, we have, and we can tell you the outcome of every one of them if you want us to."
Tears formed in David's eyes and he choked them back. "If Voyager Headquarters is promising me a new life, I'd be a fool not to take the offer!"
Phineas and Jeffrey cheered and Phineas shook his hand. Jeffrey gave him a large hug.
"That's ace mate!" Bobby exclaimed. "Now you need to eat, get cleaned up and rested before beginning the next phase. Our medics have to prep you before we can start the therapy treatments…oh, and there's one more thing, David."
"What's that?"
"We're going to have to evaluate your physicality before, during, and after the transformation."
David sighed, but agreed. "That means you'll have to somehow induce me to change, doesn't it?"
"Yes, but it will be in a highly controlled environment."
"Are you sure? The Hulk once destroyed an entire space complex."
"Yes, we monitored that, 'Project Prometheus', a clandestine governmental experiment to locate life on other planets for warfare. That was a no-hoper from the beginning, those lousy bunch of rorts! In all truthfulness, as far as my knowledge goes, if you're looking for aliens…then, you're looking at them! This is one of the only known planets in this galaxy with intelligent life, but we're all human. VHQ was glad that Prometheus failed, they were getting a wee bit close to discovering our world. I'm sure Bogg and Jeff told you, nobody is supposed to know of our existence."
"They mentioned it. Come to think of it, we haven't had much chance to really talk things through with all the crazy adventures we've had."
"That's true, Klu Klux Klan, volcanoes, draft riots. I'm exhausted." Phineas said.
"There'll be plenty of time for talking, mates. For now, I have to get back to bizzo and you need to get settled and relaxed. We expect to begin the testing within two days."
Bobby turned to Phineas and Jeffrey. "In the meantime, you boys can take a breather too."
"All right! Thanks Bobby, I can't wait to see more of this place." Jeffrey said.
"I'm sure Phin knows all the hot spots!"
"I sure do." Phineas said.
They all went back into the building excited for the next series of events.
