The Voyager's Aide Finale: A Road not taken
Story III
Chapter 9: Traitors and Reunions
Sweat poured off his body and he doubled over from the quick jab to his mid-section. This was the final round, but he refused to go down a loser in this cage fight. If he won tonight, he'd procure enough funds for Pioneer to get the arsenal they needed. Tonight's bounty was a whopping five-thousand dollars in cold cash.
The savage came at him again. He aimed for the kill. His opponent's body was huge and his muscles taut. He drew back his fist to ram it into his face.
John Henry Sheppard peered at the wild, cheering crowd, the Sovereign sat in the front row with a bemused smile and his hands folded under his chin. The woman next to him caught his eye. Her hair was pulled back in a tight French Twist. Dark make-up encircled her large blue-gray eyes and her cheeks and lips were heavily rouged. She was clad in a shimmery blue evening gown.
Regina gazed at him in shock, and her eyes brimmed over with tears.
The distraction nearly cost him the battle, but she signaled that his opponent was on the attack. John Henry ducked and ran into the challenger's stomach, forcing him against the electrified bars. He had to end the brawl now. He did a high jump and thrust his leg out. His opponent was stunned from the crunching blow to his temple and collapsed at his feet.
Half the crowds hooted and stamped, while others booed and flung trash at the cage. John Henry promised his cousin Kayla this would be the last fight; now at least he'd go down victorious. The kick-boxing matches helped him to release the frustration and became somewhat addictive. Pioneer managed to convince him that he'd be no good to them dead or loopy from the repeated blows. John Henry learned his sport and knew it well. This was the third match against 'Raven', the reigning champion. The bars crackled with blue currents and he pumped his arms in the air. The mob hollered.
"That's right y'all! I'm the champion now!" He shouted. "Voyagers forever!"
Regina had refused to attend these fights, but tonight, Sovereign demanded her presence. She couldn't help feel something very different about him. She didn't have a chance to speak to Brian and didn't know what became of the intruders. The Sovereign wanted her to see her lover beaten to a pulp or worse. She gave in and cheered John Henry on; knowing that while his physical strength was abundant, his will and spirit were impeccable. That made him a winner tonight more than anything. She wanted to run to him, tear open the cage and despite the blood and sweat, fall into his arms. The gate opened and Sovereign dragged her from the seat.
"Come on, Regina, let's meet our winner! The cowboy pest from the Wild West!"
The crowds dispersed at his orders and a clean up crew went into action.
Billy kicked the unconscious Raven in his stomach and yelled to the guards. "Get him out of here, he's worthless now!"
John Henry panted against the cage. He dabbed his face a towel and faced Sovereign.
"I...I believe I'm owed money! Pay up! This entertainment doesn't come for free." He sputtered.
Billy snapped and a soldier brought him the prize money. He scattered it all over the ring floor. John Henry swiftly picked it up and shoved it in his pockets. Billy shook his head.
"Figures he'd be at this type of stuff. I don't even see why you need it." He prodded Regina in her side. "He'll probably use it to burn for fuel, now that winter's setting in."
John Henry stood up, although Billy was tall, John Henry's immense physique and extra inches almost dwarfed him.
"A man can do a lot with this money."
"What, buy yourself a can of beans? An extra bag of pasta or rice? You must be dreaming. By the way, didn't you notice I brought an old friend?"
John Henry refused to look Regina in the eye and she was stung. Billy laughed.
"My, my, is there trouble in paradise? A lover's spat? This is so amazing!"
John Henry tossed the towel and stalked from the cage. He pulled a t-shirt over his head. "Ask her, she's the turncoat!"
Regina ran from Billy's side and stopped John Henry in his tracks. Every time he motioned to leave, she blocked him.
"Get out of my way, Reg! You're stoking my calm! Your Sovereign's waiting for you!"
"John Henry, stop it!" She begged. "Please don't leave me here! I'm not a traitor, I swear! I was kidnapped, forced into human bondage from this monster! He keeps me locked in a room! A terrible pink chamber like he does to other women! I can't fight him anymore! I need you! I never betrayed you or Pioneer deliberately…I love you!…Look at me! Look at me!"
Regina burst into loud moans and sank to the filthy ground. She clutched his legs. John Henry's composure was breaking; his body trembled from the tension of the fight and the pain of seeing her again. He reached down and stroked her face. The gaudy makeup smeared across her cheeks. Regina looked up at him defeated, her eyes implored him to save her.
Billy had seen enough. "Guards, escort Mr. Sheppard outside and get her back here!"
They ran to them and yanked Regina up.
"Get your damn hands off her!" John Henry moved to fight them, but they aimed their weapons.
"Don't try anything stupid, John Henry, or else it's over for you." Billy sneered.
~Oo~
"Maybe we'll see you at the next fight, Sheppard!"
The guards tossed John Henry out of the back entrance and slammed the steel doors. He banged on them frustrated and ran to the docks where he kept a dinghy to get across the East River. He couldn't believe he'd actually seen Regina, his Regina, after all this time. His mind and heart believed in her and he desperately wanted her back. He rummaged in his coat pocket and pulled out a handkerchief. His communicator was wrapped inside.
"John Henry to base, can y'all read me?"
After a minute of static, Bernard's voice picked up the transmission. "We got ya big man! What happened? Did you win the pot?"
"I sure did, all five thousand. I can't talk long, I'm not leaving here yet."
"What do you mean? You won! You wanna stay on the Island and shoot the breeze? No bars or pubs, John Henry! And no bets! Curfew's in another two hours."
"Bernard, I saw Regina! She was at the fight with Sovereign and she was so depressed…"
Bernard spoke quietly. "Johnny, she defected from us remember? We can't trust her anymore."
"No Bernard, It's not like that, she was kidnapped, man! The Sovereign's held her prisoner all this time. I was so stupid to believe it when they said she turned on us! I have to get her out now!"
"Wait a minute! You can't start busting in there, we have a solid plan remember? This'll ruin everything!"
His cousin came on the receiver.
"John, it's Kay, we can't subvert the mission; we've come too far! She'll have to stay where she is until we're ready."
John Henry slammed the communicator in his palm. "Listen to me, both of you. Regina was one of the most dedicated members of Pioneer and I love her! You don't know how much this guilt is eating at me for dropping her like that. Y'all made me leader of this dying group and I'm staying here 'til I get her out, tonight!"
John Henry shut off without waiting for a response. He had other ways of getting back into the building. He needed help…and a key…and he knew exactly where to find it.
~Oo~
Kayla didn't want to doubt her hard-headed cousin, but she was worried he'd get caught. John Henry was not one for subtlety. She understood his intense feelings for Regina. She didn't want to trouble him with the other news. Bernard prepared her for the shock that Phineas Bogg and Jeffrey Jones had returned. She pushed back her long hair with a big sigh and climbed up the ladder to the theater's main stage.
Bogg and Jeffrey sat in the front row, eating a meal. Kayla had just returned from a trade-off with the Scavengers. They'd managed to find electronics that would be useful to them, and Kayla gave them food and warm clothing and blankets. She could've kicked John Henry for not being with her. However, the Scavengers she dealt with were saner and milder than the rest and they feared John Henry whether he were present or not.
Bogg picked his teeth, his gnawing hunger was satiated. The steak and potatoes were a perfect meal. Jeffrey cleaned his plate.
"Bogg, I'm sorry I ran away from you. I thought I could get that package and run back in time." Jeffrey said.
Bogg grunted and narrowed his eyes. "Now you see why I told you to stay put? You never listen to me, I can only imagine what your Bogg goes through!"
"I know, I'm sorry! I guess he goes through a lot." Jeffrey hung his head. Bogg was right as usual.
The stage trapdoor opened and a woman crawled out. Kayla jumped in front of Bogg. Jeffrey observed them. They both looked like leather-clad pseudo punks from a Mad Max film and for the first time since he came here, he laughed. Bogg stood up nervously and Kayla came closer. He swept her in a poignant embrace and they kissed with a passion he never expected to see.
"What the heck?"
Kayla gripped him in a tight hug. "I missed you so much, baby! Why are you here, Phineas? You know the others don't trust you. Unless, you want to truly help us! Fight the Sovereign with us?" She asked hopeful.
"Take a look, why do you think? Jeffrey's here!"
Jeffrey came between them, confusion all over his face. "Bogg? You said you didn't know where Kayla was or Pioneer. What's all this about?"
Bogg looked at him wryly. "I really didn't know where Kayla was, she wouldn't tell me for the sake of her group, and because they kept moving their home base. Kayla and I are married. After my Jeffrey died, she was the only one left to believe in me…"
Jeffrey folded his arms. "Married? You? You're such a loner! Then what was all that about no time for hearts and flowers?"
Bogg laughed. "I meant that too, do you see any hearts and flowers?"
He pulled Kayla to him again. "It's not your standard, white picket fence, two kids and a dog family, but we manage. I've been helping the group out all along; they just don't know it. I'm sorry I lied, kid."
Jeffrey threw his hands up and rolled his eyes aggravated. Nothing in this place was what it seemed. "Kayla, do you throw sponges at this Bogg's head too? Look at the way he keeps your Brownstone!"
Kayla became thoughtful for a moment, and shrugged it off. She couldn't contain her excitement and joy that Phineas was here and that Jeffrey was somehow alive.
"I'm not sure what you mean, but none of that matters anymore. We've kept our relationship a secret. When Billy left us here to die, Phineas and I were separated. We found each other three months ago. What do you mean by this Bogg? You can't be the same Jeffrey Jones that died on the bridge, you're older, you have the same attitude... but you look normal compared to the rest of us. Where'd you come from and how?"
The theater doors burst opened. Bobby, Tina, and Jeremy rushed inside excited, however, their reaction changed upon seeing Bogg. Bobby's face curled into a snarl.
"What the heck is he doing here? How'd he find our hideout?"
Jeremy held him back. "Bobby, it was me! I found Jeffrey at the food drop and Bogg must have followed us. Kayla didn't want me to say anything yet."
"Isn't this just grand? And…Jeffrey Jones! How…where? How'd you get here?"
Jeffrey looked at everyone's puzzled face. Bernard poked his head out the trapdoor and groaned. All of this had to be cleared up here and now.
Tina took Bobby's coat and stroked his arm. "Bobby, just stay calm, you're not one to get crazy like John Henry…which…by the way, where is he?"
Kayla paced the aisles, rubbing her temples. "That's another mess we have to clear up. John Henry's still at Utopia. Hey, he won the five thousand!" She decided not to drop the other bombshell about Regina.
"Awesome!" Jeremy punched his palm. "We're just about ready for this showdown!"
Tina gave the group a sweet, but nervous smile. "I'm sure there's a very good explanation for this. Remember, we're all still Voyagers and friends. We can't afford to be enemies."
"Well then…friends…" Bobby sneered. "Let's have it, from all of you!"