The Voyager's Aide Finale: A Road not taken
Story III
Chapter 13: Final solutions
Jeffrey roused from the constant dripping in the cell's faucet. He climbed from the bunk and relieved himself in the tiny bathroom space. Bogg and Kayla slept and he watched them for a minute. They looked so unhappy, everyone in this world did, it was no wonder Dr. Reinhold wanted out. Jeffrey really wanted to know Bogg's decision before he went back to his own time zone. He'd also come up with a solution that the doctor failed to mention.
Bogg stirred and opened his eyes. Kayla was nestled in his arms and he sighed in relief. He crawled over her and adjusted the pillow and blanket for her comfort.
"Morning, kid, how did you sleep?"
"Not good, but we've been in worse, right?"
"Yeah, stone dungeons are my specialty, at least this one's heated with running water."
Jeffrey sat against the wall and crossed his legs. "Bogg, did you figure out what you're going to do?"
"I was too tired to even think about it. I can't just make a decision like that without the group…or telling Kayla. She has a right to make a decision in regards to her child."
"But, Bogg! What if we never see the group again? The Sovereign has us prisoner! You're still the leader; you have a right to make the final decisions in a critical situation."
"Jeffrey, its not an easy one to make! We're talking about lives here, our entire existence!"
Jeffrey got up angrily. "What existence? This world shouldn't exist in the first place! Drake didn't kill me in my universe because you and the Sheppards rescued me just in time! Where did things go wrong?"
"I don't know! We showed up, but apparently, the wrong decision was Drake's!"
"This is too weird! What's the point of time travel if every time someone makes a choice another world is created? Where does it end?"
"Look, all I know is, that in your universe, you keep your own history in check, not ours!"
"I can't stand this! I wanna go home!"
Bogg held Jeffrey's shoulders to calm him. "Jeff, don't think about it right now, you don't have to worry about us, okay? I'll get you home and that's a promise! I…I also have a confession to make."
Bogg turned away shamefaced and leaned against the wall. He lowered his head in his hands. Jeffrey was afraid to learn any more truths about this place or this Bogg, but he let him talk.
"What, Bogg? What confession?"
"When I first saw you after the Scavengers attack…I'd planned to…to turn you in to the Sovereign."
Jeffrey's countenance dropped in shock, but he kept his composure. "Why, Bogg?"
"Because I didn't trust who you were. The Sovereign was offering a pipe-dream reward for Voyager captures…and…I didn't think I wanted the responsibility anymore. I had you with me once and lost you, I couldn't go through that pain again! I'm sorry Jeff, I'm sorry I'm not the same Bogg you know. I'm not a good person, not anymore."
Jeffrey cried. "Don't say that! You are! You didn't go through with it! You kept me, and protected me. The only reason you're not in the right frame of mind is because of everything going on here. You are the same Phineas Bogg, because you have the same heart! Because you loved me once…"
Bogg collapsed onto the floor and grabbed him. "No…no…I still love you, Jeffrey! Whether you're here or not, this universe or the next, that'll never change!"
Kayla turned over to wipe her tears. She'd been awake for the entire conversation, but stayed huddled under the covers. She shook herself out of the blanket and ran over. She embraced them.
"Please, Phineas, do what you have to do. Jeffrey's right, our existence is terrible. I'm so scared for our baby. If they found our baby they would kill it. Or raise it to be cruel and vicious like them. You know they would! We'd always be on the run. I don't want to die, but if this is corrected in our universe it won't be like death at all, we'll just cease to exist, never knowing what happened! Please, Phineas!"
Kayla fell into his lap and he clutched her. Jeffrey was ready to expound his own idea.
"Bogg, listen to me, your universe doesn't have to disappear!"
"What do you mean, of course it will, once we correct it."
"No…if you go back and correct this in your universe, Drake's decision to kill me is still the same, all you'll be doing is stopping him from succeeding. That Bogg and Jeffrey will go on, and that Bogg is you! Everyone lives, but things will still be different than my universe. That has to be the only other way. Look, regardless of who lives, dies, or does anything, every time a decision is made or not, another universe is formed. This universe will survive, but not under Sovereign's rule! Believe me, I've become kind of an expert on alternate realities." Jeffrey was out of breath, but hopeful.
Phineas grabbed Jeffrey's arm with wide eyes and a huge smile. It was the first time he'd shown true happiness since they met.
"I…I think you're right! We can fix all of this! You…My…my Jeffrey doesn't have to die!"
The cell-block opened and Brian came in with a curt smile. He wheeled a cart with three trays of breakfast.
"Rise and shine, Voyagers! He winked at Jeffrey and opened the glass door. A table napkin was draped across Jeffrey's plate. Brian had gotten the omni back to him.
"Eat up! I'll check on you again later, do you hear me?
"Yes, sir!" Bogg nudged Jeffrey and the trio gave the Sovereign salute.
"I need to go and round up your friends! You're all going to be here for a very, very long time."
Brian came to attention and left the jail cell. Jeffrey removed the napkin and found his omni under the toast. He looked up at Bogg.
"This is it! It says on the napkin that it's pre-set to send me back to my right universe, what do we do?"
~Oo~
"The dome's prepared and the gas takes forty-eight hours to dissipate. Sovereign, are you sure you want to go with it?" Levi's voice trailed off as he stared into Ryan's soulless eyes.
"If it'll get rid of these nasty cockroaches faster, then so be it! Why must you always question my authority? I always thought you were too soft for Paradox. Still carrying old Wildman Wolfstein's lessons aren't you? For obvious reasons I don't want to go nuclear, we'll wind up killing ourselves, everything will be contaminated. It may have worked for Russia and Japan, but not us!"
Billy examined the complex computer systems used to control the electronic and technical elements of the City. "Now tell me how it works."
"All the techs have to do is push the 'panic button' as we call it. This will dispense the gas over Manhattan Island and any living soul will die within an hour. Before we set the gas out we'll secure Roosevelt Island with an airtight dome that has a super-powered filter. Once it's sealed, no one gets in, no one gets out, but if the dome's breached, we'll perish too."
Billy rubbed his head. "Isn't that sweet? I'll give you my final decision within the next hour."
Commander Schwartz stopped Billy before he left. "One moment, Sovereign! Don't forget about the prisoners I brought in."
"Ahh, yes, Bogg, Jones…and the lovely Kayla. I'll head down there now."
~Oo~
John Henry and Bobby strapped the knapsacks on their backs. They were loaded down with weapons. Bernard and Jeremy were in charge of the helicopter bombs, Regina carried first aid equipment and flashlights and Tina the food supplies and extra lights, batteries, candles and flares.
"This woulda gone a hell of a lot easier if Kayla and Bogg didn't skip out on us." John Henry grumbled.
"I'm worried about them, what if they were caught? Those helicopters were out awfully late I could've sworn they were nearby." Regina said.
"Yeah, I heard them too, I was awake!" Jeremy looked up from the faded, worn photograph in his hand. It was a picture of his true love, Kirstie. He kissed it and put it in his coat pocket near his heart.
"We'll find out when we get there, mates. C'mon, we don't have much time to lose! It's early morning, and we don't want to travel in those tunnels at nightfall if we can help it right? Tina, do you have the map, love?" Bobby asked.
"Yes! It's easy to get there; we walk to the entrance near the intersection of West 42nd St and 6th Avenue, then we scout the F-Train tunnel until we get to the Main Street and Roosevelt Island. I'd say it's about a good hour by foot if we hustle."
"Then let's hustle, group! I'm taking no prisoners!"
John Henry hooted and ran out the side entrance with everyone on his heels. They didn't get very far before a silver tanker intercepted, forcing them to stop in the middle of Times Square.
"I command you all to halt where you are!"
John Henry recognized Brian's voice over the loudspeaker and stopped Bobby from pulling his weapon.
"That's O'Neill man! He's on our side, remember? Everyone just wait, that's my order!"
They raised their hands in the air and Brian poked his head out of the top of the tank. He laughed at the sorry bunch of heroes.
"Hey, remember the tale of the Trojan Horse? Get your butts in here, we're gonna to make some history of our own!"