The Voyager's Aide
Story I
Chapter 20: I'll be seeing you
Phineas cascaded through the time warp. The instant he pushed the omni he'd thrusted the bombs away from him. It was the only way to save the bridge and the others, but it was no easy task. The noise was deafening when the bombs exploded in the wormhole. A searing heat raged behind him. He didn't understand the science behind it, but as long as the bombs were in the cosmos, they'd do no damage to the earth. He'd hoped the force and speed of the trip would've disintegrated them, but the fireball licked at his heels. He positioned his body for the landing.
SPLASH!
He back flipped into East River, letting its coolness envelope him as he surfaced. He wouldn't be surprised if he had a burns, but his body seemed unscathed. He had a few holes in his pants and his boot heels melted. The dress jacket was tattered. He wanted an ice bath; he felt as if he burned with fever. Pain shot through his right arm. In all the frenzy, his shoulder dislocated. He grabbed it tight. The injury would slow him down for a while. He didn't care; he was alive!
He wanted to recuperate, at home with his long lost family.
Dark smoke plumes, remnants of the explosion, curled in the sky where he'd had fallen; He thrashed around, oblivious to the dockworkers staring at him. The beautiful Brooklyn Bridge stood majestically in her rightful place. With his good arm, he thrust the omni skyward and the green light rang. Pioneer had accomplished its first mission after a long standstill.
Phineas let out a holler of victory.
~Oo~
Phineas tumbled into the Brownstone alley. He bit his lip, wanting to scream from the pain in his shoulder. He didn't have to knock, Kayla's door flew open and Jeffrey ran to him with a strong embrace.
"Bogg! Your not dead! I knew you could do it! I knew it!"
"Oww! I'm glad to see you, Jeffrey. Thanks, it wasn't easy. Ouch, be careful, I dislocated my shoulder."
Jeffrey led Bogg into the office. Kayla leaped up and helped him onto the couch. She stroked his hair.
"Phineas, I was confident you weren't lost, because I didn't lose track of your omni. It was a good sign for all of us."
John-Henry knelt by him and pulled the burnt shirt off his damaged shoulder.
"I can handle this. We need to get him to a flat surface, like a sturdy bed or something."
They led Phineas upstairs to the room. Kayla and Jeffrey went to the kitchen to fill ice packs.
"Okay, Phineas, do as I say, I'm gunna try and make this as painless as possible, man." John Henry said.
Phineas nodded. The pain was becoming unbearable. John Henry bent him forward gently and face down on the bed. He kept his arms dangling at his sides.
"Now relax, I mean really relax your whole body. You will feel this."
Phineas did as he was told. John Henry put a hard grip on his shoulder and slowly eased the humerus back into its socket. Phineas drew in sharp breaths, and yelped in pain, but the relief that followed was wonderful. When John Henry was satisfied he rolled Phineas over, trying to avoid putting pressure on it.
"Out West when you're ropin' the herd and there's no doc for miles, you learn how to take care of yourself right quick. I used to do this all the time for the other cowboys. Now what you need is some strong painkillers and ice. Here it comes."
Kayla came to the bed with a first aid box. She took a pair of scissors and cut away the rest of his shirt. He had some cuts and scrapes to tend to.
"John Henry, that was great, man. I'll remember this trick." Phineas said.
"Hey, if you don't have a bed handy, just bend forward from your waist like this…" John Henry proceeded to bend at a ninety-degree angle. He let his arms hang limply at his sides. "Relax yourself, and very slightly rotate it. It'll eventually go back in place. Oh! Don't sleep on it whatever you do. The docs don't always tell ya this stuff, all they do is pull, tug and push and make the pain even worse."
"Thanks, John Henry, got ya. Oww, Kayla, that's the spot." He winced when she gently brushed over the injury.
"Well, y'all, I need to get back in the field. My woman's waiting for me. It was nice meeting ya, hon. I'm glad to know my family. I'll be back to visit of course."
The cousins gave each other a tight hug, and Kayla kissed his cheek.
"Please come back any time, John Henry, and bring Regina, I'll make a big dinner. I want to meet her."
John Henry waved and disappeared. Kayla put the freezing icepack on his shoulder blade. The area had already swelled and bruised up. His skin felt too warm and she put a cool rag on his forehead. Jeffrey made him swallow two bitter red tablets and water.
"Kayla said these are from The Voyagers Medical Unit, they'll knock the pain right out of you."
"Oh yeah, I remember these things. I'll also stand on my head and quack like a duck." Phineas flinched. "Jeff, how would you like to take a vacation with me, to stay at my family's Manor?"
Jeffrey's eyes brightened. "I sure would, Bogg! We really need one."
Phineas looked at Kayla, she concentrated on removing the melted boots and socks. She pulled them off and held her nose from the burnt smell. Phineas sighed.
"What, again? My feet don't really stink, do they?" He joked.
"Ha ha! No, it's the melted boots. You must've had a crazy trip through the cosmos. I can't believe you dragged two bombs with you. I'm so grateful you're alive."
She slowly massaged his feet and it eased him, he sighed deeply and Jeffrey groaned.
"Is this my cue to leave, Bogg?"
Bogg opened one eye. "No kid, I want you right here with me, at least for now."
He gave Kayla a quick wink and she blushed.
"Kayla, why don't you come with us, I'm sure Headquarters will allow you time off. Jeremy can run the ship here, its good training for him anyway."
"Mmm, a few days in old England sounds so lovely. Can I, Phineas? I want to meet Vinchenzo! It'd be fantastic!"
Kayla hugged his good side and kissed him briefly. Her face saddened and she bit her lower lip, in all the excitement she had to tell Phineas her findings on the omnis.
"Phineas, Jeremy and I retrieved Mason and Temple's data…they didn't kill my father! It was a third man, big gray eyes and very sadistic. He killed him at Drake's order, but Mason and Temple were witnesses and had beaten dad up. This Voyager shot him down execution style."
Kayla laid her head on Phineas chest and cried. He rubbed her back to keep her composed and Jeffrey held her hand.
"Kayla, we know who that was, his name's…"
She raised her head. "Dwight Roache. We looked him up. He's a piece of vermin all right. He's even more volatile than Drake."
"Kayla, Dwight was on the Bridge. He'd kidnapped Jeffrey and strapped the bombs to him. In all the fighting he got away. I'm so sorry. He must be lying low right now. Paradox will be in a frenzy since they don't have a leader. As soon as I recover, we'll go after them all."
"Phineas, you did your best. Saving Jeffrey and the bridge was the most important. We sent the files and omnis to H.Q right away. They promised me that Mason and Temple would get speedy convictions. Personally, I think banishment's too good for those rats. And as for the 'V' Pin situation, Joseph got an anonymous letter about them."
"Really? Who knew about that?" Phineas was concerned.
"I don't know. John Henry suspects Lorna Turner. He said she was at the hotel when Jeffrey went missing. The letter said that the 'pins are not a reliable source of communication and henceforth Paradox will abandon them, nice try.' I took Bernard and Jeremy off the project until I asked you about it."
"Fine, Kayla, It was too conspicuous and easy anyway. It looks like this war is far from over."
"The war's just beginning, Bogg." Jeffrey gazed at him and Phineas saw the fire in his eyes. He patted his arm, remembering Garth's words. "He is to be the future leader of Pioneer."
"Kayla, what about Dwight? They must've seen him on the memory bank?" Jeffrey pressed.
"Dwight's still out there, so is that vamp Lorna. They couldn't get a trace on their omnis."
"Oh no…he's horrible!" Jeffrey shuddered.
"Don't you worry, kid. He's only one man, we'll get him soon enough. Hey, you managed to trap Drake! That's a big accomplishment." Phineas assured him. He couldn't bear the suspense. "So, what happened to Drake?"
"Drake was transported back to where they found him, New York City, 1890, with no memory of being a Voyager. I looked up his history. He still became a conniving lawyer, only to be exposed as a fraud. He was involved in scandals with the likes of men like Robert Van Wyck, The first mayor of New York. He was right there with him when he stole out the back door of City Hall at Seth Low's inauguration. He went bankrupt and spent the early part of the nineteen hundreds in England."
"Boy, isn't that sweet, he still gets away with everything." Jeffrey sneered.
"No, he didn't, Jeffrey. After amassing a lot of wealth again he decided to come back to New York. He boarded a brand new passenger ship on Sunday, April 14th, 1912."
Jeffrey and Phineas looked at each other. They were all too familiar with that date. "Wait a minute. He was on the Titanic? Jeff and I didn't see him. He didn't see us?"
"You may not have, it was so big. Besides, if he did see you, he'd have had no idea who you were, plus he was about twenty-two years older. After that, his records end. He must've died, Phineas."
Phineas lay back on the pillows she'd piled up. Drake did not have it easy after losing his career, but he lived out his days the way he'd always done, as a man of corruption.
"Now Mister, before you go shooting off to merry old England I think you should rest here overnight. C'mon Jeff, we'll get some dinner. I'll keep some on warm for you if you want, Phineas…"
Kayla's offer was not heard. Phineas had fallen fast asleep. She and Jeffrey laughed. He'd wake up soon enough and jump into a cold shower to wash off the seawater. She kissed his forehead and they left the room.
~Oo~
Jeffrey was compelled to ask her over dessert. "Kayla, are you and Bogg…well, you know…in love?"
She smiled and swirled her ice cream.
"Jeff, I love Phineas. I mean, I only just met him again, but I feel it already. He told me that he loved me too. I'm sure in the same way. There's so much is happening we haven't established a real relationship. We haven't talked much about it, but we're hoping to make it grow."
"Bogg's a great guy, Kayla, he doesn't fall in love easily. I mean… he gets attracted to women…a lot of women. But he never truly falls in love with them. I've learned that."
Jeffrey didn't tell Kayla about Phineas' love for Mabel Hubbard. When he was ready, Phineas would tell her himself, or not at all.
"He told me once that all women are beautiful. There's something special about each and every one of them."
Kayla's eyes shimmered with tears. "That's a sweet statement to make, I agree."
Kayla's composure faltered. She'd need a few minutes alone to reflect…and cry her eyes out. She didn't want to tell the others that Phineas vanished off the tracking system when he left the bridge. That would normally mean a Voyager's death. However, Jeremy eased her fears when he said that the explosion in the wormhole most likely blocked his physical presence, but that his vitals still recorded afterward.
"Kayla, what I also know is…that if he says he loves you, he means it."
"Thanks, Jeffrey, I'll keep that in mind."
~Oo~
Bogg Manor, October 15, 1715
"I can't believe I came back in time for Vinchenzo's wedding! Thanks for getting me. It was spectacular!"
Kayla wrapped her shawl around her shoulders. Phineas took Jeffrey to England two days after his return to 1958. He recovered a few days and surprised Kayla when he came for her.
They lounged on the veranda bench after a filling lunch. It was a cool afternoon. The clouds built over the horizon in spectacular hues of blue and gray. Vinchenzo's marriage was a big affair for the family. The ceremony earlier that weekend was held on the grounds and nearly the whole village attended. The bride looked ravishing in her traditional Indian wedding garb. She wore pink and gold. Jeremiah and Sonora spared no expense to make it a lavish occasion. Phineas couldn't hide the truth of Kayla's relation to Vinchenzo and it made the wedding more joyous.
Sonora cried when the vows were taken and she observed Phineas and Kayla. She couldn't wait for the day when they'd have a wedding for him. She couldn't get over that Kayla was Vinchenzo's descendant. Kayla was a beautiful, kind and intelligent woman. The sort of lady she'd wished her son to marry. Both Jeremiah and Joanna approved of her as well, and they were often tough critics. The feasting and revelry that followed the vows were spectacular, and the evening ended with fireworks as Vinchenzo and his happy bride sailed off the coast for a tour of Italy.
Phineas nuzzled Kayla's hair. "It was something else. Rashina and Vinchenzo make a handsome couple, don't they?"
"Very! I never knew my background was a melting pot of cultures, Italian, Indian, German… whew! And speaking of handsome couples, here comes your parents. Aww, Phineas, Jeffrey's attached to Joanna. I hope they had a nice time out. I was too tired to go this morning. I promise, tomorrow I want you to show me the whole village."
"Are you certain?"
Phineas kissed her cheek and whispered to her. The two giggled like schoolchildren as the family came up the walkway. Joanna and Jeffrey stayed outside by the gates. Jeffrey had brought a sign language books for her and she enjoyed studying it.
"Well, well, well, look who decided to awaken! Phineas, come into my study please."
Jeremiah led his son away from the women. Phineas looked back at Kayla with a scared expression and drew a slit across his throat. She waved him off and smiled. Jeremiah had been nothing but a gentleman towards her. Sonora sat made tea and talked about village events.
Phineas gulped. He remembered that entering his father's study meant he was about to get a lecture or a scolding. He sat in the big oak chair, feeling dwarfed by the large, dark wood and seafaring furnishings.
"So, Uhh, is there something wrong, papa?"
Jeremiah leaned back in the chair with his feet propped on the desk. "Nothing wrong at all, son, what makes you think that?" He grinned, a slight twinkle in his eye.
Phineas shrugged wide-eyed. "I don't know…you always brought me in here when I was in trouble."
Jeremiah laughed. "Ahh, yes! You were in trouble more often than not! No, son, I wanted to know more about you and Kayla."
Phineas relaxed in the chair. "Oh…uh…well, she calls me her 'boyfriend.' So I guess that makes us a couple." He smiled.
Jeremiah nodded his head bemused. "Hmm, that's fine. Though you're hardly a boy. I suppose then, that she's the 'girlfriend.' "
"Right-o, daddy-o!"
Jeremiah gazed at him oddly and Phineas laughed. "That's just slang from Kayla's era…the fifties…nineteen fifties."
Phineas straightened up. His father's expression sobered and he knew it was time to hear his lecture.
"What is your intention with Kayla? You shouldn't wait too long to make a decision, it wouldn't be fair to both of you. I married your mother at a young age. I had to decide to either go with my father on a yearlong voyage first and marry her after? Young love won over. We were impatient and lusty, it was better we married then. I never regretted the decision."
"You made the right one, Papa. I can't imagine you with any other woman." Phineas smiled.
"And I cannot imagine any other children than you and your sister. I know your position, Phineas. You're a Voyager with many responsibilities. It seems all but impossible to expect you to settle down right now. You're still young too. Even though Jeffrey says you act like you've been around hundreds of years! Playing cards when they were still made of rocks?" He bellowed in laughter.
Phineas had to and Jeffrey had a tiff over how to save Harriet Tubman. Jeffrey's smart mouth always got the better of him. Phineas often reminded Jeffrey how 'long' he'd had been alive, but he sometimes confused his voyager missions for actual years.
"Phineas, you're a grown man and you will make your own decisions, but remember to make wise ones. A woman's heart may never fully mend if she feels slighted and scorned. I'd hate to see that girl hurt. She adores you."
"I understand, Papa. We both have a lot on our plates right now. As soon as she goes home she'll be attending Voyager School for training. I may not see her for awhile, though I can visit."
"Keep the flicker of love alive, Phineas, if she's the woman you want, make sure she knows it. I want you to have a happy future, son, and I want grandchildren!"
Phineas stood up proud. "Yes sir! Papa, I love her…and its growing. I'm sure that when the timing is right, I'll make a move.."
"That's what I like to hear, don't wait too long. When the urge of motherhood comes…"
"I'll omni out of there pretty quick!" Phineas kidded and Jeremiah scowled.
"Heh…but seriously, since traveling with Jeffrey I…I can see myself as a husband and parent. It's not an impossible thought to me anymore."
Jeremiah patted his back. "You've grown wiser, Phineas, I appreciate that. How much longer will you stay?"
"Until the end of the week, and then its back to business. My arm feels one hundred percent better."
"Good! I was a little worried when you decided to make more of these voyages while recovering. I'm glad you wanted to come and rest here, Phineas. We were at a loss. To see you disappear like that and all the drama was very upsetting, particularly for your mother and sister."
Phineas didn't reveal that he had to manipulate time in order to save their lives and Kayla's future.
"I know. Hopefully things have calmed down for now. I'm thankful you healed well too, papa."
Jeremiah checked his shoulder with shrug. "Ah, yes, it was just a nick really. I was fortunate to move out of the way when I did. It would have hit me squarely in the chest."
Phineas winced, remembering how it happened the first time. He came around the desk and hugged his father. "I'd keep going back until I got it right if anything happened to you…or anyone in my family."
"Son, wouldn't that be breaking the laws of physics and all of your Voyager rules?" Jeremiah asked.
"I don't care. I'm going to make sure I'm there to see your lives continue safe and sound."
"Thank you son, I love you."
"I love you too."
~Oo~
Saying goodbye proved to be a tearful affair for the Bogg family, Jeffrey and Kayla. Joanna wouldn't let go of her brother and he kept her in a bear hug.
"Please don't cry, Joanna, I'll return to see you again, I promise."
"Don't wait…long…Phineas…I love you…we will miss you!"
Even Jeremiah's tears fell freely for his son's departure, but he kept quiet to give his family time.
"You had better come back to us, Phineas. I know you explained the whole time travel scenario to us, but it still perplexes me." Sonora sobbed. "And it's dangerous!"
"Mother, no more dangerous than the high seas and dealing with pirates."
Sonora shook her head. "You can't lie to me. I can sense it."
Phineas didn't refute her and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
Sonora hugged Jeffrey next. "I do not want to see Phineas here without you, my sweet Jeffrey."
Kayla felt a real sense of belonging to this family and it saddened her to leave them too. After all was said and done, the Voyagers gave a final wave and flew off into the cosmos. They landed on the steps of the Brownstone.
"Ooff! I really need to talk to someone at the OCC!" Kayla whined.
"It'd be nice if we had the version Susan has!" Phineas helped her to her feet and grabbed Jeffrey's shirt before he stumbled backwards down the steps.
"Woah! Good catch, Bogg. Thanks!"
"They're just trying to keep you Voyagers on your toes." Kayla smiled.
Kayla had given Jeremy the keys to her home, and he and Kirstie would reside there after they married, while Kayla was away in training school. Kayla hugged both Voyagers and then Jeffrey stepped away so she could share a personal goodbye to Phineas.
"Well Voyager B, its been quite a wild ride, hasn't it?"
"It sure has, Kayla, and I know there's more to come…hopefully between us as well?"
She play-slapped him. "Now that's up to you, right? I'll be hard at work studying my courses. I should hope I won't have to rig your omni and force you to come see me. I know how forgetful you Voyagers are, especially you, I mean you…"
Phineas rolled his eyes as she ranted on. He lifted her close and kissed her. She would've tripped back in a loving daze had he not held her tight.
"Take that as a promise, pretty lady. You will see me again!"
"I believe you Phineas, you never lie, right?"
"Hey! Did Marie Antoinette have great legs?"
"Ha! I'll take that as a yes!"
They laughed and he reluctantly put her down. He played with the flipped ends of her hair and traced her face with his fingers. She kissed his cheek and bounded up the steps to the door.
"Jeremy should be back from his runaway honeymoon. I forgot to tell you that he and Kirstie eloped! After he sang her his love song they took off. It has put a strain on his family. I think in time, they'll come to accept her for the lovely woman she is."
"I'm sure of it. Please send him our regards and congratulations!"
Kayla was just about to close the door. "Goodbye, boys! I'll be seeing you…Ohh, Artie used to sing and play that song for me all the time. We'd dance and I'd step on his toes. It's my favorite." She said, reminiscing.
With a debonair expression, Phineas opened his arms wide. Jeffrey held his head and groaned loud.
"Why'd you have to say anything, Kayla?" He asked.
Phineas belted out in song. "I'll be seeing you in all the old familiar places, that this heart of mine embraces, all day through…I'll find you in the morning sun, and when the night is new…I'll be looking at the moon, but I'll be seeing you!"
A few passersby giggled and pointed at the singing pirate. He smiled and bowed.
"Phineas, you're too much."
"I mean it, sweetheart! When I do see you, we'll share a wonderful dance together."
"I look forward to it."
" Remember the special handshake!" Jeffrey called out.
They both spit into their palms and held them up.
"Yuck, what's that?" Phineas cringed.
"That is our secret bond!" Kayla called out. "I'll never forget it, big brother." She said to Jeffrey, choking up. "Goodbye."
Kayla closed the door and watched from her window as the two people she loved most in the world vanished. She lay down and wept, then dragged herself to finish packing. They were all a team now. And she had to make sure she knew her job from every angle to help them.
~Oo~
Drake's former center of operations, on the Outskirts of Voyagers Headquarters.
'CLICK, CLICK, CLICK!'
Silver metallic balls clashed and spun. Lorna Turner twirled around in a black back leather chair to face the large group of men and women assembled before her. She was dissatisfied with everything about Paradox and was ready to to start cleaning house promptly.
"What do we do now, Lorna, now that Drake's gone for good?" One of them asked frightened.
"Drake? Drake was a pompous, windbag and a weakling. He was never a real leader. For now on, you only answer to me. It's been that way for sometime, hasn't it?"
They all nodded fast.
Lorna threw back her head with throaty, sinister laughter. Everyone else laughed nervously too. Lorna would finish them off in a heartbeat if she felt slighted or displeased.
"Mark my words ladies and gentlemen, Paradox will be brought to a new frontier… and world domination will be ours!"
To be continued in- 'The Voyager's Aide Sequel: The Disappearance'