Prisoners of Time: All the time in the world

Story III

Chapter 2

Ramona banged the dust off designer rugs on the stoop of Bogg Manor. She glanced up and down the streets for any sign of Phineas and the boy, but they still hadn't returned. Phineas was in a terrible hurry the other evening and when he had changed into his vigilante attire she knew that something foul was afoot. She prayed that evening for her master and the boy's safety. She didn't dare to interfere or try and change his mind; Phineas was determined and ambitious once he set his goals.

Ramona finished her chore and rolled up the rugs. She heard low whimpers and panting coming from the alley alongside the apartment. She clutched her broom and peeked over. Sniffing around the premises was a dingy, brown dog. He was a pitiful sight – matted and ravenous. Ramona gasped upon seeing a black book shoved between his jaws. Though the animal was at a distance, her eyesight was still keen. She recognized the golden script along the bottom right corner. Ramona put down her broom and approached the mouth of the alley. She hoped the dog was friendly.

"Come 'ere boy! Come 'ere! Ramona won't hurt ya! I'll take good care of ye! Come on…come on! I'll give ya something nice to eat! I promise! Come boy!"

Ralph perked his ears upon hearing a kindly voice. He picked up his master's scent all over the place, including on the lady who coaxed him over. He crept toward her. His master had to be around here. His senses besieged him. The front door to the apartment was ajar and Ralph took his chances. He rushed past the elderly woman and ran straight into the house. Ramona threw up her hands and followed after him, disgruntled that he tracked mud and dirt all over her freshly waxed floors.

Ralph dropped the book on the floor and ran around barking. Ramona hurried to the kitchen and pulled out left over roast. She put it on a dish and called to the dog before he could race up the stairs. Ralph skidded into the kitchen and nearly jumped atop her for the food. Ramona led him to a warm corner and placed the dish down. The dog attacked the roast.

Ramona's heart went out to him. She petted his back and then scurried to the hallway to collect the book. She thumbed through it. It was definitely Phineas' property, but it was very much worse for wear. It had the dog's teeth marks embedded in its center and a few pages had been torn loose and stained with mud and puddle water. Ramona held it by the edges and carried it to the pantry sink. She was going to clean it up and repair it as best she could, perhaps with a re-binding. She enjoyed the art of scrap booking. When Phineas returned, he would be delighted to have it back.

~V~

Phineas took Jeffrey into the engineering lab after being assured of Susan's care in the Academy Medical center. She was exhausted, and would most likely sleep for a full day once she was cleaned up and administered the proper medication. Jeffrey explored the room with great curiosity, marveling at the designs and worktables full of springs and cogs. There were cabinets over stuffed with papers and bookshelves crammed with texts on every subject. World maps and charts were pinned to the walls. It reminded him of Phineas' laboratory, only more spacious.

All of the hard labor and calculations of these intelligent men and women went into the designs of the amazing omni device. Although he had stolen it, Jeffrey reasoned that his intervention played an important part in saving history and the work done at the Academy. He was glad he never thought to sell it or give it to King-Ray. He knew there was something vastly unique about it.

Jeffrey tried his best not to touch anything or move instruments as he explored. Phineas collapsed upon a large chair with his shoulders slumped and threw his legs on a footstool. He nodded off. Jeffrey wanted to check underneath him to see where he stored his lithium batteries, because the man just kept going and going. Jeffrey hoped one day Phineas would teach him how to use all those gadgets and grappling hooks. He wanted to be a hero too.

They waited for Voyager Bobby Peters to arrive. He had visited with Susan while Phineas cleaned himself up. Bobby flurried through the doorway, his expression apprehensive.

"Holy dooley, man! You smell like a cistern! Susan is finally asleep. I wanted to be with her until the medication took effect."

"Oh…of course." Phineas perked up. He wondered if she mentioned anything about him, but didn't voice his thoughts. "Hey, I showered…but I have to get home for a real bath. It should be called the East cesspool, blechh!" He shivered.

"Ahh, God made dirt, and dirt don't hurt. It's good for the pores, man. You'll keep that baby-soft glow you always have forever now." Bobby smirked.

"Who are you?" Jeffrey asked.

Bobby held out his hand to Jeffrey. "Bobby Peters at your service. Head engineer and Director of the Omnichronometer Control Center. Who are you?"

"Uh, Jeffrey Jones…former Hester Street King and…partner to Inventor and Voyager vigilante Phineas Bogg!"

Phineas grinned. He liked idea of having a partner. "Now you sound like Roma, she calls me a vigilante too."

Jeffrey gazed up at Bobby; he was much taller than Phineas and broader in the shoulders, but his physique was softer. His warm features weren't as imposing as his figure, especially when he smiled.

"You must be William Jones' boy! I had the grand opportunity to meet your father when he was interviewing with Professor Garth. Smart as whip he seemed. I'm so sorry for the tragic loss of ya parents."

Jeffrey shook his hand, still amazed over the fact that his father was meant to be one of the Voyagers. It seemed as though life was coming full circle and Jeffrey was determined to carry on his father's legacy.

"Thanks Mr. Peters. I'm…I'm glad Bogg found me. But after all the problems, I'm surprised he didn't toss me out on my rear already!"

"Old Phin has a knack for finding trouble, but he's got a heart of solid gold. You're not going anywhere." Bobby whispered to Jeffrey. "He's a real softie on the inside, even if he's yellin' at ya. Phin gets attached pretty quick."

Phineas coughed. "What was that? Did you forget about the acoustics in this room? I'm not that soft!"

"No, not when he's got a crossbow aimed between your eyes!" Jeffrey shivered and Phineas felt sorry he had ever done that to him.

"Jeffrey, it wasn't loaded. I never would have pulled the trigger. I promise you."

Bobby waved his hand at him. "Sure, sure. I didn't realize what a Sir Lancelot you are, swooping in like a bat to save Susan! I heard it was quite a spectacle. You have Susan in quite a tizzy. The newspapers are going wild!"

Phineas shrugged humbly. "Remember, if any of those journalists come snooping around, don't mention my name. As for Susan, she'll get over it. I just did what I could. "

"Right! Or her name isn't Stern Sue!"

"Watch it, Bobby, if you want her attentions, don't call her that."

"It's only a tease. I know she still loves me."

Bobby didn't see Phineas' sour face and he went to the center of the room and spread his arms out. "So, Jeffy boy, what do you think of our modest lab? Impressed?"

Bobby tossed Jeffrey and Phineas apples. They both bit into them the same time, it had been a long while since they had eaten and Phineas was craving one of Ramona's breakfast specials.

"Yeah, it's very impressive, there's so much…"

"Stuff." Phineas cut in. "These V-Engineers are a messy and disorganized bunch, I'll tell you that. I'm surprised the omni didn't take us diagonal and upside down to Australia."

Bobby gaped at him. "Phin! I'm surprised at you. Like your study is any neater? All jammed and crammed with thingos and whatsits and doohickeys! I'm tempted to go and wash down all the calculations on your chalkboards, and then we'll see how far you get with that contraption your building! By the way, how's it coming?"

"Oh, it's coming. I just have to make a few adjustments."

"I've been hearing that one for months. Now what's the problem? You used the wrong jewels for the activation knob? Give it up, Phin. We know we can time travel, now we have to push it to the limit."

Bobby was right, but Phineas was thinking of Jeffrey. The boy would definitely want to go on the travels with him. Phineas would hate to leave him alone, only to find that Jeffrey had carried on without him into the future. Who knew what could happen? As he studied his machine the night before, Phineas planned to install a separate chair in it for Jeffrey. However, he knew that they were still wary of one another and he didn't forget Ramona's warning. Jeffrey might still be inclined to the ways of the streets. He would have to help him develop a sense of etiquette.

"It will work, Bobby, and it will go very far. Our goal is to travel to the past and future. Isn't anyone around here excited that the omni took us twenty-four hours ahead?" Phineas huffed.

"Sure, but it's so easy, a monkey can do it! I should have given you a banana instead of an apple."

"Come on now! You can't expect me to believe VHQ is…"

"Whoa, mate? VHQ?"

"Voyagers Headquarters. It breaks the monotony of saying 'Voyagers Academy' all the time, it's much less stuffy." Phineas shrugged nonchalant. "As I was saying, VHQ would not be so lackadaisical about something as grand…"

Bobby patted Phineas' shoulders. "You are very tense right now, mate. Of course we are going to expect a full report and do evaluations as soon as you're up to it. We'll wring the experience out of all of you. And I noticed something else, the red light is on. That blasted thing has been blinking since we built it!"

"Yes. And Professor Garth was correct; the omni can detect a change or imbalance in the flux of history. That is something I still don't understand. He is very mysterious about that part of the Academy's mission."

"You're preaching to the choir mate. A few of us have tried, but neither he nor the other Tribunal members will give us a straight answer. But we have to trust them. I do."

"So do I, but it's bizarre how they just know…"

"Maybe one day we'll find out the whole truth, for now, we have a mission to accomplish here."

"That's right! I can only assume the red light is because of Voyager Drake and his schemes. He will be stopped!"

"Voyager vigilante to the rescue!" Bobby announced. He drew a cloak over his shoulders and concealed part of his face. "Who knows what evils lurk in the hearts of men!"

"Great, now you're teasing me…I have to keep in shape somehow, I can't be tied down to a desk fiddling with screws and bolts and shoving cakes in my mouth all day." Phineas nodded toward the chocolate remnants he saw on the desk.

"Oh I see! Because you're the circus strongman you want to make fun of…"

Jeffrey laughed as the banter continued between the men, but he also sensed a slight rivalry and decided it could only be over Susan. Jeffrey sighed and rolled his eyes. He was glad to be a long way from having to deal with nonsense like that. As much as he wanted to explore the Academy, he really wanted to get back and to start helping Phineas finish his Time Machine. Jeffrey hopped off the stool.

"I think we should get goin,' Bogg! We got a lot of work to do, ya know. The Academy can't wait forever for this invention."

Phineas slid off the chair, his body suffered aches and pains and all he wanted to do was bathe, eat, and have a few hours sleep. He didn't realize how disorientating time-travel could be to the psyche. He still felt as if it were late evening. Jeffrey seemed unaffected, save for his enthusiasm. Phineas yawned and headed toward the doorway.

"They may just have to wait one more day. I seriously need rest."