An Alternate Life AU
Chapter 12 Reality
Real
Jeff shook his head and sighed. "This is ridiculous," he muttered as Daryl laughed out loud. "What're you laughing about?" he grumbled.
"Well, it is kinda funny, don't you think?" Daryl paused and Jeff turned away. "Did it happen that way the first time, with Isaac Newton I mean?"
"Pretty much, yeah."
"Phineas just did what you told him to do?"
"Yeah."
"I wish someone did that with me, I mean, just look at all the experiences you've had."
"Let's just watch the hearing, then we can be done, okay?" Jeff said in a flat voice.
"Okay, whatever you say."
Alternate
The hearing room was familiar as Jeff and Daryl took in the scene before them.
Professor Garth pounded the gavel and called the gathering to order. "What are the facts of the case?" he asked.
Dan stood up. "My omni put me in Jeff's room in 1982. We had a problem, Jeff lost his balance and fell out the window." Dan continued to describe the situation, including a lengthy opinion that Jeffrey should not be his responsibility. Garth lifted some papers and appeared to be reading them. When Dan finished, Garth looked up.
"Our records show that Jeffrey Jones is supposed to be a voyager," Garth began.
"I am?" Jeff whispered in surprise.
"Also, that he is supposed to be voyaging with someone who will train him. It appears the omni system selected you, Voyager Steel."
Dan's jaw dropped. "No, you can't expect me to train him, how will I get my job done?"
"It appears you will need to find a way. This tribunal grants you full responsibility for Jeffrey Jones commencing today."
Dan shook his head, "I won't be able to do my job with him tagging along."
"You have your assignment."
After a long moment, Dan continued. "If he has to observe, so be it, but I refuse to allow him to speak. I can't have him talking to important historical figures."
Garth and the others leaned towards each other and spoke in hushed tones. "That is acceptable."
Dan shook his head again in obvious disgust and turned toward Jeffrey. "You heard them, no talking during a mission. No interference from you at all. Understand?"
Jeff nodded in confusion and followed him out.
Real
"So you didn't end up with Phineas after all," Daryl said. "So, how about tomorrow we look at 3 years in the future, when you're as old as you are now?"
Jeff smiled, "definitely, I bet I end up solving red lights despite the ruling. It'll be fun to see how different I am."
As Jeffrey and Daryl walked away from the lab, a messenger called to them.
"I have a message for Jeffrey Jones," he said as he handed Jeff a folded piece of paper.
"What is it?" Daryl asked as Jeff read it.
"Trevor wants to see me in Mission Control," Jeff replied and started walking quickly. Outside Mission Control, Darly paused to wait and Jeff pushed on the buzzer and was let in immediately. Trevor Dillon stood up and motioned him into the same familiar meeting room.
"Is something wrong? Is Bogg okay?" Jeff asked as he followed Dillon.
"Earlier today we lost the tracking on his omni," Trevor related without hesitation.
There was silence for a heartbeat.
"What could cause that?" Jeff asked, not sure that he wanted to hear the answer.
"Most often it's caused by location. He could be near a combination of metals that negate the temporomagnetic field the omni generates."
"And less often?"
"Sabotage, but we haven't picked up any evidence of that."
Jeff sat in shock and took a deep breath, unsure what to say.
"There's something else."
Jeff looked him in the eye and waited.
"We detected a spike in his vital signs before we lost the tracking."
"So he could be hurt, and his omni doesn't work?"
"It looks that way," Trevor answered gently. "We'll be working around the clock on this and I've sent a team to his last known location."
"I want to go," Jeff said immediately.
"Not this time, son."
oooOooo
Jeffrey slowly walked back to the apartment.
"How about if I stay with you tonight," Daryl was suddenly beside him.
Jeff looked at him slowly, "okay." He entered and sat down on the edge of the bed and began to unbutton his shirt. As he took it off, a paper fell from the pocket. It was what Bogg had written to him before he left. Slowly he tore it open.
Jeff,
The last two days don't matter. Nothing has changed between us.
See you when I get back.
Bogg
Jeff sat reading the short note. He felt numb as he stared at the paper, his eyes following the words again slowly across the page. Bogg must've felt bad about leaving when things weren't good between them. He felt a dull ache in his chest as he lay back down on the bed and stared at the ceiling.
The next morning Jeff was up early and Daryl accompanied him to Mission Control for a report before going to class.
"If there's any change I'll send you a message right away," Trevor had assured him.