Voyager Shadows: Poor little rich girl

Chapter 5: The Seekers

With the shoe on the other foot, Michelle Nelson now understood why Bogg and many other Voyagers admitted that walking the 'long mile' through the Court sector terrified them. In the middle of the night, the only sources of light were flickering sconces and the sliver glowing beneath Councilman Garth's office. She took a deep breath and knocked softly. No answer. She knocked louder, and finally heard Garth.

"Please come in, Mary."

Councilman Garth always called her by her given name. He rested in his brown leather chair. His body was old and feeble, and hair stark white, but his mind and gaze were sharp as ever. Although he limited his role at Headquarters, his wisdom was sought after for major decisions and court issues. He bade her to sit in front of him. She looked side to side but saw no other Tribunal members. She could only imagine their irritation if disturbed for this messy situation.

Michelle sat and waited patiently for him to compose himself. A few parchment folders lay opened before his computer. However, Garth was never keen on technology. She pitied the assistant who dug for the original files in the vast Voyager Archives at this hour. Archivists, Administrators, and the like remained on call twenty-four seven for the Tribunal. Field workers and Shadows were always on duty too, just not in the comforts of the Voyager realm. She thought of Bogg, and felt glad he had a mansion and cushy job. Kevin strived to be a considerate boss.

Garth finally looked up. "Mary, I chose to have this meeting with you alone. I always respected and admired you and all the dedicated work you put in for the cause. And as such I felt it only fair to meet with you face to face before anything goes to trial…if anything goes to trial."

"Yes, Councilor. I know that it might."

"I don't have to tell you what you did, and it has all been thoroughly explained to me by the Omni Control Center technicians and their administrator."

"No, sir. I…I was well aware that I broke Voyager codes. But I strongly felt I had to." She wiped her eyes.

Garth leaned forward and rested on his arms. "Now tell me why exactly?"

Michelle couldn't hold back tears. "Councilor, if you know what I did than surely you must understand why. My daughter's time-line turned red! She died a horrible, tragic death at sixteen."

"Yes, I read her reports. I'm very sorry. But the fact remains that you tricked Voyager Bogg into…"

"I did not trick him, I asked him…begged him." She interrupted.

Garth gazed firmly at her. "And knowing his good nature you assumed that he would."

Michelle wouldn't let herself be intimidated by what others called Garth's 'roving eye.'

"Definitely. Bogg is an upright man and a heck of a great Voyager. He was perfect for my Natalie."

Michelle drew her chair nearer to the desk and looked him squarely in the face. "Councilor Garth, whatever judgment the Tribunal makes on me, please leave Phineas Bogg out of it. He did this out of the kindness of his heart; to save a girl that should never have died."

Garth nodded. "I understand. We've gone through this with him in the past. Voyager Susan put it succinctly. "Heroism is often a matter of circumstance." Phineas Bogg does what he has to in order to make history a green light. We don't always approve of his methods, but the Tribunal members are not gods. We do not take away free will and we allow Voyagers the liberty to work out problems in the field as they see fit. Bogg matured and learned to follow our codes better. But we will have to hear his side of this matter."

"Yes of course! Thank you for your leniency."

Garth peered closely over the documents. "It states here that you have made unofficial visits to your daughter's time-line shortly after the plane accident in 1961."

"Yes, Councilor Garth, I did. My family fell apart after I was plucked out of time. My daughter was never the same. I only watched over her and her interactions with friends sometimes. But some young jerk at Omni Control found out and threatened to tell. I had to take him seriously. He made a technician put a block on my omni. I promised to never go back and I kept that promise. But that didn't stop me from keeping secret observation over Natalie's time-line."

Garth's eyebrow raised. "And who was this young jerk, Mary?"

"That rat fink named Drake, he was fresh out of the Academy, working his way up to a hotshot lawyer. When I think of all the trouble he caused for fellow Voyagers…it makes me furious!" She looked at him inquisitively. "But what does that have to do with Natalie, Councilor?"

Garth smiled wryly. "A lot actually. This is why I trust the original printed dossiers and not these electronic contraptions. Information and data gets lost all the time, computers fail and facts get tampered with. Natalie Powers, it turns out, is meant to become a Voyager's Aide."

Michelle's jaw dropped, she felt as if the air had been sucked out of her. "Are you certain, Councilor?"

"See for yourself." He pushed the papers over and she put on her reading glasses and quickly scanned them. She glanced up confused.

"Then why wasn't this added to her computer file along with the rest of her information?"

"That is a good question. You are well aware of Voyager Drake's ambition to destroy the flux of history?"

"Of course, everyone is, but it's been twelve years since he was on the radar. Even his omni is no longer traceable. We marked him 'MIA' on our files. I like to think he settled down and just faded out of history."

"Really? That's all?" Garth grinned knowingly.

Michelle shrugged. "Okay, I like to think he stepped on a land mine or fell off the Titanic or something. But that's not good of me."

"Drake has been a thorn in our side long enough. Voyagers Bogg and Jones have tried time and again to capture him but he always manages to escape. He is manipulative, and according Bogg, physically stronger than before. Mary, there is something else, but this new information is highly confidential."

Michelle nodded eagerly. "I understand, Councilor. Please tell me whatever it is."

"We believe that Drake has somehow managed to set up a Voyager faction, not just among our members here, but with people on earth in various time zones. As long as he has that omni and rogue technicians helping him, he could become a very powerful force against us. He already has."

"But how would he maintain a faction throughout history?" Michelle asked, frightened and intrigued all at once.

Garth leaned back to stretch his aching body. "You have heard of Secret Societies and what not? Some here say our Voyager cause is one, because we do not reveal ourselves to people on earth at any time if we can help it."

"Yes, I used to believe so too."

"There is nothing overtly wrong with believing it. But our cause does get involved, personally, emotionally, and physically with people in the time zones. The Tribunal recently acquired Intel that Voyager Drake started a secret society that spread through the centuries since his days with Machiavelli. The members believe that he is their immortal leader, because he was purported to have appeared time and again throughout history. And we know how he does that."

Michelle was stunned. "So you mean, just like Voyagers have their Shadows and Voyager Aides, he created an oppositional group?"

"Precisely. But like the devil from the old book of Revelations, he is confined to Earth. He will never show his face here at Headquarters. He knows the consequences. And now they are worse than banishment." Garth's expression soured.

"I've never thought of Drake's position that way, but now that you mention it, he sure is a devil." Michelle frowned.

"We found documentation of this Secret Society, they even have their own medieval type guidebook that tells of future events and has specific notes and writings by prominent members. No doubt Drake used our Guidebook as a template."

"This is crazy, I can just see it all now. I wonder what they do as a society? If there are special markings or codes?"

"We are investigating. We do know that the earthly members are used to observe and report on the activities of Voyagers and Shadows. How do you think Drake was able to try and convict all those innocent Voyagers?"

Michelle stood up. "Of course! Through the help of his society!"

"They call themselves Seekers. They are taught to believe that Voyagers play a negative impact on history and that we try to manipulate the world. The earthly members may go as far as to kill our Voyagers in order to prevent them from completing missions."

"That's terrible, Councilor! When I think of the field agents who died through the years…It could have been a Seeker assassination?"

"That may well be the case, though accidents can and do happen, Mary. You above all understand that."

"Yes I do, but it still makes me curious. What if the Pilot of my plane was a Seeker? They may be willing to die for their cause. Maybe they crashed the plane on purpose?"

"Now Mary, I don't want you to worry yourself with speculations. We are going about our investigations thoroughly and orderly."

Michelle relaxed. "Yes Councilor. I apologize. But if the Tribunal knows of this society, then why can't it be abolished?"

"After Drake disappeared after Bogg's trial, the members scattered, and the earthly memories of The Seeker Brotherhood were long forgotten. It became as one of those lost guilds through time and their power diminished. But now we fear that Drake has regrouped and re-established his secret society throughout time again. That is why our Shadow operation is more vital than ever, because we believe that Drake…"

"Is using Seekers to…to intervene and harm the Candidates! What better way to take down Voyagers than to nip them in the bud before they even start training. Councilor, do you believe that? Do you think that's what happened to my Natalie?" Michelle interrupted excitably.

Garth motioned for her to remain calm. "We are not sure. I believe that Drake had someone alter her files to make it look as if she wasn't an Aide. You know how much we rely on our Voyager Aides, Mary. Natalie is going to blossom into a fine, intelligent woman, much like you."

Michelle took a seat again. "Thank you, Councilor. Um, so, the Tribunal knows what will become of her as a Voyager Aide?"

"In essence, but the future is not always written in stone. There are many variables. Which is why we exist – to keep them from going out of control. I'm sorry, but Natalie's future records are strictly confidential information that only the Tribunal are privileged to know. The history of our candidates must be allowed to run its course, but rest assured, it appears to be good things. Perhaps you always sensed your daughter was meant for greater accomplishments. You couldn't have picked a more pertinent Voyager to her future than Phineas Bogg."

Michelle smiled. "Bogg doesn't realize it, but he and Jeffrey saved my daughter in the past as a very small child when we were at the beach. It wasn't a routine mission; they must have been between voyages. That's why I always defended him. What about Voyager Jeffrey Jones?"

Garth smiled. "He is an outstanding Voyager, but he is currently grappling with his own Shadow assignment, a very dangerous one at times, I'm afraid. Voyager Jones is personally significant, one day all that will come to pass."

Michelle hoped to drag more information out of him after the cryptic statements, but he disclosed more than he should have. He looked ready to fall asleep in his chair. She helped him up and offered to lead him back to his Quarters.

"Councilor, what do I do?"

"Why, you send Voyager Bogg a message!" He grinned. "Tell him that I said the matter has been settled and he must continue his mission, but you are not under any circumstances to disclose information about the Seekers. The Tribunal is preparing a grand committee meeting for all Shadows to attend and we will bring them up to date on our discoveries."

"Yes, sir, I understand." Michelle was beside herself and she kissed his cheek. Garth blushed. His spotted, gnarled hand gripped her hand tight.

"Michelle, I'm sorry you didn't think to trust us…me, with Natalie's situation. I would have worked it out in your favor. Most Voyagers and field workers tend to fear us, but there is no need. We may be strict on matters, but we have explicit reasons. We are not without compassion, as was proven in the trial of Phineas Bogg."

Michelle's mind whirled over the revelations about her daughter and the Seekers. "Yes, it was. Thank you for everything, Councilor Garth. Phineas will be thrilled to know he is not in trouble. I pressured him to do this; he wanted to abide by the code."

As they walked through the halls Garth snapped his fingers. "Oh of course! How could I forget? Oh Mary, old age is a blessing and a curse. There is something else that you must tell Voyager Bogg!"

"What, Councilor?"

"Natalie's date of death moved up earlier this evening. We don't know how it happened. The circumstances of her death remain the same, but she is going to die on May 4th, 1964 and her body is never recovered. There is more…"

"Tell me everything. I can handle it, Councilor."

"Kevin Powers is found dead, shot in his den a week after Natalie disappeared. It was reported as a suicide, but the evidence was dodgy."

"And what about Barbara Walden?"

"She inherited his companies and the entire fortune. She goes on to a luxuriant long life, but I didn't go that far into the records. My eyesight is getting very poor. I didn't want to forget the consequential information."

"Councilor Garth, the information about Barbara is very important. But thank you, I'm going to tell Bogg right now."

Michelle quickly calculated. May 4th was less than a week from Bogg's current time. She didn't know who or what made the change, but with the proper help, she was determined to find out.