AUTHOR NOTE: This is a repost/edit of my original story. I apologize to all my subscribers for the twenty-one emails they must have gotten about it! I just had to make some necessary changes and spread the story out into more chapters. The story is the same for them most part, so if you have read it before, you don't have to necessarily re-read it. Thank you!

SPLAT...SPLAT!

“Yuck! Gross! Bogg, what did we land in this time? Nothing could have been worse than that dung heap!”

“It’s soft, squishy and stinks, blech! Fish guts!”

Phineas Bogg and Jeffrey Jones slid quickly off the pile and examined their current surroundings. The air was damp and chilly and the sky hung low with threatening gray clouds. Giant stacks of crates created a maze around them and boat horns blared from the harbor.

“Looks like a dock of some sort kid, hey are those skyscrapers?”

Jeffrey’s eyes lit up and he grabbed Phineas’ arm.

“Bogg, look, it’s the Statue of Liberty! This is South Street Seaport, and we’re in New York again. But...where is everybody? Where are all the tourists and the shops?” Jeffrey paced around; this particular spot was very familiar to him. “Hey, you know right here is where they put a huge sailing ship that you could go on and tour. You should have seen it! It was so fun Bogg...”

Jeffrey became silent and hung his head low as the memories with his family came flooding back to him. By now Phineas was able to read Jeffrey like a book, and in moments like these he always needed reassurance. He put an arm around his shoulders and hugged him to his side.

“I bet it was, Ships are always fun. Let’s see what the omni says Jeff.”

To Phineas and Jeffrey’s pleasant surprise, it rang on the green light.

“New York City, February 17th 1941. Date mean anything?”

“Nothing I know of in New York, but that explains why South Street Seaport is missing, it hasn’t been designed yet. My dad said they opened in the nineteen sixties or something.”

Phineas began re-setting the dials of the omni, but found that they wouldn’t turn. He pulled harder and Jeffrey looked on curiously. Phineas gave him his trademark sheepish laugh.

“All right! Darn thing must be stuck in automatic again, dirty gears I guess. There’s no need for us to be...”

Phineas’ excuses were cut off by the screams of a frightened child. Jeffrey pointed to a nearby loading area. A small figure could be seen running for his life. Two surly looking men hopped out of a black car and made chase. Before Jeffrey could say anything, Phineas was already sprinting towards them.

“We gotta help that kid!”

“Right behind you, Bogg!”

The child hid among a tower of crates and crouched low, shivering.

“We’re going to find you, you little rat! We want that Omni!”

Phineas overheard them and nearly stopped short, they were voyagers? There was no time to think. He waved at Jeffrey to find the child and took a flying leap into the taller of the two men. They tumbled to the ground and the man rolled over and grabbed Phineas’ vest.

“So! They sent you to protect the child! Stay out of this Voyager, you have no business here!”

He was a solid man with a long nineteenth century mustache and scars across his pointy chin. He and his bald partner looked out of place in ill-fitting, black, zoot suits. Phineas was in no way intimidated, but yelled back at him.

“It became my business when you decided to attack an innocent child! Who are you? What kind of voyager are you?”

The man didn’t reply, he jumped up and grabbed a crate to fling at him. Phineas dodged it and it smashed to the ground. The man grew more enraged and ran at him with fists waving. Phineas grabbed his arms and swung him around; he landed in a large pile of broken crates and hay, groaning.

Jeffrey found the child trembling in a dark corner behind a big crate marked ‘Singapore.’ The child had a large news-cap pulled low over his face, a shabby wool gray coat and worn in blue corduroys. When he saw Jeffrey he curled further up into a ball.

“Hey, it’s okay, I’m one of the good guys! My name is Jeffrey Jones, but there’s no time to chat right now.”

Jeffrey spotted the other attacker shifting his stout, bull-like body through the crates.

“Come out child, you cannot hide forever!”

Jeffrey pulled the child to his feet with one swoop.

“Quick! Start climbing!”

The child obeyed and Jeffrey followed close behind and up the stacks. The brute spotted them and narrowly missed grabbing Jeffrey’s ankle. After a few daring moments they were safe on the top, but not for long. From his viewpoint, Jeffrey saw Phineas had resumed his battle with the other one. It was only seconds for him to give him the knock out punch. The man spun dizzily and landed on the fish guts.

“Bogg! Help! Up here!”

The brute laughed fiendishly. He hoisted himself upon the Singapore crate and began to shake the whole stack. Jeffrey grabbed the child’s hand and they both gripped the sides. The wood was starting to splinter into his skin.

“Hold on tight!” Jeffrey cried, wincing.

Phineas seized the brute by his brawny shoulders just as he was about to use all his force to knock the scared children down.

“Get away from those kids!”

The brute turned abruptly and shoved him. He then grabbed Phineas and ducked, flinging him over his back. Phineas landed on the dock hard. Jeffrey was trying to help the child climb down the other side, but it was too late. The brute turned his attention back to the crates and pushed again with fierce exertion. Jeffrey was caught unaware and started to stagger backwards. Phineas was up again and rubbing his head, but it was too late to get to him.

“Ahhh! Help!”

The child reacted quickly and pulled tightly on Jeffrey’s shirt. Jeffrey toppled forward, but the child lost his footing. With a scream, he plunged into the rough, dark waters. Phineas could only watch helplessly. The bearded voyager had revived and staggered out of the fish pile. He turned bright red in anger. He grabbed his friend and opened his omni.

“We will be back for her Voyager! You can’t stop us forever!”

The two disappeared. Phineas sprinted to the edge of the dock and dove straight into the freezing water. Jeffrey scrambled over to him as he surfaced, but without the child.

“I don’t see him!”

Jeffrey was near tears, if anything happened to the child, he felt it would be his fault.

“Please Bogg! Try!”

Phineas took a deep breath and plunged in again. The Voyager Training Unit had taught various swimming and breathing techniques, which he had mastered; if absolutely necessary he could hold his breath underwater up to five minutes. He finally spotted a floating piece of fabric and recognized it as a hat. He swam down further and was able to take hold of the child’s arms. He was still conscious and holding on bravely. Phineas swam up gently, but quickly, and they both surfaced, gasping. The child was sobbing between breaths and clinging to him for dear life. Phineas took a closer look at the child.

Long brown hair hung soaked around her tiny shoulders, Phineas felt his heart melt as she looked up imploringly with brilliant, golden eyes. Her full lips were tinged purple from cold and her teeth chattered. She whimpered helplessly like a kitten. He pulled her nearer to him and they waded to Jeffrey. Jeffrey helped get her on the pier and Phineas climbed up and quickly wrung out his clothing. A tiny fish popped out of his shirt and floundered on the dock until Phineas threw it back in. He pulled off the seaweed stuck to his shoulders and shivered.

“Bat’s breath! It’s as cold as the ocean on Shackleton’s voyage!”

“Alright Bogg! You got...her? Wow, I thought he looked a little small.”

“Quick, we have to warm her up!”

Phineas removed her soaking coat, sweater and boots, leaving her in a white undershirt. He decided to remove her pants as well because she could easily catch hypothermia. Jeffrey spotted a large torn canvas covering and ran to get it. He dragged it to Phineas with some struggling.

“This should help for now, boy it weighs a ton.”

Phineas vigorously rubbed her hands and feet to keep her from losing more body heat. He grabbed the canvas and tore off a section large enough to wrap her in. Jeffrey stood at a distance; he didn’t want her to feel uncomfortable as Phineas figured out a way to cover her. All the while the child stayed silent, but she never removed her eyes from him. After she was wrapped and a little warmer, she spoke up in a shaky, sweet voice.

“M...My name is Kayla Sheppard...who are you? Where did you come from?”

“My name is Phineas Bogg, you already met Jeffrey. We…Aheh...We...Were taking in the sights and saw that you needed some help.”

“Yeah...Bogg’s a tourist, my uncle! I was showing him the City.”

Kayla tilted her head in disbelief, and then she noticed the round brass object on Phineas belt. She was startled, and then gave them a sincere, beautiful smile. She jumped up quickly and gave Phineas a big hug, then Jeffrey. He and Jeffrey laughed a bit; very relieved to know she was okay.

“Did you fall from the sky? I know who you are! You’re voyagers! Did you come to help me?”

Phineas and Jeffrey glanced at each other; both realized that despite the green light on the omni, they would be sticking around for a while. Phineas also knew it would be a killer to field strip the instrument. Kayla looked on in earnest, so Phineas held her tiny hands and gave her a wink.

“Yes, we are here to help you. But you have to do something for us. Can you tell us how you know about voyagers...and, maybe you can help us find someplace to get clothes and warm up?”

Kayla agreed happily. Phineas picked her up and the trio started to head out of the loading area. As he came to the entrance he noticed the black Ford the voyagers left behind, with the doors opened. He looked at the kids.

“Hey! We have a ride; those two bullies left their car.”

Jeffrey ran and hopped in the front.

“This sure beats walking. I don’t think you would wanna in those soggy pants, Bogg.”

“No way, I also hate wet boots…and underwear!”

Phineas put Kayla in the back seat and got behind the wheel. He shifted uncomfortably on the leather from his soaking clothes and peeked at the little girl. She was bundled up inside the canvas and just continued to stare at him, so he made a silly face at her then grinned. She laughed happily.

“I need you to tell me where to go, Kayla.”

Kayla leaned forward excitedly, her arms resting on their seat between them. Phineas thought she was a real trooper, bouncing back from near death quickly and in good spirits.

“Please take me to Artie, he would want to meet you too, he’s always meeting people like you. They come in with the little compass and he fixes them, and puts in new parts. He has all kinds of stuff in his pawnshop. Go to 34th St. and Sixth Ave. He’s down a side street in a basement, not many people know he’s there. They bring him jewelry and furniture and trinkets, and he has a story for everything! He’s so kind, I wish he could take care of me, but he’s a little old now and real busy. I told him I could help him. I’m eight years old. I could do it! I want to, I really do.”