Voynich Shift - Season One (COMPLETED)

Leonis, 1:1, 2:13 - Part VIII - South Pacific...erm, No. North Atlantic.

Waite slowly opened his eyes to find he was alone in a strange bed. The sounds of water splashing outside and the gentle rocking of the room back and forth removed all doubt. "I'm on a boat?"

Locating the stairs, the former Geniel soldier climbed topside. He was immediately hit in the face with a blast of salty air. "...and I'm in the middle of the damned ocean?"

Waite found Parker seated on the deck of the craft looking up at the stars. A thin sliver of the moon was barely visible in the dark sky. Parker was petting his gray and white kitten with one hand and holding a book in the other. Bathed in an orange hue, the pair sat beneath the light of an oil lantern hanging overhead.

"Ah, you're awake," Parker said evidently aware of the man's presence.

Waite rubbed his temples attempting to shake off the post-medicated funk clouding his mind. "Oui..."

"You know you're heavier than you look. I didn't think I was going to be able to drag your lanky ass out of the city...damn these ribs," Parker said poking at the sore spot on his side.

"Merci...I think. How long was I asleep?""

"A couple of days. You must not have had a good rest in quite some time," Parker said and sat the cat down in a basket. He grabbed a magazine sitting next to him and tossed it over to Waite. "I know why 1999 is so interesting...well, at least I think I do."

The soldier eyed the front of the recently-printed science periodical in confusion. He shrugged. "I don't get it."

"Look at the cover."

"It's an eclipse predicted for Europe...so what?"

"That's correct. However, it's a solar eclipse and it's on August 11th which I believe is three days from now."

Waite found a spot on the sailboat's deck near Parker and sat down. "I regret to inform you, there is no way you are going to make it to Europe on a sailboat in three days, Fantôme..."

"Okay, no more of that stupid nickname," Parker interrupted. "Just call me Parker."

"Very well, Parker," Waite replied.

"We only need to sail about 300 more nautical miles."

Waite raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"That's where the magic happens...well, that's where I estimate the eclipse will begin in the North Atlantic."

"And if you are wrong?"

"At that point,we could either head north toward Nova Scotia, or whatever they call it here, turn around, or just wait for the full moon." Parker paused and produced a grin. "But I don't think that would be very wise since it's a couple of weeks from now."

"I suppose I am officially AWOL, no?" Waite asked, changing the subject.

"Not really."

"Not really? Explain."

Waite could see Parker's grin in the lantern light. "I kinda burned the place down. I figured the Geniel Empire would not spend too much time digging through all of the animal bones to figure out who was who in there...especially since they know I was on-site."

"Merci."

Parker nodded.

"What do you think is going to happen with this solar eclipse?" Waite inquired with raised eyebrows.

"I don't know," Parker replied and scanned his eyes over the star-filled sky. "But I am hoping that we can use the energy it creates to get out of here a bit early."

"With your custom Horologium?"

"...and yours," Parker said, slapping a copy of Horo down on the deck. He slid the bronze device over to Waite.

The Tauredian lifted the Horo up to examine it. "C'est fantastique! Where did you...?"

"Every Negexis Agent carries one apparently," Parker said. "Somehow Geniel managed to copy mine when we crossed paths. But for the life of me, I don't know when this happened."

"The Builders' Earth...."

"Builder's Earth?"

"The nanotomic creatures that make things for Geniel."

Parker sat up. "So, they're like Keyword or Wattpad?"

Waite looked at Parker in confusion. "What are those?"

"Don't worry about it...now, this Builders' Earth...do you know the address?"

"No, yet I can tell you this is Geniel's factory world. It's where we, the army, I should say, takes the supplies we collect. There they are sorted and either distributed or converted for military use. There are billions of human soldiers to feed, clothe, arm, and shelter, you know?"

"I imagine," Parker said with a nod. "That makes it even more important that I find this place."

"Why?"

Parker generated a serious look. "To burn it all down."

<<*>>

The Day of the Solar Eclipse

"You're sure?" Parker asked Waite as the two men stood on the deck of the sailboat. "It's safer in numbers."

The Tauredian nodded. "Oui, I am sure, I just remember hearing someone mention that this address was an earlier time in my Multiverse's timeline. I know it would be sixty years too early, but maybe, just maybe I can warn my world what is coming."

"I do understand. Maybe I can find mine as well...and hopefully soon," Parker said and presented Waite with an open hand. "Well, here we go. Good luck, my friend and let me warn you..."

"I know, I know. The three 'N's: Nausea...and how did you say that second one? Don't tell me. Ah that is right, noggin', and the last one, never know where you'll land."

"You got that, Broadway? Like he said: Nausea, Noggin', and never knowin' where' you'll land." Parker opened his haversack and looked inside at the kitten. "You ready?"

"Mew."

"Well, alrighty then."

Waite looked up at Parker with concern in his eyes as the Horo buzzed its first time.

Parker nodded. "Looks like it's going to work. I suppose a full moon is a full moon no matter which end of the sun it's on. Please, take care of yourself."

The Horo buzzed a second time.

"I will. You know something tells me we'll see each other again, Parker," Waite said nervously.

"I think you're right, good b..."