Chrono Voyage

Chapter 3: New New York

     Robert Woodward was inspecting left and right around the dusty and untidy room that was Elizabeth`s living place if you could believe. Well, technically it wasn’t really a living space but more of a safe house. She was always on the road, the highway of timeline she called it. She always traveled in different time periods, she would stay in luxurious hotels or dusty old inns, or maybe a bench, not by her choice because oftentimes she would get drunk and would have no idea how to operate the machine. One time she attempted such a stunt and the machine landed smack dab in the middle of a Viking wedding, as you could guess from this point she barely got away alive and swore never to touch the machine when under certain substances. Woodward was a detective… plain and simple, he was a normal British citizen, paid his taxes regularly, and went to work every day early in the morning, he was very punctual and really hated tardiness overall just a normal fellow on the outside. Which proved to be the perfect man for the job. You see upon further inspection Woodward isn’t what he seemed to be, he used to be a detective, yes, but now he is a psychopath that would not rest until he sees justice is served, not only was he punctual with the time but he was with other things as well, if he ever committed a murder there's simply no way the police would find any traces that would lead to him. He was quiet and dark he showed no emotions, he was looking for anything, just a simple clue a clue that does not have to do anything with the task he had on hand, but he will forge it to make sense, he was quite good at it, sometimes he`d solve cases by framing someone completely innocent to take the blame, there was no way that you could get away from him if you were to enter his crosshair`s, it`s over for you, you better have good connections or be very rich to bribe him. But this was not going to be the case. This was the big one and there was no way of bribing yourself out of this one, no amount of money is going to help you. You see Robert was a something of a government agent sort of like a jack of all trades, he was a detective, he was a policeman arresting people whenever he needed and he didn`t need a warrant to do it. Even a jurisdiction area couldn`t limit him and this time he had all the resources he needs because the order came from the queen herself. After the Crystal Palace incident every agency had Elizabeth in their crosshair, not only that but the neighbors as well immediately after the blackout the neighbors reported strange goings-on coming from the building. The police of course could not be concerned about it because the Queen's safety was their priority at the time but now that all the dust is settled it`s time for an investigation to find the culprit, and Woodward shall find one if not he will forge one, he will not fail and he will not disappoint her, he won't let the queen down. His target… Elizabeth Amity.                                                                                                                 

     “Come on just find something!” he yelled to the men that were with him and helped him search.                                                                                                            

     “Sorry sire, I don`t think we will find anything,” said one of them. “She seems to know how to cover her tracks.”                 

     “Right,” he looked around one more time, it was time they left already they`ve been searching for a while now and nothing`s come out of it, just a waste of time. Perhaps Elizabeth had nothing to hide, perhaps she was innocent Robert was on his way to leave when he looked at the mirror. He starred at himself the old wrinkly pale face with grim look grey beard and grey hair pulled back into a short ponytail. He walked toward the mirror and on the corner of it he picked up a small photo a portrait of Elizabeth as he stared at it.                                                   

     “I am gonna get you, one way or the other,” he spoke to the photo as his companions looked at a crazy old guy talking to pictures. 

     "I still can't wrap my hand around how anyone lives here," said one of the men investigating the suite. 

     "Don't think anyone lives here mate," said the other one. 

     "Then what are we doing inspecting the place and all that?" 

     "Quiet both of you!" Robert warned as he stood still, all of them stood still, it was coming like an avalanche at first it started weak and slow and then it built up, the whole building started shaking and the dust that was pilled up was disturbed and filled the air with a thick cover as it settled it revealed the machine. Robert turned to see and was left speechless after seeing a golden orb just materialize out of thin air. Elizabeth turned the handle and exited the machine as she saw a face that she knew very well sunken blue eyes, thin lips, big crooked nose, yeah it was him.                                                                            

     “Robert…” she spoke.                                                                                                     

     “Miss Elizabeth…” he greeted her too. “So those who reported you made the right call.”          

     “Reported me for what?”                                                                                             

     “The black-out, we suspected it may be you, besides the neighbors in your area reported disturbance of peace, and series of mini earthquakes just like this one before you showed up inside of that…” he looked at the machine. “So I have a warrant for your arrest, orders from the queen herself,” said Robert with a hint of a smile as he started touching himself all over the body trying to remember where he placed the warrant. "Ah... yes," he reached for his inner pocket, he always puts things in his inner pocket how does he forget all the time? He pulled out a piece of parchment from the inner pocket and might as well have slammed it in Elizabeth`s face.                                                                                                                         

     “Elizabeth who is this man?” asked Benjamin as he stepped out of the machine.

     “Oh… a companion,” Robert was surprised. “Well, sir I am afraid I will have to arrest you as well.”                     

     “Arrest me?” Benjamin had no idea what is going on. “Listen here I`ll have you know…”                                                                                                                                 

     “Alright arrest them, no time for chit-chat,” Robert interrupted Benjamin as he ordered his man to take the away and confiscate the machine.                          

     “How rude of you!” Benjamin was offended such a thing has never happened in his life, he`s never been spoken over when in a conversation, how dare he? The audacity! Robert was just about to handcuff Benjamin as he struck him in the face for his rudeness, Elizabeth was really surprised by what he did so she did the same thing she punched one of Robert`s men and grabbed Benjamin by the hand, and pulled him inside the machine. Robert stood up and held his bleeding nose as he watched the machine disappear again.                                                                                          

     “I`ll get you Elizabeth, mark my words I am coming after you…” he threatened as he went back to work searching for evidence that will get him close to Elizabeth.

     Benjamin`s apartment started shaking along with the entire building as the books that were towered around his apartment collapsed and created a big pile of mess.                                                                                                                          

     “Dammit look at this mess!” that`s the first thing he said as soon as he stepped out of the machine, no ‘it`s good to be home,’ or ‘ah home alas,’ or ‘we just got arrested,’  he didn`t even greet the servant's none of that but just the mess.                                                               

     “Is this where you really live?” asked Elizabeth as she looked around and tried not to step on a book, but it was really hard as they were all around the floor.                                                                                                                        

     “But sir, where and when did you come?” asked Benjamin`s butler.                

     “Erm…just now,” he had no idea what to say.                                                          

     “But we didn`t hear the door ring,” said the butler making Benjamin even more uncomfortable because he didn`t really want to say anything about the machine, what would a servant know anyway.                                                                

     “I told him to sneak through the window!” Elizabeth jumped on his shoulders. “I am his girlfriend now.”                                                                                            

     “Girlfriend?” everybody was confused.                                                                   

     “Oh… you are not ready for that word yet, I am his companion,” repeated Elizabeth as Benjamin looked at her strangely.                                                                   

     “I would never…” he rebelled as Elizabeth stomped on his feet to play along.

     “Oh…yes, she is my companion,” he smiled.                                                                     

     “And will your companion be staying for the night?” asked the butler.            

     “Yes,” replied Benjamin.                                                                                              

     “But this mess,” the butler looked around.                                                                         

     “It was the draft.”                                                                                                           

     “We had s*x…” Elizabeth and Benjamin looked at each other. “Or it could have been the draft, yes,” nodded Elizabeth as the butler had no idea what is going on.                                                                                                                                       

     “Right,” he stared at them. “And that thing behind you?”                                 

     “Oh…It`s a little something I`ve been working on, she`s been helping me, it`s for medicinal purposes.”                                                                                                         

     “Yes, turns out old Benjamin here it`s quite smart,” she tapped him on the head. “Right then, shouldn`t you be preparing lunch or something? I am famished,” Elizabeth looked at the butler as he bowed before Benajmin and left the room.                                               

     “Your servants ask a lot of questions,” Elizabeth walked around the room.

     “I think it`s just that they are worried about my well-being,” said Benjamin as he rested his coat on the sofa. “I have a guest room, If you would like I would show you to it.”                                                                                          

     “I`ve caused you a lot of trouble, it`s not right for me to…”                                

     “Nonsense if it weren`t for my curiosity you wouldn`t have been in this situation,” said Benjamin.                                                                                                    

     “It`s our job to be curious and skeptical we are people of science after all,” she looked at him. “You are a good man Benjamin a shame that you don`t get out very often for people to see what a person you are, it must be really tiring for being known of the things you did and for the person you are.”                                                                                                                          

     “Well, I`ve never thought of it that way,” Benjamin was really left confused.                                                                                                                           

     “How about this? Tomorrow we get out and you will show me around town?” proposed Elizabeth.                                                                                                         

     “Alright then, but first we shall dine and get some rest, now should I show you to your room?”                                                                                                                        

     “Lead the way,” smiled Elizabeth as both of them left Benjamin`s study.

     Benjamin opened the door for Elizabeth and showed her inside as she quickly sat on the bed and sighed.                                                                                                 

     “What a day huh?” she looked at him as he was standing near the door.                          

     “Indeed, I don`t have clothes that would suit you, but I could ask the servants if there`s anything…”                                                                                                                       

     “No it`s fine, you`ve done enough, besides I would like to go shopping in the morning perhaps try out some of the American fashion,” she smiled as she laid down on the bed and fell asleep instantly. Benjamin just stared at her wondering how she could have fallen asleep so fast. Often times he would find himself just turning in bed unable to fall asleep so fast sometimes he would struggle for an hour before falling asleep. He didn`t even bother waking her up for dinner she was really exhausted besides she needs to rest if she is going to figure out what`s wrong with the machine.