Past and Future

After narrowly escaping the downed pirate airship, Ms. Marlowe, her students, and the two steadfast airship crew members found themselves at the bustling London docks. The air was thick with the cacophony of steam-powered engines and the shouts of dockworkers loading and unloading cargo. Towering airships, their massive balloons loomed overhead, casting long shadows across the bustling port. Weary but invigorated by their escape, the group moved through the throng of sailors and merchants.

As they navigated the chaos, a voice called out: "Extra! Extra! Read all about it!" The source was a young newspaper boy, perched atop a stack of crates, energetically waving the latest edition of the local paper.

"Ms. Marlowe, over there!" Emma exclaimed, pointing toward the boy. "That's the newspaper from your journal!"

They approached the boy, and Ms. Marlowe felt a jolt of recognition at the headline sprawled across the front page: Sky Pirates Terrorize the Skies!

"Let me have one, please," Ms. Marlowe said, handing the boy a coin in exchange for the paper. She unfolded it with a sense of reverence, the ink still fresh and slightly smudged. "Now we know how that news clipping got into my possession. I did it. I must have slipped back in my own time and placed it in my journal before I arrived for class today...or will do in the future which is my personal past."

Jake groaned loudly, rather over dramatically, as if in pain, "My head hurts just listening to you! Please stop!"

The students gathered around, their eyes wide with curiosity and excitement. Even the airship crew members, who had seen their share of adventures, were drawn to the significance of the moment.

Ms. Marlowe tore the clipping out of the newspaper, folding it up and placing the clipping inside her sleeve for safe keeping. She led them through the dock yards in search of her wayward student.

The merchant dockyards were a sprawling expanse of activity, with various airships of all sizes anchored and undergoing repairs. The clamour of machinery and the whirr of gears filled the air as the crew and dockworkers hustled about, ensuring that the ships were in top condition.

Ms. Marlowe and her group followed Collins and Sharpe through the maze of the dockyards, their path illuminated by the dim glow of lanterns. They knew where to find Abe Washington.

The air was thick with the smell of oil and metal, and the sound of hissing steam and clanging tools created a symphony of industrial noise.

As they reached a quieter area of the docks, they spotted Abe Washington’s workshop. It was a large, open structure filled with blueprints, half-finished airships, and an array of advanced machinery. The air was tinged with the scent of burning metal, and the space was cluttered with tools and equipment.

Abe was there, hunched over a workbench, his face illuminated by the flickering light of a nearby lamp. He looked up in surprise as Ms. Marlowe and her group entered, his expression shifting from shock to guilt as he recognized them.

"Ms. Marlowe," he said, his voice tinged with a mix of relief and apprehension. "I didn’t expect to see you here. How did you—"

Ms. Marlowe cut him off, her voice firm and resolute. "Abe, we need to talk. This technology you've introduced—it's not supposed to exist in this time. You've disrupted history, and we need to fix it."

"Oh no! Not when I have become a saviour to this industrial backwater!" Abe's shoulders slumped as he sighed deeply. "I can command anything now I have brought them all this technology…even my own kingdom." The young man looked so thrilled with himself, "I promise you. I was just trying to keep sane in these barbaric times… I didn't mean to disrupt." The student turned to face them. "The airships were a way to stop me from getting bored while I fixed my own device."

"You’ve be so reckless!" Ms. Marlowe implored. "This has to stop before these ripples effect the future."

"Too late! Everything is out of my hands now," Abe said. "All this is someone else's empire. I am just trying to repair my device. In peace." He nodded towards the door, "I am sure they will be happy to answer any of your questions." The group turned to find dock workers milling about the door brandishing crude weapons of different kinds. "Remove these urchins from my workshop. Lock them up and throw away the key."

As the dock workers, grappled with them. They were led through the bustling airship port, past rows of mooring masts and busy dockworkers. They descended into the bowels of the port, where the sounds of industry faded into a low hum.

At the end of a dimly lit corridor, a heavy iron door stood. One of the dock workers unlocked it with a large, brass key, pushing it open to reveal a stark detention room.

The room was bare but functional, with metal walls lined with rivets and a few wooden benches bolted to the floor. A single, flickering lantern hung from the ceiling, casting shadows that danced across the room.

The door slammed shut behind them. They were once more locked up and unable to do anything further. It wasn't their first rodeo with a cell, so they all relaxed together on the floor.

"So, when did these air ships become operational?" Ms. Marlowe asked Collins and Sharpe, "Maybe I can work backwards to figure out when he arrived."

"The third of February 1779," The navigator blurted out. "I remember there was a big commemoration."

Ms. Marlowe meticulously reviewed the timeline to calculate the gap between Abe Washington's arrival and the commemoration ceremony for the first airship on February 3, 1779, "To ensure the airship was ready for this event, Abe would have needed at least six months to develop a prototype, conduct test flights, and secure necessary resources." She scrunched up her face deep in thought muttering to herself, until her eyes napped opened and she smiled. "Marking his arrival in about August 1778. I know it isn’t precise, but it is best we can do."

Lily looked crestfallen, "This looks like a bigger job than Scooby Doo and the gang."

"Sweet! So does he have a cuckoo clock like you?" Ben cut in.

"Something similar but…somewhat arcane."

Jake smiled, nodding his head, "Ahh! Finally, the enigma that is Ms. Marlowe is revealed."

"Mr. Jamieson! I would appreciate a little delicacy," Ms. Marlowe arched an impeccably manicured eyebrow. "My personal business is just as sacred as your own. So less of the flippancy and more on the discretion."

"Ahh! Bro! Such a delight!" Everyone turned on hearing Sam's voice, "They left the key in the lock. I must find a way to get it inside here with us." He dropped to the ground studying the gap at the bottom of the door. "I think I saw Macgyver do this once."

"You’ll probably need this more than I do," Lily pulled out from her jacket, a folded-up piece of sketch pad, "You can use it to draw the key inside."

He opened the paper to find her sketch she had made with Leonardo, "But this is…too special."

"I keep it close as a reminder of him, and what he said to me," Lily said, her eyes watering slightly. "But, better to be free than stuck in here."

Sam hated doing it but used the folded-out paper to slide under the door. Then began to shake the door until the key fell out of the lock onto the paper. He drew the paper inside along with the key which he used to open the door from inside.

"We need a way out!"

"This way," The first mate said. "There is a sewer entrance nearby. The pipes run right under this building."

The group moved cautiously through the dimly lit corridors following Collins. The air grew danker as they approached the sewer entrance. Jake and Sam removed the cover instantly assaulted by the unmistakable stench making them all wrinkle their noses in disgust.

"You know, I always wanted to visit London and do all the touristy stuff," Jake grumbled, "but I didn’t expect to see it from the shitter."

Collins grabbed a lantern by a wall before they descended into the sewer. The group was greeted by a thick, dank atmosphere. The sound of dripping water and the scurrying of rats created an eerie backdrop. As they ventured deeper, the rats became more numerous, their beady eyes reflecting ominously in the lantern light.

Suddenly, a high-pitched, scuttling noise intensified. Some mass was coming from behind them. A swarm of rats converging on the group with alarming speed. They squealed and chittered as they swarmed over the wide tunnel.

They were forced up against the sides of the tunnel. Hanging on to the very wall to stay out of reach.

"Don’t let them bite you!" Sharpe shouted. "They carry death with them!"

The swarm of rats scuttled beneath them barely out of reach like some disgusting wave of pestilence. The rats were too terrified of something else to bother with any of them.

The massive, shadowy form of an alligator emerged from the darkness, its glowing eyes and powerful jaws making it a formidable adversary.

"Back up!" the first mate yelled, passing the lantern to Sam before grabbing a wooden stake. "Get everyone out of here while I keep it busy!"

"That's my job!" Jake grabbed a metal pipe from the debris around them. He held it firmer, his hands trembling as he prepared for the confrontation.

"Glad of the company," Collins did the same preparing to take on the reptile.

The alligator lunged, its jaws snapping dangerously close. Jake and the first mate fought to keep it at bay, thrusting their weapons toward its snout to drive it back. The creature hissed and retaliated but the two boys managed to stay out of harm's way. For now.

Sam led everyone else forward, with the lantern, trying to reach a manhole leading to the surface. They came across the passage ahead blocked by debris. They set to work on dislodging the muck so it would make it easier to pass through this section.

The two boys were joined by Lily who found her own weapon. They fought the alligator together. The battle was intense, the alligator’s strength and agility making it a fearsome opponent. Collins managed to spear the creature on the underside. His actions forced the alligator back, sending it retreating into the murky depths.

They finally cleared the debris and found an access ladder leading to the surface above. They kept an eye out for the alligator as each one climbed the ladder to freedom.

With the sewer’s oppressive stench and the recent threats behind them, they climbed the ladder. Emerging into the shadow of a towering warehouse near the airship docks. The scent of oil and the distant hum of machinery contrasted sharply with the sewer's filth.

This was where they bid farewell to Collins and Sharpe. Ms. Marlowe sent them on their way with some persistent and a little of her commanding tone.

As soon as they were clear of the area, Ms. Marlowe operated the time portal. The class used the swirling vortex to pass through back to their class. Their job not yet done.

In the quiet of the classroom, Ms. Marlowe sat at her desk, the unfolded news clipping before her, the weight of their recent adventures pressing heavily on her shoulders. London was a big place to start looking for her errand student.

She opened her Journal of Curiosities looking for inspirations when she found a folded note tucked between the pages.

"To Ms. Marlowe: If you're reading this, you've successfully navigated the trials of the 18th century sewers. Abe Washington is currently staying at the residence of Sir Alexander Hastings, a nobleman who has taken him in during his distress. Washington's time corridor device is malfunctioning due to faulty wiring and control circuits. He used a substandard brand, which has caused the device to overheat and fail. To find him, head to the address: Hastings Manor, 47 Clarendon Street, London. The manor is a grand estate on the outskirts of the city. You will find Washington there on the 12th of August 1778."

"Thank you, Ms. Marlowe, for that timely correspondence, I must remember to make a similar note on my return," Ms. Marlowe closed the journal with a snap, her mind already racing through the implications. "We need to get to Hastings Manor immediately." The students exchanged determined looks.

The moon hung low over Hastings Manor, casting a silvery glow over the estate as Ms. Marlowe and her students approached under the cover of darkness. The plan was simple yet risky: break in, fix the time corridor device, and set history back on its proper course.

"Looks like someone is burning the midnight oil," Ms. Marlowe led the group to a side window that stood slightly ajar, a faint glow emanating from within. "This is our best chance," she whispered. "Sam, you're with me. The rest of you, create a distraction to lure Abe away."

Jake grinned, the thrill of adventure shining in his eyes. "Don’t worry, Ms. Marlowe. We've got this."

Lily, Jake, Ben, and Emma gathered a handful of small rocks, ready to draw Abe's attention. With a shared nod, they began pelting the manor's walls, the sound echoing through the night.

Abe's head snapped up at the noise, a frown creasing his brow. He set his tools down and moved toward the front of the house, peering out into the darkness.

"Hey, Abe! Avon calling!” Jake called, a smirk playing on his lips.

Ben chimed in, putting on a mock pirate voice, "Aye, Captain Abe! Yer airships be as sturdy as a soggy biscuit!"

Abe’s eyes narrowed, and he pushed the front door open. He thought the kids were lunatic for a moment until they used his name. How did they know who he was?

"Hey ducks! Come and find us," Emma chipped in, "If you want to know what we know. I mean air ships! Really? Surely a rocket would have been better."

The group of students scattered among the shadows. Abe hurried outside, determined to catch the intruders. They knew about the project. How? It was top secret. He had only just stumbled upon the idea. He couldn't afford for someone else to get the upper hand.

Quietly, Ms. Marlowe and Sam slipped through the window and into the dimly lit room. They found themselves in Abe’s makeshift laboratory, where the time corridor device stood prominently in the center. The door frame shimmered with an eerie glow, casting shadows across the room.

"So that's his cuckoo clock!"

"A door into the past," Ms. Marlowe studied the workings with intense interest. "This is where it went wrong," Ms. Marlowe muttered, pointing to a section of the wiring that had been hastily patched up. "We need to reinforce these connections with copper. It'll stabilize the circuits." She scowled, "Oh...and this mother board is so antiquated." She reached back at her student, "Lucky I brought one with me."

Sam retrieved the mother board from his backpack that was a damn sight smaller than any he was using, "So, I know this may be so basic, but if he passed through this door to travel in time, shouldn't it be in the future? Like your clock?"

"Ordinarily, that would be so," Ms. Marlowe removed some tools from the belt of her outfit and began to tinker, "You need an anchor to travel the time streams to stop you getting lost." She sighed, realizing the damage, "But the malfunction acted like an elastic band bringing the device to this time along with Abe."

"Is that how you ended up with an unusual clock in 2014?"

"My enterprise was planned," Mr. Marlowe raised her wrist showing Sam her watch, "While this acts as a relay, it can also be used to secure an anchor to a point in time. Abe had yet to grasp what I knew so was bound to mess it up."

Ms. Marlowe and Sam worked quickly, replacing the mother board, repairing the fried circuits and replacing the faulty wiring. They spoke in hushed tones, the tension palpable as they raced against the clock.

Sam nodded, his hands deftly soldering the new components into place. The device hummed softly as it came to life, its circuitry glowing with renewed energy.

Outside, Abe was giving chase to the students, his frustration growing with each passing moment. Jake led the charge, darting between trees and rocks, his laughter echoing through the night.

Sam stopped. The work completed. He frowned, quizzically. His teacher had removed a new component from her pocket, "I thought we were done?"

"Just a little something to ground him back in his time," Ms. Marlowe smirked. "And basically, scramble all the work we have done." Her eyes twinkled with mischief, "Can't have him starting all over again."

They suddenly heard the front door open and close. Ms. Marlowe gave garbled instructions to her student and let him add the final component while she kept Abe busy.

Abe cursing as he bustled back into the temporary workspace halting suddenly at his teacher's presence.

"Abe! It's high time you went home," Ms. Marlowe began to play with the medallion about her neck, a determined glint in her eye. The sound of her voice brought Abe to a halt, "You’ve done enough here."

"Ms. Marlowe! So, this is where you escaped to. The minister is going ape over your disappearance."

"That isn't important right now," Ms. Marlowe calmly told him while caressing the stone of her medallion. "You have lectures tomorrow. And from this lash up you could use some more studying."

Abe seemed to deflate a little. His body drooping, "I am so very, very tired." He was finding it hard keeping his eyes open. "It must really be getting late." He even yawned for a moment,

Ms. Marlowe operated the controls on the side of the door and vortex of energy appeared in its depths.

"Second star to the right and straight on 'til morning." She looked deeply into his eyes that were almost closed, "And you never saw me. Got that!"

He nodded his head, as Ms. Marlowe and Sam placed him into the time corridor. They watched the man move into the vortex like he was sleepwalking. When he had disappeared. The door suddenly mis-phased. It began to shake and shudder. The vortex began to warp before them until with a pop the door was suck into the very air before them and disappeared.

There was a tapping at the window. Ms. Marlowe and Sam collected up their tools and equipment all going back inside his backpack. It was time to leave. They climbed back outside the window where the others waited. Their teacher touched her watch, and the swirling vortex appeared. They returned once more to her classroom.

Ms. Marlowe reached for her journal and pulled out the same newspaper clipping that had set them on this extraordinary journey. The headline had changed, now detailing an event from 1881 that she knew should happen: Workers Unite! Strikes Spread Across Factories Nationwide! A smile of relief spread across her face. With history back on track, the world was as it should be once more.

"Did it work?" Emma asked.

Ms. Marlowe smiled warmly, "Take a look for yourselves."

Emma's eyes skimmed over the main article before catching a small, tucked-away piece in the corner of the page: "Hey Duckies! Listen to this side article," They gathered around her, "Captain Reginald Barrett, alongside First Mate Henry Collins and Navigator Evelyn Sharpe, skillfully guided their beleaguered vessel back to port, saving precious cargo and countless lives on board." She smiled, "He lived in this timeline?"

"Well," Ms. Marlowe pursed her lips ready to explain as simply as possible, "Since there was no such thing as sky pirates that meant Captain Barrett couldn't be thrown to his death. He lived the life he should have had." The teacher tapped the side of her nose, "But only we will know of that other timeline because, for a moment, we were outside of those time events so weren't part of them. One of the side effects of time travel."

Jake scratched his head, "Yet what I don't get is how you knew where to find him?"

"Ahh! Perfect timing, Mr. Jamieson." Ms. Marlowe grabbed a sheet of paper from her draw and began writing. "A letter to myself which I will find in the past thanks to my unusual journal." She smiled, "I will take care of the rest. Class is dismissed."

When the five Time Sleuths returned from term break, they were met with a stark change in their history classroom.

The once vibrant and mysterious space, filled with Ms. Marlowe's historical touches, had been stripped back to its plain, uninspired state. The intricate maps, curious artifacts, and even that unusual clock, sending them back through time, had vanished without a trace.

It was as if Ms. Marlowe had never been there at all. To their dismay, there was no sign of their enigmatic teacher, leaving them to wonder what had happened to her and why everything had returned to the mundane?

End of Volume One.

#TimeTravelAdventures #LGBTIQAFiction #TimeDisruption #FunReads #YAFiction