Just around the bend, near that lighthouse, lies the picturesque little town of Shipyard News. Although the town appears quiet and idyllic, there is much more to it than meets the eye. One of its most notable attractions is Forster’s Shipyard. Despite the tranquil surroundings, there's an electric sense of excitement as the residents gather in the village square to hear the latest news about the Shipyard’s re-opening.
Shipyard News is home to many intriguing individuals, each with a story to tell. Among them is Skipper, a knowledgeable and experienced sailor; a mysterious judge; a young Pinkerton detective; an apprentice named Noah, who is always on the lookout for a mystery to solve; and the eccentric scientist, Dr. Peabody, who has recently invented a mysterious time machine.
Paul Pardonme sought his fortune in New York City only to become discouraged. Relocating to Shipyard News, Paul used his limited legal skills and strong personality to become quite influential there. From then on, as the most prominent citizen in Shipyard News he became known only as, ‘Judge’. However, Judge's peaceful life was about to be disrupted by the arrival of Badenov.
Badenov was a wealthy businessman from New York, known to Judge through a number of legal shenanigans in New York City. Badenov's manipulations of his company's stock raised concerns and led to Badenov fleeing to Shipyard News . More on this situation later.
Skipper has been the owner and operator of the Shipyard for his entire life he loves the village and all the folks there. Well-versed in technology, he has developed an close relationship with the local scientist, Dr. Peabody. It’s here our mysterious adventure begins.
Dr. Peabody’s laboratory is in the basement of the ‘Peabody and Sherman’ building dangerously located near the center of town. Dangerous for two reasons. The Dr’s invention of The Wayback Transporter Pro (TWTP), a time travel machine, is scary enough but the machine is powered by something called ‘Fluid Flux’. This substanse still needs testing as we find out.
Skipper’s intense interest in the time machine a year ago led him to temporarily close the Shipyard while he worked with Dr. Peabody. Skipper was testing TWTP when he found a newspaper article from the future on the floor. The article described an epidemic that would affect Shipyard News. Skipper was determined to save the village and its people from the impending disaster. He decided to reopen the Shipyard the next day, complete the Schooner, and evacuate everyone before the epidemic hit.
Badenov soon learned about the TWTP, and he knew he could control the banks of New York if he had a time machine. Badenov saw Judge as someone who must know about it. Badenov knew some private history about Judge and this would be enough to blackmail Judge to get the secret of the machine.
When approached by Badenov, Judge denied any knowledge of the time machine. Judge knew how dangerous the TWTP was, especially Fluid Flux and also something strange was happening at Dr. Peabody's laboratory, where he could see Fluid Flux leaking from a pipe on the wall outside the lab. A sample of that liquid would satisfy Badenov's blackmail threat for sure in more ways than one.
One of the minor but important characters in our story is Joe Robinson. Joe has a good reputation but since the Shipyard was closed, he looked unsuccessfully for work. As a last resort Joe went to see Judge to ask for help in finding a job.
Judge quickly saw Joe as the person who could help him out of trouble with Badenov. He immediately offered Joe a job to collect a sample of the liquid leaking in the alleyway. However, while trying, Fluid Flux spilled on Joe, causing him to instantly melt, leaving only his smoking skeleton behind. Rats! Judge disposed of the skeleton by having it tossed it over the Shipyard fence. Judge then decides to collect a sample of Fluid Flux by connecting a hose to the leaking pipes and running the pipe to his apartment next door.
Of course the next day, when the employees opened the Shipyard, they found Joe's skeleton in a pile of sawdust. To calm folks down, Skipper hires a Pinkerton detective to uncover the details about the skeleton.
Maggie Mae Hawkins claims to be from Galway, Ireland, and is the only female detective from the Pinkerton Agency in the country. Although she was hired regarding the issue of a skeleton, she is secretly working to learn more about the Wayback Transported Pro. Maggie Mae sets up a surveillance camera to watch the leaking pipes. She captures a video of what seems to be a man connecting a hose to the pipes. The hose has been attached to the apartment building, leading up to an apartment window. Something is not right, and believes someone is going to get hurt. So, she races up the stairs.
Badenov arrived at Judge's apartment to collect his blackmail payment that evening. However, Fluid Flux from the hose to melts him. Another smoking skeleton is the result. Maggie Mae tried to intervene and stop the Fluid Flux from melting Badenov but it was no use. In a confusing twist, Maggie Mae provides Judge with a cover-up plan and explanation for the murder. Meanwhile, Noah Hollingsworth, a loyal employee of Skipper, had been investigating Joe's skeleton on his own. During his investigation, he discovers evidence that raises more questions about the situation than it answers.
The following day, Maggie Mae provided a detailed explanation of Joe's skeleton to everyone, but she intentionally omitted any reference to Badenov. Noah remained perplexed and required more convincing. Despite this, the Skipper was content with Maggie Mae's report and expressed optimism that something 'wonderful was about to happen'. The people of Shipyard News enthusiastically began working on the Schooner and eagerly awaited what the future held for them. Noah's confusion lingers beneath the surface, leaving him apprehensive of the future and we all wait for what happens next.
by
Bruce Forster
Fluid Flux-The Wayback Forward
© 2025 Bruce Forster All rights reserved.
