Disclaimer: I do not own Timeless.
The Sinking of PT-109: Part 2
The skiff was operating well, thought Jiya. She was at the controls, cutting through the green South Pacific water. The skiff left a bioluminescent trail in its wake- Flynn explained that it was sea life native to the region.
"Makes us a clear and easy target for planes," said Wyatt, over the whine of the motor. "In fact, some Naval airmen referred to it as an bright arrow pointed right up the enemy's ass."
"Or an ally's," said Flynn.
"In any case, this boat is way too small to be picked up on radar or to be hit by planes," said Jiya. "I think we're safe."
Lucy was the only one not participating in the conversation. Jiya was at the helm and Lucy was seated at the very front of the boat, her legs tucked under her in the sea, the wind blowing her hair. She looked comfortable on a boat, Jiya thought.
"Why do we think Rittenhouse is here?" Jiya called up to her, but it was actually Wyatt who answered.
"The Solomon Islands held a garrison of about a thousand Japanese soldiers. We're at the very edge of the Pacific Theater. They lost Guadalcanal and their airpower's dwindled to less than a hundred planes."
"What's keeping the Allies from an invasion?" asked Jiya.
"The technology," said Wyatt. "Most of the forces here are Patrol Torpedo squadrons. The Department of War shelled out money for dozens of the things to be made as quickly as possible after Pearl Harbor, and promoted them as the David to the Japanese Destroyers' Goliath."
Wyatt smirked. "Only problem is, they stink. In the entire war, there were only three confirmed ships sunk by Patrol Torpedoes and one of them was a friendly fire. They can't get close enough to attack the Destroyers without getting in range of their guns, and the torpedoes themselves didn't function half the time. Sometimes, they would even ignite in the boats and either blow the ship to hell or make a fire bright enough for the enemy to see you at night."
"This is all very interesting," said Flynn. "But that doesn't answer the question- what is Rittenhouse doing here?"
"My guess, help the Japanese," said Wyatt. "Right now, both sides are too nervous to make much of a move. Neither realize that the enemy's just as in bad shape as they are. If Emma tells the Japanese how flimsy the Allies hold on the Solomon's are, the Japanese may step up their attacks- maybe even take back Guadalcanal. But there's a US PT boat base on the island southeast of here. There would be the best place for us to start."
Jiya followed his bearings until the island came into sight. It looked like a tropical paradise you might see in a travel brochure. There was an inviting red-brown mountain pointed to the sky surrounded by lush, green foliage. Once they got closer, they saw the beaches were white sand and the water a crystal clear blue.
"Hardly what you'd expect from a war zone," said Jiya. Then her eyes flashed up and she saw an imminent attack. Men leaping into foxholes, a plane flying so close to the ground, she could see the pilot's face. She slammed the boat to a halt.
"What's the matter?" Flynn asked, but his question was answered for him.
Above them was the unmistakable sound of warplanes flying low. They swooped over the island base so low Jiya thought they might crash into the mountain. The guns were blaring, echoing over the water even at this distance. Jiya could see men looking like ants running out of tents and buildings diving for cover.
As they watched, the harbor started to churn as boats scattered, attempting to flee the airborne assault. One plane divebombed and hit a boat and it exploded in a blast of fire and smoke. Jiya gasped- was that an accident or a kamikaze attack?
Then, as quickly as it had started, it was over.
"One pass raid," explained Wyatt. "Get in, hit your target, get out.
"And you're sure they're gone?" asked Flynn.
"Jiya?" Wyatt asked.
Jiya closed her eyes and focused. The Japanese planes were landing on a carrier, far north of here. "The island's safe," she said.
They approached the harbor, Flynn holding up a US flag as identifier. In all the commotion, they managed to slip in unmolested.
"Let's find the Base Commander," said Wyatt, tying the skiff off.
The four of them walked down the dock before a man leapt onto the boat and stopped them.
"Hold it," he said in a shaky voice.
There was something about him, Jiya thought she recognized, but couldn't quite place it.
"Problem, sailor?" asked Wyatt. "Don't you know to salute an officer?"
"I know you're no officer," the man said, his voice shaking. It was then that Jiya realized his hand was on his gun holster.
Wyatt's eyes flashed dangerously. The boy was so young- he looked Jiya's age. She hoped Wyatt wouldn't do anything rash. Or Flynn.
She cast a glance at Flynn, who was looking murderous at the delay. Then surprisingly, Lucy, who seemed to be watching the boy with a kind of interest.
"Listen, son," said Wyatt. "There's obviously been some kind of misunderstanding. Why don't you take us to your c.o. and we'll clear this up."
The boy looked from Wyatt to Jiya and suddenly, she felt it. Something stirred inside her that she couldn't explain. The last time she felt it had been weeks earlier when her future self had visited.
Jiya gasped.
"You have it too," she said. It wasn't a question. He looked at her, his eyes wide with fear.
"Let me help you," she said. She stepped around Wyatt and held out her hand. The boy looked terrified, but he reached out, mirroring her. The moment their hands touched, Jiya felt their connection ascend into something greater. She saw him as a child, running around in a hot southern town. She saw him standing in a factory, showing his son around the place he worked. She saw him climbing into a ship, being sent to a war he wouldn't come back from. She saw him standing on the stern of a boat as it blew apart around him.
Somehow, this young sailor had premonitions too.
"You're right, we're not who we say we are," said Jiya, and she wondered what he had seen or thought of the flashes he saw of her life. "But we are here to help."
"I know you are," came a voice
A young attractive man approached them, a wry smile on his face. "At ease, Kirksey. These guys are friends of mine."
Jiya's jaw dropped. The last time she'd seen his face, he was a teenager. He still had a young look about him, but he was taller, more manly and defined, but without losing a bit of his boyish charm.
"I really hoped I wouldn't have to see you again," said Jack, offering a salute. Wyatt seemed too stunned to respond at first, then quickly remembered and saluted Jack back.
"President Kennedy."
.
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A/N: Jack's back! You didn't think I WOULDN'T use Kennedy again, do you? That kid actor was golden! If it were me, I'd have made him a series regular!
A lot of the information I got for these chapters came from the book "PT 109: An American Epic of War, Survival, and the Destiny of John F. Kennedy" by William Doyle. Very good read, if you're interested and I apologize to Mr. Doyle as I'm about to completely change the narrative of everything that happened in the battle.