Date: Wed, 30 Mar 1994 00:01:19 -0500 (EST) From: Brian Willard Subject: A Giant Leap for Mankind - Part Five Message-Id: <01HAKA3CFP1E9BWH81@UNCA.EDU> Organization: University of North Carolina at Asheville NOTE : Sorry for the delay, and it won't be the last, because I am usually pretty busy. However, I should have the story completed by early May, for those of you who have school accounts only during the academic year. And yes, this is finally the part where Al enters the story again. Do remember that parts 2-4 occur "before" Al leaps. Not really before, but you know what I mean. :-) A Giant Leap for Mankind by Brian Willard Part Five January 16, 2001 Project Quantum Leap Headquarters Stallions Gate, New Mexico "Where am I?" asked the man in the Waiting Room, "Is this some kind of joke?" "No, it's no joke," replied Gooshie, "You...see, well you're part of a project. A secret project. I can't tell you anything more, but I need to ask you a few questions." "Like what?" boomed the man, who was rather large and seemed to have the personality to match. Gooshie stepped back from the man a little when he realized his strength. "Uh...I...just need to know what your name is." "The name's Johnson. Joe Johnson. What's it to you, anyway?" "Oh...we just ask that of all of our...clients." "Clients, huh. What is this, a lawyer's firm?" "Not quite. We're a...research institution." "Hey, you aren't making me donate anything, like body parts or blood, are you?" "Oh, no. We just ask questions." "How stupid!" the man laughed, "An institution that just asks questions." "Excuse me?" asked Gooshie, "I may have missed something, but I don't understand what's so funny." "It's the year 2133 and you're telling me you're asking _people_ for information for research. Now that's funny!" "What year did you say it was?" inquired Gooshie, not believing what he had just heard. "2133. Why - am I in the future or something?" "Not exactly. More like the past." "How the..." "I'll tell you later. First I need to know exactly what the date is." "Where I'm from?" Joe asked, and Gooshie nodded his head yes. "It's August 5, 2133." "And where were you last?" "I was in the holding cell. I'm Cassius Prowell's private prison guard." "Cassius Prowell?" "Yeah, he's the President of the Grand Province." "Where is the Grand Province?" "Oh, it's huge. The President's palace is near Denver, though." "Denver...Colorado?" "I believe they used to call it that, a long time ago. Back when I was just a kid, there was some other government. I don't remember it very well - I think it was the United States or something. Anyway, their government collapsed and then President Prowell took over. He's a real good man. Always helping everybody and keeping us safe from the outsiders." "The outsiders...who are the outsiders?" "Hey, wait a minute. How do I know you're not an outsider spy?" "Oh, I'm not a spy. Like I said, I'm a scientist." "Yeah, sure. From the past. Whatever. Anyway, the outsiders are people who aren't from the Great Province. They used to attack us and stuff, but now Prowell's put up a border so we can be safe." "Oh...okay. Now you just stay here. I'll be back in a minute." He left the Waiting Room and closed the door behind him. He walked over to the control bank and pressed a button. "Verbena?" "Yes, Gooshie." "Come here. I need your help." A few moments later she entered the Control Room. They both went over to the Waiting Room. Before they entered, Verbena grabbed Gooshie's arm. "So where's he from?" she asked. "The future." "The future? How?" "I guess he's related to Admiral Calavicci. I need you to talk to him. He knows he's in the past, so you really don't need to keep it a secret. There's no way he could hurt the Project." "Good-bye, Gooshie," said Verbena, "and good luck." "Thanks," replied Gooshie, as he grabbed a handlink and disappeared into the Imaging Chamber. "Ziggy, center me on Admiral Calavicci." "Yes, Gooshie. Oh, before you go I must warn you that I have no knowledge of the future and will be able only to offer advice. My advice is very good you know." "Okay, Ziggy. Let's go." ----------- August 5, 2133 The Prowell Estate Glendale, Colorado Sam awakens to find that he has not been dreaming, and he is indeed in a dungeon in the future. He gets up off of the wooden bench provided as a bed and walks over to the edge of the cell. The dungeon is a very, cold dry place with extremely dim flourescent lights in the center of the room, over the cell guard's desk. The guard is a large, husky man with little hair and he is dressed in a red running suit. A newspaper lay over his head, and Sam can hear him snoring underneath. Sam looks around and sees another cell directly to his right. A very skinny woman is asleep on the wooden bench in the cell, and Sam can tell that she has not been treated well here. He looks down and sees a round object wrapped in aluminum foil near the door to his cell. He picks it up and unwraps it, only to find out it is a hard-boiled egg. "Oh boy, a breakfast fit for a king," he says softly as he cracks the shell off. He again looks over at the guard, who suddenly coughs for a minute, and then returns to his rest. Sam looks over to the woman in the cell next to him and notices that she does not have a "breakfast". He softly taps on the bars, and she opens her eyes the slightest bit. She sees that it is only Sam, and proceeds to stretch. "You're up plenty early, Sam." "I was hungry, but I noticed you didn't have anything, so I was going to let you have some of this." "An egg. Wow. That's what they started me with. Now I'm lucky to get water. You eat it, that's all you'll get." "Anna, take it. I'm really not that hungry." She reluctantly nods and takes the egg from him, and then turns around and devours it within seconds. While Sam is watching this, he catches a glimpse of something out of the corner of his eye, something like a photobulb going off. He immediately looks over at the guard, who seemed to be the source of the light. The guard then begins to moan a little, and then removes the newspaper from his face. He yawns loudly, and looks around slowly as if he does not recognize his surroundings. He sits up and swivels the chair around. He stops suddenly as his eyes fix on Sam. Sam catches a glimpse of something that seems strangely, if not hauntingly familiar. The guard gets up and walks over to Sam, never once taking his eyes off Dr. Beckett. He gets up to the door and looks Sam straight in the eyes. "Sam!" he yells at the top of his lungs, "It is you!" "Of course it's me. What's wrong?" asked Sam, not understanding the guard. "Nothing's wrong, Sam! It's me, Al! Al Calavicci!" "Why are you calling yourself Al?" Anna asked the security guard in a bitter tone, "You know damn well that's not your name. What's going on here?" "Al? But all I see is..." Sam turns around to look at the mirror over the sink in his cell. He sees himself in the mirror, and behind the gate he sees the familiar figure of his long-time companion. He turns back around. "But how...why?" "Don't worry about it, Sam! I've found you!" he stands back to get a look around, "What the hell is this, a dungeon?" "Yes," replied Sam, "And you're the dungeon master." "Oh boy." To be continued... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brian Willard | "Revenge is mine, thus sayeth the hologram!" bwillard@unca.edu | Dr. Samuel Beckett, _The Leap Back_ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------