Date: Sun, 12 Sep 93 12:09:44 EDT
From: Jason_Dzembo@MTS.RPI.EDU
Message-Id: <3802776@MTS.RPI.EDU>
Subject: The Last Minute, Part 2

        "Like Hell!" Donna Eleesi wasn't given to swearing, but Al
had touched her most sensitive nerve.  "You come in here and tell
me that Sam is here, within our grasp, and you expect me not to see
him?  Not to take advantage of this opportunity to get him back?"
        "Donna." Al said, wearily.  He knew what it was like,
trying to reason with an irate woman, and the prospect didn't
please him.  "Think about it.  If Sam sees you, all Hell's gonna
break loose.  If we bring him back here to work on the retrieval
program, and he remembers you, he won't concentrate on fixing it,
and, when he leaps out again, we'll be right back where we started. 
We'll have no way to get him back permanently.  If you can wait, he
might be able to fix it and then we can bring him back for good."
        "And what if we can't?" Donna demanded, "Who knows when
I'll see him again?"  She paused and smiled slyly, saying,
"Besides, forget about bringing him to the Project.  What about the
party tonight?  VanOrder intended for you, me, and Gooshie to be
there, to mingle with his heirs and the media, to assure them that
his money will be well invested.  If I don't go, it'll look
suspicious.  Al, there's no way you can prevent Sam and I from
encountering each other.  Not unless you can leap him out before
tonight."  She smiled with a hint of smugness, daring Al to counter
her, hoping that whyever Sam was here, he couldn't complete his
mission within the next eight hours.  And since Ziggy still didn't
know why Sam was here...
        Before Al could reply, Ziggy's voice cut in.  "Admiral." 
Ziggy offered no excuses for interruptions, no apologies.  Those
were human conventions.
        "Yeah?" Al replied, thankful for the chance to take control
of a situation again.  Any situation.
        "I can now project with 19.5% accuracy why Dr. Beckett has
leaped into Marcus Samuel VanOrder III."
        "Why such inaccuracy?" Donna demanded, hoping it meant more
research was necessary.
        "With a near infinite number of alternative futures to take
into consideration because of the extenuating circumstances
surrounding the proximity of Dr. Beckett's current leap, an
accuracy rating of 19.5% is more than adequate, Dr. Eleesi.  It's
the best I can do."  Therefore, Ziggy felt, it was the best,
period.  That was implied.  "I project that there will be an
attempt to kill Marcus Samuel VanOrder III.  There is a sixty-seven
percent chance that the motive is his decision to dedicate his
fortune to Project Quantum Leap."
        "When will the attack take place?" Al demanded.
        "There is a forty-three percent chance that the attempt
will be made tonight at the New Year's Eve party being held at
VanOrder Estates." Ziggy replied.
        Al glanced at Donna and grumbled, "Better get your gown
ready.  Looks like we've got a party to go to."
                    ______________________________
        "What party?" Sam asked.
        Sidney Hutchison, the security guard who had ushered Sam
out of the press conference, had just informed him that
preparations had been completed for that evening's party.
        "Your New Year's Eve party, sir." Hutchison replied,
without batting an eye.
        "That's right; it's New Year's Eve." Sam murmured. 
Catching the guard's eye, Sam nodded shortly and said, "Thank you
for informing me, Sidney.  I'm sure you and your staff will do a
more than adequate job."
        "Thank you, sir." Hutchison accepted the compliment. 
"Rogers has informed me that Admiral Calavicci will be arriving two
hours early with the other representatives from the Project."
        "Excellent." Sam smiled.  "Please see that I'm notified as
soon as they arrive."
        "Of course, sir."  He turned to leave the office, pausing
as he opened the door.  In the hall, hand poised to knock, was
Marcus VanOrder's daughter.
        "Sidney." She nodded, smiling faintly.
        "Good afternoon, Elizabeth."  Sidney allowed the woman to
pass before exiting with a single glance back.  Elizabeth gave him
a fleeting smile and closed the door behind him.
        "Hello, uh, Elizabeth." Sam said, smiling at the woman. 
The smile was primarily due to Sidney's well-timed naming of the
woman.  "What can I do for you?"
        "I'm worried about you, Dad." Elizabeth said.  She stood
behind the chair in front of Sam's desk.  "I think you should keep
a low profile at the party tonight."
        "Because of my health?" Sam asked.
        Elizabeth hesitated and said, "Mostly.  The stress could be
too much for you."  She paused.
        "And?" Sam asked, noticing her reluctance.
        Elizabeth stepped around the chair and sat down, leaning
forward anxiously.  "I'm afraid for you, Dad.  You're taking a lot
of risks, donating your entire fortune to this project, and I'm not
just talking about financial risks."
        "Then what kind do you mean?" Sam asked.
        "There are a lot of people out there who'd expected to
receive a fraction of your estate when you, um..."  She shrugged. 
"That is, after you're gone.  This announcement about giving away
your fortune is bound to stir up trouble.  You should have waited
until after you'd already handed over the money.  There are people
who may try to protect their own interests, by preventing you from
donating your money." 
        "Probably." Sam replied slowly, "but it is my decision,
after all, and if I'm determined to follow through with it, no one
can talk me out of it."
        "Some people might not stop at just talking." Elizabeth
said softly, eyes downcast.  Behind her, the Imaging Chamber door
ground open and Al stepped out, looking frazzled.  He glanced
sideways briefly and gave a small shrug.
        "You think someone is going to try and kill me?" Sam asked.
        Al's attention snapped back to Sam and he said, "Ziggy's
not sure, but, if so, it will probably happen tonight."
        "It's a possibility that has to be considered." Elizabeth
said, her tone slightly defensive. 
        "Sidney, the security chief, has assured me that there's
going to be sufficient security tonight."
        Al said, "Even so, you'd better play it safe.  Fortunately,
you'll have Gooshie and me to cover your back."  He gave Sam a nod
and a wink.
        "But what about after the party?  You're not going to be
able to transfer the money until after the holiday." Elizabeth
protested.
        "Tell you what." Sam said, "I'll have Sidney beef up
security on the estate until the deal is finalized."  He reached
across the desk and touched Elizabeth's hand gently.  "Don't worry,
Elizabeth, I'm not going to be killed."  He glanced at Al and said,
"Trust me.  Your father is in very safe hands."
                            _______________________________
        "This, uh, this is highly irregular."  Gooshie was walking
sideways, beside the man who looked like Sam Beckett, trying to get
in front of him, but hesitant to do so for fear that the man would
just shove him aside.  "If you'd be willing to wait until Admiral
Calavicci and Doctor Eleesi are finished in the Imaging Chamber,
I'm sure they'd be glad to..."
        "Nonsense." Marcus VanOrder replied, "I should think you'd
be glad to show me around.  After all, I am on the verge of
donating a very large sum of money to this Project.  I think a
first-hand look at what goes on here is apropos.  And since I
appear to have exchanged places with Dr. Beckett for the nonce, I
may as well take advantage of the occasion."  He strode into the
Control Room, looking around proprietorally.
        "I don't..."  Gooshie's voice trailed off.  Entering the
room from the opposite direction were the Admiral and Dr. Eleesi. 
He'd let them deal with the headstrong host.  He raised a hand to
attract their attention.  "Admiral!"
        Al and Donna paused at the control panel, where Dr.
Verbeena Beaks checked their vital signs.  Al glanced towards
Gooshie, arching an eyebrow at the sight of the man shrouded in his
friend's aura.  His gaze fell on Gooshie, who shrugged helplessly. 
VanOrder cut between the two men, joining Al at the control panel. 
"Admiral Calavicci." he said in greeting.  He gestured around him
and said, "This is even more impressive than I'd anticipated,
especially experiencing it as I am.  From the inside, as it were."
        "I'm glad you approve." Al said, curtly.  Verbeena nodded
silently, excusing him.  "I'd love to give you the grand tour, but
we're a little pressed for time right now.  As you'll recall, we
have your New Year's Eve party to go to this evening."
        "That's right." VanOrder said, nodding, "I'd forgotten
about the party.  Odd, since I've been looking forward to it all
week."  He frowned, thoughtfully.
        "Your memory is probably Swiss cheesed," Al replied,
"Happens all the time.  At any rate, while we're gone, I'm going to
have to ask you to remain in the Waiting Room.  It would be
disconcerting to the staff to see Doctor Beckett roaming the
halls."  He gave a fleeting smile.
        "Oh, there's no danger of that," VanOrder assured him,
"since, I fully intend to be at the party with the three of you." 
His nod included Donna and Gooshie, ignoring the startled looks of
the three Project members.  "I assume there are other outfits to
choose from, besides this..." He turned to Gooshie.  "What did you
call it?  A Fermi suit?"
        "I'm afraid that's out of the question, Mr. VanOrder." Al
said, tentatively.  "You won't be able to come to the party."  He
smirked and said, "We'll be sure to take plenty of pictures.  It
will be almost like being there."
        "Please don't patronize me, Admiral;  I don't like it.  I
see no reason why I should be prohibited from attending my own New
Year's party."  VanOrder gestured to Verbeena and said,
"Your own Doctor Beaks has confirmed that I am in fine health.  Not
my best, perhaps, but certainly well enough to attend a party in
familiar surroundings."
        Donna cleared her throat.  "Mr. VanOrder, I don't think
it's in your best interest to attend the party."  She glanced at Al
and added, "We suspect your life is in danger."
        "What?" Sam's eyebrows rose with VanOrder's surprise. 
Donna winced involuntarily.  Typically, she kept her contact with
the leapers as minimal as possible.
        Al slid a look at the hypnotic blue sphere hovering over
the control panel and sighed.  "Ziggy, could you please relate to
Mr. VanOrder the projections you gave Doctor Eleesi and myself
earlier?"
        "Certainly, Admiral, although continuing calculations have
altered the percentages slightly.  There is now a 45.9% chance that
an attempt will be made on Mr. VanOrder's life within the next
twelve hours."  Ziggy related the news calmly, as though it were a
weather forecast.
        "Fascinating." VanOrder breathed, studying the sphere from
a different angle.  "And this machine, this computer actually has
an ego programmed into it?"  Donna made a gesture of negation, a
moment too late to stop VanOrder.
        "I assure you," Ziggy responded coldly, "my ego is not
unduly represented.  I have a history of making accurate
projections.  Besides," Ziggy paused for moment calculated to imply
a precise amount of arrogance, "humans often mistake confidence for
ego."
        "Amazing." VanOrder said, smiling broadly.  It was clear
from his attitude that he considered Ziggy a mere machine, running
a sophisticated artificial intelligence simulation.
         "The fact remains," Al said, bringing the conversation
back into focus, "that there may be an attempt on your life.  We
can't risk additional confusion and danger, by your actual
presence."  He gestured to Donna and Gooshie.  "The three of us
will be keeping an eye on Sam, trying to prevent an attack.  Even
if you are surrounded by Sam's aura, if you were actually
there...."  Al shook his head.  "We can't risk it.  For all we
know, the attempt may be directed at you, in Sam's aura."
        "Please, Admiral." Marcus VanOrder raised a hand to
forestall Al's protests.  "The odds of my being murdered were only
what...forty-five..." He paused.
        "The probability of an attack on your life is now at
forty-seven percent." Ziggy replied.
        "Precisely." VanOrder agreed, "Not even fifty-fifty. 
Hardly sufficient reason to prevent me from attending."
        Al sighed, disgruntled.  The billionaire was used to
getting his own way and Al would be hard pressed to deter him once
his mind was made up.  Right now, Al lacked the time and the
patience to make the effort.  "Mr. VanOrder, you may attend on one
condition.  No one, but no one, must be allowed to know who you
are.  If anyone were to find out that you and Sam have exchanged
places, all Hell could break lose."
        "I understand." VanOrder said.  He grinned, toothily.  "It
will be fun, mingling with my friends without their knowledge.  I
can be the proverbial fly on the wall.  It will be a good way to
find out who my true friends are."
        "Whatever." Al grumbled, "Just keep a low profile."  He
turned to Donna and added, "And stay close to Doctor Eleesi, just
in case.  I don't want you out of our sight for a minute."
        "I don't appreciate your tone, Admiral.  However, I
understand the importance and logic of what you're saying.  You
have my solemn oath that I will not leave your sight." He bowed
slightly and sneered.  "And, I'll try not to get myself murdered in
the process."
                      __________________________________