From: aa811@cleveland.freenet.edu (Terri M. Librande) Newsgroups: alt.ql.creative Subject: No Escape From Reality Part 12 Date: 14 Apr 1993 21:22:38 GMT Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio (USA) Lines: 212 Message-Id: <1qhvau$ftq@usenet.INS.CWRU.Edu> Nntp-Posting-Host: slc5.ins.cwru.edu "Why did you escape?" Her tone became curious, not interrogating. "I don't like being confined, in any way," he snapped. "There was all this to explore, and try to find a way back, and I was wasting my time sitting in that room, waiting for the other shoe to drop. It was as if they were taking my own life out of my hands. I'm myself now, not another person, and I need to look after my own interests." "Straight and to the point, and I'm sure Captain Picard will understand. You really should turn yourself in." "Why haven't you called security? You could, you know." Sam's right index finger played along the rim of the china cup, or what appeared to be china, wondering what her answer would be to that question. "Well, I thought you needed someone you can trust, and I'm that somebody. Sure, no one's out to get you, friend. Not anyone on this ship. I"m not going to turn you in; you'll have to do that yourself, make your own decisions. I have a feeling it's been some time since you've been able to do that." "You remind me of Al," Sam said wistfully. "He's never one to back me into a corner on making up my mind. Well, sometimes, but not often." "Al. Oh, you mean the Admiral." She smiled again, that all-knowing grin. "You must really miss that guy. He was your Observer, right?" "More than that," Sam answered, voice breaking just a bit. It was still difficult to speak of his partner. "He was my friend, my best friend, and we always work well together. I'm still fuzzy on a lot of stuff, but I know we've been together for a long, long time. Before...this...there was something called Starbright, a project...like this one..." "You're forgetting a lot of things, aren't you?" A trifle concerned, she leaned down to look into the hazel eyes. "Is it getting worse or is this normal?" "Worse, I think." His fingers came up to touch his forehead, frowning. The headache was back, full force, almost blinding him for a moment, then fading. "It's all becoming hazy; the Leap, initially, when I began, all the details of the past ones... like a fade out at the end of a movie. I can still remember Al," he added firmly. "I won't forget him, or all the things he's done for me. I've never really thanked him for what he's done, and now..." His shoulders squared, forcing away the depression that threatened. "I've always had an insatiable curiousity about everything, how it works, and why. Locking me up in that room only made it worse." "So you played around with the computer until you distracted security and went out into the ship. Good for you. If anything, that will convince the Captain that you are who you say you are, even if he's catered thoughts that you were a bald faced liar." "How do you know that?" "We talk." She took his cup and saucer, dumping them neatly into the disposall. "I admire him. He's a good Captain, very just and right in his way. Sometimes I don't understand him, but I do think he'sthe very best, and you will, too, in time. Now," she added, turning back to him. "I really think you ought to turn yourself in. I'll go with yoiu, get you over the rough spots, but I'm sure the Captain is very worried about you right now." "I don't know." Sam shook his head, not wanting to be dumped unceremoniously in his quarters again with no computer and twice the security, which e was sure would occur. "I really want to find out how I can activate this Guardian and ask it some questions." "Not a good idea. See, it's pretty powerful, more than _they_ know. You and I respect that, or you will once you understand the situation. It's not just a time portal, it's the center of Time itself. All the waves of space displacement, oddly enough, occur here, over this planet. You'll know what to do in good time. I've got a lot on the ball here, and I know what I'm talking about." Settling her hand over his, she gave him that curious grin again, winking once. "As for your friend... you'll see him again." "How do you know that?" "I just do, Sam Beckett. Just like I know about your brother Tom, and what happened between you both, and how you said goodbye to your father. At one time you thought you'd never see him again, but you did." She placed a finger over Sam's lips, halting the questions she knew he'd ask. "I can't tell you anything more, about how I know, or what I've known of you many years ago. We're old friends, you and I." "I sense that." Sam held her hand tightly, bringing it down from his mouth. "I don't know how, but I do. And I trust you. Will you really come with me if I turn myself in?" "I want you to do that, establish some trust with them. They need you, Sam. I'll talk to the Captain." Her expression was almost motherly, protective. "You'll have more access to the ship. I don't think there will be anything for him to worry about. You do know how to keep secrets, and if we do send you back I have a feeling you won't remember enough about us to change the universe as we know it." She touched the side of his face, fingers gliding for a moment against his smooth cheek. "You have a lot to do, Sam. Not in our time, not now." She straightened, coming around the bar. "Now, let's go see Jean Luc. I'm sure he's going out of his mind about now." **************** The Captain had ordered proceedings to move to his ready room. If he had more hair it would have been torn out from impatience. The 'Admiral's' annoying confidence tightened each nerve in his body, difficult to keep his anger in check. He paced the ready room now, gazing icily at the wildly dressed man. Al sat at the end of the table, seemingly ignoring the Captain's scrutiny, leg crossing over the other, puffing merrily away at what was left of his cigar. When Data arrived it was almost a relief. Picard took the android aside, far out of earshot of the other man. "What did you find about this man?" "Not much more than I discovered earlier, Captain." Data's expression was impassive. "With the addition of one thing." He glance over at the stranger for a moment, keeping his voice a match for Picard's low tone. "In the original history, that I told you a day ago, Admiral Calavicci died of natural causes in Earth year 2028." "Why don't I remember that?" "Because that was yesterday, before the Admiral arrived here, in our time. Now, after the timeline was changed, the history shows that Admiral Calavicci disappeared in 1999--never to be seen again. I might add there are many references to Project Quantum Leap available to us, but the personal information about Dr. Beckett's accomplishments are gone from the record. Previously, I assumed the Admiral protected Dr. Beckett by deleting his data, but now it's public record. By leaving prematurely, the Admiral may have unwittingly caused a major alteration of time." "And," Picard sighed. "Security still hasn't tracked our man down. Dr. Crusher informs me his condition is slowly deteriorating, and she needs to do more tests before she can begin to treat him." He turned back to the Admiral, far across from them in the room. The man looked seemingly bored, and, as if he'd been discreetly straining to listen to his and Data's conversation. "This is Mr. Data, Admiral. My Science Officer." "Nice to meet you." His voice fairly dripped sarcasm, looking a touch pensive, inwardly fascinating at yet another odd character, just as peculiar as the big security guard. "Since I'm in OZ, is this the Tin Man?" "I understand the reference, Admiral." Data was incapable of taking offense to the words, hearing no animosity in Al's tone. "Quite an appropriate reference as I am an artificial construct." The Admiral looked duly impressed at the fact. "Isn't this nice." Al glared at the Captain, suddenly pushing back from the table. Despite his outward appearance, his manner was pure military, all joking and sarcasm aside. "I know you're holding Sam Beckett, that he might be hurt or dying. Allow me to make myself perfectly clear. I don't care where I am, or who you people are, but either I am taken to Sam Beckett, or I'll tear this place apart. I outrank you." A small, satisfied smile played across his his face. "I couldn't hear all you just said, Mr. Data, but I did catch the bit about my sudden disappearance. If I bipped out of history in 1999 I'm still an Admiral." He flicked the ashes off his cigar elegantly, eyes shifting back to Picard. "...and you're only a Captain." "Admiral Calavicci is quite correct, Sir," Data said helpfully. "Starfleet is essentially a branch of what was once called the Navy. Technically, although he hasn't actually existed for a great deal of centuries,he is still an Admiral, and ranking officer on the Enterprise at this moment." "Thank you for your insight, Data." Picard's voice was ungracious and dry. "I will check with Starfleet Command as to the 'Admiral's' status. As to Dr. Beckett..." "I'm listening, Captain." Al's sparring tone was in force, glaring at the slightly taller man in front of him. "What's wrong with him and where is he?" The door to the room slid open as Picard was about to answer. A loud shout and an unceremonious, "Here is the prisoner, Captain!" from the Security Chief made all heads turn. "You said to bring him here directly, if we..." Worf's arms were wrapped around the struggling phycist, the human's feet and legs kicking wildly in search of a target. One flaying boot came close, and if Worf did not have lightning quick reflexes and a reinforced crotch piece, he would've been seriously disabled for several minutes. "Found him!" the Klingon grunted, dumping Sam to the floor, landing in a tangle of legs and temper. Guinan was soon on Worf's heels. "You big, dumb galoot," she shouted, smacking him sharply across his back. "He was turning himself in!!" She looked like the famed mouse meeting the lion as Worf turned on her, nose flaring, eyes wide and furious. "I have a good mind..." "Sam??" Al came around the table, pushing past Picard and security and anyone else who dared to get in his way. He had eyes only for the man sitting on the floor gazing at him in wonder and delight. "Al?" "Sam?" The younger man felt himself shake, unable to get up, his legs suddenlyu weak and rubbery at the sudden appearance of his friend. Simply, he lifted his arms, burying his face into the tattered suit. Al's arms pulled him in tight, soothing and calming Sam, overwhelmed by the contact he'd wanted for so long. No, they weren't home, but they were together. more to come.... -- "Girls who have glasses have lots & lots of energy!" Al--Single Drop of Rain Terri Librande aa811@cleveland.Freenet.edu--Assistant Sysop The Science Fiction and Fantasy Sig--Go SCIFI