From: Sean Smith X-From: rkwong@engin.umich.edu (Roberta Chi-Woon Kwong) Newsgroups: alt.tv.quantum-leap.creative,alt.ql.creative Subject: "Quanta" part 10/17 Date: 19 Apr 1995 17:12:01 GMT Message-Id: <3n3g91$6sc@srvr1.engin.umich.edu> This is being posted for Sean Smith , who is having some difficulty posting from his account. Please direct all comments to him. Apologies if any line noise remains in these posts. -------------------------------------------------- Smoke curled languidly about Admiral Calavicci's head as he exhaled, trying to relax. He was leaning against one of the stone walls of the Control Room, watching Ziggy with slitted eyes. He slowly pulled on his cigar again, listening to it sizzle and burn. Pausing before exhaling, he looked at the rising smoke, seeing the patterns it made as it danced under the steady push of the Project's air conditioning. He was waiting dramatically. "Admiral Calavicci, I can wait indefinetly." There was a smile in Ziggy's voice as she spoke. "I think you'll have to go first." "Alright, what was all that about with Mulder? Why did you send him off like that?" He stayed where he was, but pointed at the swirling blue ball that was Ziggy's outer housing. "Sir," The computer drawled languidly, "Agent Mulder still doesn't trust anybody in this program, especially you." "Me? What's wrong with me?" Al scratched the side of his head, confused. "I'll have a subroutine write your last few wives and ask them, Admiral. But Foxy just doesn't go for sailors like I do." Ziggy wished that Sam had built her to be able to wink. "So what does that have to do with anything Ziggy? He doesn't need to trust me, just help Sam." "I doubt he'd do even that much. And before you suggest that we show him the Imaging Chamber, let me remind you that he'd see an older man filling his shoes, and taking his place. With someone I suspect is his only real friend." "Oh, boy. So you sent him off to get rid of him? That's nuts, Ziggy!" Al played with the Control Panel, checking her status. "Al, honey, of course I didn't. But what he finds out in his files will be raw data I can objectively examine, without his editing." "That's pretty good." He puffed on his cigar. "And he does trust Doctor Alisee, somewhat. By monitoring their conversations, I can learn how he currently thinks and feels. This will be a great advantage in predicting what will occur to Scully and Mulder." "Ziggy, listening in on him seems a little, I don't know, paranoid. I mean, we do that because he doesn't trust us, we've just given him a good reason not to trust us." "Possibly, Admiral. But we cannot risk Doctor Beckett's life because Foxy's sensitive to that kind of thing. And with him away, working on a method to stop the other project, we can continue to alter the timeline in his abscence." "Ziggy, we could do that with him here!" Al rubbed his temple. "I do not think we could. He feels strongly about having others run his life. and trying to restrain him to the waiting Room wouldn't help his condition any." "You're right, Ziggy. You're right." Al waved irritably at her as he turned to watch the desert sky. "I just wish you weren't." Al watched a small flashing light pass by over the mountain the Project was built into. It was a small passenger jet, the one he'd arranged to carry Fox and Donna toward Washington. It was the only plane in the sky permitted in the restricted airspace about the Project. The flashing red light sped across the figure of Orion, and disappeared beehind a distank cloud bank. Calavicci stared into the sky, long after the plane was gone from view. "Good luck, kid." * * * As the jet sped along, Donna Alisee watched as the rich green forests of Virginia slid by. She knew Al had pulled in a lot of favors to procure a high speed courier aircraft for them, and it would get them to Washington early in the day there. She just hoped it would be early enough for Sam and Dana. She looked over to where her charge, Fox, sat slumping in his chair. His hair was ruffled, and the circles ringing his eyes stood out on a pale face, but he somehow remained attractive in his sleep. He'd insisted on retaining his Quantum Leap body stocking, but wore a deep charcoal suit over it. Both the suit and his white shirt were cut loosely, in a style similar to that of the forties, though his shirt had a mandarin collar and no tie. Although he wore them well, he nonetheless seemed somehow out of place wearing them. She looked down at the heavy plastic bracelet Fox wore, and the matching one she wore on her own slim wrist. They were connected to ZiggyUs main processor, and were theoretically for the purpose of sending information back to New Mexico. More practically, they let Dr. Alisee and Ziggy monitor FoxUs worsening condition. She did not realize that they also monitored every word he said. Donna couldnUt fathom what this man could possibly have said to Ziggy in order to receive her approval for this jaunt. The new reports indicated that DanaUs body would be found in two days, under similar circumstances as before. No trace of Sam, aka Mulder, would be found, and there were no files to be found anywhere about either person. Just a local police report, this one from Madera, indicating that a young womanUs body had been found. This news left Alisee frightened for her husband. But Donna was just as frightened for Fox. Before they left, he and Ziggy had examined the one remaining report, again and again. She had walked in while Ziggy was projecting autopsy photos, and a gray faced Mulder sat on the ground against the Control Console. SheUd gone to hold him, only to find that he was working on a file. So intent was he that he never noticed her approach, and jumped when she touched his shoulder. Even now, while he slept, a copy of that report lay open on his lap. They all knew that what he was doing was as dangerous as SamUs conflicts with these unknown assailants. Some fragments of his memory had not yet returned, and his brain waves were wildly erratic, seeming sometimes to mimic seizures. Everyone was afraid for his safety, as he silently worked himself to death. But no one at Project Quantum Leap was willing to let Fox go that far. Although heUd been up working all night, TBena was dosing him with medications that would keep him somewhat quiet for now. And so for the duration of the flight heUd rested almost peacefully, although the lines around his eyes never quite disappeared. Dr. Alisee yawned abruptly, tired from her long hours watching over her charge. She laced her fingers together, stretching out her arms in front of her. Thankfully, the Air Force jet had ample room to do so. She went back to looking at the man who wore her husbandUs face. Sitting here was as close as sheUd been to her husband in months. Before that one, brief night of his return, she had not seen him in over four years. And she knew he no longer remembered her, or his life here. It took more than patience, and more than love to keep her there so long. It took devotion. She believed utterly in the work he did, in the way he helped others. And she believed utterly that someday, it would end. Samuel Beckett had promised her it would. And they trusted each other. Alisee reached out, and pushed back a lock of FoxUs hair. Donna knew this man was not her husband, but his drive, his passion reminded her so strongly, that she felt she knew him. She smiled, thinking of what such a closed person as this Fox would think of someone so new saying that she knew him well. She thought that the poor man would run away. Her touch was soft, but it was enough to rouse Mulder, despite the medications. Without lifting his head, his eyes fluttered open and he watched the silhouette next to him. Her hand was a cool breeze against his forehead, and he vaguely caught a smile playing across her lips. For a moment he was quiet, watching her. RHow are you feeling, Fox?S Her voice was as light as her touch. RBetter after some sleep, thanks,S he said tiredly. RBut please, donUt call me Fox. No one calls me that anymore.S RWhy?S ROnly my sister called me that.S He still sounded half asleep. RSheUs such a sweet girl. How is she?S Donna was glad she could rouse Fox to talk about something other than this crisis. Fox stared into DonnaUs eyes intently. His sleepy eyes narrowed, and his gaze brushed along her length. RI know, for a fact, that youUve never met my family. IUd have remembered you, for certain.S Even medicated, Mulder jumped on this error. Too late, Donna realized her mistake. RThe profile Ziggy has. She sounds sweet.S RZiggy doesnUt have a profile. All those records are gone. ThatUs two mistakes.S Fox sat up, quickly. The drugs in his system made him dizzy, but he refused to let her see it. RZiggy, howUs Mulder doing? He doesnUt look well.S RDonUt change the subject. How could you know my sister?S Fox took hold of her wrist as she pulled away from him. ZiggyUs throaty voice chimed in from both bracelets at once. RHeUs dizzy, and his blood pressure is down, believe it or not. And donUt bother trying to keep it from him; any secrecy we had has long since been compromised, Dr. Alisee. Bye-bye, you two. S The speakers clicked as the computer disconnected from the speakers. Fox dropped back into his seat, and held his eyes closed with his hands. RSam leapt back twenty-six years ago into your sister as a child. You remember that terrible fire, F...Mulder. DonUt you?S Mulder seemed to collapse into himself. He spoke without looking up. RHow long ago? To you?S His voice was soft. Donna was still confused. RAbout a year ago.S Then it felt as though her stomach was dropping out from under her. RWhy?S When he answered, his voice was high as he struggled with unshed tears. RI havenUt seen my sister in two decades. Since she was taken away. I donUt want to talk about it.S ROh, God, Mulder. IUm so sorry. And IUve been throwing it in your face all this time.S She rubbed FoxUs neck, trying to hold her own tears in. RYou couldnUt have done anything anyway, Alisee. IUm okay. I just havenUt been feeling well lately.S He breathed deeply, and managed a weak smile for her. RNo, youUre not okay, so donUt try and lie to me. I couldnUt lie to you just now, so donUt try it with me.S He voice softened. RPlease, let me help you.S RFeel like sending me back about twenty-five years, Doc?S Donna looked stricken. RYou know I canUt. IUm sorry.S RWell, then, I guess I canUt change the past, can I?S His tone spoke volumes of bitterness, and his eyes showed pain. Fox struggled to undue his seatbelt, and dropped the file to the floor of the cabin. Cursing he picked it up, and started out of his seat. Donna stopped him with a hand on his arm. RYouUre tired, Mulder, and youUre acting like youUre all alone. WhoUs really the reason for all this?S * * * Dana lurched slightly as she backed the police cruiser into its space at the back of the parking garage. The echo of its motor rang throughout the wet concrete building even after she removed the key. It seemed to her that after running so far, the car didnUt want its cry to die away. She paused for a moment, watching the light from outside stream onto the glistening rooftops of the other cars through the small windows running along the side of the building. The sound of the engine faded, and in the silence of the dead building, Dana looked across at her partner. In return, Sam was watching her in silence. Dana was used to MulderUs one-note humor. His penchant for flip phrases, his irreverent remarks. At first she bridled at them. Then she ignored them. Then she realized that they were all he really knew what to say. That was when she started listening to his silences. It was his pauses that now spoke to her, and sheUd grown accustomed to them. But as she looked at him now, his silent gaze seemed measuring in some way. She could see he cared for her, and yet his eyes held something she hadnUt seen in Fox. Ever. And for the space between heartbeats, Dana wondered who had taken residence inside the skin of her friend. RSo, Dana, where to?S Like that, the spell was broken, and she snapped into motion. RWe get moving. My brother and sister-in-law live up the street a couple of blocks.S Quickly she slid out of the car and slammed the door. Sam joined her outside, an easy grin on his face, RUh-oh, sheUs taking me to meet the In-Laws!S His smile lasted until he saw Scully roll her eyes. RUh, IUm sorry Scully! I donUt know where that came from.S Scully started walking toward her brotherUs house in her usual quick pace. It was just enough to keep up with MulderUs long-legged gait. Moving quickly, the pair marched in tandem out of the dank garage and into the the bright air of San Francisco. A stiff, chill wind had driven the rain away temporarily, and a brilliantly blue sky was peeking out from tremendous masses of clouds. The air smelled of salt, and a thousand different foods, and it whipped about the agents, snapping the ends of their greatcoats out like somber pennants. Both paused for a moment, engaged by the pedestrian view of a not-so-pedestrian city. Sam held a hand over his eyes, the new-found light too bright for him to see well. Hundreds moved up and down the hill they stood on, all oblivious to the sight of the bay spilling out seemingly hundreds of feet below them. It was still as noisy as the last time Sam had visited the TFrisco, but now he felt lost. Dana squinted against the light, and smiled as she began walking up the hill at a determined clip. Sam could have sworn that the hill went on forever, but before long Dana pointed to a house, grinning. It was a bright yellow Victorian house, trimmed in white. The peaked roofline was lost between the buttressed gray monster and the low brick building that sat not a foot from either side of the house. Glancing back and forth for a break in traffic, the two darted across the street, and up to the door. As Scully mounted the cracked concrete stairs leading up to the door, a glowing doorway appeared next to her. Blindly, she passed it without giving any sign of noticing it. Al stepped through the doorway, which promptly closed and vanished. Sam looked up and realized that his holographic cavalry had appeared. RItUs about time.S Sam murmured to Al, thinking about the length of time it had taken for Al to return. RMulder! We got here as fast as we could, and I was driving. So shut up. And try and be nice; nobody here has met you yet.S With that, Dana rang the bell, and waited with her arms behind her back. RSam,S Al chimed in a moment later, RWeUve had some mondo technical difficulties. Listen, IUll scope the out the this yellow monstrosity, and when you get inside, find someplace for us to talk. And fast.S With that, Al tapped his handlink, and disappeared. The stained glass flashed as the hardwood door it was set into open inward. The petite young brunette with short hair, jeans and a T-shirt who opened the door lit up when she saw Dana in her doorway. For a moment Sam worried that he would tower over the clan gathered inside, until a man stepped out of the dark interior to stand behind the woman. His somewhat imposing height quelled any such thoughts Sam might have had. RDana! Dana, its so good to see you again!S The young woman hugged Scully quickly before stepping back, almost into the arms of DanaUs brother. RGet in here quick before you two freeze to death out there!S Dana fairly bounded into the house, a wide grin on her face. She was snatched up by her brother into a bear hug that lifted her more than a foot above the floor. Meanwhile, the other woman introduced herself to Sam. RHi, Agent Mulder. IUm Tatya, DanaUs sister-in-law. You already know my husband, Brian.S Dana was so absorbed in hugging her brother that she missed this statement. RHello, Mrs. Scully. Thank you for letting us come by here." "Not at all! And please, call me Tatya, Mulder" She smiled at him, already knowing what he preferred to be called. "Come on in, we'll just leave those two on the porch for now." Following Tatya into the house, Sam acutely felt the desire to duck his head as he entered the door. He managed to refrain from doing so, and instead held the door open behind him. Brian returned Dana to her feet, and she quickly turned to face Mulder through the doorway. Trying to suppress a wide smile, Dana gestured over her shoulder at the big man behind her. RMulder, this is Brian Scully my brother. Brian, this is my partner, Fox.S The two shook hands almost over Dana, and Sam was about to say something when Tatya interrupted him. RBrian, get inside sometime today, okay? Ana letUs get the two of you cleaned up. Dana, IUll take you upstairs. Brian, did you remember to set FoxUs clothes out down here?S She was friendly, but moved with an efficiency a Parris Island Drill Instruct or would have envied. ROf course, hon. CUmon Fox. It sounds like the two of you are in some trouble.S His sunburnt face creased about the eyes and mouth as he spoke. RYeah, You could say that.S SamUs gaze followed Dana and her sister as they disappeared up the stairwell. Brian hustled Sam into a downstairs bedroom, and quickly closed the door. The room was a small square with a high, vaulted roof and dun walls. The one window opened out onto the bustling street, but the light, laced curtains drastically improved the view. Brian flicked on the brass lamp inside the doorway, and turned to face Sam. RI know that when you called, you were trying to drag Dana out here on a vacation. But then she called about some kinda emergency, asking for us to pick up a lot of things for her. Mr. Mulder, is this your way of getting Dana out here?S His delivery transitioned from confused to serious. RWhat?S Sam was shocked, for a lot of reasons. ROf course not!S RHell, I apologize. I should of know you wouldnUt do all that. IUm just sorry that vacation idea of yours fell through. She could use it. Always could. Anyway, hereUs the things she asked for. She said you were about my size.S Brian gestured to a set of clothes and a small sports bag laying on the soft white quilt covering the bed. RThank you. Um, IUll just change.S Sam was just a little confused. His host simply nodded and left, closing the white enameled door behind him. As Sam picked up his change of clothing, a face appeared through the wall next to him. RBoo!S Al laughed as Sam jumped. RI keep telling you, stop doing that! This leap is creepy enough as is.S Sam started taking off his wet and dirty clothes. RSam, thereUs little enough levity around the Project as is. YaU gotta take it when it comes, you know? And you better hurry changing; DanaUs way ahead of you in getting undressed.S Al said it with a completely straight face. RAl...S Sam just looked at him. No words. Just a tightening of the eyes, the one used by parents worldwide. "Hey, I had to go checking out the house, remember. Well, I was checking out Tatya's layout," Al smiled lasiviously, "When they barge in, and start pulling clothes off. If it makes you feel any better, Sam, I left just as soon as I finished checking the room." "Just tell me if you've got anything new from Mulder." Sam pulled a shirt over his head as he talked. RWell, not exactly...S His interest in the floor rose dramatically. RWhat do you mean Tnot exactlyU?S What have you and that hybrid computer cooked up this time, Al?S Sam picked up his new pants, a pair of denim jeans. RWell, Fox and Ziggy decided he ought to go hunting for his files, and-S RHe? As in the leapee? The guy I jumped into? THeUsU now running around _outside_ the project with _my_face?S Sam pointed to himself, still clutching the jeans. RWell, gee, Sam, sounds like what youUre doing here. You know? Besides, Ziggy thinks we need whatever it is he can get. She figures that if he starts nosing around, he might be able to find some info that could help us. ItUs all weUve got.S RWhat does she calculate to be the best plan of action right now? I mean, we canUt very well just sit at Haight-Ashbury and wait for Fox to come up with a lead, now can we?S Sam finished putting on the jeans, and found that although they fit, they were just a bit too tight. AlUs handlink bleated at him. RNo, Sam, donUt stay in one place. You two have to get out of here quick. Every time you stay someplace, the killers just show up. Now the file says that Dana washes up on the beach, north of here. Still nada on you.S RSo has anybody got a plan now? Other than dying?S Sam was frustrated. REverybody does. Fox wants you to shut down the project in this time. That's why he's heading to Washington. Of course, Ziggy just wants you to leap, so she still thinks you need to tweak Mulder's partner.S "Al!" Sam looked up from the other side of the bed, where he was fastening his belt. "Relationship. You need to tweak their relationship, Sam. That's what I meant." Al smiled. "Yeah, of course that's what you meant. But does she have any ideas?" "Actually, she does." Calavicci tapped his handlink, drawing more information from the Project's computers. "Judging by the way Fox acts about his partner, and all they've been through, she figures a seventy four percent chance he'll hit her. Hit her?" Al looked up surprised from where he was reading. He looked back down, and smacked the handlink. "Up? For a date. Huh? Oh, sorry Sam, 'hit her up for a date.' Ziggy thinks he'll hit her up for a date." Al laughed at the slip up. "And?" Sam rumaged through the bag Brian left on the bed momentarily. Finally he gave up, and put on the woolen Navy jacket. "Well, that sort of thing is frowned on by the department, Sam. Same for most government jobs. Except mine, of course." One look at Beckett's beleagured expression convinced Al to continue quickly. "Anyway, it might end their partnership, and judging by the way Mulder acts now, he wouldn't take it too good." Sam zipped up the tote bag. "So Ziggy thinks I'm here to make sure Mulder doesn't push any relationship with Scully. No problem. I'll just treat her like a partner." "Yeah, but she may be...reciprocative, if you know what I mean. And you still have to keep in mind that this is a seriously hurt lady, Sam. You've got to comfort her...just not too much." "That I can do." Sam set a hip up against the cherry wood dresser as he spoke. "But what about those people following us? Have you learned anything new?" "Not new, exactly..." Again, Calavicci seemed reticent to talk. "Al, talk to me. Did you find out how those people could have known I was a Leaper?" RZiggy thinks they have a radium ring and accelerator set up like ours.S Al glanced sidelong at his friend, waiting to hear the explosion. RWhat? Are you kidding? No one has a set up like ours." "Sam, Ziggy picked up a radium trace from them. And it matched the Accelerator ring." "But no one would know to look for the quantum vibrations I would be giving off. Let alone recognize them. It would take a complete set-up, just like Quantum..." Sam looked at Al with alarm in his eyes. "No Sam! I know what you're thinking, and there's no way. That other leaper isn't anywhere near, Ziggy already checked. And besides, it was all those bozos you ran into who had the right zeta-thingamajigs!" "It could mean the other project is only under construction in this time! Then it would have to be back in Sacramento! Think, Al-" Sam was excited at the prospect. "Uh-uh, Sam. You go back there, you'll just get the two of you killed! You don't want to do this!" Al waved his hands about, trying to keep Sam's attention. "Yes I do! Al, if I go back there, like Fox said, I could stop the other Project before they start up." "You can't change your own past Sam." Al was completely serious, and a little frantic. Sam ignored him almost completely. "If I stop the other project before it starts, Alia never gets caught up in it, and she'll go free!" Sam wanted desperately to free the other leaper he'd met. It hurt him to know she was being forced to leap from life to life, destroying all she touched. "Sam. Stop." Al went completely calm, and deadly serious. "You don't know that the other program is there, that you can stop it, or that stopping it would free Alia. All you'll do is drag that girl," Al pointed upward abruptly,"into your private war. We can't run around changing our own past. Period." "Al, this isn't my past its-" Sam was interrupted by a knock on the door. Both men turned to watch the door swing open and Dana's head poke through. "Mulder, you decent yet?" Dana's copper-red hair was gathered up behind her into a tail that fell over the shoulder of her half open flannel shirt. "Oh honey, I'm never decent!" Al crossed in front of Sam, leaning over to watch Dana behind the door. "Sam, stay with _this_!" "Al! Ah...I'll be ready in a minute, Dana. You startled me." Sam caught his mistake quickly, and waved Scully away. She withdrew her head and closed the door. "Al, I'm helping Alia. The same way she helped me. Now go find out all Ziggy knows. We'll need it." Sam hefted the sports bag and headed out of the room, leaving Al behind. * * *