Organization: Penn State University Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1993 23:33:40 EST From: Message-Id: <93081.233340MRM122@psuvm.psu.edu> Newsgroups: alt.ql.creative Subject: Trinity Leap, Part 5 Lines: 150 TRINITY LEAP Part Five For the next four days, Al and Dr. Feynman commited slow and small sabotage to the experiments on the "soccer ball" design of explosives. "I suppose it isn't really sabotage," Feynman commented to Al once, "Since we are insuring the project works." Over this time, Sam gave continued reports of the chances of the increased explosion decreasing. On the morning of the day before the test, the scientists were discussing the problem over breakfast. "Numerically, it should work," Von Neumann was saying, "But actual testing yields no greater explosion. I don't understand it." "I don't think we should make much fuss over it now," said Oppenheimer, "The model we have for the test should work just fine as is. This is going to cause a big enough blast as it is without trying to increase it." "He's right," said Feynman, "We can work out the 'soccer ball' problems later." "So were going with the original design?" asked Al. "Yes," said Oppenheimer, "That should do enough damage." "As long as we get a working weapon," said Groves, "The Germans may have folded, but the Japs are still causing trouble." "Yes, General," said Oppenheimer, "It will be quite a weapon." Al was always shocked by the destructive thoughts of the average military mind, especially in the top brass. That, he suspected, was why they were so willing to have him work of Project Quantum Leap, since they didn't see it as a weapon since they didn't think it would work. What would Groves do with Quantum Leap? he thought, then Alia and Zoe crossed his mind. He didn't want to even think about that possibility, and pushed it from his mind. "That's it," said Sam, who had been standing behind Al, observing, "The explosion is as normal. You did it, Al." "I'm going to get some more coffee," said Al, and stood up and walked away from the table. After he got away a bit, he said to Sam, "I've got to get away, Sam. If I leap, then there's no one to leap back... they'll all see me just vanish!" "Oh boy," said Sam, "I hadn't thought of that." "What does Ziggy say?" asked Al. "She says... Oh, God." "What?" "She says according to the records, a body that was identified as Admiral Calavicci, but with no matching file or dental records, was found dead in the McDonald ranch out by the test site, shot." "Shot?! Who would do that?" "I don't know." said Sam, "Maybe it has something to do with why you really leaped here. I mean, it couldn't have been the increased explosion, because we caused that." "Why didn't you say that earlier?" asked Al, now quite annoyed. "I forgot," said Sam, "I'm not used to observing, remember." "Sam!" "Sorry. Look, you made mistakes, too! Remember when I almost got shot because you forgot about time zones?" "OK. Sorry." "We'll just have to ride this out and see what happens." said Sam. Al got his new cup of coffee from the serving girl, who smiled at him with a knowing smile, which he returned to her. Sam just shook his head and sighed, "I'll be back in a bit, Al. Maybe we can kick some theories out of Ziggy." He punched in the door code and went through. *************** "OK, Ziggy, what's the deal?" asked Sam. "I have given you all the information I have at the moment, Doctor Beckett," said Ziggy in her usual calm voice, "Information regarding specifics at the Trinity test are very difficult to retrieve. The only other information I can find is a transcript of a hearing in which they tried to determine just who Admiral Calavicci was. They determined that he was most likely a German spy. I cannot even find a coroner's report." "They probably tried to sweep it under the rug as much as possible," said Dr. Beeks, "The military can be like that." "Ziggy," said Sam, "Can you give me a theory on what happened to Al?" "He was shot." "Ziggy!" "I am currently working on all the possibilities. When I have a theory, I will alert you as soon as possible." Sam went to his office to take a nap. Over the past week he had gotten a much greater appreciation for all the Al did from this side. His swiss-cheesing had made him forget just how obnoxious Ziggy could be. "Hey, handsome. Lying down on the job?" said Donna from the doorway. "I've been trapped in the past for some time," said Sam, "I have the right to a vacation." "You know, last time you came home, you were only here for a few hours. Now I've had you for a week. It's been the best week of my life." "Have I told you how beautiful you are?" "In the past five minutes? I don't think so. You better, or I might forget." She came over and kissed him, that kiss which he missed over all those years, even though he couldn't remember it. *************** "Come and finish your java, Calavicci," said General Groves, "We have to get to the McDonald ranch." Al almost choked on his coffee, "Why are we going there?" "We have to move the old boy over to the test site. We have to go observe it all. It's our job, remember?" "Oh, yes," said Al, "How could I forget?" In the jeep driving to the ranch, Al felt nothing but dread as he was thrown towards a destiny which he couldn't change. Upon getting there, though, he felt a little better. Scientists, technicians and soldiers were all over the place, making sure everything was going just right. Amongst all these people, thought Al, I doubt anyone would try anything. He looked around and sought out Dr. Feynman. "I think there may be a spy or sabotuer here," he said, "Sam came up with information saying I get shot and killed." "By who, Admiral?" "We don't know. But we think it has to do with why I leaped here." "We should tell Groves, then." "We can't, Dick. What will we tell him, that the little man from the future says there is a spy, but wouldn't say who? We need to find some proof." "All right," said Dr. Feynman, "Then what do we do?" "Keep your eyes open." A soldier came up to them. "Admiral," he said, "The general thought you might want to go look at the Tower." "The Tower?" "It's what we've been calling where we're putting the Device." "Oh... well, yes, I would like to see it then," said Al. Anything to get away from the ranchhouse, he added silently. He went to a jeep with the soldier and started to drive there. Halfway there, another soldier was in the road, flagging them down. They pulled up to him and stopped. "What's the problem?" asked the driver. The other soldier looked up at him and said in a very female voice, "You," and with incredible speed pulled a gun and shot the soldier twice. Al tried to get out, but she was already on him. Al took a good look at her, and realized who she was: the serving girl at the PX. She smiled at him wickedly. "Now, Admiral," she said in a slightly accented voice, "Would you be so kind as to tell me who you really are?" to be continued... Marshall Ryan Maresca