Theorizing that one could time-travel within his own lifetime, Dr. Sam Beckett led an elite group of scientists into the desert to develop a top-secret project known as Quantum Leap.  Pressured to prove his theories or lose funding, Dr. Beckett prematurely stepped into the Project Accelerator…and vanished.

He awoke to find himself in the past, suffering from partial amnesia and facing a mirror image that was not his own.  Fortunately, contact with his own time was maintained through brainwave transmissions with Al, the Project Observer, who appeared in the form of a hologram that only Dr. Beckett can see and hear.

As evil ones do their best to stop Dr. Beckett’s journey, his children, Dr. Samantha Josephine Fulton and Stephen Beckett, continuously strive to retrieve their time-lost father and bring him home permanently.  Despite returning home several times over the last decade, Dr. Beckett has remained lost in the time stream…his final fate no longer certain.

Trapped in the past and driven by an unknown force, Dr. Beckett struggles to accept his destiny as he continues to find himself leaping from life to life, putting things right that once went wrong with the hopes that his next leap…will be the final leap home.

PROLOGUE

There were many ways that Samuel Beckett would leave the cool, blue haze existence of his in-between times and enter the world of the living.  Sometimes the reality of that transition was harsh and dangerous and sometimes, like this time, it was peaceful.  As Sam’s senses focused in this new life, he found that he was sitting at a desk, a thick book composed of copious amounts of onion skin paper and written in double columns in front of him.  As he looked at the pages, the verbiage told him he was reading some kind of government regulation.  Turning the book to the front cover confirmed it.  He was looking at the Federal Acquisition Regulation.  He remembered Al having a copy of this book along with a companion book at his office back at the project.

Hmmmm.  Looks like yet again I might have to pull on Al’s extensive knowledge to help me through whatever this leap is.  Sam thought back to the many leaps he’d completed.  The fact that Al had such a varied history had been a factor in his successful leaping to date.  It seemed that whenever there was something he himself didn’t have experience with, Al filled in the blanks.  Well, he and Ziggy.  There were a few things that required her research too.

Sam turned back to the page that the book had been open to when he leapt in and found he was reading section 6.302-6 which described the rules for limiting free and open competition due to National Security needs.  That was interesting.  Having a DoD Umbra classification, he’d seen his share of National Security documents, when it was deemed important for him to see them.  Before Project Quantum Leap, he’d been brought in as a consultant on a variety of DoD projects, most of which were trying to figure out how to use modern physics techniques to develop new weapons.  He wasn’t really keen on those projects, but having discussed the need for weapons research with both Al and his brother, Tom, he figured it was a necessary evil.  Both of them had made the military their life and as such were bound to protect the country and all its citizens and they knew that, unfortunately, weapons would be needed as long as human beings choose to fight one another.  However, Sam didn’t have to personally like the research.

This turn of thought suddenly brought the memory of both men into his mind.  Al Calavicci had become his best friend many years and several timelines ago.  While Ziggy was the only one who could really keep the changing timelines straight, Sam did have memories of how things had changed.  At least when his Swiss-cheese mind allowed him to access them.

He had met Al while on the StarBright project.  The man certainly had his problems, but Sam could tell there was a really great person lurking inside that bruised and damaged personality.  Hell, if he’d had to face the things that Al had faced, he might have been the one taking a hammer to a vending machine.  Sam had taken the attitude of “there but through the Grace of God go I.”  The young scientist had reached out and helped Al to find his way back.  He’d never regretted that decision.

Years after he’d stepped into the Accelerator which he’d done in part to try to fix the situation that had led to his brother’s death, Al had helped him to save Tom’s life and assure that his brother returned from Vietnam , not in a coffin but as his living and breathing sibling.  Sam still felt guilty that Maggie Dawson had died.  If not for him, she would still be alive.  Yet, if he were honest with himself, the strings of reality that were woven during that leap resonated far beyond that time and place.  Maggie had gotten what she’d desired.  A Pulitzer. 

And yet, although Sam would never forego the gift that Al had bestowed upon him when his friend had chosen to accept absolute Hell to give him back his brother, he had to admit it was bittersweet.  Sam didn’t understand the animosity that both men felt for each other.  Tom had never gotten along with Al and vice versa.  That bothered Sam and always had.  Before he leapt, in the timeline he had lived with Tom returning from Vietnam , he’d often felt pulled in conflicting directions.  He was not willing to choose between his brother and his best friend and really couldn’t understand why he would even be put in that situation to begin with.  He shook his head and wondered if there was any way to get the two men, who if truth be told were more alike than different, to be willing to stop their endless battle.  It seemed there was no solution.

Sam turned back to the situation he’d found himself in when he’d leapt in and decided to see what he could ascertain out about his new life.  He checked see what he was wearing.  Damn, a bra.  I must be a woman again.  He looked down at his shoes and was happy to find flat loafer like shoes.  At least she’s practical.  The rest of the outfit consisted of belted black slacks and jewel-neck, green silk tunic.  He was wearing a simple beaded multi-color necklace that coordinated with the ensemble.  Reaching up to his earlobe he found a small, simple gold clip earring.  As women’s clothing goes, this isn’t too bad. 

He opened the lower desk drawer on his right.  Bingo!  The ever present purse.   He pulled it out and opened it, finding the wallet he was looking for enclosed.  “Okay then, I’m Maria Torres and I live in Washington , D.C.   Continuing to look into the purse, he pulled out a compact and opened it, finding the mirror he was hoping to find.  He gazed into the face of a very pretty, Hispanic woman who didn’t look older than thirty although he’d seen from her driver’s license that she was forty-two.  He was glad to see she tended to keep the make-up natural and light.  He closed the compact and put it and the wallet back into the purse, returning it to the drawer.  Looking back at the desk he found a calendar open to October 15, 2001.

Great, Al hasn’t arrived yet and I know who, where, and when I am.  Now if I could just learn why I’ll be in good shape!

The phone rang on his desk.  Sam didn’t like it when he had to go live without knowing the specifics of the leap.  While he was pretty sure he had some of it down, not knowing why he was there made interacting on the phone difficult at best.  He picked up the receiver, not at all sure how his host would answer the phone.  “Uh…hello?”

“ Maria ?  This is George.  Glad to catch you there.  When do you think you can finish that contract?”

Figuring that this might give him a lead on exactly what he was supposed to be doing he asked, “Um, George…now which contract was that for…?”

An annoyed voice on the other end of the phone answered, “Come on, Maria .  Stop kidding around.  The contract for developing a computer system to capture data on the natural gas pipeline system in the U.S.   We need to be prepared for any terrorist activity on that front.  Loss of a single pipeline could be a huge strategic blow!”

“Yeah, I’m aware of that.  I’m working on it now.  I should be able to give you an update soon,” he lied, hoping that indeed, Al would show up and help him with developing a contract.  He certainly didn’t have a clue how to do that having left the mass majority of this type of administrative work in the hands of his capable partner. 

“Okay, but we need it to be issued today.”

“Right.  I’ll get right on it.”

As Sam hung up the phone he had one thought.  Oh boy, I sure hope that Al gets here soon!

PART ONE

October 15, 2001

Washington , D.C.

Sam moved the mouse beside the computer on his desk.  As screen popped up requiring a password to be entered.  Darn.  I really need Al here now!

As if being summoned from a genie lamp, the outline of a bright doorway appeared and a cigar smoking, dapper dressed, handlink holding hologram entered the room.  “Hey, Sam, how you doing?”

Sam smiled.  “Great, Al.  I think we can hit the ground running on this one.  I know who, when, and where I am and I think I’m here to complete a software contract.”

Al looked down at his handlink.  “Okay, so you know you’re Maria Torres, you work for the Department of the Interior here in Washington , DC .  It’s October  15, 2001.  Hmmmm.  Sam, you’re not just here to complete a contract.”

“Okay, two and a half out of four wasn’t bad.  What am I here for then?”

Al gave Sam a look of complete confusion, but it wasn’t worth figuring out what Sam meant at the moment.  “Well, Maria Torres dies in a mugging attempt tomorrow evening.  Looks like it’s a robbery gone bad.”

Sam’s lips pressed together as his forehead creased and eyes focused inwards a bit.  “So I just won’t be there tomorrow at the time and place of the robbery attempt.  Problem solved.  In the meantime, you need to help me get this contract written.  I understand I need to get it finished today.”

“All right.  Give me the contract number and I’ll have Ziggy pull it up here.  I’ll get a copy and bring it in to you.  You can write it as it was approved.”

“Sounds good, Al.  Oh, you also need to get the password for this computer.  Otherwise, I won’t be able to use it.”

“I’ll get right on it.  First stop, get Ziggy searching for the contract.  Second, go to the Waiting Room and get the password.  I should be back soon, Sam.”  Al hit a few buttons on the handlink, bringing up the Imaging Chamber door.  He gave Sam a small wave as he exited the room.

Having nothing better to do for the moment, Sam decided to see if he could find a coffee maker or preferably, some tea.  He headed out of his office, finding himself in a room with multiple cubicles.  Walking along the perimeter, he eventually came to a small room with a single small table and four chairs, a counter with a microwave, and the ever present industrial coffee maker with a hot water dispenser at the top.  He looked in the cabinet above the counter and found some Styrofoam cups.  Wincing at the reaction the use of the cup would elicit from Al, he checked the next cabinet over and found a few mugs with the logo from the Department of the Interior.  Okay…another problem solved, I’ll just use one of these instead.  He found a box of Lipton tea and pulled out a teabag, ripped off the wrapper, and dropped the bag into the cup, adding the hot water.  As he turned to walk out, a young man in his early twenties was walking in.

“Ah.  Maria .  Glad you took my advice.”

“Um.  What?”

“The tea.  I’m glad you’re trying the tea.  You said you hated tea.”

“Well, I figured it wouldn’t hurt to try something a little different.”

“Do we still have that meeting at ten thirty?”

“Refresh my mind.  What are we meeting for?”

“Geez, coffee withdraw must really be hitting you bad.  You said we need to prioritize our acquisitions in light of last month’s situation.”

“And what situation would that be?”

The young man stopped suddenly, his face showing concern.  “Uh, Maria .  You sure you’re feeling okay?  That doesn’t sound like coffee’s the only thing affecting your memory.   You’re telling me you don’t remember September eleventh?”

Sam suddenly remembered seeing the events of that day unfold on a previous leap, something about the person behind it being worse then Lothos.  He’d known the Twin Towers in New York City were attacked with commercial airliners.  On the one hand, he was glad he knew enough to know what the young man was referring to.  On the other hand, he was somewhat grateful that his Swiss-cheese mind kept him from really understanding all the nuances of that day.  It hurt too much.  “No, I remember that.  How could I forget?  My heads just a bit foggier than most times,” he continued weakly.

The young man nodded, accepting the explanation but obviously still skeptical.  “Um…yeah….So are we still on?”

“The meeting is still on.”  Sam knew he needed to find out where the meeting was to be held and hoped that the answer would be somewhere on his desk because he didn’t want to raise any more suspicion by trying to find out from this man, whose name he still needed to figure out.  Sometimes he wished GFTW would make everyone wear nametags!

He walked quickly back to his desk, sipping on his tea.  He’d just have to play along with Maria Torres’ life until he completed his mission.  At least the tea was good.

PART TWO

April 7, 2008

Project Quantum Leap

Stallions Gate, NM

“What do you mean the contract is classified?” Al Calavicci was directing his incredulous question at a shining blue orb in the Control Room.  “That’s nuts, Ziggy.  It’s just for a software contract.”

“And yet, Admiral, it is true.  I do not try to figure out the illogical things that fallible humans do,” answered the computer with an ego that rivaled the size of Mount Olympus on Mars.

“Well, we need to have that contract.  Otherwise, if we build it from scratch, we might change something critical.”

“I’m attempting to obtain permission from the office of Homeland Security to justify a need to know designation for this project,” the computer answered, obviously bored with such bureaucratic administrative details.

“Keep working on it, Ziggy.”

“As always, Admiral.”

Al realized that he’d struck out, at least for the moment on helping Sam quickly on that front.  At least I can work on the second part.  He headed to the Waiting Room.

As he was reaching for the handle, the slender hand of Verbena Beeks caught him on the shoulder.  “Al, I don’t think she’s going to be much help.”

Al turned to the Project psychiatrist.  “She has to be, Verbena.  Sam needs her password for her computer.”

“Well, she’s not taking this leap too well.  I’ve gone in a few times and she is basically unresponsive.”

“Well, I’m trying anyway.”  He finished keying in the code to open the door.  When he walked in, he found the person inhabiting Sam’s body lying on the bed in a fetal position hugging his/her knees.  She was crying softly.

“Um, Ms. Torres?  I know you’re upset, but do you think we might be able to talk.”  There was no response from the woman.  Okay, there’s got to be a way to get around this.  He walked over to the woman and laid his hand upon her shoulder.  Shaking it lightly he tried again.  “Ms. Torres, I’m Admiral Albert Calavicci.  I need to speak to you about your work.”  Al wasn’t sure but he seemed to see a flicker in her eyes at the mention of his rank.  All right.  He could use that.  He turned and left the woman lying there, quickly exiting the room.

Going back to his and Beth’s quarters, he pulled out the white dress uniform that had often provided him ammunition when he really needed it.  He knew that over the years he’d always worn the same size uniform and this one was no exception.  Beth walked in hugged him from the back.

“Mmmmmmm….I love a man in uniform. So what’s the occasion, flyboy?”  Beth’s hands crept upwards along his chest, reaching his neck. 

Although he would rather allow her to continue with her obvious plan, he knew there were other things to do first.  “We have a woman in the Waiting Room that I’m hoping the sight of the uniform will trigger a response.  It’s either that or ask Aurora to use drugs on her and I don’t want to do that if I can help it.”

Beth turned Al around, checking to assure that his line of ribbons and medals were on in full military precision.  She knew she didn’t have to look.  Al would have put them on perfectly, but it didn’t hurt to check.  Sure enough, they were exactly right.  She hugged him again and he returned it, breathing in the essence of his wife of 47 years.  He pulled her face up and gave her a passionate kiss.  “God, you’re still so beautiful!”

They stood there a few minutes more, just savoring their moment together, when Al gently pulled away.  “I’ll be back later, Beth, and we can take this further.  I’m on the job now.  Sam needs information.”

Beth nodded, smiling at the only man she’d ever loved.  “Go on.  Get him taken care of.  You know I’ll be here when you can get away.”

Al smiled at those words.  “I know, Beth.  It’s the best part of my day.”  He was incredibly thankful to have her.  That scare a while back, when she’d been in the car accident had been horrendous to him.  He gave her another kiss and the grabbed his hat and left.  Next stop, Waiting Room.

Again walking in, he found the same view of the visitor.  This time he pulled himself to his full height, military bearing to the fore.  Angling himself so she could see him, he said in his best military voice, “Ms. Torres.  I’m Admiral Albert Calavicci.  I need to speak with you now.”

He was pleased to see the flicker becoming stronger.  Her body language began to change and she suddenly pulled herself up, eventually standing in front of him in an almost military stance.  “Yes, Admiral.  What can I do for you?”

“You were in the Navy, weren’t you?”

“Yes sir.  Twenty years, sir.”

He nodded.  He thought so.  Once Navy, always Navy.  “Ms. Torres, I’m working on a government project that you are now a part of.  I can not give you more information other than you are currently residing in a future time inhabiting the aura of a scientist we are trying to retrieve.  That man needs to have the password to your computer screen.”

The woman looked down, concern creasing her face.  “Sir.  We are not supposed to let anyone know our passwords.  That is a violation of the IT security protocols.”

“I know, Ms. Torres, but this is a situation where we do need it to complete our mission.  You see, everyone sees this scientist as you.  He has to be able to act in your stead.”

She looked askance at that statement.  “What?  That doesn’t make any sense.  How would others think he is me?”

He pointed to the shiny topped table in the room.  “Look into that mirror.”

When she looked, her eyes grew large and she started to pull into herself again.  Al barked out an order.  “Ms. Torres.  Stay focused.”  He hated to do it, but knew she would respond.  That was just a part of the Navy training kicking in.  It became second nature.  He remembered many a night having to go from a deep sleep to immediate attention when some horse’s ass pulled a surprise inspection or some such stunt.

She pulled herself up again, but fear was in her eyes.  “Yes sir. Why is he me?  And why am I him?”

“You’re not actually him.  You inhabit his aura, and he yours.  I can’t fully divulge why that statement is true at this time.” 

She seemed confused but willing to accept the answer.  “Who is he?  He looks familiar.”

“Dr. Samuel Beckett, a brilliant physicist who is now lost in time.  We’re trying to bring him home.”

She looked as if she was trying to remember something.  “The Samuel Beckett who won the Nobel Prize years ago? 

“Yes.  He won the Nobel Prize.”  Al was proud that this ex-Navy woman was handling herself so much better now.  “Ms. Torres, I know this is a shock to you.  But believe me, things will return to normal eventually.  Suffice to say, he’s there to help you.  But to do so, he needs your password.”

She nodded.  As she told him the information, he entered it into the handlink.  “Thank you, Ms. Torres.  Is there anything we can get you to make you more comfortable?”

“Um…back to my life?”

Al smiled, a look of understanding in his eyes.  “Yeah.  We’re working on that.  In the meantime, if there is anything you need, you only have to ask.  This room is constantly monitored and your request will be heard.  Hopefully, you will not be here much longer.  I’ll be back later to check on you.”  He turned and left the room.

PART THREE

October 15, 2001

Washington , D.C.

Sam was extremely happy when the light door again appeared and his friend from seven years in the future suddenly appeared.  He had plenty of time to spare before the ten-thirty meeting and that took some of the stress of the leap off of him.

“Hi Sam.  Hey, we’re still trying to get the contract but in the meantime, I was able to get you the password for the computer.”  Al read it off as Sam wrote it down.  Sam entered in information and the screen pulled up waiting for him to access any number of files.

“Thanks Al.  That did it.”  Suddenly Al’s first statement sunk in.  “Why are you having problems with the contract?”

“Because it’s classified.  Until I see the contract, I won’t know for sure why it would be.”

“Hmmmm.  Well, maybe you should go back to the Project and work on that.  Then let me know when you have it.

“Sounds like a plan, Sam.  I’ll let you know.”  Again Al returned to the world that Sam Beckett hoped would one day be his reality again.

During the time they had been talking, the computer’s screensaver had kicked in again.  Sam looked at the paper he’d written the password on and again, had access to his hosts files.  He found his way to the calendar program.  Sure enough, the information about the meeting was laid out including agenda, participants, and notes.  He saw that he had called the meeting.  Sam took a few minutes to become familiar with the issues.  He’d seen a “You are here” sign on the wall describing safety exits but also glad to see that it indicated room numbers and conference room names.  He headed for the Virginia Room . 

Entering the room, he found the standard layout, a long rectangular table surrounded by cloth covered chairs.  He noticed that all other participants were accounted for, although he’d still have to place faces with the names on the paper he was carrying.  He noticed the “power chair” was still open.  Considering he had an office where cubicles were common, he figured he must be the manager.  He took his seat at the head of the table.

“Thank you for joining me.  I’d like to open the meeting with a bit of a brainstorm regarding your opinions on the acquisitions we are working.  Which now take precedence and why.”

Six sets of eyes looked at him a bit confused.  Finally, the young man he’d spoken to earlier asked, “You’re not just going to tell us?”

A young woman next to him turned to him.  “Peter, whatever Ms. Torres says is fine with me.”

Sam had noticed a Peter Senesi on his list.  Now at least he knew one name.  “Um.  Thanks.  But I do want to hear your ideas first so we can make the best decisions possible.”  Sam was getting the distinct impression that he was taking this group into uncharted territory.

It took a few minutes to get things started but after about fifteen minutes, everyone was participating.  A number of very good ideas were being generated.  Sam was, if not in his element of quantum physics, at least in the realm of eliciting ideas.  He captured what the people in the room verbalized on the big white board.

After developing the ideas, they moved onto the prioritization and by eleven thirty had made the decisions necessary to be able to end the meeting on time.  He was very impressed by the knowledge his staff had.  Without their input, he would have been lost.

As his staff left the room, they all commented on how well they liked this new format, that they really felt a part of the decision making.  Sam decided to leave a report on the desk with the results of the meeting and how they had come about in hopes of giving his host some ideas about effective meeting techniques.  It was always disconcerting to him when he made an improvement that was likely to be reversed when the host returned.  He decided to ask Al to make a comment to her as well.  He finished the report and left it where he felt she would find it.

Sam still had to work on the pipeline software contract.  Since Al wasn’t back yet, he figured the next best thing was to read through the folder and figure out exactly what was going on.  He spent the next hour looking further into the notes and not at all sure he liked what he saw.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

April 7, 2008

Project Quantum Leap

Stallions Gate, NM

Al exited the Imaging Chamber after providing Sam with the password.  He went to check with Ziggy to see how she was faring on getting clearance to see a copy of the contract. 

When he asked Ziggy how her quest was being received, she announced to him, “Homeland Security has indicated that this contract is to remain secret.  They are denying access, Admiral.”

Al looked thoughtful. “Hmmm, perhaps I should give them a call.”

The arrogance was back full force.  “Well, I don’t know what you can do that I can’t, Admiral.  I have a 95.7% success rate in obtaining the data needed to help my father on his leaps.”

Al smiled.  “Yeah, Ziggy, but that leaves a 4.3% that we mere humans may actually get something accomplished that you can’t.  Sometimes you just need a human touch.”

The egotistical computer made a decidedly petulant sound.  “That is because you humans are so…illogical.”

Al smiled, shaking his head.  “Ziggy, you’re one of a kind.”

The computer continued banter with the Admiral.  “Obviously.  There is no other computer in the world that incorporates both my father’s brain cells and your nerve cells, thus I must be unique.  Stating the obvious is not a very efficient use of your time, Admiral.”

“Yeah…there’s that too, you bucket of bolts.”

Both human and computer had spent too many long years working together.  Al would never have admitted it to Sam (or for that matter to the computer herself), but he really did like Ziggy.  He’d become accustomed to her voice.  Although, he would really like it if she could tone down her ego at times.

He went back to his office and put in a call to Charles Markes.

“Charles Markes.”  Charles always answered the phone the same way.

“Hey, Charles.  I need to get access to a contract that’s been classified.  I can give you my Umbra clearance number if that will help.”

“What is it for?”

“Um, the head scientist on our team needs to see that information.”

Charles keyed in the information.  “No can do.  Dr. Beckett hasn’t had a supplemental background check for over ten years.  His clearance isn’t currently valid.”

Al was a bit surprised since he knew that Julianna had assured that all Project personnel had up to date Umbra clearance codes.  “That doesn’t make any sense.  Our security officer has verified that Dr. Beckett’s activities have not triggered any concerns and has assured me his clearance is still valid.”

“Well, perhaps it is a glitch, but I can’t authorize this until we research it fully.  Until then, your project has no need to know this information and you are prohibited from obtaining or utilizing it.”

“Uh.  Okay Charles.  I’d like to start up an investigation of why this is classified though.”

“You know who to file the report to.  That’s not my section.”

 “I know.  Thanks anyways, Charles.”

Al knew he didn’t have the time to play the red tape game.  He had to help Sam get the information. “Ziggy, get Julianna down here.  She should be able to wheedle a copy of the contract without ringing any bells.”

“Admiral, you are aware that both Captain Calavicci and Lieutenant Commander Fulton are at a security conference in San Diego .  They won’t be back for a week.”

“Yeah, Ziggy, I forgot.  Can you break into the system and pull it up?  We’ll deal with getting the problem of classification levels fixed later.  I’ll have to get Julianna and Daniel working on this when they get back.”

“It will take some time to get around the security protocols to obtain the contract.”

“Fine.  Contact me when you have it.  In the meantime, I’m going to go spend some time with my wife.”

Al headed back to his and Beth’s quarters.  When he entered the room, he called her name.  He was beckoned by the distinctively seductive voice of the woman he adored.  As he entered the back room, he was welcomed by the sight of his wife in a sexy little black teddy.

“When did you get that?”  For just a second he had a disconcerting feeling that he’d been here before and it wasn’t pleasant memory.  But then, again, if he recalled in that situation she wasn’t holding a can of whipped cream.  A lecherous grin suddenly crossed his face and he sauntered over to Beth.  “I like the way you think, lady!”

PART FOUR

April 7, 2008

Project Quantum Leap

Stallions Gate, NM

An hour later, Ziggy informed Al that she had a copy of the contract.  He was not particularly thrilled to be leaving Beth with the can of whipped cream not yet empty.  The concept of waste not, want not suddenly came to mind.  However, he knew Sam would need the information as soon as he could get it. 

Reluctantly dressing in one of his more colorful outfits which reflected his contented state of mind, he headed back to the Control Room.  Before entering the Imaging Chamber, Al decided he’d better take care of Sam’s other request.  Entering the Waiting Room he found Maria Torres reading a book.

Al understood Sam’s wanting him to do this but it didn’t make the feedback to the woman any easier.  “Ms. Torres?  Can we talk for a moment?”

She put down the book.  “Of course Admiral.”

Al started off slowly.  “You know the scientist I told you about earlier, Dr. Beckett?”

“Yes.”

Al presented the facts to her.  “Well, as I told you before, to keep up appearances, he has to live your life while he is there.  You had a meeting earlier today to go over priority spending.”

She tilted her head and looked down, trying to access that memory.  When it did come to her, she told him, “Yes, I remember.”

“Well, Dr. Beckett apparently has a different approach to meeting dynamics which he used.  He was apparently more interactive with your staff than you typically are.”

Her eyebrows rose.  “What are you trying to tell me, Admiral?”

“Ms. Torres.  I’m sure you are a fine manager.  However, Dr. Beckett wished to let you know that your staff indicated a distinct preference for being more involved.  Dr. Beckett will be leaving you a report.  He indicated you might wish to seek out some training in these techniques.  He said that should you decide to pursue such training, you may find your job a lot easier and your staff more satisfied.”

“This man is critiquing my work?”  She seemed a bit taken aback.

Al put his palms up, fingers splayed.  “No, not at all.  He just wanted to indicate to you that learning new tactics sometimes makes your management skills stronger.”

She considered his words for a moment before replying, “Well.  I guess it’s worth considering.”

Al nodded “That’s the spirit.  Is everything else all right?  Can I get you anything?”

“Could I get a sandwich?”

“What type would you like?”

“Uh, turkey?  And a diet Coke?”

“Sure.  We’ll get that for you right away.”

“Thank you, Admiral. 

“My pleasure.  Until later.”  With that, Al left the room, planning to return to Sam and get this task of completing the contract finished.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

October 15, 2001

Washington , D.C.

A few minutes later, Al entered Sam’s time holding the contract.  After reading it, he didn’t quite understand why it had been classified.  Sure it was a sole source contact and the written justification indicated it was written that way for National Security purposes.  Al had worked on these contracts long enough to know, that something just didn’t seem to hold water.  He noted that one of Senator Martin ’s staff had pushed for this contractor to be used.

He found Sam, deeply engrossed in reading the file, papers strewn about on the desk.  Sam had that look he often had when he was trying to figure some nuance of a problem out. 

“Sam, what are you doing?”

Sam looked up at the hologram form in front of him.  “Al, it doesn’t make any sense that this contract isn’t being put out for full and open competition, or at least to a larger group.  This contract should be put out for proposal.”  Sam paused looking up.  ‘This isn’t any more difficult then some of the projects we worked on during my time at MIT.  There is nothing that a DoD contractor competent in writing code couldn’t do.”

“Yeah, Sam.  I was thinking the same thing.”  Al pulled up the chair in the Imaging Chamber next to Sam.  They went over the contract and Sam’s notes.  As they looked further into the documents, it became obvious that the contractor had been targeted to receive the contract in violation of regulations.  The justification was bogus.  Sam put in a phone call to Senator Martin ’s office asking to speak to the staffer, George Tomlinson.

“Mr. Tomlinson, I won’t be able to support the recommendation for this contractor.  The bid will need to be put out for proposal.”

“I understand, Ms. Torres.  The Senator will be disappointed.  Keep me posted.”  The man hung up the phone.

Suddenly, the handlink squeaked.  Al looked down at it.  “Sam, I think you may have been right about why you were here.”

Sam looked at Al, confused.  “You said it was because Maria Torres was killed tomorrow.”

Al continued reading the scrolling words from the handlink.  “Yeah, but now you’re killed tonight, same way.  I don’t think Maria Torres’s death was as random as was indicated.  I think it had something to do with this contract.  In the original history, Maria must have learned something but there isn’t any evidence that she reported this to the Justice Department for investigation.”

Sam nodded.  “Okay.  Who do I need to contact?”

Al had Ziggy check his contacts list and pulled up a name from the Justice Department.  Sam called and indicated the information they had uncovered about the fraud and the fact that he felt he was in danger.  Over the next hour, things moved quickly and Sam was put into protective custody.  Al stayed with Sam during the entire process, making sure that Sam had information available to paint the picture adequately.

Finally, the handlink squawked again.  Al took a look at the read out.  “Okay, Sam.  You did it.  Maria is safe now.  She’s not murdered and the contract is put out for bid, ultimately going to a different software contractor.  I think you can prepare to leap.  Hmmm this is strange.  The contract is still classified.

As he said the words, a blue glow surrounded his friend’s figure and Sam again vanished.  Al walked out of the now empty Imaging Chamber, thoughts of finishing the can of whipped cream suddenly coming to mind.

EPILOGUE

October 20, 2001

Washington , D.C.

Senator Harold Martin was concerned.  He looked out the window of his office as he considered the current situation.

His new friends had not received the contract that he’d tried to steer their way.  Maria Torres had fingered the man he had set up for the fall should this situation arise.  He couldn’t believe his stroke of luck, however, when George Tomlinson had committed suicide due to, if his letter was to be believed, the disgrace of being found to have put such a scheme together.  He frowned.  When he’d hired the man he was sure there was no history of mental illness, but the police had turned up evidence that he’d been hospitalized years before for severe depression.  Thus no one questioned whether there was more to the situation than the George’s last letter revealed.

He’d certainly tried to make sure that his new found source of campaign money was kept happy.  Vengeance Software, a strange name to be sure, but most software companies seemed to go that way, certainly wasn’t the only source for the pipeline software but he’d had no problem in trying to set it up for $500,000 to his slush fund.  When they didn’t get the contract, Senator Martin was worried that his new benefactor would desert him.  Instead, the mysterious communiqué had indicated that if he assured that the contract was again classified as secret, he’d find another $500,000 more in the fund.  How could he refuse?

Yet, something nagged at him.  This seemed too good to be true.  He wondered if and when he would actually pay the piper for this situation.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

April 7, 2008

Project Quantum Leap

Stallions Gate, NM

To the casual observer, Senator Harold Martin could currently be found in his office reading the Justice Department’s report and comparing it with the report written by Admiral Calavicci from that secret project known as Quantum Leap detailing the most recent leap by the man whose leaping days were soon to be numbered.  Only the man currently inhabiting the aura of the Senator knew that the casual observer would be wrong.

His boss had started the ball rolling to set this up several years before, with information from the future to plan his revenge. A million dollar price tag to Lothoman Industries was money well spent.  After assuring that the contract was again classified nothing more had been done until now.  Now the timeline had caught up and with it, the trap.  The man at Senator Martin ’s desk smiled a chillingly evil smile.  He’d make sure the right eyes would see this report from Albert Calavicci.  He knew that the person he was sending the information to would conclude that Albert Calavicci was a traitor, having willfully stolen classified documents and having shown them to a person he knew did not have the need to know.  He laughed.  No one would see this for what it was and thus Dr. Samuel Beckett would be stopped once and for all.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

April 7, 2008

Washington , D.C.

He read the report, noting that his nemesis had finally made an error he couldn’t weasel out of. 

Gotcha!

He reached for the phone on his desk.  It was time to end this farce of thirteen years.  He was finally in the position to do what should have been done all along.  He’d be the one to make sure that Dr. Samuel Beckett would no longer bounce around in time.  He’d be the one to bring him home.  As he dialed the number at Homeland Security, he was feeling better than he had in a long time.

“Charles Markes,” the voice on the other end of the phone answered.

“Charles, I need to speak with you about an issue.  Can we meet this afternoon at your office?”

“Let me check my calendar.  How does three p.m. sound to you?”

“Perfect.  See you then.”  He hung up the phone.

He smiled.  Yes the man who always tied his ends up with a perfect knot had finally left one hanging.  All he had to do was pull on that one string and it would all unravel.  He looked forward to the meeting later that day.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

April 8, 2008

Project Quantum Leap

Stallions Gate, NM

Al Calavicci was getting a bit of a chance to catch up on his sleep.  Well, at least he slept after the can of whipped cream had been finished up.  They never knew when Sam would leap and thus took care of many things during their down time.  It had been a couple of days and Al was certain that this lull in leaping would not last long.

He’d gotten a communiqué from Sam’s brother, Tom, indicating he would be visiting the project the next day at the earliest possible arrival time.  He indicated to Al that there had been an issue that had been brought to his attention that needed to be addressed.  Somehow, Al felt things were not exactly right.  He told Tom that the landing site at the project was under repair.  He’d have to go to the Airport at Las Cruces .  Tom wasn’t happy about it but he accepted Al’s explanation.  Al sighed as he resigned himself to having to deal with yet another of Tom’s sudden visits.  He knew tomorrow would not be a fun day.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Unknown

Timed Perks

Somewhere in Time

Sam walked into the cheerful coffee shop he’d visited once before.  He occasionally would find himself gravitating towards one of the fractal time spaces.  He’d realized while floating in the blue haze that he really needed to figure out what to do about the war that continued to exist between his brother and his best friend.  As he walked into the coffee shop, he wasn’t terribly surprised to find Esther sipping a cup of coffee and reading a book.

“Hi, Esther,” Sam said casually.  He was looking at the bookshelf that Esther had pointed out on an earlier visit. 

Esther looked up from her own book.  “Hi, Sam.  Something I can help you with?”

Sam sighed.  He put the book he’d pulled off the shelf back and looked down to his shoes, obviously trying to decide whether he wanted to go over to the table or just turn and walk out.  Finally he looked up and walked over to the table, sitting down across from Esther.  “Yeah, I think I need to talk with someone.”

“What about?”

“Well…have you ever known two people you love that absolutely seem to hate each other and you feel pulled between the two of them?”

Esther smiled.  “Yes, Sam.  It happens more times than we’d like.  Are you having such a problem?”

“Yeah.  My brother and my best friend are being…well…jackasses would be a fit description.  Except that would be mean to the jackass.”

Esther laughed.  “What do you think you should do about this, Sam?”

Sam shrugged.  “What can I do?  I’m not even on the same physical plane they’re on.  I can’t do anything.”  He seemed resigned.

Esther looked him in the eye.  “You’d be surprised what you can do, Sam.”

Sam was about to answer to this when the young man from the counter asked if he’d like coffee or tea.  He choose a nice pot of Darjeeling and then looked back to Esther, his eyes indicating that the last thing he wanted to do right that moment was to have to figure out the cryptic messages that seemed to be a part of the fractal time establishments.  He sighed.  “Do we have to go through this again?  Can’t someone just for once tell me exactly what is going on?”

Esther shook her head.  “Sam, I know it’s frustrating to you.  But it’s part of what you need to do.”  

“What do you mean?”

Esther took Sam’s hand in her own.  “Sam, you have to be the one who takes the lead for these decisions.  You must learn to trust yourself enough to use these tools to help you.”

Sam nodded.  “Yeah, I guess. 

Esther brightened.  “Okay then, what do you think would solve the problem?”

Sam had a rueful smile upon his lips as he stated, “Leaping back and kicking them both in the ass.”

Esther smiled.  “Do you really think that would work with these two particular personalities?”

Sam shook his head, accepting the wisdom of that statement.  “You’re right, it wouldn’t.”  A mischievous grin crossed Sam’s face.  “But it sure would make me feel better!”

Esther laughed.  “I bet it would.  However, I imagine that you want this problem solved without getting physical.  Even if it would make you feel better.”

“That would be best.  Maybe it would be best if I just didn’t leap at all.”  He looked over to another bookshelf he hadn’t noticed on his last visit.  There were a number of games.  “Hey, Esther, you up for a game of dominos?” 

“Yes, Sam, that would be nice.” 

As he set up the game he thought to himself that it could take awhile before the domino game was finished.