Message-Id: <m0sgpwG-00023MC@kickme.cts.com>
Date: Fri, 11 Aug 95 01:59 PDT
From: jekel@cts.com (Julie Jekel)
Subject: "Donna's Song" part 4

                            "Donna's Song"
                            chapter/part 4


                   But even though my memory will fade,
                       And other loves will fill
                        The void I leave behind,
                            If time permits,
                        You will strive to fulfill
                         That forgotten promise--
                         The promise you gave me
                   When you held me for the last time--
                       That you will return to me.


        Donna stood in the Accelerator Chamber, her figure strangely
mummy-like in the dwarfing white fermisuit.  She smiled at Beth, whose
holographic image had been projected by Ziggy from the Imaging Chamber to
test the neural link.
        *You promised, Sam.  You promised me you'd be back!*
        "Can you hear me all right?"
        Beth nodded.  "Clear as a bell on this end.  Does this guarantee it
will work across time as well, though?"
        "Distance and time don't affect it, or Al would have more trouble
finding Sam the farther back he went.  As long as we're both mentally
stable, it should function regardless of where or when we are."
        *Where are you, Sam?  When are you?  Why can't we find you?*
        Beth reached out a hand to Donna, but the two hands passed right
through each other.  Donna laughed uneasily.  "I forgot about this part."
        "Are you sure you want to do this?"
        *How can I not?  Oh, Sam, why won't you come home to me?*
        Donna nodded.  "I have to find him, Beth.  I can't go any longer,
not knowing."
        Beth indicated her agreement.  "I know.  When Al was a POW I would
have given my right arm to be able to go over there and look for him."
        *I'll find you, Sam.  I have to.  Oh, please, Love, let me find you.*
        The two women smiled sadly at each other.
        Donna took a deep breath and let it out slowly.  "I'm ready."
        Beth nodded, and the Imaging Chamber door appeared behind her.
"Good luck," she whispered, and stepped through the opening into the bright
light of the Control Room.  The door slid closed, and any trace of the link
vanished for the time being.
        In the Control Room, Beth lifted her hand to the console.  "Ready,
Ziggy."
        Slowly the silvery walls of the Accelerator began to gleam with a
pale blue light.  Something resembling steam swam up from the circle beneath
Donna's feet, circling around her and blowing her loose hair into a brown
whirlwind above her head.  The air below her pressed upwards against her
outstretched arms, as if trying to lift her off the ground.  And
indescribable energy began to surge through her body.
        Donna lifted her eyes to the ceiling of the Chamber.  Already she
could feel herself being pulled away, and she could almost see her
destination.  A thrill of hope ran through her, energizing her even more.
She closed her eyes as if in prayer.
        *I'm coming, Sam,* she promised silently...
        And Leaped.
        

                                 I know
                   That even if your mind forgets me,
                    Your heart will ever sense mine                        
                  And your soul will never release me.
                                 I know
                        You will always love me
                             As I love you,
                           Because I know you.




                
                                 JJ

        "Our imaginations leap ahead to places we have yet to see."
                                     --a poster in my room