From: Lenora McCoy Subject: "Quantum Leap: A New Leaper" (2/5) Date: Mon, 05 May 1997 22:36:22 -0700 Organization: Sprint Internet Passport Message-Id: <336EC356.2AAA@technologist.com> "Quantum Leap: A New Leaper" by Lenora McCoy (Part 2 of 5) Agnes had just finished getting dressed when Al popped in holding a coffee cup in one hand and the handlink in the other. "Good morning, Agnes! Ready for some piano practice?" Agnes smiled, "Y'know, it's a good thing I hate coffee, or I'd be drooling over yours. So, where's the piano?" "Uh...you gotta go to the piano lab to practice. The music is on your desk." Agnes picked up the music, "'Somewhere Out There' I love this song!" Al visibly perked up, "You've played it?" "Not for a long time, but yes. According to this note, I just have to know the melody for today. That's good, because it would take me a while to remember how to play the whole song." Agnes headed for the piano lab, with her invisible escort leading the way. The piano teacher, Leona Janel, was already there. "You are here so early, Miss Sandino! Are you ready to start?" Agnes shook her head, "No. I wanted to warm up a bit." Miss Janel nodded, "I understand. You have half an hour to do so. Will you be at the piano party tonight?" Al chimed, "Bingo!" Agnes frowned, "I'm afraid not. I'm monitoring the telescope for Professor Wilcox tonight." Miss Janel looked disappointed, "I understand. That's more important because it's your room & board. But please stop by on your way to the telescopes, as I have something for you." With that, Miss Janel left the room and Agnes began practicing. She left the headphones off at Al's request, since he wanted to hear her play. After several times through the song, Agnes felt she was back in practice, for the melody at least. Al had run out and gotten rid of his coffee cup, switching to a cigar, several minutes ago. "That's lovely, kid. Just terrific!" Agnes managed a wan smile, "Well, that's just the melody. That's always easy for me. It's the left hand that's hard." Miss Janel walked in, "Yes, the left hand is usually harder, but whom are you telling that to? Your doeppelganger?" Al scrambled to get a definition for the word from the handlink, but Agnes didn't need one, "Nope, just thinking out loud." Al chimed in, a bit late, with, "A doeppelganger is a ghostly twin of a living person." Miss Janel sat down next to Agnes, "And playing aloud, too. Very good. I don't need to ask you to play the melody for me, so let's just start on the left hand." Time flew by quickly, and before Agnes knew it, the 1-hour piano lesson was over. As she headed back to her room, Al assured her, "I got Jenny a keyboard in the Waiting Room so she won't be behind a lesson. Donna's showing her what you worked on today. And you need to get lunch. Why don't you put that music away and head for the McDonalds across the street there." Agnes followed where he was pointing and saw the familiar Golden Arches. "I'll be back a little later, after I eat my lunch. Ta-ta!" Before she knew it, Al was gone. Agnes counted the money in Jenny's wallet and headed for McDonalds. After lunch, she went back to her dorm room and read James and the Giant Peach until Al showed up. When Al returned, it was nearly time for Agnes to head off to monitor the telescope. However, Al had discovered a little snag. "Agnes, Ziggy says that by not going to that party, you've changed history." She perked up, "Really?" Al shook his head, "Yes, but it's not good news. According to Ziggy, there's a girl at that party who tries to commit suicide now. You've gotta stop her, but you've also gotta monitor the telescope." Agnes frowned, thinking hard, "Well, I'll call up Professor Wilcox and tell him I have to help a friend and could he monitor the telescope." Al checked the handlink and shook his head, "Nada. He's at a conference in some other city tonight. And you're the only one working with him- you and Wilcox have the only access to the observatory. Too bad you can't be in two places at once." Agnes began thinking, as Al distractedly slapped the handlink, producing the expected squeals. "Wait! I can be in two places at once-with your help!" Al looked up, "My help?" he asked in a flat tone. "Yeah. I could go to the telescope and you could go to the party. Once you see that person getting ready to commit suicide, you can come and get me. I'll set up a recorder so I can flip it on and be at the party in a matter of minutes." Al thought about it for a second, "It could work. But you still gotta stop in at that party-like Miss Janel asked you to." Agnes nodded, "Of course. Oh, don't I need a key to the observatory?" Al slapped the handlink, which emitted a loud, tortured squeal, "Yeah-it's in the top desk drawer, the middle one." She found the keys in the drawer and pocketed them as she walked out the door, with Al right on her tail. She unlocked the door to the University's observatory, and walked in with Al still following her. "Wow! This is awesome!" he said as he looked around in awe at the size of the telescope. Agnes, who hadn't realized he was still with her, swung around, glaring, "Al! You're supposed to be at the party!" Broken out of his trance, Al looked at her, "Oh, yeah! I'm on my way." With a couple of pokes at the handlink, he was gone. Agnes shook her head, "It's a wonder Dr. Beckett didn't lose his mind," and set to getting the telescope ready for observing. ------------------------To be continued------------------------------- -- Lenora McCoy, confessed Obsessed Leaper, Al-coholic, and Dean-drooler AdmiralCalavicci@hotmail.com AdmiralAl@star-trek.com http://www.geocities.com/Area51/4401/ CalavicciQL@juno.com Author of "Quantum Kirk" and other stories (list and/or requests by e-mail)