From: aa811@cleveland.freenet.edu (Terri M. Librande)
Newsgroups: alt.ql.creative
Subject: That Terrible Price part 4
Date: 19 May 1993 12:11:45 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio (USA)
Lines: 55
Message-Id: <1td861$8cb@usenet.INS.CWRU.Edu>
Nntp-Posting-Host: slc5.ins.cwru.edu


part 4

"Impossible, Admiral."  Swann frowned darkly, heedless of my mood.
"That doesn't make any sense.  There's been no damage, and his mind
seems to be functioning normally, as well as we can expect with life
support.  The link is performing it's function, but there's nothing
on the other end to track.  I truly believe he's dead, Admiral."

"I have power of attorney," I gritted, knowing full well with those
words I'd started a fight.  Swann and I had always had a congenial,
professional level relationship, and I knew he wouldn't back down from
a fight.  "You take one step out this compound with Sam Beckett and I'll
fire you.


"You can't do that."  Swann's face was impassive and maddeningly cool.
"Sam hired me and he's the only person who can fire me, Admiral.  That's
in my contract.  Also, that I can damn well do what I think is conceivably
logical for my patients under dire circumstances.  If it comes to taking 
you to court, then..."

"Hold it, boys!"  Curse Verbena, anyway!  She stepped right between both
warring parties, ignoring the potential danger.  "This is getting way out
of hand.  Sam is here, for now, and here he will stay.  For now."  Her
mouth tightened.  She was one attractive woman, and we'd sparred on
rougher territory than this.  I knew that look on her face now, and admired
her for it.  She had guts to face both of us down.  "I suggest, Dr.
Swann, that you take the Admiral's advice.  He is in command here, and
maybe  has a valid arguement.  And, Admiral..."  Here it comes, I thought.
"I hope you understand that we are only thinking practicalities here.  We're
under pressure, too.   The Committee visit is in three days, after all, 
and if they show up and find Dr. Beckett in yet another coma, they might
pull the plug on this whole damn show.  The last three visits were made
during mid-Leap events, and they are slowly wondering if Sam is in a coma
and not leaping through time.  You know that.  One more time, and they
might just do the worst, and we don't want that."

Damn, the Committee!  I'd forgotten, of course.  We had to get Sam back,
and fast.  I could almost feel my heart race.  Three days; we had that
much time to figure out what had happened, and get Sam either to Leap..
or home.


***********

More to come....


terri l.

-- 
"Girls who have glasses have lots & lots of energy!" Al--Single Drop of Rain
Terri Librande aa811@cleveland.Freenet.edu--Assistant Sysop
The Science Fiction and Fantasy Sig--Go SCIFI