From: marshall@exg106.rh.psu.edu (Marshall Maresca)
Newsgroups: alt.ql.creative
Subject: TimeStorm, Part Six
Date: 15 Dec 1993 02:55:19 GMT
Organization: Pennsylvania State University Residence Halls Network
Lines: 150
Message-Id: <2eluan$gil@genesis.ait.psu.edu>
Nntp-Posting-Host: exg106.rh.psu.edu

	Here it is, after long last, the final part to "TimeStorm"!  Enjoy.


				TimeStorm
				 Part Six


	Sam felt as if his insides were turning inside out.  The energies in
the room were building up, as the excited Quantum states of five leapers 
maginified each other intensely.  Adding on to that, the man who brought them
all here was insane and unaware of the forces he was dealing with.  Unaware
of the potential disaster: A TimeStorm.  The thought of it made Sam shudder.
He turned to the one leaper that he had never met before.
	"Major," he said, "If he brings in more leapers, the energies will
break and..."
	"A TimeStorm," said the Major, "I know.  We'll all be wiped out of
existance in its destructive power."
	Sam thought for a moment, then spoke again.  "If I'm wiped away by it,
and my Project is destroyed, then yours can't exist.  You'll never be brought
here and the Storm couldn't occur.  Couldn't that..."
	"No," said the Major, "The TimeStorm isn't affected by paradox.  It 
is merely the power of chaos.  Our only hope is to avert it our minimalize the
damage it causes."
	"You speak with experience," said Sam.
	"We've dealt with one before," said the Major after a pause, "A minor
one, but the results have caused a moment in history to be completely 
obscured, with no one, even the participants, sure as to what happened."
	"Where was it?  When?"  The Major was silent for a long time.
	"Dallas.  November 22nd, 1963."  Sam turned white.
	"I was there."
	"We know," said the Major, "We used pulses of energy to string you
to Oswald over time, make your connection with that specific moment stronger,
so we could use you as, well, almost a lightening rod for the storm, and then
then used the energy build-up to force you to leap."
	"You... strung me to Oswald?  Made me almost kill the president?"
	"It was necessary, Doctor.  If we hadn't used you, the resultant 
storm would have killed thousands.  We settled for just one.  I am sorry that
we had to put you through it, Doctor."  The Major just looked down at the 
floor in shame.  Sam was unable to speak.
	"It was amazing, though, wasn't it, Major?" said Zoey from the other
side of the room, "The number of time travellers who went to that one,
specific point in time and space?  Except for a few thorns, I enjoyed myself."
The Major merely glared at her.
	"It IS amazing," said Thorton, who had just entered the room again, "I
think I'll devote an entire chapter in my book to time travellers' interference
during the JFK assassination.  Your "stringing" Dr. Beckett to Oswald left a
definite impression, as evidenced by the testimony he gave in his final 
interrogation."  He held up another folder from out of his box.  "But that's
all one.  For now, I'm just going to rid the world of you all."  He went back
to the doorway and started to pull another body to the chair.

			***************

	"Admiral, I don't see how this can work," said Gooshie.
	"It's very simple," said Ziggy in response, "By highly focusing the
carbonized quarks that the imaging chamber propels into the past at specific
points, the effect is similar to a laser beam."
	"So when the Admiral is in the chamber..."
	"My hands can strike objects in the past," said Al, "In a fashion."
	"Delicate manuevers are not possible," said Ziggy, "Merely hard strokes
of brute force."
	"That's all I'll need," said Al.
	"I must warn you, Admiral," said Ziggy, "Each strike will result in an
energy feedback.  There is a 57.4% probability that you lose use of your hands
in this attempt."
	"It's a risk I've got to take," said Al, "Just get me through, Gooshie.
I don't care what it takes."  With that, he grabbed the handlink and entered
the imaging chamber.
	"Of course, Admiral," said Gooshie.

			***************

	Thorton started strapping the body into the chair.
	"You can't do this," said Sam, "You don't understand the quantum forces
you're building up here!"
	"Perhaps you should have thought of it before you started messing 
around in time, Doctor," said Thorton, "It's too late, now, don't you think?"
	"Thorton!" said the Major, "Stop this right now!"
	"I've had enough from you!" said Thorton, "Quite enough!"  He reached
into his jacket and pulled out a handgun, and shot the Major in the chest.
	"Major!" screamed Alia, and she tried to reach him, but the chains on
her were too short.
	"You son of a bitch!" said Sam, and he pulled at his chains.  Suddenly,
something started to form in front of him.
	"I'm getting a lock, Gooshie," said a familiar voice.
	"Al!" said Sam.
	"Al?" said Thorton, "Don't tell me your holographic companion is here,
Doctor."
	"Don't worry about needlenose, Sam, I've got this under control," said
Al.
	"How?" asked Sam.
	"I'll have to raise the power on the screen," said Thorton, "That 
should keep him out."
	"Al, he's going to block you!"
	"Not if I can help it!" said Al.  He quickly moved between Thorton and
the panel, "Give me it all, Ziggy!"  Al swung a punch at Thorton.
	And connected.
	Thorton went flying backward, hitting the floor like a piece of meat.
Al's hand was smoking, and he held it gingerly.
	"Al?  Are you OK?" asked Sam.
	"I'll be fine, kid," said Al, "Can you get free?"
	"I think so," said Sam, reaching his feet over to the body to drag it
closer.  He then fished keys out of Thorton's pocket and unlocked his chains.
	"Alia, how's the Major?"
	"He's alive," said Alia, "But not for long."
	"We've got to leap him out," said Sam, "Al, any suggestions?"
	"Yeah, smash Thorton's machines!  They're all that's holding you all
here!"
	"What about Thorton?" asked Sam.  Al looked at the Handlink.
	"Near as we can tell, he gets charged with kidnapping and attempted
murder, gets life imprisonment.  He never gets out, Sam."
	"Let's smash it, then." said Sam.  He picked up a chair and got ready
to heave it.  Alia wrapped her arms around the Major.
	"What are you doing, Alia?" asked Sam.
	"I'm going to go back with him, Sam.  I have to make sure he's going
to be all right." she said.  Sam looked over at Zoey.  "You have to let her
go, Sam," said Alia, "The energies are too strong to stay much longer."
	"Another time, Doctor," said Zoey with a grin.
	"Another time," said Sam.  He raised up the chair and smashed it into
the computer bank.
	With a blinding flash, they all leaped.

			***************

	When Sam's vision cleared, he found himself on a street corner.  It
was daylight, and people were walking all over the place.  Sam looked around
for a moment, and things looked familiar to him.  He glanced across the street
to see a girl rushing across to his side.  Also, a large car was barrelling 
down on her.  Sam knew she didn't see it, and it wouldn't stop in time.
	Instinct took him over.  Sam rushed out into the street, and pushed
the girl out of the way of the car.  Before he could move again, he was struck,
and he blacked out as his head hit the pavement.

	The paramedics rushed him through the emergency room.
	"Car accident!" one yelled to the doctor on duty, "Multiple contusions,
internal bleeding, at least three broken ribs as well as the shoulder, and
a definite concussion if not a fractured skull."  The doctor ran over to the
patient.
	"Oh boy," said the Doctor, "Nurse, I'm going to need some help over 
here!"
	"Coming, Doctor Beckett."



But that... is another story....

					Thy servant, as thou us't him,
						Marshall Ryan Maresca