Date: Fri, 16 Apr 1999 16:47:47 -0600 (MDT) From: "Katherine R. Freymuth" Subject: Whale ch 26 Message-ID: Chapter 26 "Our communication lines are clear," Gushie told Al as he and Donna entered the Control Room. "They've stopped jamming us." "Who?" Al asked, trying to remember. "Zoe's people," Gushie replied. "Zoe's people? You mean we can find out who Zoe is?" "Exactly, Admiral." Gushie smiled. "What about power? Are we up again?" "Yes. All power is restored." Al nodded. "Good. How long before Sam is killed?" "Two hours," Donna answered the question. "Ziggy's having some trouble getting the information we need on Zoe. She needs some adjustments in her communication lines. We've already called Tina to come down but she's a little hesitant." Al sighed in frustration. "Doesn't surprise me. She is coming down, though?" Donna nodded. "Took everything we had to convince her. And not just her. We're running on minimal staff because no one can remember where they're supposed to work. We've had to seal everyone in the complex for their own safety." Al exhaled. "Not a pleasant thought." "Do you have a better idea?" Al gave her a brief look but didn't answer. He turned his attention to Gushie. "Get the Imaging Chamber fired up." "It's ready for you whenever you are, Admiral," Gushie replied. Al nodded briefly before walking up the ramp and entering the large room. He was greeted by the sight of Sam studying some papers with intensity. Al approached him slowly and looked over Sam's shoulder to see what had his partner's interests. He shook his head. "Sam, you don't need those notes. You know the project better than anyone." Sam exhaled slowly, shaking his head. "I don't remember any of it, Al. And even if I did, it helps clear my mind." He stopped reading the notes and looked at his partner. "Unless we find out who Zoe is, I'm a dead man. It isn't exactly something I like to dwell on." Al nodded slowly. "I don't blame you." He looked around. "Where's my younger self?" "Went for his daily exercise." He looked at Al with a frown. "I thought you hated calisthenics." Al smiled slightly. "I do but that doesn't mean I won't go for a run to keep fit." The two were quiet for a moment. "Please, tell me Ziggy has something for me," Sam finally requested. Al took a deep breath. "Well, he says that you're here to prevent yourself from being killed by Zoe but he isn't sure about who Zoe is yet." "She, Al," Sam corrected. "Ziggy's a she, not a he." Al frowned slightly at him. "Does it really matter? He's a computer. _She's_ a computer," he corrected himself. He rubbed his temple slightly in frustration. "Memory problems?" Sam questioned. Al nodded. "Yeah. And they're increasing the closer we come to the time Zoe is supposed to kill you." He paused, taking a deep breath and looking at his friend. "Sam, I think you should skip out on the hearing." Sam looked at Al with slight shock. "Al, I can't do that! This is my big break! I can't just let it slip by." Al looked at his friend firmly. "If you don't, you'll be killed. Ziggy's already confirmed this; he concurs with me. Besides, there will be other hearings." "And what does Ziggy says will happen if I do skip it?" Al sighed. "You would live but the Project would never be approved and the paradox would still exist." "You see?" Sam told him. "I can't back out of this. There's a lot more than my life at stake. Hundreds of people depend on the project, even if they don't know it exists." Al rubbed his face gently. "You're right. I hate to admit it but you're right." As he said this, the hotel room door opened and a sweaty Al Calavicci entered the room. Sam smiled at the younger Al while the older one looked at himself with curiosity. It was the first time during the entire leap he had the chance to actually see his younger self. "Had a good workout?" Sam asked. Al the younger exhaled. "Sweated off the tension is all." He looked at the pile of papers in front of Sam and frowned slightly. "Why are you looking at those? You don't need them. You're the one with the photographic memory, you know." Sam laughed slightly. "Yeah, I know. Just easing the tension for myself." "Yeah, well, don't get too comfortable. We have to shower and dress for the meeting and we only have less than an hour to do it. So you had better hurry up." He headed for the bathroom. "Today's your big day, you know." Al the hologram watched as the younger entered the bathroom and closed the door. He had a feeling in the pit of his stomach that made him uneasy. He wasn't sure what it was, though. "Sam, are you sure you want to go through with this?" he questioned softly. "I have a terrible feeling about all of this." Sam nodded. "So do I, Al, but I'm not about to let Zoe win this." He frowned at him slightly. "What's wrong, Al? And don't tell me it's this leap because I know it isn't just that." Al exhaled slowly, gathering his thoughts as best as he can with his deteriorating memory. "Last night, I had this terrible nightmare about..." He took a breath. "About your death. The problem is it felt so real, so personal. It has me a bit freaked out." Sam nodded slowly. "I see." He looked at Al firmly. "I'm not going to die, Al. We're not going to let it happen. Right?" Al gave a brief nod. "Right." "Okay, then. Let's get ready." ******************** "This is our last contact," Thames told Zoe as she rested outside of the hotel. "We've had a severe power drain," he finished, lowering the cane he carried and revealing his complete, copper-toned outfit. It was one of his favorites. "What about retrieval?" Zoe demanded firmly, ignoring Thames' poor taste in fashion. "I'm not about to be trapped in time as Alia was, especially as _him_." She emphasized the word by pointing to the aura that surrounded her body. "Hey, baby! Would I do that to you?" he smiled. Zoe glared at him. Thames ignored the glare. "After this contact, we'll only have enough power for one retrieval attempt. So, you'd better leap." Zoe laughed cynically. "I don't intend on staying. The death penalty is not something I wish to encounter." She looked at him firmly. "How bad was the power drain?" "Pretty bad. We've had to stop our jamming their communication lines. There's a pretty good chance that Dr. Beckett know who you are." She smiled. "He doesn't know." "How do you know?" "I just do," she replied. "But I'll be careful, just in case." Thames nodded. "Good idea," he answered sarcastically. He began to fade. "We haven't anymore spare power. We're going to retrieve you in two and one half hours precisely. That should give you enough time to accomplish the mission. Whether you accomplish it, though, we're pulling you back." The Observatory portal opened. "I'll be ready," Zoe assured with a small smile as Thames disappeared in a collage of colors. "I swear, I've told you everything I know," the man whispered in despair. "Now, please, let me go. Or at least kill me. Do something. Don't just stand there and stare at me. Please." Thames looked at the broken man before him - a man who had endured hours of non-stop torture from Lothos. In a way, Thames felt sorry for the man. He had once been very strong- willed, very self-assured. Now, the man was begging to be killed rather than for nothing at all to happen to him. In a way, it was sad to see such a great man fall to such depths. "I can't kill you, remember?" Thames told the man. "And I can't torture you any further or you will die. We can't allow that." The man raised his head weakly and looked at Thames with resignation. "You're a cruel man," he whispered. Thames leaned onto his walking cane. "It's my job, sir." The man took a couple of shallow breaths, weakening slowly. "You're going to kill him," he concluded quietly. "You're going to kill Sam Beckett." Thames nodded. "He'll be dead within the hour," he assured. "And I'll get the blame." Thames nodded again. "You will." The man lowered his head to his chest. "Well, maybe the justice system will be more kind to me than you. Maybe they'll execute me and free me from this guilt." "Guilt for betraying Dr. Beckett?" Thames questioned in a low voice. "Guilt for betraying everything I've ever believed in - duty, honor, self." "They are just words, sir," Thames informed him. "They mean nothing in the grand scheme of things." The man raised his head and looked at his imprisoner. "That's what scares me," he whispered. Thames hesitated a moment. He took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. "In that case, I will make you a promise. If we cannot retrieve our colleague and return you to your own time, I will personally release your bonds and allow you to kill yourself." The man took a deep breath and considered Thames' words seriously before nodding. "Thank you," he whispered almost inaudibly. Thames looked with pity on the soul he had destroyed, pity he normally had for no one. "You're welcome."