Date: Wed, 9 Jun 93 11:22:51 EDT From: Tracy Finifter To: alt-ql-creative@cisco.com Subject: "A New Face to Reality" Part 7 Message-Id: "A New Face to Reality" by Tracy E. Finifter Part 7 Sam took a deep breath as the passengers started walking into the terminal of the airport. The moment of truth had come, and once again he was left unsure of what to expect. Never before could he recall a leap filled with so many uncertainties. When he finally saw himself, however, it seemed more unreal than anything else. The Sam Beckett from the future had gone so long without seeing his face in the mirror that the sight of himself twenty years younger seemed more like a familiar friend rather than his own self. Once 'Bingo' spotted Sam, he came running over, dropping his carry-on bag and throwing his arms around the time-traveler. "Tom! It's great to see you!" "How's it going, little brother?" Sam asked, trying as best he could to sound like his own older brother. "Great! Sandy, hi! How are you?" Bingo asked, turning his attention to his sister-in-law. "Fine, Sam. Just fine," she replied noncommittally. Next, Bingo grabbed hold of the younger daughter and lifted her high in the air. "And how are the two prettiest girls in the world doing?" Karen just eyed Bingo strangely, finally glancing back over at Sam, and then to Bingo again. It was Rachel who finally spoke up. "Why are there two Uncle Sams?" she asked, her voice the pinnacle of innocence. Uh oh, here it comes, Sam thought grimly, certain that whatever cover he had hoped to hold was about to be shot down from the mouths of babes. "I swear, I don't know what's gotten into those children lately," Sandy said, finally giving up on understanding her daughters' behavior. The young Sam just brushed the comment off. "Well, it's great to see you, too. Give your Uncle Sam a kiss." Deciding she was tired of being confused, Karen obliged by giving her young uncle a peck on the cheek. Rachel did likewise when Bingo knelt to put Karen down. He then picked up his bag, and the group started walking down the terminal towards the baggage claim. As they were emerging from the terminal, Sam caught sight of Al watching him, puffing his cigar and standing casually in the background as if he were just part of the crowd. Once the hologram noticed that his friend had seen him, he slowly pulled out the handlink, touched a button, and popped back out of sight. "So Sam, how's everything going?" Sandy inquired after a few minutes of silence. She had apparently expected 'Tom' to say something, but the older Sam remained deadly quiet. "Terrific. I just finished my doctorate thesis and the department is reviewing it now." "And this was for...?" Sandy asked. The older Sam answered automatically, "Ancient languages." He suddenly remembered that he had gotten his doctorate in ancient languages in 1980. "Right," Bingo acknowledged. "How many doctorates does that make now?" Sandy inquired. "Four? Five?" "Six." Again, it was the older Sam answering automatically. "Four," corrected Bingo. "I only have four doctorates, Tom." He seemed a little hurt that his brother had made the mistake. "Only four," Sandy mused. "My brother-in-law, the genius, is upset that he only has four degrees." "Well, give yourself some time," Sam commented, ignoring Sandy's remark. "Whatever you say, Tom," Bingo replied, amused at the prospect of securing six doctorate degrees. "Hmm. Maybe next time I'll go for something just for the fun of it, like music or something." He broke out of his musings. "Anyway, what have you been up to?" "Oh, this and that," Sam answered, not knowing how else to answer. His eyes were darting around the terminal nervously, facing every direction but Bingo's. For some reason, he couldn't bring himself to look in his eyes. Sandy gave a concerned look at Sam, worried by his distant attitude towards his 'brother'. It was something she was going to have to talk with him about later. But now was a time for catching up with family. "So, Sam," she said, "how long are you going to be staying with us?" "Only 'till Thursday. I have to get back to Columbia to defend my thesis on Friday." "Well, we're glad you can spend the next couple days with us," she said. "What's next on your agenda, after graduation?" Sam thought back to the events of 1980. If he recalled correctly, his next step would be to obtain a music doctorate and another degree, the field of which he Swiss-cheesed brain couldn't remember. Then would come the Starbright project in about two years where he would meet Al, with them both eventually moving on to Project Quantum Leap. The rest, as the saying went, was history. "I haven't decided yet," Bingo said. "I might go back for another degree, or I've been offered research and teaching positions by both the government and several universities. I'll have to look at my options." "Well, I'm sure whatever you do you'll be great," Sandy encouraged. "Tom, are you okay?" Bingo asked, upon noticing Sam's distant expression. "Oh, sorry. I just, I didn't get much sleep last night." Sandy shot him another concerned glance. At least it was the truth, Sam thought to himself. He had enough things to sort through during this leap than to concern his younger alter-ego needlessly. It was as they were walking out of the baggage claim towards the airport parking lot when Sam finally realized exactly what was bothering him about this encounter: it was yet another experience that he had obviously had, yet had no memory of. He took a look at his younger self before they all got into the car to head home. His memories were no longer real. Reality itself had changed. * Tracy Finifter | "Life is what happens to you while * * finifter@gandalf.rutgers.edu | your busy making other plans." * * Douglass College, Rutgers University | - John Lennon *