Date: Sat, 1 Nov 1997 14:59:19 -0700 (MST) From: "Katherine R. Freymuth" Subject: Choices - Chapter 10 Message-ID: Sorry it took me so long to get this out. I felt it necessary to finish a different story first. ---------- Quantum Leap Choices by Katherine R. Freymuth Copyright 1997 Chapter 10 "Hello, is this Tom Beckett?" "Yes." "Admiral Thomas Beckett, brother of Dr. Samuel Beckett?" "Yes. Who is this?" "Admiral, my name is Dana Aptheker. I'm writing an article on your brother's disappearance." Tom exhaled. "Mr. Aptheker, I'm going to tell you what I've been telling the press for the past four months. I don't know where my brother is. I wish I did. I'm very concerned about him." Dana laughed slightly on the other end of the viewphone. "Actually, I wanted to ask you about April the 8th, 1970." Tom raised his eyebrows in surprise, surprise that Dana hoped was a sign of astonishment rather than confusion. "I thought you said you were doing a story on Sam's disappearance," Tom said, trying to sound confused. Dana smiled. "I am." "So, how is a day from thirty-six years ago related to your story?" "I was hoping you could tell me," Dana told Tom. "What happened on April the 8th?" Tom frowned. "What happened?" he questioned. Dana nodded. "I think you know exactly what I'm talking about, Admiral." He paused dramatically. "Weren't you supposed to die that day and didn't your brother, in the persona of Lieutenant Herbert Williams, prevent your death?" Tom laughed. "Mr. Aptheker, let me give you some free advice." He paused and looked at the man on his viewscreen. "Get psychiatric help now because what you have just said is completely and totally insane." He laughed again. "Let me get this straight. My brother - my very white, very young brother - flew to Vietnam and impersonated my very black friend Magic to save my life on April the 8th, 1970." Dana lowered his eyes with slight annoyance. "Admiral, have you ever heard of Project Quantum Leap?" Tom frowned slightly. "Project what?" "Quantum Leap - your brother's government-funded project. Surely you know about it since you and your brother are so close." Tom leaned back in his chair. "I have no idea what you're talking about, Mr. Aptheker. The last I heard of Sam, he was working on a thesis or an article. However, that was twelve years ago." "Did he give you any explanation for his twelve year disappearance?" Dana pressed. Tom lowered his eyelids slightly. "No, he didn't. And I didn't ask." He took a breath. "Sam enjoys his privacy, Mr. Aptheker, so it's most likely he was, and is now, in a nice secluded hideout where he can think. Now, if you will excuse me, I have a lot of work to do." He disconnected the line before Dana could ask another question. Dana exhaled. It was obvious to him the Admiral Beckett knew more about Project Quantum Leap then he was admitting - which was nothing. Dana needed something more substantial than that. He needed someone who would talk about their experiences - someone who would remember what exactly had happened. He certainly couldn't go through the list one person at a time. A thought came to him. He nodded slightly, opened the binder Zoe had given him and looked up some names and numbers. The drive to Stallion's Gate had been quiet. No one had spoken and nothing had broken the silence except for an occasional beep from the handlink. After Sam pulled the Ferrari into its parking space in the complex's garage, both he and Alex entered the complex. Alex refused Sam's help, keeping with what Al had said about his stubbornness. Alex went immediately to his office, seeming to want to avoid contact with other people. Sam also went to his - rather Al's office, leaving Al to keep an eye on Alex. Moments after Sam entered the office, Al appeared, shaking his head slightly. "Sam, Alex is having another migraine. That's why he was in such a hurry to get to his office." He exhaled. "He worries me, Sam. It's not like him to be so illusive. I didn't really notice his behavior before." Sam didn't answer. He didn't look at his partner, his eyes lowered as he sat at Al's desk. His somberness bothered Al. "What's wrong?" Al asked. Sam raised his eyes slightly. "What's wrong?" he repeated the question. He exhaled slowly. "What's wrong is I think I'm starting to see your point of view with this leap," he told Al quietly. Al nodded. "I see." I remember Alex being so full of life and now..." He sighed. "It's as if he's not really alive anymore. What if I'm here to convince him that he can beat this?" Al closed his eyes. "But you're not, Sam." Sam frowned at him. "Are you so sure?" Al took a slow breath. He looked at Sam firmly. "I convinced Alex that he could beat it, Sam, and it didn't save him. Ziggy says that Alex is going to die, no matter how hard you try to save him." He paused, hesitant. "I'm sorry, Sam, but his only chance at dying with any dignity is for him to die tomorrow." Sam exhaled. He lowered his head thoughtfully. He was beginning to feel at ease with the leap and it bothered him more than anything. He took a breath. "Suppose I really am here to make sure Alex dies in the explosion. How am I going to make sure he's in his office then and that he's the only one killed?" Al exhaled. "Good question." He paused for a moment. "Well, you can't interfere with what your other self is doing so that does put us in a predicament. Remember? You sealed off Level 8 Section G, thus preventing anyone from entering that area." Sam frowned at Al. "If I can't interfere with what I did before, doesn't that go against what you and Ziggy say I'm here to do?" Al hesitated before shaking his head. "Not really. You just have to make sure Alex is in his lab before your other self seals the area and then make sure that Dr. Beckett doesn't know that Alex is in his lab." Sam shook his head. "That won't work, Al. I remember double- checking with Ziggy to make sure no one was in the area." He looked at the Admiral. "And Ziggy obeys my orders over yours." He exhaled. "I can't believe I'm actually planning this out," he said, shameful of himself. Al didn't say anything, looking at his friend with sympathy. "Admiral Calavicci?" Al looked up at the ceiling. "Yeah, Ziggy?" No answer. Al exhaled. He looked at Sam. "It's for you." Sam took a breath. "Yes, Ziggy?" he replied to the computer's beckon for attention. "I thought you should know that you are currently two minutes late for your appointment with Admiral Kalarco." Al closed his eyes and shook his head, obviously annoyed with himself. "Damn, I'd forgotten. Sorry, Sam. My memory isn't what it used to be." He gave him a slight smile. Sam looked at Al questioningly. "Admiral Kalarco?" he mouthed. Al nodded. "Admiral Janet Kalarco, Assistant Director and Chief Administrator of Project Quantum Leap," he told him. "She took my place when I retired. Her office is on Level Five, by the main security office." Sam nodded. "Tell the Admiral that I'll be there shortly." "Yes, Admiral," Ziggy replied before obeying. Al nodded. "You go discuss the budget with Janet and I'll keep an eye on Alex. Those migraines really bother me." Sam looked at Al with questioning. "Does it matter that much when Alex is supposed to die tomorrow?" Al looked into Sam's eyes. "It does to me." He paused, taking a breath. "I'm hoping his migraines have something to do with a way we can avoid the accident for him and come up with an alternative that will work." Sam raised his eyebrows. "Are you changing your mind about this leap?" Al looked at Sam firmly. "Just because I don't want him to die in a hospital bed, doesn't mean I want him to die in an explosion. Right now it's just the best of all the scenarios." He took a breath. "You'd better go. Janet's waiting." Sam nodded slightly before exiting the office, leaving Al standing in the center of the room. A moment later, Al raised the handlink, pressed a few buttons, and winked out.