Date: Thu, 12 Dec 1996 14:29:09 -0700 (MST) From: "Katherine R. Freymuth" Subject: Coup d'Etat - Chapter 18 Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Chapter 18: Decisions Four hours had passed since Al last saw Sam. He was worried and it showed in his lack of attention to Beth's medical orders to keep an ice pack on his swollen neck. One thing he was grateful for, though. Beth and he could now be in the same quarters together. Beth had gone to the infirmary to check on Al's men. Last Al had heard, there were only a few left in the infirmary. The rest were in their quarters, being watched constantly for insurrection. And insurrection was exactly what was on Al's mind. He needed his men to be ready for action and, more importantly, he needed a plan. That, in itself, was becoming increasingly difficult. Harry, like the mercenary he was, was reluctant to help with the planning of any large scale plan. He believed in every man for himself first, which meant that he'd live longer if he didn't rock the boat. Al took a deep breath and winced. His mind had been so occupied that he really hadn't given much notice to how much his throat really hurt. He considered himself lucky, though. If Burke had kicked him any harder, his larynx might have been crushed, thus causing him to suffocate to death. He placed his chilled ice bag on his throat as he stood from his bed. He decided to check on Sam. He knew that Sam was probably as worried about him as he was worried about Sam. He opened his quarters' door to be confronted by one of Burke's soldiers. The soldier stood in the doorway, blocking Al's path. "I'm going to the Control Room," Al told the soldier. The soldier escorted Al to his destination and stood waiting outisde of the Control Room as Al entered to find Burke, Stewart, and Major Taylor talking with each other. "Ah! Admiral! I was just about to call you down," Burke said in a sickeningly cheerful voice as Al walked towards the control console. "Don't you think that it is passed time for Dr. Beckett to leap?" "Dr. Beckett does not leap until he has completed his mission," Al told him blandly as he selected a handlink. Having done so, he slipped the handlink into the khaki pants that he procured, along with a navy polo shirt, from the complex's uniform wardrobe. "The doctor _has_ completed his mission and he has not leaped," Burke pointed out less than patiently. "He probably has one more thing to do before leaping," Al commented casually, knowing he was pushing Burke's buttons. "That may be so, Admiral," Taylor put in. "However, his orders come from General Burke. It would be better if he leaped now, sir." Al looked at her for a moment. *So formal even to the enemy*, he thought. He gave her a forced smile. "I'll let me know your sentiments." He walked towards the Imaging Chamber door. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a job to do." ********************* Sam leaned back against a wall, thinking about the actions he had taken in the past four hours. Everything he had done was risky but he felt that it was the only way to kill two birds with one stone, to insure that the Dover family wouldn't fall apart and to bring hisory back to normal. He was more than a little glad to hear the swoosh of the Imaging Chamber door, announcing Al's arrival. "What the hell?" Al asked as he looked around at his surroundings. "Sam, what are you doing in a jail cell?" Sam looked at Al with pleasure. It was good to see him but he knew that Al wouldn't like the answer to his question. "I turned myself in," he said as if the answer should be known to Al already. Al furrowed his eyebrows and stared at Sam. "What?" Sam sighed. "It was the only way I could think of to get Alex and Christina back together. If they're more worried about Cheryl then they are about themselves, maybe they'll listen to each other." Al shook his head, taking the handlink out of his pocket. "I don't see how this is going to work, Sam." He looked at the handlink and raised his eyebrows in surprise. "What d'ya know? It worked! The bank drops all charges against Cheryl, calling the whole thing clerical error. The whole sequence of events makes Alex and Christina realize what is really important in their lives." He looked at Sam firmly. "And everything turns out fine. Good job, Sam. Looks like it's time for you to leap." Sam looked at Al carefully. "And Burke?" Al shrugged with disappointment. "Hey, nothing's ever a complete success." "He still has the stock?" Sam questioned. Al nodded. As he did so, a blinding white light engulfed the Imaging Chamber and then dissipated, revealing light, baby blue walls. Al sighed with some relief. Sure, Sam was travelling in time again but at least some of the pressure Al was under was temporarily relieved. Unfortunately, it also meant that Al had to leave the Imaging Chamber and face Burke. He took a deep breath, tightened his navy shirt down as a nervous habit, and left the Imaging Chamber. Burke stood by Ziggy, waiting. He wasn't in a friendly mood and that suited Al just fine. He distrusted Burke even more when the man had a smile on his face. "Good work, Admiral," Burke told him plainly. "Now, get some lunch and return to your quarters." Al's eyebrows rose slightly. "That sounded awfully like an order, General. What ever happened to working as compatriots?" "It is an order, Admiral," Burke told him. "It's obvious that you are not willing to work _with_ me so now you will work _for_ me. And remember, I have the support of Congress." Al walked briskly up to Burke. Despite being shorter than Burke and out of uniform, he gave a more commanding air than Burke could ever in uniform. "That's bullshit," Al told him plainly, glaring at him. "And both you and I know it, Burke." Burke raised his head and looked down on Al. "You're dismissed, Calavicci. Major Taylor, please escort this man to his quarters and don't let him out of your sight." Taylor, who stood by the Waiting Room, marched up and saluted Burke. She then turned to Al. "If you will follow me, sir?" she requested. Al gave her a lecherous smile. "Only if it leads to your quarters," he teased. Taylor dropped her eyelids. "Move it, funny boy, before I decide to drag you." Al bowed his head dramatically and started out of the Control Room, Taylor and Al's original escort following him. Stewart went to Burke's side as they watched Al and the others leave the room. "We may have to wrap this up sooner than planned," Stewart told him. Burke looked at him with suspicion. "And blow the whole thing? No. Let me handle Admiral Calavicci. He won't be a problem anymore." ************************ Al stepped into the elevator with Taylor and his original escort. He pressed the fourth level button and looked at Taylor with curiosity. "You know, it occurs to me, Major Taylor, that you know my first name but I don't know yours." "You have very poor pick-up lines, Admiral," Taylor replied. Al laughed slightly. "I don't need pick-up lines. I've been happily married for forty years." "Not for another year and three months, Admiral." Al shook his head. "Now, I know this isn't fair. You know nearly everything about me and I know nothing about you. And your boss says we're all compatriots? I don't think so." "General Burke is not my boss, Admiral," Taylor told him. "I am my own boss." Al stepped out of the elevator the moment the doors opened. "That's funny. You seem like career military to me and everyone in the military has a boss, including me." Taylor followed Al out of the elevator, the escort directly behind her. "Let's go," she ordered Al. Al obeyed, walking towards his quarters. "You still haven't told me your first name," Al pointed out. "Genine," Taylor told him bluntly. Al smiled. "Very pretty name. May I call you Genine?" They stopped in front of Al's quarters. Taylor placed her palm on the sensor plate, opening the door. "No," she answered Al as she waited for him to enter the quarters. Al looked at her. Seduction wasn't going to get this woman to open up. He had to think of something else. "Okay. End of discussion," Al surmised aloud, walking into the quarters.. The door closed behind him before he could even turn around. He had been locked in. "Great," Al moaned. "From one prison to another." ----------------------------------------------- Want more? Please be patient. It's finals week at my school and I have a lot to do before Christmas holiday. Thanks for your comments. It really means a lot to us. Rob and Kathie Freymuth