From: Zakharin Newsgroups: alt.ql.creative,alt.tv.quantum-leap.creative Subject: QL: Repost "For Tomorrow We Leap" Part04/05 Date: Thu, 08 Aug 1996 17:13:10 -0400 Organization: Voicenet - Internet Access - (215)674-9290 Message-Id: <320A572B.2862@voicenet.com> For Tomorrow We Leap By Boris Zakharin Part 4/5 I forgot the date of The Leap Back. Can someone remind me? I am reposting chapter 4 by request because it seemed not to get through. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Sam leaped. As always, his body became unconcious. He was rushed into the waiting room where all the equipment was ready to receive the next leaper. Meanwhile, in the accelerator chamber, Donna was getting prepared to make her first leap. She said the final good byes and put on a pink firmi suit. Not all the advancements in the project technology could be put to use. For example, she had to be leapt the old way, not into a particular person, but just somewhere out there. The fix to the Swiss Cheese affect was applied. "Gooshie, start the countdown!" Al exclaimed. "Stand by. 10, 9,.. accelerator online,.. 8, 7, 6,.. antimagnafluxer applied,.. 5, 4,.. Stand by for power increase (Santa Fe, prepare for a brownout),.. 3, 2,.. accelerator online,.. 1, 0, Now!" Gooshie threw the Accelerator switch from off to on. Ziggy said, "Congradulations, the leap went as planned." Donna found herself in a big corridor. Something about it looked familiar. As the effects of the leap completely wore off, she read the sign on the door next to her, "Imaging Chamber". On the opposite side there was a similar door marked "Accelerator Chamber". Donna muttered a hardly audible "Oh Boy..." * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "For tomorrow we leap" Day 006, 2003 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Sam got up from the frozen puddle. As he was standing up, he realized that he did not know where to go. "Where's Al when I need him?" Suddenly, he saw a familiar face walking up the street. He realized who that was. "Gooshie?" Gooshie looked up at the unknown man in surprize. "Do I know you?" Breaking his own rules yet again, he introduced himself. It turned out that he leaped into Santa Fe, New Mexico. The year was 003 (or 2003 by our calendar). His future self was... dead. Sam realized that he was apparently there to somehow change that. It turned out to be the attempt to retrieve him. It appears a thunderstorm in the time Sam was leaped into was to blame. The lightning seems to have struck him and scattered all his particles around effectively killing him. "So why didn't I warn Al not to retrieve me this time?" Sam queried. Gooshie's suggestion was to talk to Al about the circumstances. Project Quantum Leap was cancelled in the end of year 2001 after Sam died on day 036. Cleanup of project equipment was allowed for a year. Ziggy was allowed to remain for a bit longer so that its programs would be recorded and its databases could be drained so that no one could get classified information from a pile of scrapmetal somewhere. Ziggy was depressed ever since. Gooshie was releaved of his duty on new year's day of 2002, but Al remained for Ziggy's destruction. Al was obviously avoiding Sam's death, but, as much as Sam wanted to hear about what happened on the project, his time was running out. Upon inquiry, Al, after hesitating for a few minutes, finally related the story in full. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Day 014, 2001 Al, Gooshie, and the rest of the staff kept a close eye on the leaps. Almost at the same time, both leap signals were picked up. An hour later, Donna's time and place were established. Sam's weren't. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * September 1999 (the TLB date) Donna cought a glimpse of herself in the metal pipe running across the tunnel and saw her own reflection in it. She leaped into herself. She carefully opened the imaging chamber door, but closed it right away seeing Sam in it instead of Al. She remembered everything now. They received a letter from Sam and Al in 1945 for emergency opening of the imaging chamber. Donna just followed her actions as best as she could remember. Suddenly, Al's image appeared. "Hello. Your name is Dr. Donna Alessi and you are in September Blank, 1999. We don't know what you are here to do, but remember, it is _not_ to keep Sam from leaping again. If you do, Ziggy gives a 92% chance there will be a major paradox in time which could cause unknown effects." Al left the imaging chamber right away. He was used to talking with Sam about other things on a leap, but Donna meant no nonsense. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Day 006, 2003 "...but I knew Donna meant no nonsense. Besides, I had to locate you. We worked on it all day, but to no avail. The next morning, Ziggy informed us that Sam leaped. On the next leap, we did locate you... in 2002. You swiss cheesed out all that we are talking about right now. We tried to retrieve you and you know the rest. Donna was retrieved the next day with no problem." Sam thought desperately. Obviously, the last time around, he did the same thing, met Al and had this conversation. He knew it was no use to try to think it out. That's what he did last time. Suddenly, he realized that he must not leap. The best way to do that was to stay there with the project and do nothing. Sam hated doing nothing, but doing anything would be risking leaping. "Oh Boy..." * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * To be continued... -- Boris Zakharin zakharin@juno.com Editor, Quantum Leap Mailing List Zakharin.QLML@juno.com My family zakharin@voicenet.com My homepage including QLML online http://www.voicenet.com/~zakharin "Those who dance with the devil are bound to get burned" -Al the devil, "The B**gi*m*n", Quantum Leap Remember, even if you win the rat race, you're still a rat...