Date: Wed, 7 Dec 1994 12:33:56 -0600 (CST) From: "Tommy L. Howell" <1tlh0284@tstc.edu> Subject: LeapTrax Message-Id: LeapTrax By Tommy Howell (A brief note on conventions here. Selma is denoted by /slash marks/ around her quotations and Ziggy is denoted by ~tildes~ around her quotations.) It began in the future with the Quantum Leap accelerator, a scientist who vanished, and an observer who must search, into the past. Now he is among us, a sensitive breed of man. He has one mission and a holographic observer named Al. With him, he will travel through time, searching for wrongs to be righted, knowing that he cannot go on until his work is done. His name is Samuel Beckett and this is his story. Theorizing that criminals were escaping into the past, Captain Darien Lambert stepped into the Trax machine and vanished. He awoke to find himself dropped in the Smithsonian, chasing criminals from his own time and driven by his lawful nature to make history safer. His only guide on this journey is Selma, a computer from his own time, who appears in the form of a hologram that only Darien can see and hear. And so Captain Lambert finds himself tracking down crooks striving t send back to where they belong and hoping each time to find them all so that he may return home. /My Captain was returning to Washington, D.C. when news that gang-related hate crimes in the nation's capital was increasing. Further reports indicated that white supremacist gangs were responsible for attacks on prominent gays and lesbians across the city. Knowing my Captain, he will find a way to help ease tensions in his adopted city./ /\/\/\/\/\/\/\bbbrrrrzzzuuupppp/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ (Sam leaps in to Darien in the characteristic blue flash) Selma goes to VISUAL MODE. /Captain, are you all right? My sensors registered a brief surge of temporal energy that completely enveloped you. I currently detect that your heart rate and breathing patterns have changed radically./ "Oh, boy!" ~-~-~- ~Admiral Calavicci, there is a new leapee in the waiting room. He seems rather restless.~ Al slaps the handlink and barks "On my way, Ziggy." Al arrives at the waiting room and keys his security clearance to gain entry into the chamber. It still unnerves him to see someone using his buddy's body. The garishly arrayed man enters the room to face an agitated, but handsome man in his mid-40's wearing a white Fermi suit. Before Al can begin the contact protocol, the man grabs Al's neon ultrabright tie near the neck and pulls him close. Al can feel the frustration, confusion and anger from this man. When Al does not display any fear, Darien is further confused, flustering him into opening the dialogue. "Where am I?" he demanded, "Where are my credit cards and keys?" Al understands the significance of the first question, but the second one is going to take a lot of explaining. The Admiral begins cautiously, "You are part of a time travel experiment that went a little ca-ca." The leapee retorts, "What do you know about temportation? Are you working with Dr. Sahmbi?" Al's handlink begins to chirp, so he looks down at it. Darien looks down and is amazed and further confused. "Where did you get that relic? Modular crystal computer links were not developed until the late 1990s and went out of use in the mid 2030s." The handlink chirped more insistently till Al slapped it and it.. it seemed to whine. Al looks up at Sam's face and says, "It would be really helpful if you could tell me who you are and exactly what you think the date is." Darien gets the impression that he's not in immediate danger, certainly not from this man. Carefully, he replies, "My name is Darien Lambert and the date is June 21, 1994." Al lifts the handlink, "Got that Ziggy?" ~Yes, Admiral, I have gathered enough data on Captain Lambert to be able to tell you that he is also a time traveler... from 200 years into the future. Because of the Swiss- cheese effect, I am authorizing you to completely brief Captain Lambert. My preliminary computations seem to be indicating that both Sam and Darien must accomplish something in order for Sam to leap, although it is too early yet to make any other projections. Oh, and Admiral, when you are finished there, Gooshie will have the Imaging Chamber ready.~ Now it is Al's turn to be stunned. He has never heard Ziggy authorize a full briefing much less reveal that a leapee must set something right in order to leap. The closest thing that he can recall is when Sam leaped into Dr. Ruth. ~-~-~-~- Selma is still standing in front of Sam with her inquisitive grin. A ripple zips through her holographic appearance. Sam is bewildered, "Are you my new observer? Have I changed history so much that I've lost Al?" Now it was Selma's turn to look confused. /Captain, are you sure that you do not require medical attention?/ Sam looked up at Selma and asked, "Who are you? And how is that you are a fully realized hologram? For that matter, who am I?" Selma's hologram rippled a few more times as she was truly perplexed as to what had happened to her Captain. /I am SELMA, a Self-Contained Limitless Memory Archive. You are Darien Lambert, Captain, Fugitive Retrieval Section, 2193 A.D./ Sam looked up incredulously, "Am I really in 2193 A.D.?" /No, Captain, you are in 1994 where we have been sending 22nd century fugitives back home. Are you sure you are not in need of medical attention? Surely amnesia warrants medical supervision. Ah, I have an idea... Please take the credit card out of your pocket and place it on your forehead./ Sam looked at Selma skeptically, "What is that for?" /I will be able to perform a more complete scan and perhaps be able to diagnose your amnesia./ Sam obediently did as Selma instructed, thinking how foolish this all must look. Selma quickly completed her Omniscan. An even more puzzled look appeared on her pretty face. Staring down at Sam, she exclaimed, /You are not my Captain! My scan shows that you have a different brainwave pattern overlaying Captain Lambert's. Do you have any explanatio before I stun you into unconsciousness?/ Sam realized that he was on the spot here. Quietly, he began to explain that he was Sam Beckett, a physicist with a theory of time travel and how he came to be quantum leaping. During his story, Selma was cross checking all available references on one Samuel Beckett, born in Elk Ridge, Indiana, August 8, 1953 and won the Nobel Prize for his work in Quantum Physics in 1994. Selma began checking for the Nobel Prize announcements. Interestingly enough, the 1994 Nobel Prizes had not been announced yet. While Sam continued talking, Selma discreetly tracked down the 1994 Sam Beckett and placed a telephone call to his project's security center. Selma found a way into Project Quantum Leap's security network. After some looking, she found what she really wanted, records of Sam's brain waves. Due to the neurological hologram interface, /so that's why he was confused about my being his holographic observer/, Sam's brain waves were on record. She wanted to do one more thing while she was here. Tapping into the security camera grid, she quickly found the 1994 Sam Beckett and Admiral Al Calavicci hard at work on the Parallel-Hybrid SuperComputer. As an afterthought, she reflected that Ziggy would be her "great-great- grandmother". Selma shifted her concentration back onto Sam who was finishing up his story. She quickly assimilated all that he had said and all that she had learned from PQL. Her analysis informed her that he was indeed Sam Beckett, a 20th Century time traveler. She turned to him and said, /Well then, your story corroborates. We must now determine what you are here to do. Just before you "slang phrase" leaped in, I was telling my Captain about the increase in hate crimes in Washington, D.C. Captain Lambert, although Caucasian, is considered a minority in our time. I felt sure that he would do something to help. Now that you are here, this certainly fits your modus operandi, as it were./ Sam turned to her to inquire further when he heard the familiar sound of the imaging chamber door. "Sam! This one's a lulu! The guy in the waiting room is a time traveler from the 22nd century!" Al was wearing an outrageous dayglow orange jacket with a neon pink and blue tie that glowed. He was waving his stogie and punching on the handlink trying to keep calm in the face of the extraordinary circumstances. Al was about to go into detail on what Ziggy thought was going on with this leap when he realized that Sam was not alone. "Oooh, baby! Come to papa! For an old-fashioned looking babe, you are hot!" Selma had determined that the neurological hologram was present, since Sam was distracted. She tuned into Sam's brainwaves just in time for Al's come on. /You, sir, are crass and sexist. You're sexual aggression is ineffective against such a sophisticated intelligence as myself./ Both Sam and Al do double takes. Sam regains his composure first, "You can see him?" /Indeed. I determined that your holographic contact was occupying your attention, so I was able to isolate your neuron and meson transmissions at just the right moment to hear Admiral Calavicci address me so rudely./ "Yes, well, he's like that most of the time, but otherwise he is extremely helpful for me during leaps." /Yes, I am quite aware that one's good points often outweigh one's idiosyncrasies. Although Captain Lambert would say that your friendship would be a "guy thing."/ "I'd love to stay and chat with you two prudes, but I need to get some information from you," Al stated authoritatively. Selma and Sam gave Al their undivided attention. Al asked if they had any ideas about Sam's purpose for this leap. Selma outlined the situation for Al. Sam suddenly lit up realizing what the date was. "Al, this is right after Bruce was appointed Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks. Didn't he have some trouble with gay-bashers in the summer of '94? Something about his daughter?" Al punched at the handlink, giving it the obligatory bonk to make it function properly. Before Al could begin, Selma offered an encapsulated view of the present: /Bruce Lehman was appointed by President Clinton and approved by both houses of Congress to be the Associate Secretary of Commerce and the Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks. The slang phrase, "Czar of Intellectual Property" has been attached to him. Ah, here it is, he is the first openly gay male to be appointed to such a high ranking position within the U.S. Government./ Al continued from there, "Yeah, Ziggy's data adds that he and his partner have been harassed quite a bit since the appointment. I know he's been your friend for a long time Sam, I hope you can do something to stop the kidnappers from hurting that little girl. Sam, she's only 8 years old. I've got to go help Ziggy and Darien figure out what business Darien has in 1999." The Imaging Chamber door opens and Al steps through it and is gone. Selma pipes in, breaking the silent stillness left by Al's departure, /Why are people so quick to try to hurt others because of real or imagined differences? Gays and lesbians are so fully accepted into society in my time, much more so than various nationalities because they encompass all nationalities, that hate crimes against them solel on the basis of their sexual orientation are unimaginable./ Sam looked sadly up at Selma, "I don't know, people find it easier to hate than to love. Part of my job seems to be to bring hope to those people who are persecuted, regardless. Justice requires that all people receive equal protection under the law. It is simply the right thing to do." /You are very much like my Captain. I shall enjoy working with you during your "leap."/ Taken aback, all Sam can do is smile and say, "Thank you, Selma!" -~-~-~- Al returns to the PQL command center to find Ziggy and Darien having a mild discussion. He catches some jibe about Ziggy and Selma. Darien is laughing, but Ziggy is not amused. Just then Gooshie comes running in, "Admiral Calavicci! Congressman Griego called asking to meet with you concerning continued funding for the project. I suggest you return his call." At the name, Darien perks up. "Did you say Congressman Griego? Congressman Jorge Griego?" Gooshie looks at Darien and exclaims, "Yes, but how do you know Congressman Griego? He wasn't elected until 1996. He's serving his second term on the House of Representatives. He's managed to secure a seat on the finance committee. For some reason, he took a peculiar interest in Project Quantum Leap even though we are in the adjacent Congressional district." Al had something to say, "That slimeball is about to get on my nerves. Do you think he might be one of your nozzles?" Darien looked at Al with a lost look on his face, "Nozzles?" Al replied, "Nozzle, you know, bad guy, bone head, weasel." "Oh, ok, the name and occupation certainly match up. He's pretty slimy. He used to run a drug and slavery ring near the Mexican border. He'd smuggle beautiful women out to the South American drug Czars and import their exotic drugs, ruining thousands of lives in the southwest. Do you happen to have a recent image of him for comparison?" Ziggy finally decided to make herself useful, ~Here, on the main viewscreen, is the security footage from his last visit.~ :The tape runs to reveal a Hispanic man in his early 50's, rather dashing with salt-and-pepper hair. The man is walking down one of the corridors of the project being led toward the Admiral's conference room. Griego's eyes are constantly searching, almost spying on every detail of the project.: The tape ends and Darien is sure that this congressman is a fugitive from the 22nd century. "Yeah, that's him. The main problem is that I don't have my PPT to send him back." ~How do you communicate with your own time?~ Darien had to think for a minute. The swiss-cheese effect was finall kicking in. He didn't have that much contact with 2193. Something about a newspaper. "Oh, great, a newspaper, only you can't remember which one." ~Would they even still be watching for your ads in five more years?~ Darien had no answer. "Surely they must. Especially if I place one back in 1994 letting them know about it." Al spoke up, "The swiss-cheese effect works both ways. You'd forget to place the ad. I'll need to get Selma to place the ad before Sam leaps out. She'll also know which newspaper." ~Admiral, I've determined which newspaper Captain Lambert uses for communication. The Washington Post's Personals during 1993 and 1994 have cryptic ads that point to Darien and their Trax machine. Also, there seems to be some indication that any delivery from the future will arrive at the Smithsonian Institute.~ "Right! I remember always having to go into the Women's restroom in the basement of the Smithsonian whenever I got something from home. Ziggy can you place the ad in tomorrow's Washington Post for a short-term use PPT? And a trip to the capital?" ~Consider it done... Darien.~ -~-~-~ "Now, if Darien's a police captain in your time, I presume, he some comparable cover here in the 20th century." /You presume right, Dr. Beckett, my Captain has established credentials with the ISA - Internal Security Agency - so that you would be in a very nice position to help Mr. Lehman./ "Thank you, Selma, you are most efficient. Now, how do we get to Bruce's office?" /My Captain enjoys riding a Harley Davidson motorcycle, which is currently parked outside his apartment. The keys are in your jacket pocket. Please be aware that the keyring is not a sophisticated car alarm, but the Captain's sidearm. The red button fires a deadly dose of TXP, the blue button is for stun, and the green button is for sending fugitives back to the future. TXP is the chemical preparation for temportation via the Trax machine./ An hour later, Sam arrives at the Commissioner's office. After showing his badge, Mr. Lehman agrees to speak with 'Captain Lambert of the ISA.' Sam apprises the dapper Associate Secretary of Commerce of his fear that Mr. Lehman's daughter might be in danger. The Commissioner agrees that she might be targeted, since most of the hate-mongering groups do not think that gays or lesbians should be raising children. Mr. Lehman tells Sam that the girl's mothers have her today, but that he and his partner would be picking her up this evening, to go to the symphony. Lehman also indicates that they'll have the girl the remainder of the week, since it is summertime. Sam suggests that he accompany the two men this evening, in order to provide additional protection. Surely, these thugs won't attack with both sets of sets of parents around, there's too many people. Sam also suggests that he call the mothers and arrange for additional witnesses to be present so as to further discourage the gangs. Sam says he'll do some more digging for clues, but will be back at 5:30. Sam left the office nervous and excited because he wanted so much to tell his old friend that the project was a success and the Quantum Accelerator worked. Part of the problem of time traveling is keeping from making unnecessary changes in the original history. Sam simply could not afford to tell him, because as the Commissioner on Patents, he'd be hard pressed to keep that secret. /chirp/chirp/chirp/ "Huh, what's that? Selma? What is it?" /I just wanted to let you know that you did a marvelous job back there and didn't blow your cover. He's called to verify your credentials. I intercepted the call and gave you a glowing recommendation. He should not be so nervous this evening. Oh, also, Dr. Beckett, my scan of Mr. Lehman's office turned up something rather unusual. I detected a crude variant of TXP, the chemical portion of our means of temportation. My findings suggest that the compound is most likely in a large crystalline form, perhaps like a geode or possibly finely cut as jewelry. I did a rather thorough check on your Mr. Lehman and his entire staff to ascertain that none of them were fugitives from the 22nd century. They are all, as you say, "clean." When we return later this afternoon, you should ask regarding the contents of the small black case on his desk. If this item is seeking patent, try to gain as much information as possible about it. One of its properties should be absorption of delta radiation./ <<<<>>>> "Sam, Ziggy says that you have got to make sure that you must find out who is seeking a patent on those earrings on Lehman's desk. Ziggy says that the little girl is not in any danger, but that finding out more about these earrings is what you are here for." "Hi Al. Selma was just explaining that she detected some kind of jewelry or crystal that was a crude variant on their temportation chemical. I wonder why Ziggy is interested in that." Both Sam and Al were puzzled over something that both computers thought to mention but that Sam did not notice when he was in the office. Contemplating whether he should say anything, Al spoke up, "Ziggy's keeping awfully quiet on this. She just listened to everything that Darien could tell her about Trax and his mission and then she just shut up. Gooshie is certain that she is chewing on all that new information, but that business about the jewelry is all I could get out of her." Sam replied, "Hmmm... we'll return in a few hours according to the arrangements we already made and get some answers from Lehman. I'm hungry, so we're going to go get something to eat." Al had one more thing to say before he left, "Oh, I need to tell Selma that Captain Lambert has discovered a 22nd century fugitive right in PQL's backyard. He's placing an ad in the Post to have a new PPT sent to 1999 so he can send this nozzle back. He says he's got to go to the Smithsonian to pick up the package. Ziggy approved all of this right before she got quiet. Sam, I'm going to go with Darien to nail this creep since he is running around with your face and all." Always concerned about Al's adventuring, Sam just said, "You be careful and keep Darien safe." Al just nodded and punched a few buttons on the handlink. The imaging chamber door appeared, characteristically bright and rectangular, and Admiral Calavicci stepped through it and disappeared. -~-~-~ Darien was getting ready for Al to drive him to El Paso to fly into Washington D.C. when Ziggy finally finished cogitating on all the information that Darien had provided. ~Captain Lambert, please come to the control room. I have an additional mission for you to carry out while at the Smithsonian.~ Arriving in the control room, Darien found Admiral Calavicci and Tina dressed to the nines. The Admiral was in his dress whites with all the gold trim and fruit salad that Al had earned. Tina was also dressed rather extravagantly in some gravity-defying pink chiffon formal with little blinking lights swirling in the skirt. Tina giggled when she saw that Darien was underdressed, "Silly boy, you need to put on the tuxedo. We have an appointment with the director of the Smithsonian." Ziggy cut in, ~She's right, you do have an appointment with the director. You'll need to deliver this box.~ A small black velvet case about the size of a pen set was illuminated from one of Ziggy's multicolored crystal boxes in the control room. ~This is a time capsule that I need sent to your time. Since you explained about the Smithsonian Institute in your time, it seems appropriate that something could be stored there to reach your time. The box is preprogrammed to open at a predetermined date. Due to the sensitive nature of changing timelines, I cannot tell you any more beyond that. Admiral Calavicci and Tina will brief you on other details en route.~ Darien wasn't sure what to make of the secrecy, but he wasn't going to let Ziggy interfere with his mission to retrieve Jorge Griego. He dashed back to "his" room and changed clothes. Returning to the control room, Tina gawked in wonder, "You sure do look like Dr. Beckett the night he accepted the Nobel Prize." Darien smiled broadly. He, of course, had looked in the mirror and saw that Dr. Beckett was handsome and he kinda liked that white streak in the front; he thought it added character. Al, Tina and Darien made all the connections to land at Dulles. Tina had arranged for a limousine to take them to the Smithsonian. Darien was to present himself as Dr. Samuel Beckett, requesting that an exhibit be established for his time capsule. Ziggy, of course, had already done all the ground work, so this was little more than 'pick-up and delivery.' Tina also said that she would retrieve Darien's package from the ladies room in the basement, saving him tha particular embarrassment. The well-dressed trio went to the director's office to state their case. Al did most of the talking and Darien was glad he had paid attention in his 10th grade Quantum Physics class, since he had to throw out some technojargon to be convincing. The director agreed to set up the exhibit for them. Since Ziggy had made all the arrangements, everything was completely ready and Darien found the reason for the tux. There was a ceremony commemorating the new "Project Quantum Leap" time capsule designed to reach forward two hundred years. "Dr. Beckett" and his crew found that the media had been alerted, so there was photographers and reporters. Since Dr. Beckett had not made any personal appearances in almost five years, this ended up being a little more than Darien had bargained for. Darien just took a deep breath and drew upon all his resources to address the crowd. Using his natural wit and charm, Darien made a brief statement and offered some assurances about Project Quantum Leap. Al ended up fielding several questions for "Sam," but the media didn't seem to take too much notice. Luckily the unexpected press conference was brief and Al was glad to have that finished. He looked at Darien confidently and gave him the ol' "attaboy." Apparently the ruse had been successful and the "time capsule" was placed on permanent display at the Smithsonian Institute. Tina looked down at her watch, it was almost time for the package from the future to arrive. She giggled at Al, excused herself and headed for the basement stairs. Just she was about out of sight, she turned to Darien and winked at him. About 10 minutes later, Tina came back up positively glowing, but carrying only the dainty handbag that she started with. Al wasn't sure what to think. She came up and snuggled up close to Al, nibbling at his ear, "I got it! Its a tiny little thing." Al signaled Darien that it was time to go. The three made their way to the waiting limousine outside. Once all three were settled, Tina pulled the small package out of her purse. Darien opened it quickly. Inside was the familiar keyring, but with four buttons, instead of three. Al looked down at the thing, "A car alarm? How ingenious. Nobody would expect that." Darien grinned, "Yeah, this one's a little different from my other one, but whenever I'm searched, nobody thinks about a car alarm being a weapon. The blue button is for stun, the red button is for kill, and the green button is for retrieval." Tina piped in, "What's the Yellow button for?" Darien was just as much in the dark about the yellow button as Tina, so he said, "I don't have any idea, but I think we need to be in a safer place to experiment with it." Al agreed that there was plenty of open space near PQL and their return flight was in about an hour, so they would not have time to test it until then anyway. The whole thrust of Darien's mission here suddenly came to front of his mind. Being in the familiar setting of Washington, D.C., Darien quickly asked, "What if Griego is here in Washington? As a U.S. Congressman, he has a good chance of being in town." Al quickly punched up some stuff on his handlink. Ziggy had evidently considered the possibility because the answer was on the display before he could finish keying anything. ~Representative (R-NM) Jorge Griego's itinerary currently places him in Hidalgo County, New Mexico. Interestingly enough, he is not in the major town, Lordsburg.~ The two men were stumped. At least they had a place to start... -~-~-~ Sam returned to the Office of Patents and Trademarks around 5:45 as the Commissioner had suggested. Bruce let him into his office immediately saying he was about ready. Sam spied the jewelry case open on the desk that Selma and Ziggy had both commented on. Thinking quickly, Sam asked, "What's the deal with the big earrings? Isn't your daughter a little too young for something that flashy?" Mr. Lehman looked up and smiled, "You are very observant, Captain Lambert. These little jewels were developed by a chemist named Lloyd who was trying to come up with some radiation shielding. This was not quite what he was expecting, but these do have some radiation shielding capabilities. After some extensive testing, he found that these crystals do absorb the fatal delta radiation, but not the more common gamma radiation. Also the nature and size of the crystals prevents them from being all that useful. They do not change color when exposed to radiation and they must be in close proximity to any subject being protected. He developed these as earrings for women (they're a little bigger than most men are willing to wear) who work in areas that might be at risk to delta radiation poisoning. He's going to be awarded the patent, even though the likelihood of their being useful is pretty small. Delta radiation is still pretty rare and scientists have not found much use for it." Sam was smiling at the explanation, "Thank you for that information. I'm sure you run across the most interesting gadgets and ideas here." The Commissioner smiled, "Yes, as a matter of fact. Now, shall we be on our way?" Sam got into the car with Mr. Lehman as they went to pick up his partner, a respected scientist that Sam had met once before, and on to the girl's mothers' house. When they arrived at the girl's house, Sam was out of the car and scoped the place just as if the danger were real. The girl and her two mothers came out to greet Mr. Lehman and his spouse. It was obvious who the biological parents were, thought Sam. Sam signaled the all clear and the three men and the little girl went off to a nice restaurant for supper. Sam maintained the charade throughout the evening, playing the undercover cop. Once he was out of earshot of the rest of the party, Selma spoke up. /I also ran a check on this chemist, one Davis Lloyd, who developed the crystals. He is not one of the fugitives, either. Neither is he funded by any of Sahmbi's front organizations based on my available data. It seems he has stumbled onto something similar to TXP serendipitously./ Sam smiled since Selma's holographic image rippled during the word 'serendipitously.' Selma seemed very helpful, much more helpful than Ziggy, and so much more human without the big ego that makes Ziggy so (self?)important. Sam felt the call of nature and confident that Lehman's party was safe, headed for the men's room. Just as he closed the door to the men's room, the imaging chamber door opened. "How did I manage to walk in on you just as you were going into the men's room?" Al was still was dudded up in his dress uniform. Sam was determined to do what he came in to do, but also wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to get an update from Al. "What's up, Al? Why the formal uniform?" "Oh, that. Darien, Tina, and I just had a press conference at the Smithsonian Institute. We just set up a time capsule at the Smithsonian, Sam!" The handlink squawked, so Al looked at it, "Ziggy says that the jewelry was very useful and had a sex" "set custom made. Hmm, that's all she had to say. She was awful secretive about that time capsule, too. She had that thing completely built to her specifications overnight. Ziggy says that you just have to sit tight until Darien finishes what he has to do and then you'll both leap." Sam zipped up, washed and returned to the family he was protecting. -~-~-~ Darien was waiting impatiently while Al was in the imaging chamber talking to Sam. He took the opportunity to change into something a little more comfortable than the tux, but knew that Al would want to change too. Ziggy sensed his anxiety, ~When Admiral Calavicci returns from the Imaging Chamber, take him into the long corridor and demonstrate the yellow button on your PPT. The corridor is sufficiently safe for any demonstration from your weapon and it is within my sensory network. In other words, I also want to see the demonstration.~ Al stepped into the control room just in time to hear Ziggy's last pronouncement. Darien motioned for Al to follow him into the corridor. Tina slipped out just as the door sealed. Making sure that everyone was safely behind him, Darien pointed his PPT toward the distant wall and depressed the unknown yellow button A hologram appeared, it was a woman. She looked familiar, but his mind could not accept what his eyes were telling him. She spoke, "Hi Darien, I thought you might like a personal message of reassurance from back home." The identifier at the bottom of the image said, "Alissa Lambert." It WAS Alissa. He still didn't understand. Alissa had died in 2193 when Sahmbi pulled her into the Trax machine unprepared. The hologram continued, "Based on the contents of the time capsule from 1999, that opened in 2193, you still think that I am dead. The earrings that you sent me the day before Sahmbi tried to kill me saved my life. The radiation absorption properties of the gemstones shielded me from taking a lethal dose of delta radiation. I was still comatose when you left for the past. I did not recover for a couple of years, so you did not learn that I had survived until you returned home. I understand that you may not remember this when you return to 1994, but please, return home to me safely, my love." And the transmission ended. Darien was stunned, in tears, yet overjoyed. Alissa lived. Whatever Ziggy did with that time capsule had made a crucial change in his time line. Alissa would be waiting when he returned. After a moment, Ziggy broke in, ~I hate to break this up, but Representative Griego is still at large. You cannot leap back to 1994 until you have sent him back to 2199.~ -~-~-~ Sam and the trio in his charge pulled into their home about 9:30pm. Sam got out of the car first to check things out. /chirp/chirp/chirp/ "What is it Selma?" /Dr. Beckett, I am detecting three armed men against the side of the house hidden in shadows. I am calling 911 for backup./ "Thanks, Selma," said Sam as he reached for Darien's PPT. The blu button is stun, the blue button is stun, he reminded himself. He pulled it out of his pocket, just as the first goon stepped out the shadows. (Oh, boy, a skin head!) "Alright, you faggots, out of the car. Hands up in the air. Don't try anything stupid. We're taking the little girl to a real family with a real mommy and a real daddy." Sam could make out one of the goons in the shadows. Since the PPT was already in his hand, he carefully aimed and pointed. <<>> The guy glowed blue for a second and fell to the ground. The one that was visible and making the demands came toward Sam menacingly, "You homo, I told you not to try anything stupid. What did you do to my brother?" Sam muttered, "He'll be alright. He's just taking a little nap." The guy was now close enough to Sam to take a swing. After all these leaps, Sam had learned how to at least defend himself. On more than one occasion, he had landed some pretty good punches. Sam blocked the first punch and used the moment to throw the skinhead a little off-balance. Sam was moving in for a counter-strike when Selma warned to duck, that the third nozzle had left the shadows and was about to wallop Sam with a shovel. Sam ducked and the first guy who was still reeling from Sam's throw caught the brunt of the shovel strike. Sam was just able to get reoriented and stun the guy with the shovel before he could strike. Sam could hear the sirens in the distance. Selma's 911 call would be here just in time for the cleanup. Sam stuck his head into the car and told his charges to stay in the car until the police arrived, that he was going to check the rest of the house. Bruce struck out his hand wielding the key to the front door. Sam graciously acknowledged that he was grateful for the assist and dashed off to the entrance to the family's domicile. As he reached the door, Selma chimed in to let him know that the interior of the house seemed undisturbed, but recommended a closer inspection. Sam cautiously unlocked and opened the front door. He reached for the light switch and flicked it on. The lights came on as expected. He was about to enter the house when he heard one of the thugs groan. He decided it would be better to get them contained before anything else went wrong. Sam hauled the first guy that he stunned over the other two and dropped him on the one that was coming to. Both guys were out for the moment. Bruce had gotten out to stand over them till the cops got there. Sam ran back up to the house and entered the living room. Scanning quickly, he checked the main hall and waved Selma's credit card around and held it up against each door so that she could scan for life signs. Selma had just reported the all clear when he heard one of the cops heading up the steps into the house. Sam pulled out his badge and held it out so that the cop wouldn't make any foolish mistakes. Sam was glad to be through with this ordeal and hoped that Darien accomplished his mission so that he could leap out of here. ~-~-~- Al and Darien loaded up a sport utility vehicle with some "hunting" gear to go after Griego. Darien had remembered something about Griego using some small airfield near the border for his slave & drug running and Hidalgo County certainly fit the bill. Al had Ziggy check the records for Southwest New Mexico for all records of airfields, public and private, while the two men headed off in that direction. Al expected Ziggy would have more data in the 2 hours it would take to reach Deming. Ziggy also cross-checked the Hidalgo county references with satellite photos to see if there was one that they missed. In order to narrow the search, Ziggy prowled around in electronic funds transaction databases for records of Griego spending money in Hidalgo county. Darien and Al were heading out of Deming towards Lordsburg when Ziggy beeped in on the handlink. ~Admiral Calavicci, I have determined that the most suitable airfield for Representative Griego's purposes is south of Lordsburg near a small community called Animas. The airfield is west of the state highway, about 7 miles north of Animas.~ Al punched some buttons on the vehicles control panel and brought up a projection on the passenger side windshield. The display showed the area, highlighting the route Ziggy described. Al estimated that they would not arrive for over an hour due to the mountainous terrain. Darien was impressed. Technology had really moved in the last 5 years, even if Al's gadgetry did represent the cutting edge for 1999. Al made a left turn in Lordsburg, where they passed a travelling carnival. It barely registered with either of the men as they headed south for the airfield near Animas. About four miles from the airport, a sleek looking vehicle came barrelling north along the state road. That caught the men's attention at least enough to put Ziggy on the case. Although the vehicle was out of sight too quickly to get a license plate, the description was enough for an easy match. ~A black '98 Lexus was rented to one Jorge Griego in Truth or Consequences yesterday.~ Al proved his driving prowess by getting the vehicle turned around while still moving at a pretty good clip. Darien was slammed up against the window, but had nothing but respect for the man behind the wheel. The luxury vehicle, having the lead and several minutes head start was unaware that it was being followed. The Lexus arrived at Lordsburg and parked a block away from the carnival. Griego headed toward his contact unhindered and confident. Al's Bronco was entering the city limits and Darien had his eyes peeled for that black Lexus. As the carnival came back into view, Darien realized they were going to have trouble. Scanning the carnival site, Darien spotted Griego headed for one of the attractions. Darien urged Al to find a place to park and as soon as the truck slowed enough, Darien was swinging out to pursue Griego. Griego had stopped to talk to his contact, the rube running the House of Mirrors. The mirrored maze was an ideal place to hold the young women that they were smuggling into Central America. The carnival attracted all the drifters and odd travellers since it was the main tourist spot right now. The guy running the show had several sliding doors set up to lead unwitting beauties into his trap. He was giving Griego directions for getting to the girls' cell, when Griego saw "Sam" running toward the attraction. Griego had no idea why the secretive scientist would be at the carnival, much less making haste in his direction, so he ducked into the House of Mirrors hoping that he wasn't seen. Darien saw the fugitive enter the maze, but he had no idea what he was up to. Darien rushed right on in past the attendant. Darien made a few turns and realized that he had made a wrong turn somewhere. He could see Griego thru some of the plexiglass walls and reflected thru som of the mirrors. Darien realized he was at a serious disadvantage here, the mirrors reflected someone else's face (Sam's), Griego seemed to know his way around in the maze, and he did not have Selma to guide him. In a moment of frustration, Darien yelled, "Griego! I'm sending you back!" At that, the suave Hispanic suddenly turned pale. He had heard about a future cop some years ago, but the rumor never popped again, so he figured he was safe. What he still didn't understand was why Sam Beckett was the one coming after him. Griego was dodging around some of the tight corners in the maze. Had Beckett really been to or fro the future? The Congressman suddenly realized that his man at the controls hadn't slid the last door to let him into the holding cell. Feeling trapped, he cried back, "Who are you? What do you want?" Darien heard the sound and realized he was very close. Feeling the walls on both sides, Darien detected a gap he hadn't seen and slipped through. He turned one final corner and found his quarry backed into a corner. Darien thought he'd make the man squirm just a moment longer, "Man, you have always been so yellow. When I brought you in back in 2190, you were cowered down like wolf with his tail between his legs." A glimmer of recognition registered in the man's eyes, "Lambert?" Darien shifted into a solid stance taking the PPT in both hands, "And I'm gonna send you back." <<<>>> The slimeball glowed green for a couple of seconds and slid unconscious to the floor. A few seconds later, Al came around the corner to find Darien tucking the PPT into Griego's coat pocket. Darien was not about to let this technology remain in this time, especially with other time travellers about. Al reported that he had gotten the slug running the House of Mirrors. Al looked down at the guy who gave them a good chase and said, "When's he going to beam out of here?" Darien was scratching his head... "Oh. I have to have a transmission tone to activate the temportation sequence." Al said, "I guess the handlink can do that, what frequency?" Darien realized then that he had no idea, Selma was programmed to provide that for him. After a moment of cross-examination, Al decided to set up the handlink to emit a continuous tone all the way through the audible portion of the spectrum. Darien was sure that a low volume would work, so they knew they weren't going to be deafened by the tone. About 2/3rds of the way up the scale, the fugitive flashed out of existence. Before Al could shut off the handlink, the tone hit high C. The tone escalated causing all the glass mirrors to shatter, revealing the cell where three young women were bound. Al looked and saw Sam's face in one of those twisty distorted mirrors just as Darien leaped out. /\/\/\/\/\/\/\bbbrrrrzzzuuupppp/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ (Visualize Sam leaping from the twisty mirror into another roiling miasma of sight and sound in the characteristic blue flash) The chaos comes to a halt and Sam finds himself thrown to the ground. A young boy in his early teens with long black curls is up and ready to go, "Hey Phineas, when and where did we land this time?" Sam realizes he is clutching an antique pocket watch. He opens the clasp and the face reads in years with the hand pointing to 1776. "Oh, boy!"