Date: Wed, 9 Jun 93 11:21:41 EDT From: Tracy Finifter To: alt-ql-creative@cisco.com Subject: "A New Face to Reality" Part 3 Message-Id: "A New Face to Reality" by Tracy E. Finifter Part 3 Tom woke up in a cold sweat, expecting to see the darkness of his bedroom. That was the one comforting thing about his flashbacks: when he woke up he was back home in his own bed. But his uneasiness only increased when he awoke to find himself in a large, unfamiliar blue room, and no recollection of how he got there. He stood up and started looking around. He found the door, but couldn't find a way to open it. After a few minutes, he stopped trying and turned to inspect the rest of the room. He resigned himself to the fact that he was either kidnapped by aliens or had become unwittingly involved in a secret government project. He jumped back when the door opened under its own power. Through the door walked a man and a woman. The man was wildly dressed in black pants, a white shirt, a shiny red jacket, and a red felt hat. He carried a lighted cigar in one hand and a small, strange device in the other. For some reason, he seemed strangely familiar to Tom, but the thought was fleeting. The woman was an attractive Black lady who seemed much more reserved than the man, but even her conservative fashions were nothing like Tom had ever seen before. Definitely aliens, Tom thought. The man, noticing Tom's confusion cautiously stepped closer to Tom. "Take it easy, Commander, you're okay. Everything's gonna be all right." The standard reassurances that Al had always given new leapees somehow seemed hollow now that they were addressed to Sam's brother. "Who are you? How do you know who I am?" Tom seemed more confused than scared, but his voice contained an underlying hostility that wasn't there when Al had seen him in Vietnam. He had grown bitter. "And where am I?" "You're not going to like my answer, Commander, but I'm afraid most everything you'll want to know is classified top secret." Tom started to protest, but Al just raised his voice and continued, cutting Tom off. "It would be best if you let us ask the questions, at least for now." Dr. Beeks placed a hand on Al's shoulder before he let himself get carried away. For her part, she remained silent. "All I have to do is give you my name, rank, and serial number," Tom said with a defiance he didn't feel. "You're not a prisoner, Commander, but if you feel you must, it might be helpful for our purposes anyway." Tom creased his eyebrows in confusion, much the way Sam did. In Sam's face, Al saw a bit of his friend's personality come though the persona for the first time in years. But it still wasn't Sam. "My name is Thomas..." He stopped short at the realization that he couldn't remember his own last name. He looked away, lost in a concentrated attempt to remember his name. "Thomas...B. Something that begins with a B." He looked back to Al. "Why can't I remember my name?" His voice was a mixture of anger, confusion, and fear. "Relax, sailor," Al comforted. "We expected this. Your memory will return in time." "But where is it now?" Tom said with sarcasm. "What the hell is going on?" With anyone else, Al would have lost his temper with the tone of voice that Tom was using. But now he just sighed, closed his eyes, and replied, "I really wish I could tell you, I really do, but I can't." He looked back at Tom. "This is Dr. Beeks. She'll help you sort things out. Just believe that we're here to help you." With that, Al turned to walk away. Tom called after him. "Who are you?" he asked again. Feeling he deserved some sort of answer, Al stopped and for a split second ran through all the possible introductions he could use through his mind. He considered everything from Admiral Albert Calavicci, United States Navy to just a friend of his brother, without giving his name. He looked back to Tom and said simply, "I'm Al," and walked out. * * * * Tracy Finifter | "Life is what happens to you while * * finifter@gandalf.rutgers.edu | your busy making other plans." * * Douglass College, Rutgers University | - John Lennon *