Date: Tue, 20 Aug 1996 18:06:10 -0600 (MDT) From: "Katherine R. Freymuth" Subject: Slide Before You Leap - part 17 Message-ID: Okay. I'm finally posting some more for my hungry readers. Slide Before You Leap A Quantum Leap/ Sliders Crossover by Kat Freymuth Part 17 Eight o'clock came too soon for Sam. He moaned as he got up, took his shower and dressed in dressy but still casual clothes. He left his little quarters at eight thirty-five and hurried to the first level to find Al waiting, dressed in his naval uniform. "You're late," Al commented as he saw Sam approach him. Sam shrugged as he finished the final touches to his appearance by combing his hair. "Lucky for me, so are the senators," Sam told him. As he said this, the door to the complex opened. "Speak of the devil," Al muttered. "Admiral Calavicci. Dr. Beckett," Sen. Weitzman spoke as he entered the complex. "I believe you know Sen. Harlow." Sam and Al greeted the senators cordially but for some reason Weitzman refused Al's hand. "If you'd like, we can have you escorted to your quarters," Sam offered. "No need, Dr. Beckett," Sen. Harlow told him. "Our time is precious. We'd prefer to start immediately." "Starting with your computer," Weitzman told him. "Of course," Sam replied, leading them to the elevator with Al following shotgun. "The reports we have been getting are not good, Dr. Beckett," Weitzman spoke as he followed Sam. "You're nearly a year behind schedule." "We've have a few problems," Sam told him. "But we've smoothed them out and are very close to implementation." "Implementation?" Harlow questioned. "Travelling in time, Sen. Harlow," Sam replied. "We'll see how close you are, Dr. Beckett," Harlow said smoothly. The elevator stooped at the tenth level and Sam led the senators into the Control Room, Al still in the back. After several hours of showing the senators Alpha, the Imaging Chamber (where Al would be to contact Sam in the past), the Waiting Room (where Sam's "host" would wait for a few hours before returning to his own time), the security control center, and a few of the labs, Sam and Al were grateful for the break the senators decided to have. "I don't think they're buying it, Sam," Al told the physicist in private. They were in Al's office. "What makes you think that?" Sam asked. "The look in Weitzman's eyes. He thinks we're feeding him a load of bull." Sam looked at him with raised eyebrows. "It's not a load of bull! All we have to do is modify Alpha and perfect the retrieval program and we'll be ready!" Al lowered his eyebrows. "I know that. You know that. Weitzman knows that but he doesn't think we can do it." Al sighed. "I hate to say this, Sam, but you're going to lose your project." "But we've come so far!" "I guess we haven't come far enough." Sam frowned. "I can't believe that you of all people are giving up." "I'm not giving up." "Then why are you saying that I'm going to lose my project?" "To prepare you for what's coming. This tour of thier is the big one. If Weitzman and Harlow aren't convinced, the project's finished and all you have is a nifty ten-level complex with air-tight security and an egotistical computer who gives a nifty zig-zag light show in its main frame." "So, what do you suggest I do?" Al took a breath and hesitated. "I know of at least four quantum physicists in this complex at this time. One of them is you. Another is Max Arturo." "And the other two?" "Are working in a lab on a secured level of the complex, working on a way to get themselves home." Sam smiled slightly. "Did I just hear you tell me to get together with our guests and ask for their help?" Al smiled back. "I guess I'm getting a little desperate myself. Besides, for some strange reason, I believe them. Even though their only proof is variations on how many degrees you have and a double of Max who could easily be an imposter." "But you don't think so," Sam concluded. Al huffed. "He's too pompous NOT to be Arturo." Sam laughed. A thought came to him. He grew serious. "What about the senators? If they cut off funding, there's no way this project can last." "Let's worry about proving your theory first," Al told him. "Weitzman and Harlow are leaving tomorrow. Before then, we have to convince them that we'll be travelling in time before the hearing in two weeks. The minute they're gone, we pull out all the stops." Sam nodded. "I agree." Al smiled. "Finally! Something we both agree on!" Sam laughed. ---------------------------------------- Part 18 coming soon. Kat Freymuth