Chapter 2
Project Quantum Leap
February 2010
"Gooshie? Tell me Sam's leapt!"
Gooshie, the head programmer for Project Quantum Leap, shook his head in confusion to the Observer's demand before replying hesitantly. "I'm sorry, Admiral. Ziggy... she... she doesn't think so."
Al pinched his nose. "Damn it. I knew I couldn't trust that guy, whoever he is. Well, start trying to find him. Maybe Rextar is a code word or something." He put the handlink back into its holder as he exited the Imaging Chamber. "I'll be in my office."
"Umm... Admiral..." Gooshie put in as Al moved to leave the Control Room. "The Captain is waiting for you there."
"The Captain's here? When did he arrive?"
"About a half an hour ago. He wanted Ziggy to... how did he put it?... 'number crunch' a couple of things. He said he wanted to check on the troops while he was at it."
"Figures." Al walked slowly to think things out first before meeting with his 'boss.' Captain Harkness had been true to his word since he'd stepped in and saved the project. After a shaky beginning, Al had decided Jack had his quirks but, overall, was a good guy. Since their first meeting, their relationship had stabilized and was now amicable. He knew was going to have to tell him about Sam's current situation and the concerns he had. He figured that having Jack meet the leapee might be a good idea.
Jack Harkness, head of Torchwood Two and now of Project Quantum Leap, leaned against the wall in the hallway just outside of Al's office. "Al!" he greeted the moment he saw the man approaching.
"Hi, Jack. Just heard you'd arrived. Gooshie said you've been here about a half hour?"
"Landed in Albuquerque about two hours ago. Came straight here."
"Great. Come on in. You want some coffee?"
"Oh, I'd murder a cup," Jack proclaimed as he followed the Admiral into the office. "Black."
Al smiled. "I remember." He fixed their coffees and handed one to Jack. Taking a deep breath to steel himself, he decided to present the problem at hand. "Unfortunately, I've got some rather... um... difficult news to convey dealing with Sam's latest leap."
Jack had already taken a sip and was about to take another when Al said a word he didn't really like. Having funded PQL for nearly five years, he knew that when Al used that language, something was definitely not right. "I don't like it when you use the word 'unfortunately,'" he admitted. "It's usually followed by some type of disaster."
The retired naval man gave him a weak grin and forged ahead, ignoring the critique of his choice of phrase. "Do you remember when I told you about the time we lost Sam? Couldn't find him anywhere for a long time because there was no one in the Waiting Room?"
"There's no one in the Waiting Room again?"
"No. There's someone in the Waiting Room. The problem is, the leapee isn't being cooperative and after finding Sam... well, he's disappeared. It's like he's fallen off the face of the Earth and out of time... again."
Jack froze slightly at Al's words. "Well, where do you think he's gone? And who's the leapee? I'm sure there has to be a reasonable explanation. You did find him eventually that other time. Said so yourself."
"Yeah, but Ziggy's freaking out on this one. The man he's with told him they were going to Rextar Seven. The woman that Sam's leapt into keeps asking for a doctor but every time we try to help her she threatens us."
"Rextar Seven? Are you sure about that? And a doctor?" He paused dramatically, putting his mug down on Al's desk. "Or is it the Doctor that she's asking for?"
Al's eyebrows went up slightly at Jack's quick grasp of the situation. "Yeah. That's exactly how she asks. 'I demand to see the doctor.' This Rose Tyler seems like a formidable woman." He paused when Jack didn't answer. "We were able to track Sam to London about three years ago. Then..."
Jack was certain that all the blood had just drained from his face at the sound of the leapee's name. "Rose?" he whispered before swallowing tightly. "Rose is in the Waiting Room?" Without hearing the answer, he hurried out the door and ran towards the Control Room.
Al watched as Jack finally reacted in a manner he didn't expect. It seemed that perhaps Jack knew the leapee and if so... He hurried after the American ex-patriot.
The former Time Agent flew into the Control Room, his overcoat trailing behind him almost as if it were a cape. "Open the Waiting Room door! Now!" he ordered Gooshie, pointing at the redheaded programmer.
"Wait, Jack. Just hear me out," Al called to him. "I don't have a problem with you going in and seeing this woman that you obviously know. However... she might not know you. You know it's not only Sam that gets amnesia but the leapee as well. Like I've told you before, the first time Sam leapt he didn't remember me. We'd been best friends for over ten years and built this project together but he couldn't even remember my name. Hell, he couldn't remember his. He thought he was in a reverse reincarnation that's entered in mid-life, for God's sake."
Jack gave him a slight glare, having already heard the story several times before. "That was Dr. Beckett. This is Rose Tyler. So she might have a few holes in her memory. But if she remembers the Doctor, she'll remember me."
Al wasn't sure he agreed with Jack. He'd seen too many times of partial memories but figured it wasn't the time to split hairs. "Okay. Maybe Rose is a special case... so let's move on. Now, since the door is locked on both sides, Ziggy will have to distract her before the door is opened. That's been the protocol since we had that leapee escape years ago. Don't want to relive that." He made his request to Ziggy. A moment later, the door opened and Al slid in, followed by Jack.
Jack stared at the sight before him. A lot had happened in the last one hundred seventy plus years. His senses of smell and taste had become enhanced. His hearing was sharper than ever. And he'd found he could see through auras created through time manipulation. There she was, standing on the other end of the room, having quickly turned around at the sound of the door.
Rose stared at the two men, her heart beating rapidly. It had to be her imagination. "Jack?"
"Rose! It is you." He looked her up and down. He could see Rose clearly and also see the ghost-like figure of Sam Beckett. While he'd seen other leapees before, this time the fact that it was a person he knew made it somewhat disconcerting. The white Fermi suit clung to her body, leaving nothing to the imagination. "You're definitely looking well." A slight leer reached his eyes.
Rose squealed with delight at the innuendo. "It is you!" she exclaimed, hurrying around the table to jump into his arms, wrapping her limbs around him. Jumping down, she started for the door. "We've got to find the Doctor and the TARDIS and get out of here."
"Well, I've got to say, this is an experience. A nice one," he said at her exuberance. At her insistent words, he stopped her abruptly. "Rose, do you trust me?"
She frowned, looking at him with growing concern. "Why would you even ask me that?" She glanced between her friend and the man next to him, one she recognized as keeping her prisoner wherever she was. "Jack, what's goin' on here?"
"Well, let just say you've been drawn into a different 'time' situation."
Al looked over to Jack with a tilted head. "What the hell does that mean?"
Jack didn't get the chance to reply, Rose's own questions interrupting first. "How do you mean 'different'? Does this have to do with me looking like..." She gave him a wicked, teasing grin, "... a fella more good-looking than you?"
The former Time Agent grabbed at his chest melodramatically. "Oh, now that wounds me. Dr. Beckett is good looking, no doubt. But more good-looking than me?" He gave her another look, focusing on the ghost shape. "Although, he does look rather hot."
Rose laughed with joy at hearing his teasing response. Her expression changed slightly when she noticed how he was checking her out. "Oi! I'm here, not him!"
He grinned. "You're both there. Lovely to look at, delightful to hold."
"Oh, you say that to all the boys and girls," Rose taunted.
Al coughed. "Um, Jack? Back to the matter at hand?"
Jack frowned. "Are you always this prudish?"
The Admiral looked indignant. "I'm not prudish."
"Seems prudish to me," Rose murmured conspiratorially to Jack.
"Wait until you meet Beckett," Al answered dryly.
"Right," she commented with a tilt of her head. "Speaking of which... freaky reflection in the mirror... what's that about?"
Jack took a deep breath. "You're now part of a time travel experiment that..."
"...went a little caca," Al finished for him.
Rose gave a little grin. "Like the Doctor actually landing the TARDIS where he intends."
Al's eyes narrowed. "What's a Tardis?"
"Time and Relative Dimension in Space," Jack and Rose replied at exactly the same time.
Seeing the confused look on Al's face, Jack added, "It's... complicated. Sort of a more advanced version of Dr. Beckett's experiment."
"So, I've traveled in time," Rose supposed. "Where's the Doctor and when am I?"
Jack shrugged. "According to my compatriot, he may have gone to Rextar Seven. Probably for tea."
Rose huffed, pulling herself onto the table with a sort of slump. "I'd murder a cuppa on Rextar Seven right now," she murmured.
Al was beginning to get a headache. "Ziggy says there's no such place as Rextar Seven on Earth."
"Exactly," answered Jack. Turning back to Rose, "As to when, you're in..."
Al stopped him. "We can't tell the leapees when they are."
Rose raised her eyebrows. "Oh, I think I can figure it out on my own."
"Can you now? When do you think you are?"
"Those clothes you're wearing. Late twentieth century, early twenty-first. American accent. Air conditioning on high, no windows," Rose stated, listing what she knew. "I'd say... North American desert. Probably a military installation, given that you are United States Navy."
"Well, not much different from your time." He considered her words. "But what do you mean 'Late twentieth century, early twenty-first.' Like there's anything else? And how do you know I'm U.S. Navy?"
Jack smiled. "You're wearing your class ring. Rose is a very observant person."
"And you would know," she teased. "And, obviously, he didn't pass any of his History classes."
"I was fine with history," Al said narrowing his eyes. "I'm just saying, for you, what else would there be? You look like you're only about 18, 19 maybe."
"Nearly twenty!" she protested. "I may not have been the best student in school but I know the difference between a modern suit and a suit of armour."
"Suit of armour? When would you ever have seen someone in one of those?"
Jack interjected. "Renaissance Fair?"
"Oh, don't start," Rose berated. "You were there too, you know!"
"Were where?" Al queried.
"The Middle Ages," she replied haphazardly.
"Are you trying to tell me you've traveled in time before? Some other way?"
"We had a designated driver," she commented as if that answered everything. "Speaking of which... time travel experiment in the early twenty-first century. Isn't that a bit ahead of its time? I mean, time travel isn't supposed to be around for another three thousand years or so."
Jack shrugged. "This project probably started it all. Very primitive."
Al's back straightened. "Primitive?"
"Well, it's beyond cutting edge for this time period if that makes you feel better."
"So... no time vortex..." A frightened look crossed Rose's face. "Jack..." she started, swallowing.
Jack went over to her, realizing she was probably experiencing the amnesia effect. He took her shoulders gently. "Don't worry, Rose. This is a temporary side effect of this form of time travel."
She gasped slightly. "It's like... I remember you and the Doctor and the TARDIS... but..." She swallowed. "Where am I from? Do I have a mum... a dad?"
He looked away. This wasn't the time to tell her that her dad had died when she was still an infant and that her mum was presumed dead after the Battle of Canary Wharf. "Yes. You have a mum. Jackie Tyler. Do you remember?"
"No," she sobbed, rubbing her eyes. "I remember... falling..."
Jack looked at Al to fill in. Al shrugged. "When we finally found Sam, he was in a medical room or something. Then they moved to another room where there was some machine in the middle. It made a weird sound." He turned to Rose. "I'm sorry. Until we can locate Dr. Beckett, that's all I can tell you."
She brushed her hair away from her face, sniffing slightly. "I thought I was going to fall. The Doctor was yelling something and then... I was here."
"When Dr. Beckett leaps in, he displaces the person whose aura he inhabits. He is seen as you. That's why you look in the mirror and see him. It's just his aura."
"So... the Doctor will see me instead of him? Does he even know where I am?" Panic started to seep into her voice.
Al squirmed a little. "Well, for some reason, he seems to have figured out that Sam is not you. Sam doesn't remember where or when you are and I wasn't about to tell him." At the look on her face, he explained. "This project is top secret." His voice grew softer. "He does know you're safe."
Rose shook her head. "You don't know the Doctor. He won't believe it until he sees me. He won't leave me here."
"Well, if he took Dr. Beckett to Rextar Seven, it looks like he's comfortable about it for now," Jack pointed out. "Remember, once he figures things out, he can be here.. oh... when you first got here. In the meantime, you're safe."
She sniffed back her emotions. "But I can't leave this room. Am I right?"
Al pursed his lips a bit and sighed. This was a special case based on what Jack had told him and demanded special procedures. He decided that he could explain some things to her. "Okay, this is the deal. We've already established this project is an experiment in time travel. Well, during Dr. Beckett's first leap, something sort of decided to use him. We've found that Sam leaps into people to change something that went wrong in the original history. Once Sam changes it, he leaps out and the other person leaps back in. To make sure that happens, the leapee - that's you - needs to be in this room."
"You can't just change history!" she protested. "Can you?"
"Eleven years of leaping, trust me. This is what happens." Al sighed. "Sam's changed things in my life. In the timeline when we met, I was a five-time divorcee with no children. Now I've been married to my first wife, Beth, for forty-seven years and have four beautiful daughters." He glanced at Jack. "All of them are still married."
Rose noted the way Al was looking at her friend. "You hit on them, didn't you?"
Jack grinned. "Well, I would have, but I never got the chance."
"And you won't." Al turned back to Rose. "The thing is, right now, I can't interact with Sam, and Ziggy has no idea of what he's there to change." He called out into the room. "Any theories, Ziggy?"
