Chapter Three - To Bear With Unbearable Sorrow

Project: Quantum Leap

Saturday April 20, 1996

The sun sank low, spreading darkness across the opposite desert horizon. The temperature cooled, but not by much, so Al kept the air-conditioning on while they drove. Ahead, a low mountain range sprawled in shadow, one of many that lay scattered across the wasteland, and he slowed the car to make the turn onto a dirt road.

"How much longer do I have to keep this thing on?" Elizabeth asked with mild annoyance, fingering the blindfold that covered her eyes. The back seat of Al's experimental-model Ferrari Testarosa felt incredibly cramped, and not being able to see made her especially uneasy.

"We'll be there soon," Al told her, glancing back. He felt horrible at having to blindfold his niece, but Weitzman had insisted that the recruit couldn't know the exact location of the Project until after they'd accepted the job and been sworn to secrecy. Thank goodness he hadn't known she'd be bringing the cat, or the senile senator would probably have mandated that the creature also be blindfolded.

Several minutes later, when Elizabeth felt the rough bumping and jolting change to smoothness, she guessed they'd driven back onto some sort of pavement. It grew darker, and the car stopped. She heard the doors open, then Al touched her on the shoulder and helped her step out.

"Tina, if you'll lead Liz, I'll get her things." His voice echoed slightly, giving Elizabeth reason to believe they'd pulled into a parking garage.

"Sure thing, Al." Tina smiled, glad to let Al grapple with both the small suitcase and the hard plastic pet cage holding one very annoyed cat. She led Elizabeth to an elevator, and held the door for Al.

Once inside, he set down the luggage, and reached over to pull Elizabeth's blindfold off.

"Thanks." She blinked her eyes, relieved to be able to see again, and studied the elevator with interest. It appeared basically normal in appearance, with stainless steel sides and a handrail running waist-high, but the panel held only one destination button. Standard industrial carpet covered the floor: short twisted fibers which could withstand a nuclear explosion without getting dirty, in a color whose name could not be agreed upon. After a moment, the elevator doors opened, and Al gestured for her and Tina to precede him out into a sterile-looking hallway.

The corridor curved, and opened into a foyer, blandly decorated in shades of gray and white. A few uncomfortable looking chairs lined the walls, making it obvious that this was not a room designed for lingering. Two Marine sergeants stood guard at a small desk, and Elizabeth raised an eyebrow at the weapons both carried as part of their uniform. What kind of work went on here?

The two men saluted briskly, and Al set down the suitcase and animal carrier to return the salute. "At ease, gentlemen."

Both relaxed, then the taller one nodded in greeting. "Good evening, Admiral; Dr. Martinez-O'Farrell." He smiled at Elizabeth and reached out to shake her hand. "Ms. Calavicci, I presume?"

"That's Doctor Calavicci, Sergeant Halley," Al said pointedly.

The Marine stiffened with embarrassment and stepped back. "Of course, sir. My apologies, Doctor."

"It's all right," she assured him with a smile, briefly noting he had wide blue eyes famed by dark lashes. "Common mistake."

He nodded, then met Al's eye and gestured toward the luggage. "Shall I take Dr. Calavicci's things to the guest quarters, sir?"

"No, give her one of the executive suites on the main level," Al instructed, winking at Elizabeth. "She just might decide to stay, and it'll save us the hassle of moving her."

"Yes, sir."

"Oh, and don't forget the kitty," Tina cooed, bending over to pet Wellie through the narrow opening of the cage. "I'm sure he's hungry after that long ride."

Elizabeth glanced at the carrier, abashed at having forgotten about her beloved pet. Seeing her concern, Sergeant Halley quickly stated, "Don't worry, Doctor. I'll make sure your cat's well taken care of."

"Thank you." She smiled at him again. Somehow his military style haircut managed to make him look handsome, and she tried not to blush as she followed Al and Tina past the desk and into a standard-looking waiting lounge. Just beyond the row of inexpensive straight-backed chairs and metal end-tables stood another elevator, one which opened when they approached.

Inside, a narrow panel of buttons indicated at least twelve floors according to Elizabeth's quick estimate, and above them lay a recessed slot to receive an identification card.

"To get to the lower levels, you have to have specific security clearance," Al explained, inserting his card into the slot. "Only five people have regular access, with others being admitted on a need-only basis. Of course, being a member of the Retrieval Team, you'd have full, unrestricted access to all levels, at all times."

Elizabeth digested that, and her curiosity grew. "Why the need for such security measures? I mean, you blindfolded me so I wouldn't know where we are, there are armed Marines back there, and now this strict internal security system. Why?"

"We wouldn't want any, like, psychos getting in here," Tina chirped, before Al could say anything.

"What Tina means," he quickly said, "is that the very nature of the project demands strict security. The Defense Department keeps a very tight reign on us to prevent contamination or leakage to or from the general public."

Her suspicions on the exact nature of the project grew stronger. She turned to face Al. "Earlier you said this was Dr. Beckett's project, right? And you needed me for 'research in quantum physics'... you're trying to develop time travel, aren't you?"

"Not exactly." Al grinned wryly. He'd definitely underestimated his niece. "As I mentioned, you'll be a member of what we call the 'Retrieval Team'."

Elizabeth furrowed her brow. "And what exactly are we retrieving?"

"Not what, who. And unfortunately, no one, yet."

"I don't understand."

"Neither do we, but that's another story. You remember the 'String Theory' we discussed earlier? Well, Dr. Beckett proved it. This project isn't trying to develop time travel – we've already succeeded."

Elizabeth drew a stunned breath, but Al continued without letting her comment.

"Eleven months ago, the 'powers that be' pressured us to produce results or risk losing funding, so Sam – Dr. Beckett – prematurely stepped into the Accelerator."

"He achieved quantum flux?" Elizabeth interrupted, her face lit with intense surprise.

"You mean, did it work? Yes, but not exactly as planned." His face changed, and Elizabeth began to decipher some of the pain she'd detected earlier. "He leaped back in time, but now we can't get him home."

"Retrieval..." And she understood.