What the Mirror Revealed
Disclaimer: I don't own Quantum Leap or Phantom Of the Opera. But, I do own the Barracuda.
Project Quantum Leap, New Mexico
Al's office
Al put down his coffee at the sound of urgent knocking on his door. He opened it to find the Barracuda on the other side. She looked distracted, chewing on the end of a pen, hair falling out of her once neat bun. She brushed passed him and seated herself on the other side of his desk. Al made his way around it and sat in his chair. He leaned back and waited patiently for her to speak.
"Admiral, I have come across some information you may, will, find quite interesting."
"Really," Al replied, lighting a cigar.
"You even think about smoking that, I will tell everyone you watch Oprah."
Al quickly snuffed out the cigar and said, "Only because Tina wants me to. She thinks I will learn something."
"Wishful thinking on her part," Marie replied, crossing her right leg over her left.
"Look, GI Jane. As fond as I am of our verbal battles, let's get to the point at hand. Now, what could you have possibly found out from our moody computer?"
Marie's mood changed to all business as she replied, "I did some research on the De Chagney family. Raoul was actually the fourth youngest of five children. Guess who the name of the oldest brother was."
"I don't know, Big Raoul," Al said, smartly.
Marie bit back a retort and said with intense eyes, "Erik."
Al's eyes grew big and he said, "What did you find out about this guy?"
Marie continued, "It's not so much what I found, but what I didn't find. There are detailed records of every child in that family, but Erik. Yes, he had a birth certificate, but it wasn't kept in the public records, at least not until late in the twentieth century. It seems that this birth certificate was found, when the descendants went through the family's private files."
"I know for a certainty that wasn't in the original history, because this info was not available three hours ago," Al jumped in, straightening his shirt.
"Yes, but, that's not all, Calavicci. Every baby at that time, especially nobility, was given a christening. Four out of the five children had baptismal dates and confirmations. Erik, of course, was the one who didn't. So, Erik's name obviously was not given to him by the church."
"Poor kid, he wasn't even acknowledged as a worthy human being," Al said, shaking his head. "And that's only a glimpse of what life was probably like for him. Did you find out anything else?"
"No, I think I bled Ziggy dry," Marie smiled despite the serious conversation.
Al grinned back, "Well, Gushi and I will continue to look into it, and let me know if you find out any more from Erik. You will have another session with him tomorrow, right."
Marie shivered, despite the warmth in the room. "Yes, about two o'clock. I hope to get more information on the three women in his life. Maybe that will open him up to talking about his mother."
Marie nodded at him in conclusion of the discussion and stood. The admiral stood up as well, looking at her observantly. As Marie turned to leave, Al suddenly spoke, breaking the mutual silence.
"Dr. Felder, are you all right, you seem different somehow."
Marie turned around and gave Al a look of confusion. Al stared into her green eyes and nearly jumped at what he saw.
"I don't know Felder, you just seem softer somehow, looser. Like you don't have the weight of the world on your shoulders." Or a chip, Al thought silently.
Startled realization crossed Marie's contoured face. And as quickly as it appeared it was gone, replaced with cynicism.
"Oh my God, thanks for the warning Calavicci. I will try to overcome this recent affliction. Last thing I want to do is destroy my reputation as a psycho, homicidal fish."
She laughed evilly and closed the door just as Al's mouth curled up into a smirk. The facade died the moment the click of the door latch sounded. Marie's smile fell as she walked down the long hallway, toward the exit doors. She passed a set of mirrors and stopped to study herself. Her hair had fallen almost completely out of her bun, accentuating her high cheekbones. She took the clip out of her hair, noticing the rest of her appearance. Her eyes were large and full of expression, almost vivacious. Her mouth was relaxed and pouted, instead of the usual stern and thin line it was usually in.
"No, no," she said aloud, shaking her head as she walked away. "I will not let it happen again!" The heavy doors closed behind her, leaving the mirrors vacant and alone.
