CHAPTER 6
It was only because he was 'Isaac Mentnor' that Donna allowed Isaac access to level ten to see the Waiting Room and observe for himself the Guest within. She herself stood with her back to the one-way window. In five years she had never seen a Guest, although she'd seen Sam between leaps. Donna convinces herself that he is just sleeping when she sees him lying there, unmoving. Once, about two years ago, a leap occurred just as Donna was leaving and the Guest called out to her. Hearing Sam's voice, knowing it wasn't Sam, was devastating.
The waiting room, and its occupant, were usually tended to by members of Dr. Beeks psychiatric staff. Finding M.P.s at the door was very unusual but not unheard of. Finding armed M.P.s at the door was.
"What do you know about the current Guest?" Isaac inquired. The body of Sam Beckett was sitting cross-legged on the floor, rocking as if in an invisible rocking chair.
"I know nothing about him." Donna answered, "but Verbena Beeks will. She's our lead psychiatrist and keeps a profile on all our Guests."
"I'd like to meet her, if I may?" Isaac requested.
Donna tapped the band on her wrist. "Ziggy, where is Dr. Beeks?" she spoke to her wrist.
A moment went by and then Ziggy's soft alto replied, "Dr. Beeks is outside the Imaging Chamber with Admiral Calavicci."
"Sorry, Isaac, Verbena is unavailable now." Donna reported. "Why don't we go into the main Control Center? I'm sure Gooshie would love to show off his work."
'I guess he fixed the Imaging Chamber' Donna thought to herself.
***************
Verbena Beeks was seldom paged by Al Calavicci about occurrences during the leap. Her job focused mainly on the Guests. Verbena's supposition from the page alone, that the situation was truly horrible, was confirmed by the dead serious look on Al's face.
"What's up, boss?" she questioned.
"Circumstances made it necessary to tell Sam just how long he's been out there." Al said.
"That's contrary to all our established guidelines," Verbena began to berate Al.
"I know, I know, but I had to." Al defended himself. "He's overwhelmed by the news. I need something to say to him. He can't afford to lose focus where he is."
"Hanson Island," Verbena suggested. Al didn't contradict her.
"Let me come in and talk to him with you," Verbena offered beginning to key the entry code.
"NO, no," he raised his hand to the keypad and stilled her hand. Verbena stared at him. Al had never raised his voice to her, not in six years. Al tried another approach. "'Bena, please," his voice was calm and quiet. "I can't let you in the Imaging Chamber right now. It's too ... temperamental."
Verbena sighed, "O.K. Al. Remind Sam of all the good he's done, that it's been time well spent. Try to assess how much he is remembering about the Project and personnel, WITHOUT telling him anything he doesn't already know." Verbena warned Al.
Al nodded his agreement. "And one more thing, 'Bena."
"Yes?"
"Keep this under wraps for now, especially from Donna." Al requested. Verbena agreed.
****************
Al reentered the Imaging Chamber and found Sam had pulled himself together reasonably well. He was discussing the specifications of the bomb, it's placement below the power plant, and possible triggering mechanisms with Ziggy. The conversation stopped when Al came in.
"What?" Al asked.
"Uh ... just feeding the dull dry stuff to Ziggy," Sam said.
Al looked at the purposefully innocent looking face his friend was attempting and decided to let it go. "Can't we just disarm the thing?" Al asked.
Sam shook his head. "No, what would stop a second attempt if we did? Nothing. We have to catch the bomber."
"Dr. Beckett, did anyone come forward and claim responsibility?" Ziggy asked.
"No," Sam answered automatically, then caught the mystified look on Al's face. He decided to change tack. "Al, has Parker said anything useful?" Sam asked him.
"Huh?" Al was chewing over the past tense in Ziggy's question. "Parker is a nut job. He went on about being attached to the NSA," Al said dismissively. "Anyway he ... I mean you are supposed to be in chains on Hanson Island. Wadjado, break out?"
"No, I didn't break out," Sam replied indignantly. "Parker IS with the NSA. There are … a bunch of things that you're just going to have to take on faith, Buddy. I can't tell you why, your security clearance isn't high enough."
"My security clearance isn't high enough?" Now Al was indignant.
"Well, I could tell you ..."
"Aha!" Al interrupted.
"But then I'd have to kill you." Sam finished. Sam wasn't smiling at the old joke.
O.K." Al agreed disgruntled. "So now how do we proceed, Mr. NSA?"
"Let me handle the bomber. I'll let you know where the bomb is so you can have it disarmed. In the meantime, go on as usual." Sam proposed.
"What should I do with Parker?"
"Try to get information on the particulars of the day the bomb went ... will go off. He may know something I don't."
"And after you catch the bomber you leap out of here, right." Al said.
"Right, oh and Al, Frank Parker is a unique person. I've read some of his personal journal..."
"You read his Personal Journal? Tsk, Tsk," Al teased Sam.
"I had no choice, you weren't there to tell me anything." Sam protested. Al just smiled at him.
"What I was going to say was, he reminds me a lot of someone I know. You should check him out." Sam recommended to Al.
"Dr. Beckett?" Ziggy interrupted.
"Yes, Ziggy."
"There is another alternative."
"Another alternative?" Al questioned.
"Dr. Beckett, you presently exist within the normal time frame. You could allow the bomb to explode and remain here. You are home."
*******************
Donna Elesee and Isaac Mentnor entered the Control Center as if the pair were taking a casual stroll through a park rather than a tour through a high tech secret government time experiment. Isaac was chatting on about his granddaughter Rebecca in Nevada.
"I can see that she's just the light of your life, Isaac." Donna said. "She's nine already. I remember when we got her birth announcement in the mail." Turning her attention to the bespectacled man in the room she said, "Have you made any progress with the Imaging Chamber, Gooshie?"
"Not much, I'm afraid." Gooshie replied as Verbena Beeks entered the Control Center from the opposite side of the room.
"Don't worry about it," Donna consoled the programmer, "It's doing what it's supposed to do."
Gooshie looked at her in surprise. "Read section 58 lines 483 through 501," she told him, "in FORTRAN." Gooshie gave her a look of sudden comprehension. Practically all of Ziggy's programming was written in Sam Beckett's original machine language.
"Dr. Irving Gershowitz, Dr. Isaac Mentnor," she introduced the two men.
"Pleasure to meet you"
"Always nice to meet a friend of Dr. Elesee's" they exchanged pleasantries.
Signaling to Verbena, Donna continued the introductions, "And this is our lead psychiatrist, Verbena Beeks. Verbena, Isaac Mentnor."
"Very pleased to meet you, Dr. Mentnor," Verbena said casually.
"And me you, Dr. Beeks."
"I'm sure Dr. Elesee has everything well in hand here," Verbena said, "so if you'll please excuse me I have to check on our Guest."
"Something I need to know about?" Donna inquired.
"Al is with Sam and needs some general info. It's nothing major." Verbena said. She hates it when she has to lie to Donna, but there are some things better left unsaid. "But the Admiral is going to be tied up for a while," Verbena concluded as she left.
"There's not much more to see here, Isaac. Shall we continue on?" Donna suggested as she led him verbally and physically from the room.
*******************
"Dr. Beckett, you presently exist within the normal time frame. You could allow the bomb to explode and remain here. You are home," Ziggy said. A minute or two went by while the men considered what the Artificial Intelligence had stated.
"But this is not my body," Sam said. "What about Frank Parker? He does have a life."
"Maybe he'll agree to switch places," Al suggested, grasping at straws.
"I can't ask him to do that." Sam stated.
"I could," Al offered.
"No." Sam gave his friend an exasperated look.
"Ziggy, what are the odds of leaping back to my own body next time?" Sam asked his brainchild. "No, never mind. I don't want to know. Is the hallway clear?" Sam asked consulting his watch.
"The corridor outside the Imaging Chamber is unoccupied."
"I'm going to be missed soon." Sam said to Al. " Ziggy, door please."
The friends walked though the Imaging Chamber door together. Just past the threshold, the face of Frank Parker returned on the man Al now knew to be Sam Beckett.
"How am I going to get a hold of you?" Al wondered.
A wicked grin spread over Sam's face. "Al, there's this great new invention. You might have heard of it. It's called the telephone."
**********************
Having completed his reconnaissance in the parking facility, Craig Donovan began making his way back to the central meeting area. Frank and Isaac should be there in 20 minutes if they had timed this out right. Directionally impaired is not a term usually applied to Donovan but the tunnels and catacombs at Quantum Leap could confuse even the most experienced navigator. With all the back and side tracking he had to do to avoid detection, Donovan found himself in a hallway on a level he didn't expect. Crouched behind a desk at what appeared to be a checkpoint, he was across from a doorway. A doorway guarded by armed MPs. Wondering what that was about, Craig began to leave when he heard voices and footsteps coming up the hall. Staying in one spot seemed the most prudent course of action.
"... pacing like an angry cat," the male voice said. He was an Asian in his mid twenties, wearing casual clothes and a lab coat.
"Angry? I'll bet he is. I'd be in his place, wouldn't you?" a female voice asked. She was an African-American in her early thirties. Dressed similarly to the man, she carried a clipboard that she appeared to be studying. "I'm going in to talk to him."
The Asian looked concerned. "Dr. Beeks, are you sure that's wise? Maybe he will respond better to a male?" he questioned.
Dr. Beeks looked at her newest nurse with a bizarre mix of anger and amusement on her face. "You don't need to protect me, Nurse Ohara. I can do that just fine myself. Besides, I need to show that SOB that he didn't hurt me this morning," she finished ruefully.
As she was speaking she turned to face Ohara and Donovan could see her face clearly. She was beautiful in an un-obvious way, flawless skin, high cheekbones and incredibly serene eyes. Her body language spoke of a polished professional with a generous heart. Donovan wished he weren't in the middle of a covert operation.
"Open it up," Dr. Beeks ordered the M.P. on duty. He pushed a code into a pad on the wall and the door slid up into the ceiling. Donovan looked past Beeks to the interior of the room. He saw a man in his early forties, about six feet tall with sandy brown hair and very tense posture.
"Have you quite recovered from your adventure this morning?" Beeks was saying as she walked into the Waiting Room. Frank Parker wasn't listening to her. Instead he was staring past her into the hall. There was someone trying to hide behind that desk and it looked like ...
"Donovan!" Frank yelled. "Craig Donovan! Help me! Get me out of here!" he continued to yell as he rushed toward the door. This time Verbena Beeks was ready for him. She quickly took him down with a knee to the groin followed by a large syringe full of tranquilizers.
Donovan took off down the corridor to the nearest stairwell. The M.P.s were too busy assisting Dr. Beeks to follow him. His mind was moving even faster than his body with a thousand questions. Who was that guy? Why was he in a guarded room? And how did he recognize me, even use my first name? Craig promised himself answers to these questions later.
****************
Al Calavicci and Sam Beckett were headed to the main elevator shaft when they heard the commotion coming from the Waiting Room. The M.P.s were placing the still struggling Frank Parker in bed and in restraints. Al watched his friend's face as Sam witnessed his body being tied down to the bed. Sam looked sad and angry at the treatment he saw. Despite this he assured the Observer that he understood.
"Parker isn't taking this well." It wasn't a question. "I'm not surprised, given what I've read in his file and his journal," Sam commented.
"This is very uncommon for a Guest," Al rushed to defend his staff's actions.
"I know." Sam admitted softly. "Still..."
"We'll take it easy on him," Al agreed to the unspoken request. They continued to watch a moment more then continued on to the exit.
"Here," Sam said as he thrust a business card into Al's hand.
"What's this?"
"The phone number of the hotel I'm staying in."
"Thanks. Hey listen, there's a reception for the congressional committee on Wednesday evening." Al remembered. "If you need to get back into Stallion's Gate that would be the night to do it."
"I'll remember that." Sam truly appreciated his friendship with Al now. The elevator slowed on its approach to the main entry point. The doors opened and Al began to walk out. Sam stopped him. "I don't think we should be seen together just now." Sam warned.
Al conceded the point. "I just hate to see you out there alone." he told Sam.
"I'm not." Sam assured him and he went out to meet up with Mentnor and Donovan.
It was only because he was 'Isaac Mentnor' that Donna allowed Isaac access to level ten to see the Waiting Room and observe for himself the Guest within. She herself stood with her back to the one-way window. In five years she had never seen a Guest, although she'd seen Sam between leaps. Donna convinces herself that he is just sleeping when she sees him lying there, unmoving. Once, about two years ago, a leap occurred just as Donna was leaving and the Guest called out to her. Hearing Sam's voice, knowing it wasn't Sam, was devastating.
The waiting room, and its occupant, were usually tended to by members of Dr. Beeks psychiatric staff. Finding M.P.s at the door was very unusual but not unheard of. Finding armed M.P.s at the door was.
"What do you know about the current Guest?" Isaac inquired. The body of Sam Beckett was sitting cross-legged on the floor, rocking as if in an invisible rocking chair.
"I know nothing about him." Donna answered, "but Verbena Beeks will. She's our lead psychiatrist and keeps a profile on all our Guests."
"I'd like to meet her, if I may?" Isaac requested.
Donna tapped the band on her wrist. "Ziggy, where is Dr. Beeks?" she spoke to her wrist.
A moment went by and then Ziggy's soft alto replied, "Dr. Beeks is outside the Imaging Chamber with Admiral Calavicci."
"Sorry, Isaac, Verbena is unavailable now." Donna reported. "Why don't we go into the main Control Center? I'm sure Gooshie would love to show off his work."
'I guess he fixed the Imaging Chamber' Donna thought to herself.
***************
Verbena Beeks was seldom paged by Al Calavicci about occurrences during the leap. Her job focused mainly on the Guests. Verbena's supposition from the page alone, that the situation was truly horrible, was confirmed by the dead serious look on Al's face.
"What's up, boss?" she questioned.
"Circumstances made it necessary to tell Sam just how long he's been out there." Al said.
"That's contrary to all our established guidelines," Verbena began to berate Al.
"I know, I know, but I had to." Al defended himself. "He's overwhelmed by the news. I need something to say to him. He can't afford to lose focus where he is."
"Hanson Island," Verbena suggested. Al didn't contradict her.
"Let me come in and talk to him with you," Verbena offered beginning to key the entry code.
"NO, no," he raised his hand to the keypad and stilled her hand. Verbena stared at him. Al had never raised his voice to her, not in six years. Al tried another approach. "'Bena, please," his voice was calm and quiet. "I can't let you in the Imaging Chamber right now. It's too ... temperamental."
Verbena sighed, "O.K. Al. Remind Sam of all the good he's done, that it's been time well spent. Try to assess how much he is remembering about the Project and personnel, WITHOUT telling him anything he doesn't already know." Verbena warned Al.
Al nodded his agreement. "And one more thing, 'Bena."
"Yes?"
"Keep this under wraps for now, especially from Donna." Al requested. Verbena agreed.
****************
Al reentered the Imaging Chamber and found Sam had pulled himself together reasonably well. He was discussing the specifications of the bomb, it's placement below the power plant, and possible triggering mechanisms with Ziggy. The conversation stopped when Al came in.
"What?" Al asked.
"Uh ... just feeding the dull dry stuff to Ziggy," Sam said.
Al looked at the purposefully innocent looking face his friend was attempting and decided to let it go. "Can't we just disarm the thing?" Al asked.
Sam shook his head. "No, what would stop a second attempt if we did? Nothing. We have to catch the bomber."
"Dr. Beckett, did anyone come forward and claim responsibility?" Ziggy asked.
"No," Sam answered automatically, then caught the mystified look on Al's face. He decided to change tack. "Al, has Parker said anything useful?" Sam asked him.
"Huh?" Al was chewing over the past tense in Ziggy's question. "Parker is a nut job. He went on about being attached to the NSA," Al said dismissively. "Anyway he ... I mean you are supposed to be in chains on Hanson Island. Wadjado, break out?"
"No, I didn't break out," Sam replied indignantly. "Parker IS with the NSA. There are … a bunch of things that you're just going to have to take on faith, Buddy. I can't tell you why, your security clearance isn't high enough."
"My security clearance isn't high enough?" Now Al was indignant.
"Well, I could tell you ..."
"Aha!" Al interrupted.
"But then I'd have to kill you." Sam finished. Sam wasn't smiling at the old joke.
O.K." Al agreed disgruntled. "So now how do we proceed, Mr. NSA?"
"Let me handle the bomber. I'll let you know where the bomb is so you can have it disarmed. In the meantime, go on as usual." Sam proposed.
"What should I do with Parker?"
"Try to get information on the particulars of the day the bomb went ... will go off. He may know something I don't."
"And after you catch the bomber you leap out of here, right." Al said.
"Right, oh and Al, Frank Parker is a unique person. I've read some of his personal journal..."
"You read his Personal Journal? Tsk, Tsk," Al teased Sam.
"I had no choice, you weren't there to tell me anything." Sam protested. Al just smiled at him.
"What I was going to say was, he reminds me a lot of someone I know. You should check him out." Sam recommended to Al.
"Dr. Beckett?" Ziggy interrupted.
"Yes, Ziggy."
"There is another alternative."
"Another alternative?" Al questioned.
"Dr. Beckett, you presently exist within the normal time frame. You could allow the bomb to explode and remain here. You are home."
*******************
Donna Elesee and Isaac Mentnor entered the Control Center as if the pair were taking a casual stroll through a park rather than a tour through a high tech secret government time experiment. Isaac was chatting on about his granddaughter Rebecca in Nevada.
"I can see that she's just the light of your life, Isaac." Donna said. "She's nine already. I remember when we got her birth announcement in the mail." Turning her attention to the bespectacled man in the room she said, "Have you made any progress with the Imaging Chamber, Gooshie?"
"Not much, I'm afraid." Gooshie replied as Verbena Beeks entered the Control Center from the opposite side of the room.
"Don't worry about it," Donna consoled the programmer, "It's doing what it's supposed to do."
Gooshie looked at her in surprise. "Read section 58 lines 483 through 501," she told him, "in FORTRAN." Gooshie gave her a look of sudden comprehension. Practically all of Ziggy's programming was written in Sam Beckett's original machine language.
"Dr. Irving Gershowitz, Dr. Isaac Mentnor," she introduced the two men.
"Pleasure to meet you"
"Always nice to meet a friend of Dr. Elesee's" they exchanged pleasantries.
Signaling to Verbena, Donna continued the introductions, "And this is our lead psychiatrist, Verbena Beeks. Verbena, Isaac Mentnor."
"Very pleased to meet you, Dr. Mentnor," Verbena said casually.
"And me you, Dr. Beeks."
"I'm sure Dr. Elesee has everything well in hand here," Verbena said, "so if you'll please excuse me I have to check on our Guest."
"Something I need to know about?" Donna inquired.
"Al is with Sam and needs some general info. It's nothing major." Verbena said. She hates it when she has to lie to Donna, but there are some things better left unsaid. "But the Admiral is going to be tied up for a while," Verbena concluded as she left.
"There's not much more to see here, Isaac. Shall we continue on?" Donna suggested as she led him verbally and physically from the room.
*******************
"Dr. Beckett, you presently exist within the normal time frame. You could allow the bomb to explode and remain here. You are home," Ziggy said. A minute or two went by while the men considered what the Artificial Intelligence had stated.
"But this is not my body," Sam said. "What about Frank Parker? He does have a life."
"Maybe he'll agree to switch places," Al suggested, grasping at straws.
"I can't ask him to do that." Sam stated.
"I could," Al offered.
"No." Sam gave his friend an exasperated look.
"Ziggy, what are the odds of leaping back to my own body next time?" Sam asked his brainchild. "No, never mind. I don't want to know. Is the hallway clear?" Sam asked consulting his watch.
"The corridor outside the Imaging Chamber is unoccupied."
"I'm going to be missed soon." Sam said to Al. " Ziggy, door please."
The friends walked though the Imaging Chamber door together. Just past the threshold, the face of Frank Parker returned on the man Al now knew to be Sam Beckett.
"How am I going to get a hold of you?" Al wondered.
A wicked grin spread over Sam's face. "Al, there's this great new invention. You might have heard of it. It's called the telephone."
**********************
Having completed his reconnaissance in the parking facility, Craig Donovan began making his way back to the central meeting area. Frank and Isaac should be there in 20 minutes if they had timed this out right. Directionally impaired is not a term usually applied to Donovan but the tunnels and catacombs at Quantum Leap could confuse even the most experienced navigator. With all the back and side tracking he had to do to avoid detection, Donovan found himself in a hallway on a level he didn't expect. Crouched behind a desk at what appeared to be a checkpoint, he was across from a doorway. A doorway guarded by armed MPs. Wondering what that was about, Craig began to leave when he heard voices and footsteps coming up the hall. Staying in one spot seemed the most prudent course of action.
"... pacing like an angry cat," the male voice said. He was an Asian in his mid twenties, wearing casual clothes and a lab coat.
"Angry? I'll bet he is. I'd be in his place, wouldn't you?" a female voice asked. She was an African-American in her early thirties. Dressed similarly to the man, she carried a clipboard that she appeared to be studying. "I'm going in to talk to him."
The Asian looked concerned. "Dr. Beeks, are you sure that's wise? Maybe he will respond better to a male?" he questioned.
Dr. Beeks looked at her newest nurse with a bizarre mix of anger and amusement on her face. "You don't need to protect me, Nurse Ohara. I can do that just fine myself. Besides, I need to show that SOB that he didn't hurt me this morning," she finished ruefully.
As she was speaking she turned to face Ohara and Donovan could see her face clearly. She was beautiful in an un-obvious way, flawless skin, high cheekbones and incredibly serene eyes. Her body language spoke of a polished professional with a generous heart. Donovan wished he weren't in the middle of a covert operation.
"Open it up," Dr. Beeks ordered the M.P. on duty. He pushed a code into a pad on the wall and the door slid up into the ceiling. Donovan looked past Beeks to the interior of the room. He saw a man in his early forties, about six feet tall with sandy brown hair and very tense posture.
"Have you quite recovered from your adventure this morning?" Beeks was saying as she walked into the Waiting Room. Frank Parker wasn't listening to her. Instead he was staring past her into the hall. There was someone trying to hide behind that desk and it looked like ...
"Donovan!" Frank yelled. "Craig Donovan! Help me! Get me out of here!" he continued to yell as he rushed toward the door. This time Verbena Beeks was ready for him. She quickly took him down with a knee to the groin followed by a large syringe full of tranquilizers.
Donovan took off down the corridor to the nearest stairwell. The M.P.s were too busy assisting Dr. Beeks to follow him. His mind was moving even faster than his body with a thousand questions. Who was that guy? Why was he in a guarded room? And how did he recognize me, even use my first name? Craig promised himself answers to these questions later.
****************
Al Calavicci and Sam Beckett were headed to the main elevator shaft when they heard the commotion coming from the Waiting Room. The M.P.s were placing the still struggling Frank Parker in bed and in restraints. Al watched his friend's face as Sam witnessed his body being tied down to the bed. Sam looked sad and angry at the treatment he saw. Despite this he assured the Observer that he understood.
"Parker isn't taking this well." It wasn't a question. "I'm not surprised, given what I've read in his file and his journal," Sam commented.
"This is very uncommon for a Guest," Al rushed to defend his staff's actions.
"I know." Sam admitted softly. "Still..."
"We'll take it easy on him," Al agreed to the unspoken request. They continued to watch a moment more then continued on to the exit.
"Here," Sam said as he thrust a business card into Al's hand.
"What's this?"
"The phone number of the hotel I'm staying in."
"Thanks. Hey listen, there's a reception for the congressional committee on Wednesday evening." Al remembered. "If you need to get back into Stallion's Gate that would be the night to do it."
"I'll remember that." Sam truly appreciated his friendship with Al now. The elevator slowed on its approach to the main entry point. The doors opened and Al began to walk out. Sam stopped him. "I don't think we should be seen together just now." Sam warned.
Al conceded the point. "I just hate to see you out there alone." he told Sam.
"I'm not." Sam assured him and he went out to meet up with Mentnor and Donovan.