CHAPTER 21
Thursday 2/11/00
Stallion's Gate
0900
All of the department heads of Project Quantum Leap were gathered in the secondary conference room located on the fourth level of the facility. That is, all except SammiJo Fuller, Tina Martinez-O'Farrell and Al Calavicci. SammiJo was in the infirmary being monitored for a mild concussion along with other strains and bruises sustained in jumping from a speeding vehicle. Tina being late was not unusual, especially after a late night; but the Admiral being late to the staff meeting he called was unheard of.
An eerie quiet filled the room while they waited. Everyone had been at the party last night but no one wanted to start the conversation about it; it seemed a taboo subject. The only sounds in the room were the tinkling of spoons in coffee cups punctuated by an occasional swallow.
At 0903, Admiral Albert Calavicci entered the room. He was more comfortably dressed than last evening's dress whites, wearing instead his favorite black chinos and matching cowboy style shirt accented by a Bolo tie with a silver clip. He found his customary chair at the head of the table and sat down.
"Thank you all for being here so early in the morning," the admiral began. "I just got off the phone with Dr. Martinez-O'Farrell. Currently, she is at White Sands with her sister. She has been granted a short leave to see that Delilah is settled in at the hospital." Al paused as a murmur passed through the room.
"The NSA has cleared everyone else on the bombing. It seems that Dee was acting alone out of a twisted understanding of love. She felt that Congressman Martinelli was too conflicted about which project to approve funding for, so she made the choice for him. If Quantum Leap didn't exist he wouldn't have to chose."
"And they were lovers," Donna Elesee interjected. It was not a question but Al responded to it as if it was.
"Yes, it seems that Miss Hobkirk and the congressman have been," Al paused and cleared his throat, "paramours for quite some time now. Anyway, the congressman has been cleared of any conspiracy in the matter."
"It sure was nice to have the Guest's unexpected help," Jim Reed threw into the conversation. "Parker was half supporting Dr. Fuller when my men picked them up in the desert after the explosion."
Although she tried to hide it, Donna Elesee's attention was grabbed by the name of the Guest.
"Their injuries aren't severe," Verbena Beeks interrupted Reed and began her report. "SammiJo has a minor concussion, some contusions, abrasions and strained muscles. She should be back to work in a few days. I'm going to release her from the sickbay by lunchtime."
"Good," Gooshie said. "With Tina on leave, I'm going to need SammiJo in Control."
"As for our Guest," Verbena continued, "his injuries are even more minor and he is being moved back to the Waiting Room as soon as I'm done here."
"So much for us. What about Sam? Is he doing alright in his leap?" Donna questioned. She knew better than to accuse Al of abandoning her husband during a leap but quite frankly, everyone was so involved with the problem at hand that no one had mentioned the current leap at all.
Al read the concern on her face. "I'm glad you brought that up, Donna," Al said. "I am planning on checking on Sam as soon as we're done here." He looked around the room as he asked, "Are we done here?" A chorus of "Yes, Sir"s filled the room. Al turned his gaze directly to the head programmer. "Gooshie, fire up the Imaging Chamber. Thank you everyone, for your continued grace under pressure and go back to work."
Chairs squeaked as all assembled rose to go about their jobs. Al caught Donna by the arm before she went out the door and requested her to stay. They waited while everyone else filed out. Then Al began to speak.
"You mentioned being hit on by one of the NSA people," he began very casually.
"Yes," Donna replied, hope growing in her mind. "He was with Isaac again last night." She tried not to fidget as her mind put some pieces together. "Funny, he has the same name as ... our ... Guest."
"And you were wondering ..."
"I was thinking ..."
Al made sure he had Donna's full attention before he spoke again. "Frank Parker did not try to pick you up because he was in the Waiting Room."
The emotional clouds that had been building in Donna's mind suddenly broke. She visibly straightened as she verbalized her thought, "That was Sam! He gave me that same line at MIT."
"Yes," Al confirmed. "He has no conscious memory of you. But somewhere in that noggin of his, he knows."
"It's not in his head, Al, it's in his heart," Mrs. Beckett replied as a tear of joy rolled down her cheek.
After making sure that she would be all right, Admiral Calavicci made his way to the Imaging Chamber.
Thursday 2/11/00
Never Neverland
0920
Sam Beckett threw the overstuffed gym bag that was impersonating a suitcase on to Frank Parker's bed and began to unpack. By the time the Backstep team had returned to the hotel in Socorro it was almost 2am and Sam acutely felt the lack of sleep. He had just closed the bureau drawer when he heard the familiar metallic whoosh of the Imaging Chamber door.
"I hope you're here to explain why I'm still here," Sam pleaded with his Observer.
"Will that make you happy, Sam? O.K., I'll tell you. You're still here because we needed time to treat Parker's injuries in the infirmary. Beeks should have him back in the waiting room within the hour." Al Calavicci looked closely at his disheveled partner. "You look like you pulled an all nighter. Sam, did you improve international relations with that fabulous Russian?" he teased.
Sam looked aghast at the suggestion. "No. Lovely as Olga Vukovitch is, she is not the reason I look this way," Sam explained. "By the time we got back to Socorro it was 2am. Then Bradley Talmadge decides we need to get back to," Sam stopped himself and took a breath, "our base this morning. So we get up at 5am to fly back here to limit our exposure." The last four words Sam placed within quotation marks with his fingers.
"The whole NSA team is gone, just like that?" Al questioned.
"Yes, no, all but Nathan Ramsey," Sam replied. "Ramsey personally escorted Delilah Hobkirk to the military holding site at White Sands. He'll be back later."
The corners of Al's mouth curled up just a bit. "I'm sure I'll hear all about it when Tina gets back. She's with Dee, too," he informed Sam.
Sam finished stowing Frank's gear by tossing the empty bag in the closet and turned back to his holographic friend. "So, I'll be out of here soon?" he questioned Al.
"Yeah, like I said, Verbena just needs to get him back to the Waiting Room," Al repeated, "within the hour, Sam." The admiral watched as Sam exhaustedly hurled himself into the chair at Frank's desk. As much as he didn't want to add to his friend's worries, Al felt he had to warn him.
"Sam, there's something I need to tell you."
"About Verbena knowing who I was?" Sam asked.
"Not Verbena," Al began, "Isaac Mentnor was acting hinkey last night. Suspicious, like he knew who you were."
"Did he say anything ... ?"
"No, not specifically," Al said and was then interrupted by a knock on Parker's door. "Hang in there, Sam. You'll be out of here in less than an hour," the Admiral finished. Then he keyed the handlink, opened the Imaging Room door and returned to New Mexico.
The knock came again, louder and more insistent.
"Don't these people ever sleep?" Sam growled softly as he went to open the door. Two M.P.s were standing outside the door.
*******
Several minutes later Sam Beckett found himself seated in front of Bradley Talmadge's huge oak desk. Bradley sat behind his desk. His was not the face of a man about to celebrate a mission well done. Quite the opposite, his face was full of questions and worries.
Isaac Mentnor was in the office as well. He appeared less concerned than Bradley but then again, he knew something that Bradley Talmadge didn't.
"Listen, Frank," Bradley began, "You know I've always given you a lot of leeway in how you act, particularly on missions. Because you're such a vital part of this project, I look the other way instead of coming down on you for things that would have someone else court-martialed. That ends today. I want explanations about your behavior in New Mexico, Frank." He looked into "Parker's" face and was surprised to see anxiety in his eyes.
Sam squirmed, trying to come up with a response, but Bradley continued talking.
"I didn't take Ramsey seriously enough when he complained about your erratic behavior. It has been odd, even for you. I can see you ditching Craig at the formal wear shop. Even singing Beach Boys songs to Olga. But I have to ask, how did you get so familiar with the layout of Project Quantum Leap?"
Sam opened his mouth to respond. This time he was cut off by Isaac who had been sitting quietly in the corner from the beginning.
"I think we need to look at what happened before Frank got to Stallion's Gate," Isaac said. "He doesn't often pass out following a Backstep. If I didn't know better, I would swear that he wasn't Frank at all." Isaac's eyes twinkled as he stared at Sam.
"There's more." Bradley continued, "The artificial intelligence at Quantum Leap was way too familiar with the personnel at Project Backstep. It mentioned knowing about several projects that Ballard, Isaac and I have been involved in and intimated that it knew about Backstep. And, then that insufferable computer of theirs calls you, Sir, Frank. I want to know why."
Comprehension of the real question came to Sam in an instant. "Now I see what has you so concerned. I understand. A breech of security in a project this important, especially by a computer with an ego the size of the World Trade Center ..."
"Frank, cut the bull." Bradley roared. "How much does Ziggy know about us?"
"What does it matter as long as there is no reference to Project Backstep in Ziggy's memory bank?" Sam asked.
"No reference to Backstep? How do you know that, Frank?" Bradley challenged.
Sam stole a glance at his former professor before answering. "Frank Parker wouldn't ..."
"But Sam Beckett would," Isaac finished.
"Sam Beckett?" Talmadge questioned. Now his face registered shock.
"Yes, sir," Sam replied. "The integrity of Backstep has not been compromised. Believe me, I know how to keep a secret." The familiar tingle of an impending leap began in the small of Sam's back as he stood up from the chair. Turning his attention to Isaac Sam said, "Apparently, so can you. Thank you, Isaac."
The professor smiled at his pupil. "No, thank you, Sam!" Isaac corrected as a blue light engulfed Sam, and he leaped.
Thursday 2/11/00
Stallion's Gate
0900
All of the department heads of Project Quantum Leap were gathered in the secondary conference room located on the fourth level of the facility. That is, all except SammiJo Fuller, Tina Martinez-O'Farrell and Al Calavicci. SammiJo was in the infirmary being monitored for a mild concussion along with other strains and bruises sustained in jumping from a speeding vehicle. Tina being late was not unusual, especially after a late night; but the Admiral being late to the staff meeting he called was unheard of.
An eerie quiet filled the room while they waited. Everyone had been at the party last night but no one wanted to start the conversation about it; it seemed a taboo subject. The only sounds in the room were the tinkling of spoons in coffee cups punctuated by an occasional swallow.
At 0903, Admiral Albert Calavicci entered the room. He was more comfortably dressed than last evening's dress whites, wearing instead his favorite black chinos and matching cowboy style shirt accented by a Bolo tie with a silver clip. He found his customary chair at the head of the table and sat down.
"Thank you all for being here so early in the morning," the admiral began. "I just got off the phone with Dr. Martinez-O'Farrell. Currently, she is at White Sands with her sister. She has been granted a short leave to see that Delilah is settled in at the hospital." Al paused as a murmur passed through the room.
"The NSA has cleared everyone else on the bombing. It seems that Dee was acting alone out of a twisted understanding of love. She felt that Congressman Martinelli was too conflicted about which project to approve funding for, so she made the choice for him. If Quantum Leap didn't exist he wouldn't have to chose."
"And they were lovers," Donna Elesee interjected. It was not a question but Al responded to it as if it was.
"Yes, it seems that Miss Hobkirk and the congressman have been," Al paused and cleared his throat, "paramours for quite some time now. Anyway, the congressman has been cleared of any conspiracy in the matter."
"It sure was nice to have the Guest's unexpected help," Jim Reed threw into the conversation. "Parker was half supporting Dr. Fuller when my men picked them up in the desert after the explosion."
Although she tried to hide it, Donna Elesee's attention was grabbed by the name of the Guest.
"Their injuries aren't severe," Verbena Beeks interrupted Reed and began her report. "SammiJo has a minor concussion, some contusions, abrasions and strained muscles. She should be back to work in a few days. I'm going to release her from the sickbay by lunchtime."
"Good," Gooshie said. "With Tina on leave, I'm going to need SammiJo in Control."
"As for our Guest," Verbena continued, "his injuries are even more minor and he is being moved back to the Waiting Room as soon as I'm done here."
"So much for us. What about Sam? Is he doing alright in his leap?" Donna questioned. She knew better than to accuse Al of abandoning her husband during a leap but quite frankly, everyone was so involved with the problem at hand that no one had mentioned the current leap at all.
Al read the concern on her face. "I'm glad you brought that up, Donna," Al said. "I am planning on checking on Sam as soon as we're done here." He looked around the room as he asked, "Are we done here?" A chorus of "Yes, Sir"s filled the room. Al turned his gaze directly to the head programmer. "Gooshie, fire up the Imaging Chamber. Thank you everyone, for your continued grace under pressure and go back to work."
Chairs squeaked as all assembled rose to go about their jobs. Al caught Donna by the arm before she went out the door and requested her to stay. They waited while everyone else filed out. Then Al began to speak.
"You mentioned being hit on by one of the NSA people," he began very casually.
"Yes," Donna replied, hope growing in her mind. "He was with Isaac again last night." She tried not to fidget as her mind put some pieces together. "Funny, he has the same name as ... our ... Guest."
"And you were wondering ..."
"I was thinking ..."
Al made sure he had Donna's full attention before he spoke again. "Frank Parker did not try to pick you up because he was in the Waiting Room."
The emotional clouds that had been building in Donna's mind suddenly broke. She visibly straightened as she verbalized her thought, "That was Sam! He gave me that same line at MIT."
"Yes," Al confirmed. "He has no conscious memory of you. But somewhere in that noggin of his, he knows."
"It's not in his head, Al, it's in his heart," Mrs. Beckett replied as a tear of joy rolled down her cheek.
After making sure that she would be all right, Admiral Calavicci made his way to the Imaging Chamber.
Thursday 2/11/00
Never Neverland
0920
Sam Beckett threw the overstuffed gym bag that was impersonating a suitcase on to Frank Parker's bed and began to unpack. By the time the Backstep team had returned to the hotel in Socorro it was almost 2am and Sam acutely felt the lack of sleep. He had just closed the bureau drawer when he heard the familiar metallic whoosh of the Imaging Chamber door.
"I hope you're here to explain why I'm still here," Sam pleaded with his Observer.
"Will that make you happy, Sam? O.K., I'll tell you. You're still here because we needed time to treat Parker's injuries in the infirmary. Beeks should have him back in the waiting room within the hour." Al Calavicci looked closely at his disheveled partner. "You look like you pulled an all nighter. Sam, did you improve international relations with that fabulous Russian?" he teased.
Sam looked aghast at the suggestion. "No. Lovely as Olga Vukovitch is, she is not the reason I look this way," Sam explained. "By the time we got back to Socorro it was 2am. Then Bradley Talmadge decides we need to get back to," Sam stopped himself and took a breath, "our base this morning. So we get up at 5am to fly back here to limit our exposure." The last four words Sam placed within quotation marks with his fingers.
"The whole NSA team is gone, just like that?" Al questioned.
"Yes, no, all but Nathan Ramsey," Sam replied. "Ramsey personally escorted Delilah Hobkirk to the military holding site at White Sands. He'll be back later."
The corners of Al's mouth curled up just a bit. "I'm sure I'll hear all about it when Tina gets back. She's with Dee, too," he informed Sam.
Sam finished stowing Frank's gear by tossing the empty bag in the closet and turned back to his holographic friend. "So, I'll be out of here soon?" he questioned Al.
"Yeah, like I said, Verbena just needs to get him back to the Waiting Room," Al repeated, "within the hour, Sam." The admiral watched as Sam exhaustedly hurled himself into the chair at Frank's desk. As much as he didn't want to add to his friend's worries, Al felt he had to warn him.
"Sam, there's something I need to tell you."
"About Verbena knowing who I was?" Sam asked.
"Not Verbena," Al began, "Isaac Mentnor was acting hinkey last night. Suspicious, like he knew who you were."
"Did he say anything ... ?"
"No, not specifically," Al said and was then interrupted by a knock on Parker's door. "Hang in there, Sam. You'll be out of here in less than an hour," the Admiral finished. Then he keyed the handlink, opened the Imaging Room door and returned to New Mexico.
The knock came again, louder and more insistent.
"Don't these people ever sleep?" Sam growled softly as he went to open the door. Two M.P.s were standing outside the door.
*******
Several minutes later Sam Beckett found himself seated in front of Bradley Talmadge's huge oak desk. Bradley sat behind his desk. His was not the face of a man about to celebrate a mission well done. Quite the opposite, his face was full of questions and worries.
Isaac Mentnor was in the office as well. He appeared less concerned than Bradley but then again, he knew something that Bradley Talmadge didn't.
"Listen, Frank," Bradley began, "You know I've always given you a lot of leeway in how you act, particularly on missions. Because you're such a vital part of this project, I look the other way instead of coming down on you for things that would have someone else court-martialed. That ends today. I want explanations about your behavior in New Mexico, Frank." He looked into "Parker's" face and was surprised to see anxiety in his eyes.
Sam squirmed, trying to come up with a response, but Bradley continued talking.
"I didn't take Ramsey seriously enough when he complained about your erratic behavior. It has been odd, even for you. I can see you ditching Craig at the formal wear shop. Even singing Beach Boys songs to Olga. But I have to ask, how did you get so familiar with the layout of Project Quantum Leap?"
Sam opened his mouth to respond. This time he was cut off by Isaac who had been sitting quietly in the corner from the beginning.
"I think we need to look at what happened before Frank got to Stallion's Gate," Isaac said. "He doesn't often pass out following a Backstep. If I didn't know better, I would swear that he wasn't Frank at all." Isaac's eyes twinkled as he stared at Sam.
"There's more." Bradley continued, "The artificial intelligence at Quantum Leap was way too familiar with the personnel at Project Backstep. It mentioned knowing about several projects that Ballard, Isaac and I have been involved in and intimated that it knew about Backstep. And, then that insufferable computer of theirs calls you, Sir, Frank. I want to know why."
Comprehension of the real question came to Sam in an instant. "Now I see what has you so concerned. I understand. A breech of security in a project this important, especially by a computer with an ego the size of the World Trade Center ..."
"Frank, cut the bull." Bradley roared. "How much does Ziggy know about us?"
"What does it matter as long as there is no reference to Project Backstep in Ziggy's memory bank?" Sam asked.
"No reference to Backstep? How do you know that, Frank?" Bradley challenged.
Sam stole a glance at his former professor before answering. "Frank Parker wouldn't ..."
"But Sam Beckett would," Isaac finished.
"Sam Beckett?" Talmadge questioned. Now his face registered shock.
"Yes, sir," Sam replied. "The integrity of Backstep has not been compromised. Believe me, I know how to keep a secret." The familiar tingle of an impending leap began in the small of Sam's back as he stood up from the chair. Turning his attention to Isaac Sam said, "Apparently, so can you. Thank you, Isaac."
The professor smiled at his pupil. "No, thank you, Sam!" Isaac corrected as a blue light engulfed Sam, and he leaped.