FALLEN HERO
By AJ Burfield, MJ Cogburn and Katherine Freymuth

CHAPTER FOUR

Project Quantum Leap
Stallion's Gate, New Mexico

The Main Conduit Relay Room looked as if a tornado had struck. Multi-colored panels were scattered on the floor, the cause of which sat by the exposed conduit main grid. Starting at the left side of the grid and working his way to the right, Gooshie had stripped the wall of panels to view the circuitry in its entirety. He and Dr. Beckett had wired this section themselves, and now looking at the end result, he wondered why they hadn't made it more simplistic.

He sat back on his heels absently rubbing his chin as he followed the main conduit with his eyes. The yellow color of the conduit was fairly easy to track as it mingled in with the other colors, but an unfamiliar object interrupted the pattern. He'd found it.

"Son of a bitch!" Clearly, he saw where the conduit had been cut and was now wired to a lighter green outside line. He retrieved the test monitor from his pile of tools to test the line for a power source and prepared to hook up. The sound of people entering the room made him pause and look up as he connected one of the receptors.

"What have you got, Goosh?" Al questioned. He stopped just inside the doorway due to the panels on the floor, backed by Beth and Verbena, when the programmer raised his hand for them to stop. Patiently, they waited for a response. It was difficult for Al to keep from tapping his toe impatiently.

Gooshie hooked up the monitor's second receptor, and was instantly showered with sparks. The wild haired programmer just had enough time to throw up his hands over his face when the monitor exploded beside him. Al jumped back in the hall as Gooshie kicked the monitor to the other side of the room.

"Admiral, someone is accessing Ziggy from outside the Project!" he yelled over the noise. Ziggy's plea for help was still fresh in Gooshie's mind as he reached into the exposed circuitry. He didn't even think about the possible consequences.

"Gooshie, no!" Al hollered as he dove in the room from the hall.

Gooshie grabbed the conduit with both hands and pulled. As the connection broke free, a brilliant flash erupted in the room. The concussion threw Al backward into Beth and Verbena, bowling them all over. They were bruised, but still conscious.

Gooshie wasn't so lucky. He received the full brunt of the blast, and was knocked back with a loud grunt. His body flew across the room and impacted the opposite wall with enough force to leave an impression. His hands were black and smoking, indistinguishable from the burning sleeves of his lab coat. His body slid down the wall and crumpled into a smoldering heap.

Al sat up and shook his head, his ears ringing. He blinked rapidly to clear the stinging smoke from his eyes, and tried to find Gooshie in the haze. The first thing he saw was the black hole where the conduit had been. "My God!" he whispered, then coughed and scanned the room, stopping at the crumpled form on the floor. "No!" He breathed, crawling into the room.

"Admiral? Admiral?" Ziggy's voice floated through the room, strong and clear. "There is another leaper. Someone has leaped to the ranch with Dr. Beckett. I surmise that Dr. Beckett is in extreme danger."

Beth and Verbena stood slowly, still confused from the jolt and staggered to the doorway in shock. Hearing Ziggy's voice momentarily distracted them, then Verbena saw Al's motion. Instantly she saw his intent, and raced past him, reaching Gooshie first. Beth was close on her heels, and stopped to help Al to his feet.

The Admiral immediately bowed to Verbena and Beth's expertise, and instinctively took command of the situation. The Project was clearly under attack.

"Ziggy, get the Imaging Chamber back online and get the medics down here STAT," he barked. Al looked at the downed programmer as Beth and Verbina hovered over him, checking his vital signs. He issued orders rapidly to the staff as they showed up, and only allowed the medics to enter. He had to warn Sam, but he had to make sure the Project was secure first. He delayed his departure to the Imaging Chamber until Julianna arrived, backed by heavily armed Marines. He released the scene into her capable hands, and with one more glance in Gooshie's direction left for the Control Room. He could hear Julianna and Verbena barking orders behind him.

"Admiral?" Ziggy asked softly as Al jogged down the hall.

"What?" Al replied, his mind busy.

"I haven't lost a friend, have I?" Her voice was almost a whisper.

Al took a deep breath and slowed to a walk, the other thoughts forgotten. Had she? He didn't know, and couldn't afford to think about it now. "I hope you haven't, Ziggy. I don't know." He squared his shoulders and pushed the thoughts aside, and strode quickly into the Control Room. He was met with the wide eyes and questioning looks of Sammie Jo and Tina.

"Ziggy should have the Imaging Chamber ready to go." He snatched up the hand link, trying to think of what to say. He stopped, and met their eyes. "There was an explosion. Gooshie's hurt."

The two women gasped in unison.

"I don't know how bad. Ziggy says there's another leaper with Sam and I have to warn him before it's too late. It looks like Gooshie was right about an interloper." The pair dropped their heads, stunned, and started working the controls. They knew what was at stake, and time was of the essence.

Al approached the Imaging Chamber door. Ever so softly, the humming of the Imaging Chamber began and Ziggy's soft voice floated throughout the Project. "Thank you, Gooshie. You saved me."

Al entered the Chamber somberly.

Tina's voice emitted from the intercom. "Admiral," she said, her voice cracking with emotion, "Ziggy seems to be fine for the moment, but I don't know for how long."

Al nodded at the information and pushed back the welling emotions from Ziggy's soft thanks. "Center me on Sam, sweetheart."

"Yes, Admiral."

May 28, 1977
Kingswood Farms, Virginia

From his perch on the upper rail of the arena fence, Sam watched Alia and the other riders jump horses over brightly painted fences. He studied Alia for several minutes, admiring her gracefulness and control. In his mind he knew she integral to the happenings at the Project, and the thought was counter to the peaceful scene before him.

Having Al pop out so dramatically had greatly disturbed him. Sam was determined to confront Alia at first, but during the walk to the arena he had reasoned himself out of it. Talking irately to her wasn't going to cut it, and he knew it. So, he calmed himself down by just watching her and waited for the right opportunity.

The sound of the Imaging Chamber door startled him right off the fence into the arena. He turned to look outside the fence and saw a bright spot of light trying to grow to the size of a door. Sam squinted into the white blur of light. "Al?" he whispered.

Alia noted her boss' tumble from the fence, and reined her horse to a stop. She saw him lean over the fence, and thought he was in pain. Nudging her mount in his direction, she felt the horse stiffen, and saw his ears lock forward. His steps became hesitant, and he shied to one side. He didn't want to go near the man. Her concentration switched to calming the horse down.

Her job wasn't going to be any easier when the horse saw a bright, red rectangle appear close to Sam. The animal planted his feet, and refused to move.

When Zoey maneuvered her way through the door and saw the horse, she grinned a wicked grin and threw both of her hands up and said, "BLEEAH!" The terrified animal spun and tried to run, but Alia pulled his head around and forced him into a tight circle. Zoey laughed a throaty laugh, and turned her attention to Sam when she heard him talking.

Al tried to focus on his surroundings, and double-checked that his face was void of emotion. "Hey, Sam!" he called out loudly. "Sam, where are you?"

"I hear you, Al." Sam whispered. "Where are you?"

"Oh, is your friend here, now, Dr. Beckett?" Zoey questioned as she tilted her head every so slightly to listen to his one-sided conversation.

"Terrific," Al muttered to himself. "First the cramps from hell and now this. I'm standing right beside you, Sam. At least, I think I am. This isn't good.
I can't make heads or tails of anything here." He started in on the hand link.

"Al? What's wrong?" Sam tilted his head, trying to zero in on his Observer's voice, and saw a flicker of light. "I... wait... I can barely see you. What's wrong with Ziggy?" Sam glanced over his shoulder, and saw Alia working her horse in a tight circle nearby, and turned his attention back to Al.

Slowly Al began to visualize Sam in the Imaging Chamber, faintly at first but it was slowly getting clearer. "We're not sure about everything yet. G... we're working on it." Al was making some fast decisions. How much did Sam need to know? What was his gut telling him to say? "Ziggy's been acting weird."

" 'Weird'? How weird? What do you mean, 'weird'? What's she saying?"

Zoey snorted a laugh. "Probably, 'Please, Lothos, don't cut off my power supply!' " The comment made her fall into another coughing fit.

Al took in a deep breath. "Sam, Ziggy also says there's another leaper here with you."

"Another leaper?! Here?" Sam turned in a circle, and saw Alia had stopped the nervous horse just a few feet away. Her head snapped up in astonishment.
"Dammit," Zoey said hotly. "They know! How'd they know?"

"What did you say? Leaper?" Alia's eyes began to blink rapidly. Her mouth dropped open as she studied her employer with a fearful eye.

"Alia," Sam started in a pleading tone, his arms out to his side.

"Alia?!" Al shouted, suddenly noticing the woman on the horse. Her face wasn't very clear, but he recognized her. He pounded on the hand link in his hand, trying to get more information from Ziggy but not getting anything other than gibberish.

She stared at the aura of Jim Kidd, open-mouthed. "Sam?" she said in a quaking voice.

Sam decided not to approach her. "Alia...." The horse started to fidget. "It's me, yeah. Sam Beckett. And I think that you're why I'm here."

"Oh, bloody hell!" Zoey raised her hands to scare the horse.

The horse jumped backwards at the commotion and threw Alia off over his shoulder. She hit the ground shoulder first, and rolled into a sitting position. She scrambled backwards as Sam approached.

"What? What about Thames? And Zoey? I thought I was free of them!"

"Not yet, you bitch." Zoey said hotly. "I'd kill you myself if I were there, Alia. Thames! Where have you been, you idiot? They know about you."

Thames dropped into the arena behind Sam, smiling wickedly. He had left the shotgun leaning on the outside of the fence hoping to get as close as possible first. That plan was blown now that they knew about him. "Oh, what an introduction," he said warmly. "Did you miss us, Alia?"

Alia got to her feet, finally noticing the dangerous glint in ranch hand's eye as he entered the arena. "Thames?" she whispered.

"That's our leaper, Sam!" Al confirmed, his view flickering. He swore under his breath and he tapped the keys of the hand link rapidly.

"Thames?" Sam echoed, turning and preparing to fight. "Alia! Get out of here! Go!" Sam motioned towards the woods.

Alia hadn't moved. "No, Sam. I'm not going to run away from them anymore. I'm facing my demons." She realized the term accurately described whom they were dealing with.

"Interesting choice of words, my dear. But you really don't even know what demons are. Yet." Thames said hauntingly.

"I know exactly what I'm talking about," Alia growled, moving in for a fight.

"Quit talking and kill them, you idiot!" Zoey snapped hotly.

Thames' glare turned into a sickly smile as he thought of how he would love to hear her scream in agony. "You think so?"

"Damn it, Sam! Get the hell out of here! Now!" Al realized that Ziggy was starting to fail again.

The other rider in the arena heard the ruckus and started over to the group.
Alia was undaunted. "Listen, Thames. You don't have the balls to try something. I know that look. You won't do anything. You're all blow and no go."

Sam took the split second opportunity of Thames' distraction and charged at him. "Alia! Run!" Sam tackled him and they both went rolling, fighting for the upper hand.

"Look out for the fence, Sam!" Al hollered.

"NO!" Alia cried. "Sam!"

It was a sickening sight for the leapers and Al as their auras undulated weirdly between them. Sam blurred into and out of Jim Kidd, and Thames' alternated between a heavyset white man and a thin black man. They rolled under the fence as one tangled mass, one man intent on defeating and the other intent on killing.

Alia moved with them but then the other rider arrived and stopped her with a firm hand on her shoulder. "No. You don't want to be in the middle of that," he said.

Sam managed to stop their momentum while he was on top of Thames' chest, and threw several punches in a row. His knuckles were bloody, as was the Thames' face. With a roar of fury, Thames had a burst of energy and threw Sam aside, holding him firmly by his collar. He unleashed a mighty undercut to the gut, throwing Sam backwards. He landed hard on his head and the world spun crazily for a few seconds. He rolled to his knees, unable to protect his kidneys, and Thames zeroed in on the opening with hard kicks.

"Sam! Don't let this nozzle do this! Get up and hit him!" Al fuzzy voice rang out as he danced like a shadow boxer, his holographic image fading in and out.

"Come on sweetie, don't let me down! Kick him for me, for you, for anything you want, baby, just do him in!" Zoey cheered hoarsely as she watched from the sidelines.

Sam rolled away from his adversary, and used that momentum to grab the attacking foot kicking and twist it violently. There was a popping sound, and Thames yelled out as he lost his balance and fell to the ground with a thud.

"Why are you letting this leech get the better of you? Fight, you wimp, fight!" Zoey raged.

Alia managed to get away from the other rider and ran towards the pair.
Sam quickly took the advantage of his downed adversary and threw himself over Thames, grinding his elbow in the man's neck. "Alia!" he gasped, "Get away! Run!"

Alia wasn't the only one making her way to the fracas. A drumming of feet heralded the inevitable arrival of the other barn workers, all eager to help their boss. When she got to Sam's side, Thames let loose with a mighty roll and the pair knocked her off her feet. A wild, stray kick from Thames hit her squarely across the face, bowling her back to land hard on the ground. She clamored up to her feet, a red mark prominent on her face.

She stood for a frozen second, her hand on her throbbing face. She took in the dusty battle, and in an instant realized that Zoey must be here somewhere, too. Fear and panic washed over her; she glanced up to the approaching barn crew and made the decision to leave Sam in their hands.

Alia scrambled back through the fence into the arena and was able to catch the loose horse that still trusted her. Mounting up, she intended to do exactly what Sam had said... run. Gathering up the reins, she glanced back at Sam one more time then urged the horse to fly away.

"Good girl! Run!" Al urged, his voice static.

"Dammit! She's getting away!" Zoey observed loudly. "If only I wasn't in this wheelchair." She looked back at Thames as he once again got the upper hand on the tiring Dr. Beckett. Thames was now on top of him, his hands locked around Sam's throat. "Squeeze, baby squeeze!" Zoey said, her eyes glazed in ecstasy over the shocked look on the good Doctor's face.

"Come on, Sam! You can't let him do this. Come on!" Al was hopping up and down now; flustered that he couldn't help his friend. He got on his knees by Sam's head, knowing that he couldn't help, but wanting Sam to know that he was there for him. "Sam..." The Observer was alarmed by the redness of Sam's face.

Sam was fighting for breath, his vision fading to black, as he tried to break Thames' grip on his neck. He locked eyes with his Observer and best friend, using them as a focal point. Suddenly, Al's face disappeared. Almost instantly, Thames' grip vanished. He took a great gasp, and blinked repeatedly to clear his vision, but Al was nowhere to be seen. He rubbed his neck and turned around in time to see Alia and her horse sail over the arena fence and gallop off into the distance.

"Dammit, Thames! We almost had him!"

Sam choked thanks to the workers who had pulled Thames off. Unable to speak anymore, he stumbled to the nearest Jeep, and to the puzzlement of the workers, climbed in and drove off spewing rocks and dirt as he went after Alia.

Thames continued to thrash in his captors' grip, finally getting away when they saw their boss was safely away. Thames ran to the shotgun against the fence, grabbed it, and made a beeline to another ranch Jeep parked by the barn. He jumped in to the shouts of the workers, and followed the trail of dust.