Chapter Five
Al stepped cautiously out of the Quantum Leap Imaging Chamber and walked down the hallway that led to the Control Room, punching buttons on his handlink as he went, and then spoke to Project Quantum Leap's Parallel Hybrid Computer on a private channel.
"Ziggy? Have there been any significant changes while I was inside this time?" Al had learned through bitter and embarrassing experience to ask the question. Due to what he had privately nicknamed 'Sam's Ripple Effect,' caused by Sam's leaping about in time, sometimes there would be minor, or not-so-minor changes in the people and/or situations involved in the Quantum Leap Project, and only he and Ziggy ever seemed to be aware that the changes had happened at all. Al attributed this to the fact that he was INSIDE the Imaging Chamber with Sam, while the changes in time, space and history were being made OUTSIDE – caused by Sam as he 'put right' whatever God, Time or Whoever had decreed had gone 'wrong' in time. Ziggy had not contradicted his theory, so far, but considering Sam had designed the computer with the ego of Barbra Streisand, Al knew that Ziggy not saying anything did not necessarily mean that HE was right . . . it just meant that the stubborn computer just didn't like to admit she was WRONG.
Several times, for instance, Al had come out of the Imaging Chamber to find that his girlfriend Tina, Quantum Leap's Pulse Communications Technician, wasn't his girlfriend anymore. A few times she had been dating/sharing quarters or married to Gooshie, and twice she hadn't been working on the Quantum Leap Project at all. Along the same lines, at times he had come out of the Imaging Chamber and found Gooshie sporting a mustache or beard or both — that he had not had when Al went into the Imaging Chamber earlier the same day. The paint color in the 'Waiting Room' kept changing from ice blue to white and back again. Once Al had even found himself married for a sixth time, but the 'wife' was gone after Al's next trip inside the chamber. Sometimes Ziggy's voice changed its timbre or sex all together — but one thing never changed. The super-hybrid computer was always a smart aleck.
"No Admiral," replied the feminine voice of Ziggy, "There has been no significant change to your time-line. I trust you are relieved that you are not married to wife number seven."
Al realized that the quirky computer had insulted him once again; but he WAS relieved. He really didn't need any more complications at the moment.
"Hello . . . Admiral?" queried Gooshie "How is he doing? "How is he holding up this time?"
Al flinched and moved as far away from Gooshie as he politely could. That was another thing that NEVER seemed to change . . . Gooshie; the talented Head Programmer of Project Quantum Leap, had a severe case of halitosis that WOULD NOT go away — regardless of what Gooshie or anyone else tried to do for it. Most of the time Al tried to stand 'downwind' of him . . . as much as one could in a sterile computer environment anyway!
"He's okay . . . for the moment," replied Al, reservedly, deciding not to discuss Sam's ghost experiments with anyone yet. "He knows who and what he is anyway . . . and he knows the names of all the people he's with . . . he's sorta 'faking it' until Ziggy can figure out what he is here to change. Has she come up with anything yet? How's our 'Visitor?'"
"Nothing from Ziggy yet, Admiral, but we've been having a terrible time here . . . " Gooshie whined. "Our Visitor. . . This Captain Gregg . . . I know he looks like Dr. Beckett while he's here in the Waiting Room, but he sure doesn't talk like him! He won't shut up! I never heard anyone curse . . . and yell so much! He keeps asking if Carolyn is all right, and demands to be taken back to Gull Cottage." Gooshie continued, wiping his sweaty brow. "I know the circumstances and all are just a little different this time, but I really think you ought to talk to him. He keeps demanding to talk to 'someone in charge,' and frankly, I know I don't look the part! Doctor Beeks hasn't been able to calm him down either. And when I did try to talk to him once, he called me 'Bilge Breath' — and . . ."
"Have you given him a mirror yet?" Al interrupted, suppressing the laugh he wanted desperately to have at Gooshie's expense – 'Bilge-Breath!'. . . He would have to remember that one!
Gooshie shook his head. "We figured he was upset enough. Maybe you can give it a try?"
If Project Quantum Leap's top psychiatrist Verbena Beeks hadn't been able to calm this Captain Gregg down, the duty fell on his shoulders, Al knew — and I'm honor-bound to give it a shot! he thought
"I guess it's up to me," Al snapped. "So he wants to see someone IN CHARGE, huh?" he continued, looking at Gooshie, "I got an idea . . . I'll be right back. Just hold the fort a few more minutes, okay?" Al slapped the Head Programmer on the shoulder and headed for his quarters.
GLGLGLGLGLGLGLGLGLGLGLGLGLGL
All heads turned as Admiral Albert Calavicci strode back into the Quantum Leap Control Room.
"You really should make an effort to dress in your uniform more often, Admiral." The computer's voice cooed. "You look much more presentable than in those Day-Glo outfits you usually wear." the computer continued, giving Al a long low whistle.
"Can it, Ziggy!" said Al, with a thinly veiled disgust. "I don't need compliments from a stuck-up parallel hybrid computer." He added, looking around for the project's Head Programmer.
"Admiral Calavicci!" said Verbena Beeks, shocked, "Why on earth are you wearing your dress whites?"
"The situation calls for it," he answered shortly. "Where's Gooshie?"
"Here, Admiral," Gooshie replied, stepping from behind a computer console. "What can I do for you now . . . Sir?" The sight of him in full uniform always cowed Gooshie, and Al knew it.
"You said I had to talk to this Captain Gregg," drawled Al. "Fine . . . but we're going to do it MY way."
"Which means what?" Gooshie asked, giving Al a panicky look.
Al shrugged. "Meaning it may be necessary to break a rule . . . maybe two," he said.
"Admiral, I . . . " he started, but Al stopped him.
"Gooshie, listen!" Al paused. "If this guy Gregg really is a seaman, and born in 1825, like Ziggy says, it means he's from the old school — I mean the REALLY old Navy school. The only way I can hope to calm him down is by commanding his authority . . . and gaining his respect and confidence, right?"
"Right, but . . ."
"But, nothing." Al stopped him and pulled a handful of Chivello cigars out of his pocket. "I'm taking these into the Waiting Room with me."
"Admiral! You know you can't smoke in the Waiting Room!" Gooshie said aghast. "The waiting room is a sterile environment! That's where all the people Sam leap into stay! You can't expect me to . . ."
"You can, and you will." replied Al. "This guy Sam leaped into is REALLY a ghost! That means he is suddenly without his powers . .. . and removed from everyone and everything he knows, which is why he is so hostile to everyone right now, right?"
Gooshie nodded.
"So the least I can do is offer him a cigar while I talk to him, right?"
"How do you know he smokes cigars?" Gooshie queried.
"ALL real Navy men smoke cigars! Turn on a few extra filters and fans or something . . . I'm going in!" Al answered with a wink. How he loved pulling one over on the Project Big Boys!
GLGLGLGLGLGLGLGLGLGLGLGLGLGL
The door of the Project Quantum Leap Waiting Room slid open and Al walked through it — the door closing so fast behind him that 'Captain Gregg' couldn't have escaped even if he had tried. Not that he could have gotten anywhere anyway — the project was located in the New Mexico desert — ten stories underground. One had to pass through several security check-points before they reached the top level, and even then, where was there to go? Only one leaper had ever escaped from the Quantum Leap Project Area — and that was only because, for some strange reason, he had leaped in with a loaded gun! They never had figured that one out!
Daniel Gregg had his back turned as Admiral Albert Calavicci entered the room and turned to face him as the door snapped shut.
"Captain Daniel Gregg?" Al said quickly and authoritively, hoping to gain the upper hand at once.
The nineteenth-Century seafarer looked at Albert Calavicci with interest. "You ARE Navy sir? I ask only because I have been a bit out of touch with the Navy for a while, but your uniform . . ."
"I am." replied Al, keeping the tone of his voice level and his face blank. "Admiral Albert Calavicci."
"I am Captain Daniel Elias Gregg, Sir." Captain Gregg saluted him.
Al returned the salute quickly. "At ease, Captain Gregg." He moved toward a chair, pulled another chair over near the first, and motioned Gregg to sit. "Cigar?" he asked, holding one out toward the Captain.
"Thank-you Admiral, I believe I will."
"Before you start asking questions, Gregg, I would like to explain a few things to you, and possibly ask you a few questions. Are you all right with that?" Al said, as he lit the Captain's cigar.
"You out-rank me sir. It would appear I have no choice for the time being. My first and only concern, if I may" . . . The spirit looked at the Admiral worriedly, ". . . Is my family all right? Candy, Jonathan, Martha, and . . . " he paused, . . . Carolyn . . .? Are they all well?"
"They're fine. At least they were when I last saw them," replied Al, truthfully.
"And that was . . . ?" the Captain asked.
"At breakfast." Al replied. "You missed out on Martha's pancakes." he added.
"May I ask . . . ?" The Captain's voice gained in volume ". . . Why in blue-blazes have I been brought here?"
"You may," said Al, striving to keep his voice level. "Regulations may not allow me to answer every question you may have, but most I will be able to, or at least be able to give you a reason why I can't. Unless you are one in three-million, you won't remember this conversation when Sam finishes whatever he has to do and you 'leap' out anyway."
"Leap?" the seaman asked, with interest.
"Leap." said Al flatly. "That's what you are in the middle of . . . A time travel experiment gone a little ca-ca. Project Quantum Leap."