Episode Two: The Retrieval Program Part Two
By: Alatafirith
1995
Theorizing that one could travel within his own lifetime, Doctor Sam Beckett led an elite group of scientists into the desert to develop a top secret project known as Quantum Leap.
Pressured to prove his theories or lose funding, Dr. Beckett prematurely stepped into the Project accelerator…and vanished.
He awoke to find himself in the past, suffering from partial amnesia and facing a mirror image that was not his own. Fortunately, contact with his own time was maintained through brainwave transmissions with Al, the Project Observer, who appeared in the form of a hologram that only Dr. Beckett could see and hear.
Trapped in the past, Dr. Beckett found himself leaping from life to life, putting things right that once went wrong and hoping each time that his next leap would be the leap home…
1999
After four and a half years, the Board of Directors decided to pull the plug on Project Quantum Leap and the Stallions Gate Complex was shut and locked down, leaving Dr. Beckett trapped in the past, this time, without any guidance on what to do.
2006
Seven years after the termination of Project Quantum Leap, Stallions Gate will open again, in the hopes of finally retrieving Dr. Beckett…
May 27, 2006
Project Quantum Leap: Control Room
Stallions Gate Complex, New Mexico
"Flip that switch over to your left, Genna."
Genna flipped the switch and Ziggy was back online.
"Welcome back, Ziggy," said Al.
"Hello, Admiral," said the parallel hybrid computer, "it's about time you woke me up."
Al ignored the sulking tone and said, "The Project has been reinstated and we're bringing Sam home."
"And, how are we going to do that when all our other attempts have failed?" asked Ziggy.
"We're here," said Nix.
"We have a better Retrieval Program," added Genna.
"Who are you?" asked Ziggy.
"I'm Nix Manarolla and she's my sister, Genna Manarolla," said Nix.
"I've already installed the Retrieval Program in you, as well as some updates. You haven't been used in seven years, after all," said Genna, "that's a long time for a computer."
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"Sammi Jo approved of our device, Jen," commented Nix, coming into the Acceleration Chamber.
"I found a few glitches in the Accelerator," said Genna, standing up.
"Why doesn't that surprise me?" muttered Nix.
"No problem. They were quite simple to fix," said Genna, "shouldn't you get ready now?"
"On my way," said Nix, "but I am not wearing that bodysuit."
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Genna had packed a navy blue leotard, matching footless tights and a pair of light blue bike shorts for Nix to wear when leaping.
Nix came into the Control Room in her leaping suit and said, "Well, its better, but it ain't no miracle."
Genna handed her the Retrieval Device and Nix strapped it to her right wrist.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" asked Al.
"Duh," said Nix.
"We also have a back up Retrieval Program installed in Ziggy," said Genna, "and you can Observe Nix in the Imaging Chamber."
"Let's do this thang," said Nix, striding purposely towards the Acceleration Chamber.
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Once the flashing lights dissolved, Nix was fighting a sudden case of vertigo.
Whoa, she thought, as her head swam around in circles. A loud horn sounded and Nix looked up to see a black SUV hurtling straight towards her.
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Nix was saved from being flattened by the SUV by being shoved to the grass on the other side of the road. The SUV flew past, not seeming to notice how close it came to making her a Nix Pancake.
"Are you alright?" asked a man's voice.
A hand clad in a red long sleeve shirt reached out to help her to her feet.
"Yeah, I'm-whoa," she said, staring at her rescuer.
"What's the matter?" asked Sam Beckett.
"You're Sam Beckett," said Nix, hardly believing her luck.
"How do you know who I am?" asked Sam, curiously.
He had never seen this woman before. She had white-blond hair in a tight coil at the back of her head, violet eyes, and a tailored plum colored linen pants suit and black heeled shoes.
"I've been sent here to bring you home," said Nix.
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"Home?" asked Sam, sounding confused.
"Yes. Home. Project Quantum Leap. New Mexico. Ringing any bells here?" said Nix.
"Quantum Leap?" asked Sam.
"Yes," said Nix, starting to get slightly annoyed by all the questions.
"What's that?"
The Imaging Chamber door opened and Al came out.
"Is everything alright, Nix?" Al asked.
"Where'd he come from?" Sam asked Nix.
"I think old Sammy Boy has leaped one too many times," said Nix.
"Oh, boy," said Al.
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"Let me make sure I've got this. You're Al and you're a hologram?" asked Sam.
"Yes," said Al.
"And, you're from the future?"
"Yes."
"And, we're friends?"
"Yes, already!" said Nix, now on her last nerve.
"So, who are you?" asked Sam.
"Nix Manarolla," replied Nix.
"Do I know you?" asked Sam.
"No. I just got here," said Nix.
"Oh."
"If we're done with the Twenty Questions, let's get back to the task at hand," said Al.
"Right," agreed Nix, "take my hand, Beckett."
Sam took Nix's hand and Al called up the Imaging Chamber door. Al gave the leapers a salute, before going through the door. Sam looked surprised.
"Fish-Out-Of-Water looks good on you, Sammy," commented Nix, with a laugh.
She punched in a sequence of numbers on the Retrieval Device. White light engulfed Nix and she soon found herself back in the Acceleration Chamber.
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She was alone.
"Where the heck is Beckett?" she asked, looking around the empty room.
"Dr. Beckett is still in the year 1999," said Ziggy.
Nix stormed into the Control Room.
"What??" she asked, "That wasn't supposed to happen!" She turned towards her twin. "What the freak happened, Jen?"
Genna tucked a strand of dark blond hair behind her left ear as she spoke.
"I don't know, Nix, but when you returned, he didn't go with you."
Nix stomped out of the Control Room.
"Let me know when you fix it."
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Al went back into the Imaging Chamber.
"Gooshie, center me on Sam," he called, "sorry, Genna, force of habit."
"It's alright," called back Genna, "I understand."
The Imaging Chamber door opened and Al saw Sam, looking remarkably like a lost toddler at the supermarket.
"You're back!" he said, looking quite pleased to see a familiar face, "that lady, uh…Nix…just disappeared!"
"Yeah, we're working on that, Sam," replied Al.
"Where'd she go? Where'd you go?" asked Sam.
"Project Quantum Leap," said Al.
"Start the party without me? That's not very nice," said Nix, appearing.
"Is everything straightened out?" asked Al.
"Yeah. Jen's gonna manually Retrieve Rain Man over here," replied Nix.
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