I am so sorry that it took me this long to post the next several chapters of our epic story. Both a_searcher and I have had such busy lives these last several months, making it literally impossible to do anything related to fanfiction. However, I've finally found a little time and am doing my duty and pleasure as fellow writer on this endeavor. Please enjoy! - Julianna Calavicci (not my real name... obviously)
Chapter 16
Project Quantum Leap
April 2, 2010
"Right now, Al, completing the leap is the last thing on my mind," Jack stated over the phone before abruptly hanging up, leaving Al standing with a confused look on his face.
Handing the phone back to Gooshie, the Italian man sighed loudly. He knew Jack Harkness had some connections with some serious technology but what he had just described was... impossible. Simply impossible. Still, with the way things were going power-wise, the entire complex was at its rope's end. It couldn't hurt to at least try what their boss was suggesting. Actually, from the tone in Jack's voice, suggesting was too gentle a word. He had given an order; that was plainly obvious.
"Gooshie, keep working on the problem," Al finally said, starting for the Control Room door. "I'll be right back."
It took several minutes for him to get down to Jack's office, having had to take the stairs since the elevators were non-functional. It was even more of a task to get through the office door, the lack of power making it necessary to bypass the security keypad and use the manual override with a key to allow him access. The work wasn't easy either with only emergency lighting illuminating the halls. Finally the door opened, allowing Al to enter. He immediately went to the bookcase as he was told and found that, seemingly miraculously, the keypad there still had power flowing through it. He followed the instructions Jack had given him and, less than a minute later, he found himself staring at an odd orange cylinder that appeared to glow. There were other very interesting objects in the safe as well but Al heeded Jack's warning not to touch anything but the cylinder.
"What the hell is this thing?" he questioned, picking it up carefully and weighing it in his hands. For its size, it was remarkably light. The material the cylinder was made of was cold to the touch, but not cold enough to make it difficult to hold. What was strange, though, was the fact that, although it was obviously metallic, it felt... almost organic. This was unlike anything Al had seen, even when he was working with NASA. It was only about a foot high and about half that in diameter. "Jack thinks this will power the project for 48 hours? He has to be mistaken. No way this... um... battery is going to do anything that grand."
Shaking his head, he tucked the object in the crook of his left arm and closed the safe before exiting the office. He then proceeded back up to the Control Room, careful to make sure that the object, whatever it was, was unharmed.
Walking into the heart of the Project, he deposited the orange cylinder in Gooshie's hands. "Integrate that into the power core," he told him.
"Um... what is it? Where's the input... um... output... um... Is it wireless?" Gooshie asked as he took the strange device.
"How the hell should I know what it is or how you integrate it? All I know is Harkness said to integrate it into the power core to give us enough energy to run this place for forty-eight hours," came the frustrated response.
"Then we need to get the Captain back on the line, Al. I have absolutely no idea of how to work this and we're in a communications blackout per the Captain's orders. I can't even get hold of Toshiko on this. The only reason we can even communicate with Captain Harkness is because he has a direct line with us."
Al sighed at his words, knowing already that Jack wouldn't like being contacted. Not if the tone he'd used on the phone was any indication. "What about Ziggy?"
The computer, having listened to the conversation, uncharacteristically didn't say a word. The silence in the room was unnerving.
Gooshie looked up at the orb. "You think you can do it, Ziggy?"
"It is..." the computer started. There was another pause. "I don't think..."
"I don't believe it," Al stated with amazment. "Harkness has actually rendered Ziggy speechless!"
"I am not speechless, Admiral," the haughty voice responded. "I just am unable to fathom why you think I'd let you 'integrate' something like... that."
"I'm sure the Captain wouldn't ask us to do it if it could hurt you, Ziggy," Gooshie assured.
"Yeah. Besides, if what Jack said is correct, we need to get to Sam. Pronto," Al added. "This is the only way."
"Then I suggest you follow Dr. Gushman's suggestion and call the good Captain."
"Are you admitting that there is something you actually don't know?" the Admiral queried. He looked around him as if it were the first time he'd seen the room. "Did I wake up in an alternate reality?"
The light flickered slightly, providing indication of the computer's annoyance. "Just call Captain Harkness, Admiral. Your attempts at sarcasm are not appreciated."
Gooshie smiled and said to Al under his voice, "I don't know. Seemed pretty good to me."
"I heard that, Dr. Gushman."
The two men smiled slightly at her words before Al moved to the phone and dialed a three digit number to the only phone directly connected to the Project, waiting for an answer.
The sound of machinery filled his ears as Jack answered the other end. "You want to know how to connect it," Jack stated bluntly. "Now really isn't a good time. I'm sort of in the middle of a helicopter flight, here."
"Good time or not, we need instructions. You give us a spongy metallic... tube... tell us it will provide power... and expect us to know how to use it? There's no freaking operator's manual here, Jack." Al responded.
"Knew I left something behind in Cardiff," the Captain replied, though it was unclear whether or not he was serious. "Fine. Are you at the main power core?"
"Yeah. But I'm going to let you talk Gooshie through this. He's going to be the one operating it." He handed the phone to the red-haired programmer.
Over the next ten minutes, Dr. Shlomo Gushman was given a tutorial in use of Trilirian technology. Finally, the lights brightened and even Ziggy seemed more vibrant.
"It's working, Admiral. I'm not sure how, but it's working," the programmer said, looking at the now glowing and humming tube.
"Told you it would," Jack told him over the phone. "Just keep an eye on it, though. Sometimes these connections can be a little bit tricky." He paused as he felt the helicopter starting its descent. "Got to go. Going to see about hitching a ride there. Keep me apprised."
Agreeing to the request, Gooshie handed the phone back to Al. When Al put the receiver to his ear, though, he only heard a dial tone. Shrugging, he looked at the programmer. "The Imaging Chamber's online?"
Going to the console to verify, Gooshie nodded. "Full power, Admiral. If the... whatever it is... continues as it is, we should be able to get a lock and hold it quite easily."
"Good. I want Sam found. Now."
DWQLTWDWQLTW
Somewhere in the Andes, Peru
June 2009
The Brigadier had continued to talk soothingly to the traumatized woman. "It will be all right, my dear," he assured. "The Doctor will find us and you'll be safe again." He wished he could believe his own words as he spoke. "I'm sure that we'll both be found very soon."
The eyes looked up, fear on her face at the new voice. "Who are you?" the girl asked with an accent that would have placed her from the southeastern part of the United States. As the previous accent had been more from the center of that country, it was quite bizarre.
The elder gentleman raised his eyebrows slightly upon the question. "Sir Alistair," he answered gently. "Remember? We're both friends of the Doctor."
"Sir Alistair. Are you a knight? My name's Darlene Monte." The young woman looked nervously at the door. "We're not safe."
"Actually, yes. Knighted by Her Majesty in 1994," the elder man agreed. "As to being safe, indeed we are not." For a long moment, the retired man regarded the person in front of him. He wasn't completely familiar with mental diseases but he'd seen enough in his lifetime to make a pretty good assessment of situations. And, at the moment, his assessment was that the young woman in front of him was suffering from Dissociative Identity Disorder. The realization of this caused his face to drop slightly with growing concern. He knew he had to find a way to get them both out of this predicament as quickly as possible. "But we will find a means of escape. I promise you that." How I'm going to keep that promise, however, is a different matter, he thought with a sigh.
"Escape?" She seemed to consider that, forgetting her question about his title. Pulling the ripped clothing that still was close enough to gather about her, she rubbed the cloth between her fingers. "Someone hurt me," she said, her voice shaky.
"I'm afraid so. I'm very sorry," he replied gently. "I tried to stop them but... they weren't interested in the demands of an old man."
"Will they be back?" The fear in her voice was palpable.
He didn't answer for a long moment. "They indicated their intention to return," he said softly, wishing that he could tell her honestly otherwise.
She started shaking. "No...no...no...no...no..." the blond said almost like a mantra, her hand reaching up to pull slightly at the hair on her head, rhythmically.
Seeing her distress, he leaned forward as best as he could. "Listen to me, Darlene. Help is on the way. The Doctor will arrive soon. I'm sure of it. A little tumble down the side of a cliff isn't about to stop that man."
The eyes focused over to him as if taking some comfort from his words. She smoothed down the fabric again as if trying to hold onto something comforting. "I shouldn't be here, you know. I was supposed to be at the photo shoot. The other girls will wonder where I am and the pageant mistress... well..."
"A beauty pageant?"
"Yes... No... I don't remember. I don't remember anything other than the show." She smiled. "I was Carmen Miranda and I played 'Great Balls of Fire.'"
"Based on your accent, I would say that you came quite a long way from home to attend this pageant," he commented, smiling at the thought of the famous Latina singer performing the Jerry Lee Lewis classic.
"A long way..." she trailed off. "I want to go home."
"Where is home?"
"I'm from Alabama. This was my first time away from home and Mama's going to so angry that I've ruined my clothes. She's so particular about having bloodstains washed out before they set."
Alistair couldn't help but smile at her words. "My Doris is quite like your mother then, though my wife is also particular about bullet holes. By the way... how is your shoulder?"
The leaper looked to his shoulder. His voice changed to a deeper sound. "I won't be able to carry Grandfather. We don't have far to go, but I need two good arms to cross the river."
"I seriously doubt, young lady, that you will be able to carry anyone much less a grown adult man."
"Young lady? You need glasses, mister. Or a medicine man. I may wear my hair long, but I'm no lady."
The Brigadier frowned strongly at the response. "Forgive me, Miss Darlene, but you are most definitely a lady. Or at least a woman."
Sam laughed. "George Washakie is no woman."
"And who is that?"
"Me," the magnfluxing physicist stated firmly.
The older man looked at the teenager with sympathy before taking a slow breath. From the sudden change of attitude, he gathered that the girl had once again switched personalities. "Do you know a young lady by the name of Rose, George?"
"Rose? I don't think so..." The face crinkled a bit. "I just want to take Grandfather back home and then..." He swallowed tightly. "Where are we? Where is Grandfather? I don't want to be locked up in this white man's prison. I need to be free... I need to get away from here." He pulled at the chains, trying his best to pull them from the wall.
Al's hologram walked into the cave as Sam started trying to get free. "Sam! Oh buddy, you don't know how glad I am to see you," he crowed. "We had some strange power glitch..." He stopped suddenly, noticing the bruising on Rose's aura. "Oh, gawd! What the hell happened?"
Sam looked up. "Who are you? Are you my spirit guide? Never saw one dressed like that."
Alistair exhaled at his words. He understood that the girl was having problems but the need to reiterate his identity once again was trying to his patience. "My name is Sir Alistair Lethbridge-Stewart and..." He glanced at his attire. "While my clothing is a bit worse for wear, it isn't all that unusual. Of course, I'm not familiar with the normal attire of spirit guides, of whom I do not claim association."
"No, not you, him," Sam said, pointing to Al, the chain from his wrist dangling. "What do I need to get out of here, Great Spirit?"
Al straightened at the term with a sense of self-importance before realizing the implication of the words. "Oh, boy," he murmured, rubbing a hand over his mouth. "Um... Sam? What's going on? This isn't a time to play games."
"Play games? Not like this," Sam said, his voice changing again. His eyes grew wide. "No. You get away from me, I beat you once and I will again." He looked around wildly. "Al, Al, where are you?" His movements became more frenzied as he pulled as far away from the vision as he could.
"I'm right here, Sam," the Admiral assured, leaning forward to reinforce his words.
Alistair frowned. Clearly Rose was terrified of something that only she could see but he didn't know how he could help her. After all, he'd never heard of any cases of DID where the affected person also suffered from schizophrenia.
"You go back to hell where you belong," Sam said his eyes blazing followed by a plaintive call. "Al!"
"I'm right here," the Observer repeated with conviction, his voice echoed by the Brigadier. The latter didn't like the nickname in the least but he wasn't going to protest when the girl needed him.
"You're trying to set it all wrong again," Sam hissed at the hologram. "That's why I couldn't stop them. Why they were able to... to..." A tear started to fall from Sam's eye. "You can't be Al. He wouldn't have left me alone while I went... through... that..." His voice caught. "Only the devil would allow what happened."
"I was there, Rose. I tried to stop those bastards but they didn't listen."
Fear slipped into the Hologram's features. While Sam hadn't said what had happened that sent him into the mental collapse he was now going through, it didn't take long for the ex-Naval officer to connect the dots. "You were raped? Oh, gawd!" He paced quickly, the shock of the revelation making it impossible for him to keep still. "I'll kill them," he stated firmly, anger filling his features. "I swear to God I'll kill them all. Who did it? Where are those sons of bitches?"
Sam looked up at the hologram as he moved, tears now fully formed. His voice caught. "Where were you? I needed you and you weren't here."
"We had a sudden power cut. No explanation. Last I saw, you'd been shot and the Doctor went over a cliff. I was going to leap in but then the power cut somehow and it took us this long just to find an alternate power source."
"He's dead, Al," Sam continued, speaking through the explanation, every pore of his being mirroring defeat. "The Doctor's dead. He was right. I shouldn't have... I... couldn't protect Rose. I can't save Sir Alistair. It's all gone wrong. I'm being punished for my arrogance."
"My dear," the British man's voice put in gently, deciding that her referring to herself in the third person was another side effect of her mental imbalance. "The Doctor is much more resilient than you think and I seriously doubt that this is a form of punishment for doing what you thought was right."
Al sighed in frustration. "I'm staying right here, Sam. No damned power outage is going to keep me away."
Sam blinked, his eyes pools of sadness. "Please, Al, get me out of here! Please! I don't want to..." He stopped again, pulling his body back against the wall as another person sauntered into the cavern. "No..." Sam's voice was strained as he looked warily at the newcomer.
"Stephano said you're a real fireball," the Peruvian guerilla who had entered said with a lecherous smile. "I may have to clean up the scraps, but... you're mine now, Señorita. No matter how loco you want me to believe you are."
Al looked at the Doctor's murderer who had become his friend's tormentor. "You son of a bitch! You're not going to touch him. Leave him alone!"
"No," Sam moaned. "Not again. Please. Not again."
"Silencio!" Tomas said. "You'll do what I want. You get that, zorra?" He started to lunge towards his victim.
"Leave her alone!" Alistair stated with conviction. "Can't you see she's traumatized enough?" Seeing that the man wasn't going to stop in his intentions, he straightened noticeably. "I'm warning you. If you harm one hair on her fair head, I will kill you."
Al nodded. "I'll help you." Looking at Sam, his protective streak was sent into overdrive. "I'll get you out of this, Kid. Just... stay strong. We'll get you out of this," he repeated. "Gooshie! Please tell me the Accelerator works!" Obviously hearing what he didn't want to hear, he cursed. "Damn it! Get on it and let me know as soon as it's ready." He looked at the terrified face of his friend. "I'm here, kid."
Tomas looked back at the Brigadier. "No. I will kill you, Señor... and enjoy doing it." He turned back to the woman and started to grab at her roughly even as she pulled away from him, fear in her eyes. It only made him more excited. "Oh, yes. Fear me, pretty one." He forced his mouth against hers in a bruising crush and was running his hands over her when the crackle of a radio signal broke through, a male English voice speaking.
"Theta Sigma, this is Delta Rho. Come in."
The Peruvian groaned in frustration at the interruption. "Just my luck. Right when it was getting good." He heard Stephano's voice calling him and he pulled away from her. "I'll be back. Trust me on that."
"Like hell you will," Al said dangerously at the man, glad that he had a moment so that he could take action. "Gooshie! I want that Accelerator pronto!" A short pause. "About time." He bent down to Sam. "I'm going to get you out of here if it's the last thing I do. I promise." He got up and pushed the buttons on the handlink opening the door. "It's going to be okay, kid," the older man said as the door slid shut.
"Al, don't leave me!" Sam pleaded, calling out to the other man. "Oh, god," he said seeing that his friend had left. "You're gone. There's no hope." The leaper's distress was all consuming.
Alistair watched with lidded eyes as the guerilla exited the cave, clearly agitated by the interruption. The moment he was gone, however, those same eyes softened and looked towards the young woman across from him who was plainly in a state of terrified resignation. "It's all right, dear. I'm here. I'm not going anywhere."
Sam looked over at the man who was also imprisoned. "But they'll be back." With sadness, he added, "I'm afraid that Al won't be. Something's wrong." He took his left hand and hit his shoulder causing the bullet wound to reopen and bleed once more. He glanced at the wound, grimacing at the pain the tearing of it had caused. "The Bartender said things would get worse. I thought it had before but... this..." He hit his shoulder once more and the blood continued to flow from the wound. "If Al doesn't come back..." He swallowed tightly at his own words. "Bleeding to death doesn't sound that bad."
Sir Alistair took a breath before letting it out slowly, feeling more helpless than he had since this girl had arrived in this hell. It was becoming increasingly obvious that the strain of being kidnapped and abused had broken the young woman's mind. For the veteran, seeing a friend of the Doctor's slipping further and further was heartbreaking, especially since there was nothing that he could do to help her. A glance towards the opening of the cave only reminded him of what awaited the lass if the Doctor didn't arrive as quickly as he hoped. He couldn't help but think that, were he in the girl's predicament, he would prefer to bleed to death than continue to endure such torture until the Time Lord came to the rescue. If he came at all. The girl did mention him going over a cliff. For all he knew, the Gallifreyan was indeed dead and there was no one coming.
Leaning against the wall, he exhaled slowly, deciding that he should prepare himself for that possibility. If he and this lass were going to die, at the very least, he would make sure that the ruffians would have a hard time finishing the job.
DWQLTWDWQLTW
Sydney, Australia
June 2009
Dr. Peri Langford was adamant. "No. You can't just get it over with. We still need to set up the cover story to assure that Lethbridge-Stewart's death furthers our agenda." She was on the radio with her husband speaking with the three hired thugs they'd retained to kill the Brigadier, who was getting much too close to uncovering the purpose of the Pi Network.
"My dear wife is right. Brigadier Sir Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart doesn't die until I say so."
"Señor, we understand that," stated Stephano, the leader of the group. "But we almost had a man and woman run across our camp. We had to kill the man. What if someone comes looking for them?"
"No one is going to go looking for them until at least twenty-four hours after their disappearance," the Master told him tensely. "Besides, if they do, you can take care of them as well." He paused. "You said you killed the man? What about the woman?"
Stephano's lips morphed into a lecherous smile. "Oh... she'll die. Eventually. We're having some fun with her first, though. You wouldn't begrudge us that, would you?"
"That depends. Are you doing it in front of the Brigadier?" the Time Lord questioned.
"Well, we have to keep them both tied up. Don't want them escaping and there's only one room in the cave big enough to hold one much less two people. So... si, we're doing her in front of the old geezer."
A wicked smile graced the Master's face. "Then, have as much fun as you want as long as she dies. Just don't kill her too soon. The longer he has to watch something that goes against his 'oh so proper' sense of chivalry, the better. Can't stand the pompous prick," he added with a grumble.
Peri's voice came over the radio although it was obvious she was speaking to her mate. "I love it when you devise such tortures. You truly are my master."
"And don't you ever forget it," he told her, his voice the texture of honey.
"So," Stephano said once more, "you don't want us killing this guy right away and you're okay with us entertaining ourselves with the zorra. Excellent. Just call us when you're ready to have us finish the job and have the money to cover the expenses."
"You have nothing to worry about, my friend. You will get what is coming to you. That I can promise you."
Peri couldn't help but giggle a slight bit at the double entendre.
"Right, jefe. As we agreed. A million U.S. dollars."
The Master grinned at his words. "You should be hearing from us sometime tomorrow afternoon. Delta Rho out."
Peri moved closer to the Master as he turned off the short wave and leaned back in his chair with a sigh. She noticed the tightness around his eyes. "What's wrong, Harry? I would have thought learning that Lethbridge-Stewart was being so deliciously tortured would make you happy. You look... stressed."
He turned his eyes towards her, a little surprised by her words. "I am happy," he told her. "Ecstatic, in fact." His tone, however, lacked the usual glee he normally beamed under similar circumstances.
"No, you're tense." She went over to him and started to massage his back and neck to provide some comfort to him.
A soft moan of pleasure escaped his lips. "I suppose I am a little," he admitted. "I should be ecstatic right now but... something's wrong."
"Wrong? What could be wrong? The Pi Network is nearly finished. You're going to launch the first operational test in South America within the week. Lethbridge-Stewart will no longer be a burr under your saddle... and you've got my total and undying devotion. Sounds pretty cushy to me."
"And yet... something's wrong," the Master insisted. "I can taste it. I can feel it. The drums are louder than normal. Like... time's yelling at me."
"I know how to soothe you," she said, the therapeutic rubbing she'd been providing now turning into sensual touching.
Again, he hummed in appreciation. "My faithful and loyal companion," he murmured. His eyes drifted to her left hand and he regarded the ring that he had especially made for their nuptials in front of the Justice of the Peace. He gently ran his thumb over the gem set there, the one he'd formed himself from the sliver of the Black Eye sitting securely in his lab. "My wife," he whispered, both stunned by the words and relieved by them. Reaching up to take her arm, he pulled her around his seat and into his lap, kissing her passionately. "Do you know what I'm thinking of? The iron maiden I got you for our first anniversary."
"Oh, Harry! You're such a romantic," Peri purred with anticipation.
DWQLTWDWQLTW
Project Quantum Leap
April 2, 2010
Al strode out of the Imaging Chamber, determination on his face. "I'm going to need a Fermi suit!" he barked out.
"Admiral," Gooshie said, his voice a bit strained. "I'm not sure this is such a good idea."
"You didn't see what I saw. Sam's obviously been tortured. He's been captured by a gang of monsters from what I saw and they have him chained to a wall. No way I'm leaving him in that state." He proceeded immediately to go retrieve the suit he'd demanded before.
"I don't believe the plan you've obviously decided on will be feasible," Ziggy stated.
"Ziggy's got a point, Al. You may be in excellent condition but you are not a young man anymore. Just the strain of leaping could kill you," the programmer agreed. "And what about Beth and your daughters? Your grandchildren?"
As Gooshie started to talk about his age and the danger, Al just walked on with purpose. At the sound of Beth's name, though, he stopped. He paused, the consideration of what he would be giving up and the pain he knew he'd cause his loved ones balancing against the fear he saw in his best friend's eyes. It was clear he was conflicted. "I can't leave Sam that way, Gooshie. I just can't."
"Then let me leap back to Sam."
"What? Do you know what you'd face? The situation Sam's in is nothing short of hell."
Ziggy spoke. "It may not be a problem for him for long, Admiral." There was no arrogance in her voice. Only deep sadness.
Gooshie looked confused. "I don't understand."
"It appears his vital signs are getting weaker. If they continue to go down, he may not survive this leap."
"That settles it then," the programmer stated firmly. "I'm leaping."
"Gooshie, I know you want to help Sam, but..."
"Al..." he interrupted. "I don't have anything to lose. You do. I have no family, no children, no siblings. I've watched you and Sam for years doing what was right. Now it's my turn. Besides, I am nearly Sam's age. I can handle the stress better."
"But..."
"Let me do this, Al."
The older man looked at him. "Gooshie, I didn't tell you everything. Sam's not just being tortured. He's being sexually abused."
That caused Gooshie to hesitate for a moment before squaring his shoulders. "So be it. Dr. Beckett's done enough. If this will save him, then I'm ready."
Al tried once more. "You're sure you want to do this, Shlomo? You could be the one trapped back there fighting to get home."
"Better me than Sam. Besides... I think I'd rather be leaping around using other names than to be called Shlomo again," he joked slightly.
Al listened to the man and his attempt at humor while facing the decision. He considered the points that Gooshie had made and then nodded. No words were needed. They both understood the sacrifice he would be making. As Gooshie walked off to obtain a Fermi suit, the Admiral finally spoke. "Thanks, Gooshie, from both me and Sam."
"It is my honor, Admiral," Shlomo told him somberly before stripping out of his clothes to put on the required attire for leaping.
Five minutes later, everything was ready. Ziggy was still unsure of the concept. Although she wanted her creator to be safe and back at the project, there was something that felt... odd. Still the two men were bound and determined to save the founder of Project Quantum Leap. They had Verbena Beeks standing by to take care of Sam once he was back. Then Dr. Gushman stepped into the Accelerator.
"Wish me luck," he said a little nervously.
"All the luck in the world, Gooshie," Al answered with a slight smile at the man's courage before starting the countdown to acceleration. As the moment approached when the Accelerator should have been reaching its peak, the lights began to dim and brighten erratically.
"Admiral," Ziggy put in abruptly, suddenly aware of the massive power spike that the Accelerator was placing on the complex's power core. "I would strongly suggest..."
"Not now, Ziggy!" Al spat out. A second later, the entire complex went completely black. "Oh boy. This is not good."
