PART FOUR: Sam

Working with Dr. Sam Becket was definitely a very interesting experience. Mainly because Sam Beckett himself was so very interesting.

For one thing, Sam was a scientist who had been to Purgatory. Oddly enough, Purgatory resembled a bar, and the tending bartender looked a lot like actor Bruce McGill from "Animal House," "My Cousin Vinny," "MacGyver," and "Rizzoli And Isles."

A little more on that later.

For now, let's consider the accomplishments of Sam Becket. The least of his accomplishments was that in the 1990's he developed hologram technology that was very sophisticated and realistic.

In addition to that, Sam was a brilliant scientist with multiple degrees in everything from medicine to quantum physics; thus, he was a doctor in more ways than one.

Employing his vast and formidable intelligence, Sam developed the "quantum leap" form of time travel. Unfortunately, it was a form of time travel he had little control over.

Quantum-leaping meant leaping into other people's bodies at random points in time. While this resulted in Sam changing lives for the better (another accomplishment), it also meant a definite loss of control for the time-traveling scientist.

One member of Sam's scientific team, Guchi, joked that God must have been bouncing Sam around in time to cut down on the good doctor's excessive ego and pride.

Things changed after Sam visited the Purgatory that looked like a bar. After that experience, Sam was able to exercise some control over the quantum leaps but he still did not have complete control.

When Sam returned from his quantum-leaping (or rather, God pulled him out, at least according to Guchi), there was a lot of celebrating in the time travel lab. After that celebration, Sam told his team about his visit to the Purgatory bar.

The scientists concluded that Sam must have had a hallucination that coincided with changes to his brain that enabled him to have some influence over the quantum leaps.

Zigi, the lab's super-computer, then informed Sam that he was needed to created a new form of time travel to prevent 6/11.

Sam went to work on the Quantum Method of time travel. David Dayan became the Method's first human guinea pig; he was sent on three brief jaunts in time, each one called a time travel "field trip." He returned from each trip mostly mentally intact, which was very encouraging. Because, you see, the Quantum Method could affect a person's mind.

Sam and the team worked to perfect the Method. They also closely monitored David's mental and physical condition. As they did, they also watched for any signs of arrogance in Sam. If it ever seemed like Sam was getting full of himself, someone would remind him that he once leaped into a monkey. In a diaper!

Whenever the monkey incident was brought up, David would add insult to injury, an insult made all the more cutting by his British accent. In that accent, David would ask, "Did you ever leap into a dog or a horse?" When Sam inevitably ignored him, David would look all innocent as he pressed on. "Ever leap into a frog or a cat? Ribbit. Meow!"

Besides leaping into an animal, these are other examples of how a quantum leap can be random. Sam tried to leap into someone who could prevent the deaths of Shannon and Kelly Gibbs; they were Gibbs' wife and daughter, killed by drug-lord Pablo Hernandez. No matter how much Sam willed the leap, concentrated on it, focused on it, he found himself stuck. He went nowhere.

Zigi informed Sam that without that tragedy Gibbs would never have joined NIS which later became NCIS. As an NCIS agent, Gibbs made quite a difference to a lot of service members and their families. While the loss of Shannon and Kelly was tragic, Zigi advised it was best not to tamper with that particular tragedy. Unable to leap, Sam had to heed that advice.

On 6/11, Zigi had a different view. Not only could that event be changed it must be changed. Not only to save all those families so they could go on but so that Gibbs could go on making a difference to more families.

Unfortunately, when Sam tried to leap into someone who could stop 6/11, he ended up leaping into Thomas Magnum. The unusual private investigator, who worked out of Hawaii in the early 1980's, was the basis of a TV series much loved by DiNozzo. Very Special Agent Tony especially loved the red Ferrari, the one perpetual houseguest Magnum frequently borrowed from estate caretaker Jonathan Higgins.

While Sam was away, Zigi frequently updated the team scientists on Sam's progress. Eventually Zigi informed the scientists that Sam, as Magnum, had saved the life of someone who positively influenced many others.

With that done, Sam would soon return home.

David was there with the others when it happened.

As Sam emerged from the quantum leap accelerator, he nearly collapsed; David was there to catch him. Even so, it was several minutes before Sam could speak. When Sam finally managed to get some words out, he still gasped and panted heavily.

"The...quantum...leap...way...won't work. Must...switch."

In response, Guchi nodded. With his red hair and pear shape, the mustached quantum scientist had some resemblance to an Oompa Loompa. Unlike an Oompa Loompa, however, Guchi had a deadly serious look on his face with no time for singing catchy tunes containing little moral lessons.

"Yes," Guchi said absently as he pushed buttons on a tablet. "If we're going to stop 6/11, we'll have to switch to the Quantum Method version of time travel. After all, Hawaii in the 1980's is a long way from 6/11."

"Thanks for stating the obvious, Guchi," David said.

After a quick nervous glance at David, Guchi turned back to his boss. "I'll get everything ready, Dr. Becket."

As Guchi quickly exited, David, with his arms crossed over his British flag T-shirt, had a deadly serious look of his own.

"So I'll have to go back in time physically after all. Not just my consciousness, the way we hoped."

"Sorry, David," Sam said, still out of breath but not as much.

"It's all right," David said. "I didn't like the idea of my consciousness disconnecting from my body and floating around to who-knows-where." His voice had a slight grumbling quality to it. "Besides, I'm not really prepared for quantum-leaping. I'm more used to the Method way."

"That's true, David. You've had your practice sessions."

The one who spoke was Al. Not the real one who guided Sam on his quantum leaps; he had died some years ago. Rather, this was Virtual Al. (Guchi referred to him, rather clumsily, as "Virtu-Al.") Encased in a computer monitor, Virtual Al was a lot like Max Headroom, but without the jittery picture or stuttering.

While free of major glitches, Virtual Al (or just "Al") clutched a virtual handheld device which allowed him to communicate with super-computer Zigi.

As he pressed buttons on that virtual device, Al looked very serious, and his bushy eyebrows danced up and down. In his slightly rough voice, Al gave his report.

"Zigi says even if one of you could leap into someone around the time of 6/11 and warn N-C-I-S, that someone would likely be detained for a long time and have his or her life ruined. And quantum leaps have always been about changing lives for the better."

"Let's continue that tradition," David said. "Instead of a leap, I'll go back in time in my own physical body, and I'll have a cover identity." He considered for a moment then shook his head. "There's a sentence I thought I'd never say."

"Try not to worry, David," Al said. He sounded remarkably reassuring for a virtual presence. "You have everything needed for this form of time travel."

"Do tell, Al," David said with a grin. "Go through it again for me."

"You got it, David," Al said with a nod then puffed on a virtual cigar. David thought how some anti-smoking fanatics would like to get rid of even that.

Al outlined his case. "As an ex-plot, you can withstand the Quantum Method forces of time travel."

"I can't," Sam muttered. "Even though I was a pilot once."

"Yes, you were, Sam. Once." Al turned his virtual head back to David. "You're an ex-spy so you're used to working undercover."

"I've been undercover," Sam insisted quietly. "In my own way."

Al kept his virtual focus on David. "And not only do you know a great deal about N-C-I-S, you have mental resilience and toughness. Even if you experience mental damage or memory loss, you should still be able to complete your mission and warn N-C-I-S."

"And you have the mind log to back you up," Sam said. He winced slightly as he walked around a little.

David nodded to each man, real and virtual.

"I appreciate the vote of confidence, mates."

Al waved his virtual cigar. "All this explains why Zigi chose you."

Sam continued to take little steps. "It may also explain why I was pulled back into this time. Even though Guchi wrote in a report-"

"'Sam Becket never returned home,'" David and Al said in unison. They had heard Sam complain about that quite often.

"Guchi has apologized for that so many times, Sam," Al said.

"You've got to let that go, mate," David said. As Al held up the handheld device, it emitted sounds that were like a warbled musical tune. David held out his hand. "See? Even Zigi thinks so."

Still looking a bit glum, Sam nodded. "All that matters is we stop 6-11 and save those lives."

"Absolutely," David said with great firmness. "And not to state the obvious-"

"No, David," Sam said as he waved his hand. "Go ahead. State the obvious."

"Very well," David said with a grin. "I am someone who makes speeches, after all."

David followed that with a mock clearing of his throat then he turned very serious.

"As you know, in the years since 6-11, terrorists worldwide have stepped up their efforts. Blowing up world leaders at conferences, recruiting children as terrorists, killing American federal agents en masse."

As he paused, David adopted a look of steely determination.

"If we can save all those kids and their parents and Gibbs as well, we should be able to reverse that situation."

A moment of silence followed. Since 6/11, people all over the world had adopted a small simple habit meant as a tribute. When inclined to, each individual would stop and bow his or her head for a few seconds. After that brief pause, the person would carry on with other parts of life.

After David lifted his head, Al spoke.

"I couldn't agree more, David." Al's virtual head went back a little as the handheld device lit up; this coincided with shrill squealing noises. "And Zigi agrees, too."

David grinned. "I certainly respect Zigi, him being a super-computer and all."

Now the handheld device flashed with bright primary colors while music-like sounds mixed with what sounded like light squeals.

Sam had a grin of his own as he nodded at Al and then David. "And just like you can't go against God, you can't go against Zigi."

David had more of that steely look. "If Zigi says we change this, then we change this."

"And you're ready, David. You've already been on three time travel 'field trips,'" Al noted aloud.

David nodded. "On the first one I basically wandered around the area near the House."

"Yes," Sam said. "I heard you checked out all the electronic calendars and time pieces."

"I did," David said. "I was still a little skeptical. I thought maybe this was all some elaborate trick or prank or joke or something. But now I'm convinced this is real, and it can really work. The other two trips convinced me."

In the first of those two trips, David went back a few more years than on the first trip. The highlight of that "field trip" was visiting a Beltway Burger. On the next trip, he went back another four years and visited a convenience store for a Caf-POW! Maybe it was just the jolt of caffeine but he was convinced this form of time travel was for real; furthermore, it could actually be a way to prevent 6/11.

After those two trips, David couldn't remember everything he did; he remembered the Beltway Burger and the Caf-POW! (Fornell and Abby would be proud). The team members assured him that was perfectly normal and not to worry; some memory loss was to be expected with the Method.

As he stood in the lab with Sam and Al, David decided to offer some words of reassurance.

"Cheer up, Sam," David said. "Even though the quantum leap didn't work out the way you wanted, there is some good news in all this."

"Oh, yeah?" Sam said in a weary voice. "What's that?"

"At least you didn't leap into a monkey. In a diaper!" David chortled.

As Sam scowled while his face burned, David quickly exited.

Soon David would go back in time in a big way, more years than ever before, on the biggest mission of his life. To save hundreds of lives.

It was a form of time travel that, like anything else, had its problems and disadvantages. Naturally, David hoped nothing would interfere with saving all those lives.