|
|
Al Calavicci was pacing, again. He still couldn't believe Sam had told, well, himself. He knew the situation was stranger than usual, and perhaps worse than usual, but never before had Sam even considered telling someone, not even other versions of themselves. Still, they hadn't encountered future versions of themselves before, ones who knew about leaping, and now it wasn't the past versions knowing too much that they had to worry about, it was them themselves, they were the ones in the future. Maybe Sam was right, maybe the rules didn't apply when the game had changed. He turned his attention back to Nicholas. They had had lunch together, and Al had realised just had much like Sam Nicholas was. He'd had no further ideas on what Sam should do, though. He couldn't help worrying about Sam telling his future self. He didn't think he would able to bear it if Sam never came home.
PQL, 2035:
Sam/Nicholas had finished his conversation with his future self over an hour ago and both Sam Beckett's had decided to have some time alone. The future Sam to think about his past self, Al, and leaping; the leaper to think about his current leap. He wished Al had stayed around, but the observer had vanished soon after Sam had dropped his bombshell. He needed to talk this leap over with his friend, really talk, now he had some peace and quiet. He also needed to know Al had forgiven him about breaking the rules. It felt so good to tell someone, though, to have some proper, physical help. Not that Al didn't help. God knew he wouldn't be able to survive leaping without Al with him. But, just to have physical help was different. Even if it was only himself, he mused. At least 'he' would understand - probably the only person who would. Something had changed in him, he realised. He couldn't go on anymore. It was just too tiring. It was true, he got sick of always having to be someone else, always putting someone else first. Of course, he'd always help people - it was the white knight complex, wasn't it. But, why couldn't he help himself sometimes. Why couldn't he help others in his own time, at home, with his family and friends, with Al as a real person not just a hologram.
The knock on the door startled him from his thoughts.
"Come in", he mumbled. It was Lucy.
"I, er, I wanted to apologise for yesterday. It wasn't your fault. I was just in a bad mood. I hope we can make it up."
"Um, yeah, sure", Sam replied, still distracted. Lucy came over to him, and before Sam could stop her, she'd put her arms around him and was kissing him - and suddenly turned from a brunette into a familar redhead with a British accent.
"Mmm, I've always wanted to do that", Zoey said with a evil smile.
"Alia was right, you are rather cute, in a boy scout, innocent type of way".
"Zoey!", Sam exclaimed, jumping away from her, "I should have known!"
"Now now, Dr. Beckett, is that any way to treat an old friend?"
"You'll never be anyone's friend, Zoey"
"Oh, you'd be surprised, Dr. Beckett. Now, where were we?"
"Don't touch me."
"Oh, don't worry. I've got bigger and better plans for you, my dear doctor", she laughed. With that, she spun on her heel and left the room.
"Oh, boy. Al, help!" shouted Sam.
For once, as if on cue, his best friend appeared.
"Saaamm!" he cried, without looking at him. "Ziggy says we've got major trouble. There's a 99.9% possiblity that there's another leaper here!"
"Make that 100% Al. Zoey's here, and she's leapt into Lucy."
"Zoey. Oh no. That's just what we need! Well at least we know wht the problem was with Lucy now. What did she want this time?"
"The usual..."
"To kill you and destroy the project?"
"Yeah, or perhaps, to kill Nicholas. Now she's got both of us! At the moment though, she's just playing with us". He suddered at his latest memory of Zoey.
"God, Sam, what did she do to you?" Al inquired, concerned for his friend.
"She.. She kissed me!"
"She what?" Al replied with a grin. "Why, Sam, that's taramount to torture!"
Sam just gave the hologram a look.
"Yeah, alright, you're right. She may be beautiful, but she's more dangerous than all my ex-wives put together!" Sam had to grin at that one.
"So, what do we do?"
"Ziggy's working on it now."
"Maybe Nicholas could help. He may know more about them than we do."
"Well if he does, I feel sorry for him. Maybe we should tell you - the you in this time I mean."
"That could be dangerous..."
"Anything could be dangerous Sam! That the trouble with this leap. We've got to do something though, we can't just go carry on through this leap like limbo, doing nothing!"
"Ok Al, I'll talk to him, and to Ziggy. She might work out who I am, though."
"I don't think there's much we can do about that. I just want you to get help, and this is the best place, and be careful. Zoey gives me the heeby-jeebies."
"You mean there's actually one woman you're not attracted to!"
"Well..."
"Al!"
"Ok, ok, but danger can be attractive. All that adrenalin."
"Some dangers aren't worth the trouble, and you know it."
"You got that right pal. Sorry, I got a bit carried away."
"Fine, but can we get back to business, please. Let's go see me."
"Ok, lead the way.."
Ten minutes they found Sam in his quarters.
"We've got bad news I'm afraid, and I think we'll need your help."
"What's wrong?"
"Zoey's here. She's leapt into Lucy White."
"She's one of the computer programmers, right?"
"Yeah."
"Ok, so has she done anything yet."
"No not yet", Sam replied, opting not to tell his future self exactly what she had done. It was a memory he would be glad to lose.
"I'm going to talk to Ziggy, see if she has any ideas on what Zoey might be here to do."
"Alright. I have a meeting with Sammy-Jo in ten minutes. Why don't we both meet you in the control room when we've finished?"
"Fine. See you then."
Sam/Nicholas decided to go and see Ziggy straight away. It was a long time since he had seen his brainchild, and he missed her.
"Hello, Ziggy, how are you?" he greeted the computer.
"I am functioning well, Mr Beckett, and you?"
"I'm fine, thanks, Ziggy."
"You do not usually come into the control room. May I ask why you have done so now?"
"Oh. I'm meeting my father in here. We want to run a few scenario's."
"That is strange. You have not shown any interest in theories before."
Before Sam could answer, Al reappeared again, having gone to follow Zoey.
"Hey, is that Ziggy? She's still going strong after all this time. This way, I can talk to her without having to listen to all her smart-alek replies!"
Sam just smiled, and glanced at Al.
Ziggy, meanwhile, was already running scenarios.
"May I ask you a question, Mr. Beckett..."
"Of course."
"...Or should I say, Dr. Beckett?"
"What? I'm not a doctor. That's my father. Are you alright Ziggy? Should I get Gushie?" Sam tried to pretend. He couldn't believe Ziggy had seen through him so fast.
"I am fine....father. I know that you are Sam Beckett, not Nicholas Beckett. Scenario's based on your actions gave it a 96% probability. Besides, Nicholas does not call Dr. Gushman Gushie. I thereby infere that you are Sam Beckett leapt into Nicholas Beckett. As Sam has not been leaping for many years, I assume you are from the past. I would like to know why I have no records of this leap."
"Well, yes, you're right, Ziggy. It's good to see you. I can only suggest that someone deliberately erased the information from you."
"I do not have sufficient information to determine that at this moment. However, there is a 67% probablity that it involves another leaper."
"Our Ziggy agrees, Sam. She doesn't like working in the dark, and it's upsetting her to think that someone is going to make this leap vrey difficult for you and there is hardly anything she can do to help."
"Is it possible to somehow coordinate the two versions of Ziggy to work together on this. Nicholas can help your end, and we have the knowledge of Zoey and Alia, which seems to be erased from this Ziggy."
"I agree that that suggestion will work, Dr. Beckett. It will be interesting to interact with a past version of myself. You humans call this growth, do you not? Although I am the same as I am in your time, I have more data, and have lost other data, due to this leap. I find I am curious to discover the cause of this eraser and leap and to see how I have 'grown'."
"God, she sounds more like a person everyday Sam. If anything, I think she's even more egotistical than she is in our time Sam. How did you do it?!"
"Don't forget, I'm not her only 'father', Al".
"Hey, don't lay this one with me, pal. It's you she takes after Sam."
"It is good to see you again, Admiral Calavicci. I find I have missed our 'sparring sessions'"
"What?!", Al spluttered, "Why you rusty pile of nuts and bolts! Why didn't you say you could see and hear me"
"I have only just finished re-tuneing myself to Dr. Beckett's brainwaves as he is in your time."
"Oh, so now I have two of you to cope with. That's just great!" "Sam, I'm gonna go and see how our Ziggy is coping with all this. I'll check back on you later."
"Hmm, ok, bye, Al", replied Sam, who was already putting his genius IQ to figuring out this latest puzzle.