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May 17th, Project Quantum LEap, Stallion's Gate, New Mexico:
'Repeat that, Ziggy, would you?' asked Al, his mind still on the enigmatic visitor, who strangely seemed to know who and what everyone and everything was.
'I said, Admiral, that, even though Dr. Beckett has leaped into his next host, I am unable to locate him anywhere between 1953 and now, 2003'.
'What? But that's impossible. How can Sam not be located within the usual parameters? He has to be somewhere, somewhere between his birth date and now. Ziggy, keep trying'.
'Right, next problem', he muttered to himself. He turned towards Vebeena and Sammy-Jo, the others in the waiting room besides himself and the visitor.
'Perhaps you two had better go, just for a few minutes'. They left, reluctantly.
'Ok, mister, I want some answers and I want them now', Al demanded, turning to the other man in the room. 'Who are you? What is going on? How do you know who, and what, we are? Where's Sam? Why can't Ziggy locate him?'
'What makes you think I know the answers, Al, Admiral', the other man replied, calmly. He suddenly looked sad, and was watching Al very closely. Now that he had Al's attention, he suddenly seemed reluctant to talk. A thought occurred to Al: 'You're not another leaper, are you, like with Alia and Zoe?'
'No, Admiral. How could that be? The mechanics of a leap would not work like that. How could I leap into Sam while he is leaping into another person? A leap can only deal with two people at once.'
'Oh, really?' remarked Al. It was more than he knew about leaping. Sam was the scientist, not him. Sometimes, like now, he felt that leaping could result in just about anything. But he 'guest' was still being cagey. Al was sure he knew more than he was letting on.
'You still haven't answered my first questions. You seem to know a lot about science, and about leaping' Al said, returning to business. He wasn't used to being in this situation. Usually it was him in control, and the visitor who wanted answers. Now, though, he felt out of his depth. Nothing like this had ever happened before. How could a visitor know about him and quantum leap before they had told them? Just who was he? Al felt sure that something very strange was going on, and he did not like feeling that way. It was way too confusing, and worrying.
'Yes' replied the visitor, in answer to Al's previous remark. 'I take after my father'.
'Your father', replied Al, wishing the other man would stop playing games and just tell him what was going on. He knew that if the other man just told who he was, everything would make sense. 'How nice. And who is this wonderful father of yours? And, for the last time, who are you?'
'Well. I...'. The stranger faltered, trying to decide what to do.
'Yes', said Al. This was it, the moment of truth.
'Well, Ok. I suppose enough damage is done now anyway. I'll tell you. My name is Nicholas. Nicholas Beckett'.