02 October, 2009

Time And Alternate Dimension In Space - Part 2

Quantum Leap - Tear Down This Wall (Part 1)*

Theorizing that one could time travel within his own lifetime, Dr. Sam Becket 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. Becket 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 Becket can see and hear. Trapped in the past, Dr. Becket finds himself leaping from life to life, putting things right that once went wrong and hoping each time that his next leap, will be the leap home.

Sam always remembered the feeling from 'leaping'. It was somewhat frightening yet calming at the same time. What scared him most was the dreaded feeling of not knowing who he he was going to be or what period in time he was going. He became an expert on stalling for time till he figured out what he was doing, or what he was expected to be doing.

When the feeling of leaping was over, Sam immediately began to ascertain where and when he was. It wasn't difficult to figure out what he looked like this time as he was in a room with mirrors on every wall except the back, where the main door was. He was a fit looking man wearing sweats and a muscle shirt. Looking around the room, many good-looking women were wearing leotards and/or one-piece outfits. Many had hair secured behind their heads in the form of a ponytail. Currently, Sam's host was in mid-process of bending over and grabbing his ankle, stretching it as much as possible. Trying not to skip a beat, he reached over and grabbed his other leg to stretch for a second or two.

“Aren’t you done warming up?” A young lady called out to him, she was dressed in light blue. Sam stood to talk but she was already walking away, giving him a wink as she continued to the back of the room.

‘Where are you Al?’, Sam wondered to himself. He was in an aerobics class, at the very beginning it looked like. Leaping through time kept Sam pretty active, but he never took a fitness class. As he looked around, the rest of the girls were taking positions on the floor, ready to begin, he looked around for a place to call his own.

“Same tape?” It was the woman.

“Uh, yea,” Sam replied having no idea what he agreed to.

“Well, take your position.” She said, Sam looked around for an empty spot. “The girls are waiting for you to begin.”

Suddenly realization smacked him. He wasn’t here as a student, he was the fitness instructor. “Oh boy.” Sam said to himself.



Sam normally tried to lay low and watch others to determine how to react till Al arrived. Being the instructor, he didn’t have the luxury. A radio from the back of the room began to play a Gloria Estefan song, as all eyes looked towards him. Sam wasn’t sure exactly how to start so he drew upon as many memories as he could of his childhood gym class. He started doing jumping jacks, which got a few odd glares, but the women obediently followed along. He realized he couldn’t continue the entire session doing the same thing and tried to remember other active moves. Suddenly a large pounding at the door was heard. Somewhat relieved Sam said, “Sorry ladies, take five. We’ll begin again in a minute.” The music at the back stopped leaving the girls looking around confused.

Sam noticed the door was oddly locked. As he unlocked the door his young assistant called out, “Andrew no!”

The warning was late and the door suddenly opened outward, in a rush. A rather gruff looking man immediately tried to enter but Sam blocked his way, “can I help you?”

“Get out of my way.” The man said poking him in the chest. Sam didn’t budge but the man was persistent and pushed his way in. “I thought I told you to quit this class Amy!” He yelled at the assistant. She backed away slightly.

“You were okay with it when I started.”

“When you were doing it in the mornings. I came home from the base tonight and nothing was ready for supper. Let’s go now!” He reached over and grabbed her arm.

“Listen buddy, why not leave her alone? You need some time to cool off.”

“What business is it of yours?”

Sam looked in the mirror and noticed how much taller Andrew was than the guy threatening Amy. He stood up straighter and began clenching his fists slightly. “I said cool off. She’ll leave when she’s ready.”

“I’ll wait in the car.” He replied as all eyes in the room were now fixed on him. He let her arm go and stormed out. “You better be right out.”

“You shouldn’t have done that.” Amy said. “It’s not what it looks like, he’s been under a lot of stress.”

Suddenly, Sam heard the sound of a mechanical door whooshing open only he could hear. Beyond it was a white blinding light and Al stepped in. The door closed just as quickly. The hand-held device in his hand glowed with multi-colored lights as he pushed various buttons. As normal, Sam attempted to ignore his arrival.

“I couldn’t just stand there and let him treat you like that. He has no right, no matter how much stress he's been under.” Al noticed Sam needed the name of her husband so he punched a few buttons on the strange device.

“Her husband’s name is….” Al never finished as Amy spoke up quickly, almost as if she heard Al.

“Matthews having problems on an assignment. You don’t understand.” She cried as she suddenly ran for the door. Sam let her go, looking frustrated. Turning back toward Al he saw all others in the class still watching the scene.

“I think under the circumstances, we should cancel the class for now.” The women didn’t seem to complain and began gathering their things.

“Okay, you’re here because…”

This time it was Sam who cut him off, “I know why I’m here.” He looked towards the door.

“Are you sticking around?” One of the women asked Sam who thought he was talking to her.

“What? No. Just thinking out loud, sorry.” He walked toward the front of the room where it was empty. The other ladies began to file out.

Al watched the women walk out of the gym. “Right now I don’t care why you’re here. I wonder where the locker room is.”

“Al!” Sam yelled at him. One of the last few women filing out turned and looked at him for a second. He didn’t notice so she resumed leaving, shrugging her shoulders.

“Sorry.” Al said.

“I’m here to save Amy from her husband.”

Al slammed the side of the device and grunted at it in disgust. “I’m afraid not. Ziggy says there’s a 78% chance you’re here to save her marriage.”

“That can’t be right.” Sam told him. “Did you see the way he was treating her?”

Al slammed the device once more. He tried pushing a button, then slammed it again as it gave off a mechanical groaning noise. It didn’t seem to like being smacked. Al shook his fist at it and slammed it again.

“What wrong?” Sam asked.

“I don’t know, this stupid thing is acting really funny again. It’s stopped giving any other information other than ‘cataclysm’. I don’t recall it doing this before. The lights on the device began to fade. “Sam, the powers going out.” Al attempted to press a few more buttons when suddenly the lights, and the low mechanical sound it made faded to nothing. “We’ve lost power.”

Sam gave a questioningly look to Al, “But if the project has lost power, why are you still here?”


Next: Writers Block; "The Get-Away"

*This is part 2 of the 20 part 'Time And Alternate Dimension In Space'.
A Doctor Who, Quantum Leap, Writers Block, Sliders & Legion of Super Heroes crossover. Each 4-part story can be read separately, or together as one giant story arc.

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