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Leap into Shadow.

Disclaimer. I didn't create the following characters, nor do I claim ownership of anything but the text itself.
All copyrights, characters and settings are the property of their respective owners.
I'm just exercising my brain.

Note: (As the Real QL did with the JFK episode) I've taken a small liberty with the world where Sam is originally from. I've altered the history slightly. Instead of there being a book called LotR there are only academic mythology papers regarding some of the ideals. This means that Al/Ziggy have more leeway with how odds and probability routes are calculated.

Leap into Shadow

The Fellowship walked quietly through Moria. Few words were spoken, few words needed to be spoken. Each of the Fellowship was aware of what was required. Don't give themselves away; try to remain unnoticed; and attempt to make it safely through Moria. The darkness around them held unknown dangers, dangers that had already taken the lives of many dwarves. Often they would pass the skeletal remains of one of Balin's folk, a grim reminder of the fate that could befall them. On and on they went, the grey-haired figure of Gandalf at the head of the party.

Gradually the air around them changed. Gimli noticed it first. His underground senses, more acute than the rest of the party, telling him that there was a cavern ahead even though it was out of sight. Next to notice it was Legolas, his keen eyesight noticing the subtle change in the light. Then Aragorn, his awareness of his surroundings honed by his life as a Ranger, realised that the very shape of the darkness was changing. The remainder of the party noticed soon after.

Last to notice was Boromir. As he had been at the rear of the party his attention had been focused on the path that they had just been, watchful for dangers behind them. Occasionally he had thought he'd heard soft footfalls, but even though he had scrutinised each part of the area they had been he'd seen nothing. Nevertheless he was alert for any sudden attacks. As the space around them had grown wider he'd closed up to the rest of the party, leaving Aragorn to watch the rear. "We should not be separated, it is bad tactics to be driven apart." he thought, taking up a position opposite Legolas so he could watch the right side.

At the front of the party Gandalf paused. "I may risk a little more light" he said softly, and raised his staff above his head. The glow from his staff brightened and around them the Fellowship saw the magnificent halls of the Dwarf city.

Boromir watched as the Fellowship were bathed in a soft blue light, and the darkness around them lifted slightly. As the light hit Boromir it seemed to flare brilliantly around him and Boromir felt as if he was being pulled from his body. "What evil magic of Sauron is this?" he thought, as a darkness blacker than any shadow descended upon him and he lost consciousness.

Al walked into the main room. "OK Ziggy, what's the big deal?"
"There appears to be a problem with Dr. Beckett's current leap.
Al didn't like the sound of that. Ziggy always had an idea, however crazy. He rubbed his forehead and looked towards the main console of Ziggy's terminal. "Such as?" he asked cautiously.
"There are no records available for whatever time period Dr. Beckett is currently in." Ziggy's voice seemed to be petulant that the available data was incomplete.
Al looked puzzled. "What do you mean 'whatever time period' he's in?"
"Although I can lock the imaging chamber on to Dr. Beckett's location, for some reason I am unable to isolate the year into which Dr. Beckett has leaped."
Al fell back onto his astronaut training. "What about star patterns?"
"Admiral Calavicci, until you step into the imaging chamber I will be unable to get a visual of Dr. Beckett's surroundings."
Al gave a wry grin. There was a link of sorts between Sam and himself that meant Al was required for some of the more complex information gathering. No one else could be seen or heard by Sam, and only Al could give the extra link to move from knowing when Sam was to knowing exactly where Sam was. Looking across at the Imaging Room, Al sighed. "OK Ziggy, power it up." Al reached across to the console and activated a few buttons. A remote link to Ziggy appeared from the board. Al picked it from the cradle and walked to the door of the imaging room. As it opened Al was bathed in white light. He stepped through the door and into the room beyond.

Sam experienced the familiar feeling of leaping into a new body. The bright light around him dimmed and he waited till his eyes adjusted to the new light level. Immediately he started to take stock of his situation. He was clad in leather clothes, a cloak trailing down his back. A large object was slung over the back of his left shoulder, and at his side he could make out a sword. An ornate horn hung at his right side. Immediately he recalled the leap into the Morningstar troupe. "Sword and shield, and dressed as a nobleman" he thought, "Maybe I'm a knight again." The memories of the Morningstar Troupe flashed through his mind. Alia! He had encountered her on that leap. Had she too leapt here?

"Behold, the great realm of the Dwarf City of Khazad-dűm."

The words snapped Sam's attention back to his current Leap, and automatically he looked around. And what a sight it was. Sam gazed in amazement, and then took a few steps forward to see more. Never had he seen a city such as this. The hall was huge, the architecture stunning. Smooth columns easily a hundred feet high stretched away into the distance as far as he could see. How had people managed to build this city? How had he never heard of it? Surely a city like this would have piqued his interest. Sam searched his mind, cursing the "swiss-cheese effect" that leaping had on his mind. Khazad-dűm! He had heard that before, something about an abandoned city. He'd read it somewhere he remembered, but was sure that it was merely a myth. He tried to recall more, but the harder he tried the more difficult it became. Still deep in thought he wandered along, gazing upwards. He hardly noticed his companions, until one of them gave a small cry and ran off to the right.

"Gimli!"
The grey haired old man cried out, but the short man took no notice and ran into the side room that he had noticed. Inside the room the effects of battle could clearly be seen. Masonry fallen to the floor; walls smashed as if a giant hand had crashed down into them; skeletons laying around the room, arrows still jutting out between the bones. Yet untouched in the centre of the room was a great block, beautifully lit by a shaft of blue light it had the unmistakable air of a tomb of some kind.

Sam realised that all of the skeletons were shorter than usual. Some of his medical training came back to him, and he noticed that the small skeletons also had discrepancies with the shapes he had learnt in his past. The old mans words echoed in his head "Dwarf City..." Was it possible that these were Dwarves? The small man kneeling at the base of the stone box was certainly the right size, but surely Dwarves too were a myth.

The old man walked carefully up to the tomb and leant over. "Here lies Balin, son of Fundin, Lord of Moria. He is dead then. It is as I feared." At the base of the tomb the one called Gimli still wept, and slowly his head dropped until it was resting against the stonework. The old man bent down and gently took a book from the skeleton at his feet. As he opened the book a few pages fell to the floor. Ignoring them he blew the dust from the remaining pages and began reading.

As the old man reached for the book Sam looked across at the three smaller figures standing across the room, and the fourth figure standing beside the old man. They too weren't human, nor did they resemble the 'dwarf'. What could they be? A flash of blonde beside his drew his attention; the man standing there had turned his head to talk to his companion. No, wait, not a man. The facial structure was subtly wrong, and the ears were pointed. Sam was stunned.
"We must move on. We cannot linger." the soft voice was melodic even in its urgency.
From nowhere the word Elf appeared in Sam's mind. "Elf? Dwarf? What is happening?" Elves, Dwarves, and whatever the other small folk were. This couldn't be real. Sam looked around bewildered, and put his hand on Gimli's shoulder to support himself.

"We cannot get out..." The old man continued reading from the book.
Sam looked around uneasily. Why couldn't they get out? The route seemed to be clear.
"A shadow moves in the dark. We cannot get out. They are coming!"

Crash!
Sam turned with a start. One of the small men had somehow knocked something down the well. The skeleton balanced precariously on the edge began falling backwards then fell, following the skull that had recently gone the same way. The heavy chain and bucket also followed, its weight making the noise even louder. After the near silence of the previous minutes the noise as the body crashed downwards on its journey seemed strangely loud. With each crash the Fellowship grew more and more uneasy, until the noise finally died away and silence returned.
Sam sighed in relief. Almost without thinking he muttered to himself...
"Oh Boy"...

The imaging room was a strange thing to spend time in. Al never really moved, aside from small movements to keep with Sam when they were talking. Usually he'd just re-center himself somewhere else. "Ziggy, centre me on Sam's location."
"I am unable to get a definite fix on Dr. Beckett's current position, but I can place you in the general area into which he leaped."
"Oh great, another glitch." Al mumbled to himself as the room around him grew lighter, then swam into focus and grew darker, and darker. "Hmm, must be night-time," thought Al. The room finally focused fully, and he realised that he was inside a large cavern of some sort. The shadows at the edge of sight were making him feel jittery. Years of imprisonment in the Vietnam War had sharpened his senses to hidden dangers and right now those senses were screaming at him to get the hell out.

Looking around himself Al tried to spot Sam. Movement off to the side of the hall attracted his attention. Quickly he tapped a few buttons on the link and disappeared, reappearing over where he'd seen motion. Carefully he walked further into the darkness, and suddenly came face to face with a hideous creature.
"Ziggy, what is this?" he cried.
After a few second Ziggy replied. "I have discovered an old sketch of creature labelled 'Orc'. It is remarkable similar but until now I have always assumed it to have been a mythological creation."
"Looks ugly, whatever it is." Al's voice was filled with disgust.
Ziggy continued to speak. "If you would be so kind Admiral, I would like you to authorise the addition to my memory banks of all mythological papers and literature available to date."
"How long will that take?"
"To add the complete works will take over three months, but the most relevant works should take no more than two days. I have a list of other papers published by the same author where I found the Orc. There are 25 other papers he has written that will need to be acquired."
"Well, when I've found Sam and gathered a bit more information I'll see to it."

Realising that he had become distracted from the search for Sam, Al looked around. "Ziggy! Where the hell is Sam?" Al's voice clearly showed his agitation at being unable to locate his friend. Suddenly a series of loud crashes caused him to jump.
"I believe I have located Dr. Beckett in a room approximately 400 metres to the left. I also calculate that the noises that were just heard originated in the same room."
An Orc archer crept forwards, drawn by the noise that Al had just heard. The heavy bow it carried passed through Al's leg as the creature went past.
As Al turned to watch it go a large lumbering creature, a chain around it's neck, walked straight through back of the hologram. As it walked on Al gazed at it in amazement. "What was that?" he asked Ziggy.
"I do not know Admiral, but there is an 82% probability that it is a species that lives in these caves."
"It looks like a troll."
As more Orc archers began moving towards the room, Al shouted out to try and locate Sam.
"Sam! Saaaam!" he cried, and started to press the buttons on the link.
Some way in front of him two of the archers raised their bows and aimed for the door, ready to kill anyone trying to escape.
"Ziggy," said Al, still pressing buttons. "Calculate the trajectory of where those arrows would end up."
Two small curved shafts of light appeared, running from the tips of the arrows to the doorway of the room where Sam was supposed to be. Where Sam was now appearing! Cursing to himself, Al punched more buttons on the link and disappeared...

"Fool of a Took. Throw yourself in next time and rid us of your stupidity!"

Sam looked once more at the smaller men and stood thinking for a moment. Took? Maybe that was the type of men they were. Then again, maybe Took just meant youngster. All of the Took certainly seemed young. Sam's thoughts were interrupted by the dull thud of drums. "Drums in the Deep" he thought.
Doom, boom, doom... The drums quickly grew louder, the beaters of them coming closer. A high-pitched growl was heard, far off but getting closer. One of the Tooks, Frodo he'd been called by a companion, drew his sword slightly. The blade was glowing with an eerie blue light. The growls were joined by screams and hoots.
"Orcs!" The Elf said savagely.
The dark-haired man was standing at a door on the other side of the room, listening carefully.
"The passage on this side plainly does not lead back towards the hall. But it is no good flying blindly this way with the pursuit just behind. We cannot block the door. Its key is gone and the lock is broken, and it opens inwards. We must do something to delay the enemy."

Looking around, Sam suddenly realised why they were unable to get out.
"Sam! Saaaam!" Al's voice came from the darkness beyond the door through which they'd entered the room.
Sam looked around the room, and then ran towards the door. OK there were Orcs out there, whatever they were, but so was Al, and Al might be able to tell him what was going on. As he went through the door he leant out a little, looking to the right.
"Look out Sam!" Al suddenly appeared in front of Sam, shouting a warning as he did so.
Instinctively Sam reared back, and not a moment too soon. Two arrows fired from the darkness appeared through the chest of the hologram, embedding themselves into the wooden door just in front of Sam's face. Immediately Sam withdrew back into the room and started closing the heavy door.
"Get back! Stay close to Gandalf!" The dark-haired man turned to the Tooks and ordered them to the rear of the room. Dropped the flaming torch he was carrying he then picked up a discarded weapon. Moving to the door he helped Sam to brace it closed.
Al once again re-centred his image, reappearing on the other side of the now closed door. "They have a Cave Troll, or something," he said, making vague gestures with his hands.
"They have a Cave Troll." Sam parroted Al's words back toward the hologram, hoping that Al would realise how little the information helped him, and returned to closing the door helping the dark-haired man beside him.
The Elf threw Sam a large double-headed axe, which he in turn passed to the man beside him. A halberd quickly followed and Sam used it to bar the doors. Once he and his companion had finished they both backed away from the door. Behind him Sam heard the sound of swords being drawn, and remembered his own weaponry. He unslung the shield from his back, and drew his sword. Beside him the dark-haired man and the Elf had their bows ready, arrows drawn back ready to be released into whatever came through the doorway.
The doors began shaking, bulging inwards as the horde outside tried to force their way in.
Al punched the button to open the Imaging Chamber door and Sam saw the familiar white rectangle appear.
"Sam," Al said, "I'm not much use here at the moment so I'm going to see if the person you leaped into has woken up yet. I'll be back with some answers soon, I hope. Try not to get killed."
As the door closed behind Al, Sam heard a cry of rage from behind. Gimli was on his feet, standing on the tomb of Balin and hefting his heavy axe.
"Let them come, there is one Dwarf yet in Moria who still draws breath!"
"Well," thought Sam, "at least now I know he really is a dwarf".

Axes, spears and swords battered away at the door. Here and there gaps started to appear through the wood. One of them had a spear thrust through it in an attempt to make the hole bigger, and the arrow on the bowstring of the Elf was released. Straight through the narrow gap it flew, and into the creature beyond. Sam heard a gurgling cry, and then the arrow disappeared as the wounded Orc fell backwards. Immediately afterwards a second arrow was released, this time by the dark-haired man. This one too flew through a gap in the wood and found its mark in an Orc. Then the doors broke apart, the hinges on one side finally giving way. The Elf, a second arrow already notched and ready, took the lead Orc in the chest. A second arrow from the other bow took the next Orc in the throat. And then the Elf felled another Orc, an arrow taking it between the eyes. After that it was a melee. Sam's leap into the Morningstar troupe had been nothing compared to this. This was real. The skills he'd picked up on that leap came to his mind. Parry, block, slash. He hacked away at the invading Orcs, trying to hold them back. Around him he was vaguely aware of his companions. Somehow the Elf still managed to use his bow, even at such close quarters. The old man, Gandalf he had been called, was wielding a sword with skill. The four Tooks too had short blades, and had taken a toll on the invaders. The Dwarf with his axe hewed the Orcs asunder. But more fearsome of all was the dark-haired man. His sword was wielded with a deadly skill, seemingly impossible to stop. The blade seemed to pass through the armour of the Orcs without slowing, and took the head from an Orc with one stroke.

Then suddenly the combat slowed, and the remains of the door frame burst as the Cave Troll that Al had mention crashed into the room. As the troll roared the Elf fired an arrow, but the arrowhead only just penetrated the skin of the beast and it was easily removed. Further into the room the troll came, brandishing the giant mace it carried, and attacked one of the Tooks. Diving between its legs the Took managed to escape the blow, and tried to escape to safety. The troll turned, and followed the small figure moving away on its back. As it got close it lifted its foot, intending to stand upon the scared Took and crush the life from it. Both the dark haired man and Sam noticed the chain from the troll's neck was dragging on the floor by their feet and as one they took hold of the heavy metal and heaved backwards, hoping to keep the troll away from the prone figure. The troll stumbled backwards, it's heavy mace whistling through the air by the two men as it spun around to keep its balance. Quicker to react, the dark haired man dropped the chain and moved back slightly, ready to continue the fight now that the Took. Sam suddenly found himself holding the chain alone, and looked down at the metal in his hands.
"Oh sh..."
A blow from the mace sent him across the room, and he landed stunned at the feet of an Orc. Shaking his head to try and clear his senses he looked up and saw an Orc, its sword raised ready to plunge the steel into the body at its feet. Sam gasped in fear, and tried to roll his aching body away from the blow he knew would come. Then suddenly a sword flew across the room and hit the Orc in the throat, killing him instantly. Sam rolled to a sitting position and shook his head clear, then looked across the room to the are from where the weapon had been launched. He saw the dark haired man nod towards him, as if to acknowledge the silent thanks that Sam was giving him.

Sam climbed to his feet and picked up his sword and shield. Returning to the battle against the Orcs, Sam heard the dark-haired man cry "Frodo" and suddenly the man started fighting his way toward the troll. His attention was brought back to the fight around him, and he barely avoided a blow that would have left him severely wounded. With his blade in his hand he battled on, trying to keep the Orcs from over-running the room whilst his companions battled the troll. He, Gandalf, and the dwarf fought side-by-side, until the Orcs began to grow more and more wary of entering the room. Soon there were few Orcs left, and the Dwarf turned his attention to the troll.

"Aragorn! Aragorn!" cried Frodo, as the troll grabbed him, and Sam realised that it was the name of the dark-haired man that he had been fighting alongside. Once more Sam returned to the fight around him. Dodge, thrust, duck, slash. More and more Orcs fell, and suddenly the doorway was clear. Behind him he heard an anguished cry, and turned to look. The Took called Frodo was laying face down on the floor, a huge spear disappearing beneath his body. Giving a cry of rage Sam fought to clear the last of the Orcs in case his medical training could help. Gandalf, the space around him now cleared of Orcs, started to attack the troll. Soon everyone but Sam was concentrating on the troll. As Sam killed the last Orc he turned to help, only to find that he would not be needed. Somehow the Elf had managed to find a vulnerable spot and the troll was clawing weakly at his mouth. Sam moved so that he had his back to the wall, supporting himself as he gasped slightly for breath. The Troll crashed down, the Took that had managed to mount its neck thrown forwards by the impact. The group looked at the fallen comrade, and Aragorn crawled to the body of Frodo.

Sam watched as Frodo was rolled onto his back, expecting the one called Aragorn to confirm death. Yet to his shock Frodo opened his eyes and started breathing.
"He's alive." The relief in the voice of the nearby Took was easily heard. Sam closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.
"I think there's more to this Hobbit than meets the eye." Gandalf's words caught Sam's attention once more. Hobbit? Was that the species? It was certainly used as a generic reference. Maybe Took did mean youngster. Sam decided he'd keep his ears open for any more clues.
"Mithril! You are full of surprises Mr Baggins." Gimli's sternly spoken words gave Sam another clue to the identity of the rest of the party.
Frodo Baggins, Aragorn, Gimli, Gandalf. Well, now I know four names.
Outside the doors there were fresh sounds of Orc activity.

Gandalf looked around the room, and then appeared to make a decision. "To the bridge of Khazad-dűm" he said forcefully.
The party around him all made for the eastern door, and Sam paused only to pick up a torch to light the darkness ahead. Through the opposite hall they all ran, their weapons still at the ready. All around them Orcs seemed to appear out of the very ground itself. On and on they ran; Gandalf at the head of the party, Aragorn to the rear. More and more Orcs appeared, and soon they were surrounded. Orcs cautiously formed a ringed wall of death. There was no way out.

Dr. Verbena Beeks always found it disconcerting checking the health of the latest person Sam had leaped into. Sitting beside the bed she was writing up the notes of the routine check made of all patients. Temperature, pulse, blood pressure; each had been checked and recorded. Looking down she gazed at a person who, to all intents and purposes, was Dr. Samuel Beckett. Although it seemed Sam's body was laying there, Dr. Beeks knew that both his body and his mind, his brilliant mind, were elsewhere. Somewhere else in time and space was the man she knew and cared for.

Verbena thought back to the time when she'd first met Sam. She had been one of the medical staff assigned to project Starbright; a project that had sought to use the brilliant scientist Dr. Samuel Beckett. She'd heard of him beforehand, naturally, who couldn't have. A young prodigy he'd attended MIT and went through four years of college in two years, becoming the youngest ever to graduate summa cum laude. He'd graced the cover of Time magazine for his work on Quantum Physics, an area in which he had a natural affinity. Not to mention the Nobel Prize, which had led to him being labelled 'The Next Einstein'. She had arrived at the project expecting either a petulant, irritable young man; or possibly a man whose attention rarely focused on everyday issues, preferring the more challenging vista of mathematics. However she'd received quite a surprise. Samuel Beckett had turned out to be kindly, generous, loyal, and above all (in Verbena's mind) able to deal with the mundane requirements of life. True he always wanted to dedicate more time to the complex challenges of Project Starbright, but never once did he do so at the expense of important, but dull, project needs.

She also discovered that Sam had more to him than pure science. He held half-a-dozen doctorates, including music, archaeology, and ancient languages. More surprisingly she discovered he was an MD. Somehow she'd never thought that he'd be interested in a biological entity, after all his speciality was the intricacies of Quantum Physics, but as she got to know the young Sam Beckett she came to understand why he'd completed his Medical doctorate. He cared deeply for people. He tried to understand them, help them, and if being a Doctor helped him do that he thought nothing of becoming one. When both Sam and Verbena had free time they had sometimes sat and talked about people, Verbena from a Psychological perspective, Sam from a Biological one. Long hours they'd spent debating human nature and habits and Verbena had never understood why. Sam would casually pass it off as 'lightweight conversation' but Verbena's training enabled her to realise that Sam was paying much more attention to the conversation than he cared to admit. Eventually she decided to wait, in time she would find out what Sam was doing.

Then came a shock, the funding for Project Starbright was withdrawn. Sam returned to dedicating his time to quantum science, and Verbena was assigned to another project. It seemed she would never find out what Dr. Beckett was working on. Months passed, enough for her to start missing the discussions with Sam and to wonder what he was now doing, when out of the blue there came a request for interview with a view to becoming the resident Psychiatrist at a new project. Arriving at the interview three days later she received another surprise. The head of this project was none other than Dr. Beckett. He had managed to gather enough support to fund a project utilising his knowledge of quantum physics. Within 24 hours she had been offered the position, and within one week she had been officially assigned to the project. Arriving at the project she had met old friends; some from Project Starbright such as Gooshie, or Admiral Calavicci; some from other projects. New friends were also made, and soon she'd settled in to life within the confines of the complex.

If Dr. Beeks had been surprised by Sam during Project Starbright, she was nothing less than amazed at how he ran Project Quantum Leap. As Director he had to be involved in all of the major decisions that would affect the project, yet whenever Verbena needed to speak to him he was always available. And it wasn't just for her. If any staff member needed time to speak with Sam he would invariably find, or more often make, time. This behaviour had caused all the staff involved in the project to want to help Sam even more. (Few of them had ever been treated so fairly). Verbena discovered out that since Sam had started only one person had left the project, and that had been to get married. They'd since returned, still wanting to help Dr. Beckett succeed.

The body on the bed moved, and Dr. Beeks was jolted out of here reverie. Once again she looked down at the face of a man she still thought of as a friend. Carefully brushing back a stray lock of hair, she waited till the person had calmed down and decided to write the rest of her notes up in her office. As she left the room she wondered, as she often did, what the patient looked like. The only person that saw anything different was Al. It hadn't been that way at first, Al too had seen Sam's body. Then at some point in the intervening years he'd started seeing the patient, the link between Sam and Al somehow allowing the Admiral to see the body that had been leaped in to. The patient too saw their own body, unless they looked into a mirror. The project had only discovered this after one of the patients had looked into a mirror and started going crazy. Since then Dr. Beeks' role had become more important than ever.

Dr. Beeks completed the check and stood up. As she pressed a pad on the wall the seat she had been sitting on slid into the wall. As she left the room she took a final glance behind her, then left the guard to close the door. Walking back to her office Dr. Beeks saw Al making his way toward to the Waiting Room. As soon as he saw her, Al changed direction.
"How's the patient?" he asked quickly, "He awake yet?"
Verbena shook her head. "Not yet. He seems to be restless though. What sort of situation did he leave behind?"
Al pursed his lips. How could he describe what he'd seen in the Imaging Chamber without ending up with an appointment in Dr. Beeks' office? "He seems to have leapt out before a battle." Al went for a neutral sounding phrase. "I was going to see if he could give any tactical information about the situation."
Verbena narrowed her eyes. Years of talking with Al had given her an idea when Al was covering something. "What aren't you telling me? You always fall back to military jargon when you're hiding something."
Al sighed. "Sam's fighting right now. I need to get as many details as possible as quickly as possible."
Verbena knew that Al was lying, but decided not to push it. It was obvious he'd seen something he didn't want to talk about and wanted more information from the patient. "You might as well go in and wait, I doubt he'll be asleep much longer. I was surprised when I didn't wake him myself."
Al rubbed his forehead. "I might need to call you Doc, are you gonna be in your office?"
Verbena nodded. "For a while. I'll let you know if I go somewhere else."
Al moved off, before Dr. Beeks could ask any other questions. Nearing the door he took a deep breath. "Here goes..." he thought to himself.

Since Leon Styles had escaped the project there was now a 24hr guard on the waiting room. Currently it was Private Mike Harowen. Marine, 1st Class.
"Good Morning, Admiral." Mike stood at attention, saluting Al.
"Morning, Marine." Al greeted the guard politely, and returned the salute. "At ease."
Al thought to himself about the number of times he'd told Mike that a salute wasn't necessary, He was an ex-admiral. He'd lost count. It'd had no effect in any case; Mike would still salute every time he saw Al. Eventually Al had just started returning the salute.
Mike reached for his key. "How long will you be with the patient, sir?" he asked.
"I'm not sure, depends on how long he's asleep." Al walked up to the door. "I hope it's not too long a wait."
As Mike opened the door, he once again saluted Al. "Yessir".
Automatically Al returned the salute.

As they were both saluting a pair of hands shot out of the waiting room and pulled them inside, throwing them to the floor. Scrambling to their feet they saw the patient running through the door and into the complex beyond. Then the door closed and the patient was gone. To Mike the patient had looked just like Dr. Beckett. Al however saw the real face; A face of determination, of someone seeking escape. The strength of the pull had told him that the man was well-muscled, and the speed of reaction had warned him that the man was a seasoned fighter. It was going to be hard work recapturing him unharmed.

Both men leapt for the door, the Marine reaching for his key. Suddenly Mike swore, realising that the key was missing. "Sorry Admiral, the key must still be in the lock."
"Aw, crap!" Al looked around for a way to contact outside. There was the call-point for the patient, but that only alerted Mike outside the door. Mike who was now inside the door. Al made a mental note to add a secured phone for future use. But for now he needed to contact Ziggy.
"Ziggy!" he shouted, hoping that the computer had an 'eye' turned to the room. Nothing!
Al suddenly remembered that he had his hand-link. Quickly digging it out of his pocket he punched a couple of buttons. "Ziggy, open the waiting room door! We're trapped in here."
"What has happened, Admiral?" Ziggy's voice was modulated with tones of curiosity.
"Whoever Sam has leaped into has escaped the waiting room. Do you have anything on camera?"
"The camera system has been down since this morning Admiral, there was a problem with the main circuitry. I believe we have traced it to the increased current sent through the system when Sam leaped into his current situation. I have now managed to override the door."
As the door opened Al held the arm of the Marine. "This guy most likely knows how to fight, be careful."
"Yes sir, always." The Marine slipped to one knee and took a quick glance down the corridor. Pulling his head back in to the room he stood up and started to exit the room. "No sign of the patient, sir."
"Well, both of us are combat-trained. You take left, I'll take right. Be as quiet as possible." Al waited till Mike had exited the room before going through the door in the opposite direction. There was no sign of the patient.

Using hand signals Al ordered the Marine to check down the corridor towards the canteen, whilst Al himself checked towards the control area. Mike moved off silently, and Al started in the opposite direction. As he went he kept a careful watch for the patient. Occasionally he'd look down at the hand-link and tap a few buttons, relaying instructions to Ziggy. To the side a door closed, Al having mapped the link to open and close the doors around his position. As he approached the junction he started to look down the corridors, wondering which way the patient had gone. He reached the centre and looked both left and right. Left was clear, he could see to the end of the corridor and it was empty. Turning to the right he looked carefully into the softly lit corridor. Suddenly a body came flying at him from the left. Somehow the patient had been in the left corridor and Al had missed seeing him. Al was knocked off his feet and slammed into the wall, the hand-link sliding across the floor. The sounds of the ambush died away, and the corridor was silent once again.

Boromir awoke, his body feeling tired and weary. Just as he was about to sit up he heard noises outside the room and quickly relaxed, feigning sleep. He watched through lidded eyes a silver part of the wall slid sideways, creating a doorway, and a lady entered the room. As she approached his bed he closed his eyes fully, and slowed his breathing.
Boromir lay there unmoving, as the lady did some kind of check. The lady completed whatever checks she was doing and Boromir heard a strange sound. Suddenly he sensed the lady sitting beside his bed, and the scratching sounds of someone writing. After several minutes Boromir realised that he hadn't heard a sound for a while. Very carefully he opened his eyes ever so slightly and looked at her. She seemed to be staring vacantly at him, her eyes unfocused.
"She must be under Sauron's command," thought Boromir. "The sooner I leave this place the better."
Boromir suddenly felt a cramp starting to build in his back, and closing his eyes again tossed and turned as a sleeping man would if his dreams had caused him to become restless. He felt the cramp ease off, and slowly stopped moving. The woman gently stroked back some hair that had fallen across his face and Boromir almost opened his eyes in surprise at the softness of the touch. "Why should she treat me with such tenderness?" he thought, "The agents of the Dark Lord are not usually so careful."
The lady moved away, returning to the door she had entered by. She knocked twice on the metal and once more it slid sideways. As she disappeared from view a young male head looked into the room, obviously checking the room.
"A guard!" though Boromir, silently getting to his feet as soon as the door closed. "If I am lucky then he will be alone.
Boromir looked around the room, seeking a weapon of some sort. Around him the room was almost empty, except for a table with a mirrored surface. Seeing nothing he could use Boromir moved towards the door. Outside there were voices, muted by the wall but still audible.
Boromir thought about his options. He could wait until someone came in, and use them as a shield against whatever lay outside; or he could try to escape as soon as the door was opened.
Suddenly the door started opening, and Boromir's mind was decided. He'd seen only two people standing there, and quickly he grabbed each one by the shirt, and heaved. Both men flew into the room with such force that they were thrown to the ground. Instantly Boromir left the room, seeking a place to hide. As he set off down the corridor he heard the door close once more.

Finding the corridor curved slightly, Boromir hugged the near wall. Here and there pipes gave some small amount of shadow. As long as he kept hidden he could evade capture, and eventually escape. He heard the door opening once more, and darted into an area behind three large pipes. The cover was hardly anything, but he still took advantage of every scrap. Looking back he saw the guard leave the room, quickly followed by Al. His tactical mind admired their movement as he watched them take up positions covering each other.
"They have seen battle," he thought. "I would need half-a-dozen men to clear them away. I hope they do not stay together."
As Boromir uttered the words he saw one of the men make some small gestures to the other. Immediately the guard made off down the corridor leading away from Boromir's position. "Maybe my luck is changing..." he muttered to himself.

Boromir moved off, using every piece of cover he could. The other man also started forward, occasionally halting to use something in his hand. Boromir found another set of large pipes and paused, watching the advancing man. Still the man was using something in his hand, and suddenly Boromir noticed that each time the man used the device, a door would close itself. As the man advanced further down the corridor Boromir saw his exits closing off one by one, and resolved to get the 'key'.
Approaching the junction of three corridors, Boromir looked around. Nowhere to hide. Looking into each corridor Boromir suddenly noticed an alcove just into the left-hand corridor. It was almost invisible from where he'd been standing originally, so the other man should also be unable to see it. Quickly he hid himself away.
After a minute or so a shadow was suddenly cast onto the floor in front of him, and Boromir realised that the man was standing in the centre of the junction. Carefully Boromir took a slow peek. The man was concentrating on the right-hand corridor just as Boromir had hoped. He launched himself from the alcove and barrelled straight into the man, sending him crashing into the wall. Looking around to make sure they were still alone, Boromir crept over to Al's prone body. Looking down to where the dazed Admiral lay Boromir narrowed his eyes.
"A strange agent of Sauron," he said, "He could be of Gondor."
Moving over to the hand-link, Boromir picked it up. "What magical item is this, to be closing doors with but a press?" Boromir asked himself.
He pressed a button, and a door opened. "Not only closing them it seems." he said with a smile.

Mike moved quietly down the corridor, until he came to the doors to the mess-hall. Just inside, four of the project staff were having a meeting.
"Excuse me Sirs, Ma'am. Anyone come by here in the last couple of minutes?" he asked politely.
"No-one's been by for about 15 minutes." One of the staff members replied. "Are you looking for anyone in particular?"
"Just the Admiral is all." said Mike, covering the question without thinking.
Just then a second guard appeared at the opposite end of the hall. Excusing himself from the Staff, Mike wandered over to speak to him.
"Another patient has freed himself," he explained to the second guard, "Let Mac know and meet me down by the Waiting Room. I'll need to take your tazer."
The second guard unclipped the stun-gun at his side and passed it to Mike. "How long has he been free?" he asked.
"About two to three minutes so far. He hasn't been this way so I'm going to go back to help the Admiral. He can't have gotten far."
Mike turned and quickly went back towards the waiting room. There was no sign of the Admiral, so Mike decided to follow Al's route. Following the corridor Mike soon reached the junction, and saw Boromir standing above the body of the Admiral.
"Hey! Hold your position!" Mike reached for the Tazer.

Boromir noticed a solid door at the end of one of the corridors. "Such a solid door must surely be to the armoury. I should be secure enough in there until Gandalf dispels whatever enchantment Sauron has sent."
Suddenly a voice down the corridor shouted. Turning to the sound Boromir noticed that the guard had returned unnoticed, and now seemed to be reaching for a weapon. Quickly Boromir ran towards the large door, pressing buttons on the hand-link. One button, two... the door remained firmly closed.
Down the corridor Mike started to run down towards Boromir.
Boromir pressed a third button and finally the large door opened. As he leapt through the door Boromir, pressed the button again.
Mike skidded to a stop, and watched as the door to the Accelerator Chamber closed behind the patient.

Al lay there dazed and winded, the impact having knocked the breath from his lungs. He tried to move and a spasm of pain shot through his body. He watched helplessly as Boromir picked up the hand-link and used it to escape into the Accelerator Chamber. Mike ran along the corridor to the Admiral and knelt beside Al.
"How're you feeling, sir?" he asked. "What happened?"
Al tried to move again, and this time the pain was much less. Mike helped him to his feet.
"He got the jump on me; knocked me into the wall." Al grimaced as he remembered being blindsided.
Both men heard footsteps and spun around to see Gooshie leaving the Control Room.
"Good evening Admiral." Gooshie noticed the Admiral was breathing heavily. "Is everything OK?"
Al noticed that Gooshie was carrying a spare hand-link to Ziggy and plucked it from his grasp. "Another patient has escaped from the waiting room," he said, quickly punching buttons on the link.
Gooshie looked around. "Do you know where he is?" he asked, concerned. He could still remember the last time it had happened. He'd recognized Sam's body and had simply made an absent-minded greeting.
"In there!" Al gestured to the Accelerator Chamber.
Gooshie looked alarmed. "He can't stay in there! What if he activates the accelerator?"
Al gave the hand-link a smack. "He can't, I've just told Ziggy to disable the other hand-link, and used this one to disable the control panel in there."
Al looked around, making a decision. "OK, Gooshie, I want you to get back to Ziggy's control panel and halt all power being fed to the Accelerator."
Gooshie though for a second. "That will take approximately five point four minutes," he said, earning a scowl from the Admiral.
"Then go start now. The last thing we need is for another lightning strike to cause a leap." Al gestured for the technician to leave.
"Ziggy", he said to the hand-link, "I want you to open the Accelerator Chamber door."
Immediately the door began opening and Al looked in. He saw Boromir behind the control panel, and moved closer.
Mike followed behind him, Tazer at the ready, and took up a position to the Admiral's left.
Al watched as Boromir moved to the centre of the room, no doubt wanting to be ready for anything that may happen.
Beside him Mike watched as Boromir moved away from them. "Just a little more, and I can zap you..." he thought to himself.
Mike watched carefully, counting the steps the patient was taking. Three more should do it. Two, one... Mike raised the Tazer and pulled the trigger.
Al saw motion from the corner of his eye, and turned his head. He saw Mike raising a Tazer. Where in the hell had Mike got that? Suddenly Al realised the Tazer might short out some of the delicate equipment in the Accelerator chamber, and leapt across to prevent Mike from firing it.
"No! Not in here" Al's hands came down across Mike's arm. But too late. The small needles jumped forwards.

Boromir watched as the two men entered the room. He'd entered the room expecting to find weapons of some sort, and had been dismayed to find a large, yet almost empty room. He backed off from the control panel and started to edge to the centre of the chamber. "Fighting is best done where you can move freely," he thought to himself.
As he moved to the centre of the room, Boromir noticed that the guard was watching him. Suddenly the guard raised his arms and aimed something at Boromir. The second man noticed, and tried to stop it, but whatever the guard had pointed at Boromir suddenly came alive. Two points of metal shot out from the end of the black device. They missed him, the man having done enough to spoil the guard's aim, but as they device was knocked to the floor the two piece of metal suddenly buzzed, and Boromir fell, his feet numbed by what seemed to be lightning.

Al dived down and de-activated the Tazer. Hopefully the charge hadn't been going long enough to damage any equipment.
As he turned to Mike, he noticed that the Accelerator chamber was lighting up. "Ziggy, he cried, "What's going on?"
"The charge from the weapon has tripped the circuits controlling the power-cycle. The accelerator will fire in approximately 30 seconds. I suggest you evacuate the area immediately."
Al ordered Mike out of the room and turned to Boromir. "Look pal, I know you probably don't trust me too much right now but I think you should get out of this room.
Boromir tried to stand, his feet still hurting. "You are right, Servant of Shadow, I, Boromir of Gondor, do not trust you. You spirit me away from my comrades when I am needed, attack me with weapons of magic, and then try to talk to me of trust?"
Al was torn between leaving the chamber to be safe, and trying to get Boromir away from the Accelerator rings. He started to move towards the door slowly when he realised that Boromir was starting to glow with a familiar blue light.
Around them, the air began to glow with a bright white light. Al looked at his watch. Five seconds... He started to run for the door.
"What is this?" said Boromir, looking around. "New devilry?"

Sam looked around. Hundreds of armed figures snarled at the circle of warriors. Sam kept shifting balance, wanting to be ready to counter any attack. Suddenly from the far end of the hall there came a dull boom. The Orcs surrounding the party also looked towards the sound, then made frightened noises and started climbing the columns, going upwards as if they were spiders. Sam looked along the halls, and saw a red glow coming closer. Then a different feeling hit him. He felt light-headed, and his entire body seemed to glow.
"What is this? New devilry?" The words sprang unbidden from his lips. Then, as quickly as it had arrived, the feeling passed; and Sam was once again himself.
The Elf looked at the approaching menace and suddenly wailed. "A Balrog. A Balrog has come!" he cried.
"Durin's Bane!" Gimli dropped his axe as he covered his face.
Gandalf closed his eyes, and sighed. His eyes slowly opened and he turned to face the advancing enemy. "Now I understand. What an evil fortune! And I am already weary."
Gandalf looked at the Fellowship. "This foe is beyond any of you. Run!"

Gandalf ran into the darkness of Khazad-dűm, and the Fellowship followed.
Sam arrived at a doorway, Gimli beside him, and Gandalf motioned them through.
"Lead them on Gimli. Pippin and Merry next. Straight on and down the stairs beyond the next door."
Pippin and Merry. Sam added two more names to the list. Two more of the Hobbits had now been identified. Sam saw the second door and ran on ahead. He was running headlong down the flight of stairs when suddenly the path turned to the right and he found himself teetering on the edge of a deep abyss. Sam dropped his torch, trying to regain his balance before gravity took him over the edge to his death. His arms flailed and Sam was sure he was about to fall when suddenly the Elf ran lightly down the stairs, grabbed him from behind and pulled him to safety.
The rest of the party appeared at the top of the stairs, Gandalf at the rear.
"Aragorn, lead the way. The bridge is near." Gandalf gave urgent instructions to the dark-haired man.
As Aragorn turned to look at the bridge the sound of the Balrog echoed behind Gandalf and Aragorn turned, ready for battle.
The old man pressed him back, and forced him towards the bridge. "Do as I say" he commanded. "Swords are no more use here."
Gandalf herded the Fellowship to the narrow stairway, and down the stone stairs they ran. Further and further down the stairs they ran, the Elf leading the way with Sam right behind. Behind them they could hear the Balrog getting closer. Then The Elf stopped. The stairway had been damaged, a large chunk of it broken away. They would have to jump the gap.

The Elf sprang lightly over the gap as if it didn't exist. Turning he readied himself to catch the next person. Gandalf moved to the front and jumped, landing safely on the other side.
Arrows suddenly started falling among them, one hitting Frodo's chest and bouncing away. A handful of Orcs had managed to reach the cliffs at the side of the chasm and had begun to fire at the fellowship.
More arrows rained down, and Sam automatically swung the large shield he carried to a better position to protect his body. The Elf raised his bow and loosed an arrow, seeming not to aim. Nevertheless his arrow found its mark in the forehead of one of the Orcs. Aragorn too joined the fight.
Looking at the gap Sam realised that the Hobbits would have trouble jumping. "Merry! Pippin!" he cried, and gathered one under each arm before he tried to jump the gap.
As he started to jump he felt more of the stairway crumbling and put every last piece of effort into his leap. Somehow he made it and as he released the Hobbits he paused to regain his breath, looking back to a small piece of the stairwell still dropping into the darkness below.
"Sam!" Sam heard his name and looked up. He was just in time to see Aragorn speaking to a Hobbit, whom he then carefully launched across the gap.
"He's called Sam too?" thought Sam, catching the Hobbit. "That's going to make things interesting."
Sam had no chance to think further though. Gimli, refusing the offer of assistance, had quite literally thrown himself across the gap. And had not quite made it. Quickly the Elf sprang forward, grabbing Gimli's beard in order to pull him to safety.
"Not the Beard! Arrrgh!" Gimli cried as he was pulled forwards.
A loud crack split the air, and Sam watched as a large chunk of the stairway started to fall away beneath the feet of Aragorn and Frodo. Quickly Aragorn pushed Frodo backwards onto the safe part of the stair, and then had to make a retreating leap. Pulling himself up, Aragorn looked at the now enlarged gap. It was now too great to cross.

Behind them the ceiling began to crumble as the Balrog's heavy footsteps came ever closer. A large chunk of masonry fell, crashing through the thin stairway behind them and cutting off their route back. With the destruction of the connecting stairs, Aragorn and Frodo found themselves with a new problem; the stairway they were stranded on had effectively been turned into a small, high column. The old, damaged stonework began to crumble as the column began swaying, threatening to send the two down into the abyss. Aragorn thought quickly.
"Frodo" he called, pulling the Hobbit near the front of the stairs.
The column began to break a little more, and the swaying increased.
"Lean forward!" shouted Aragorn, trying to keep as much weight as possible to the front of the column so that it would have a better chance of tipping that way.
The column tilted, then lurched in the direction Aragorn had hoped for. Forwards it went, gradually building momentum, and the gap between the stairs closed. As the two structures met there was a jolt, and Aragorn and Frodo were thrown into the waiting arms of their comrades.
As the fellowship raced away down the stairs once more the column from which Aragorn and Frodo had escaped fell into the abyss, preventing any pursuit. Coming to the base of the stairs they ran on towards the bridge.
"Over the Bridge," cried Gandalf, "Fly!"
The sounds of the Balrog grew louder, and Gandalf realised that the creature was immediately behind them. Turning to look he saw the Balrog appear from the flames and start forwards.
Turning, he ran behind the fellowship as they approached the narrow bridge. Aragorn was already crossing as Sam approached. Without stopping he ran on, Pippin and Merry just behind him. The other Sam and Frodo were next, followed by the Elf. Finally Gandalf reached the bridge. He had not quite made it halfway when the Balrog caught up with the fellowship. Gandalf turned to face the fiery demon.

"You cannot pass!" he cried defiantly.
The shadows around the Balrog shifted as it growled, and what seemed to be huge wings suddenly stretched out from behind the beast.
"I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the Flame of Anor. You cannot pass." calmly Gandalf spoke to the demon. Around him a white globe of energy could be seen.
The Balrog drew its sword, a large blade of fiery red, and raised it to strike.
Gandalf raised his sword. "The dark fire will not avail you! Back, flame of Udun."
The Balrog suddenly brought its weapon down onto Gandalf's blade. The was a bright flash of light and the Balrog's sword, nothing now but molten fragments, went spiralling into the shadows below.
"Go back to the shadow." Gandalf said in warning tones.
The Balrog put a foot onto the narrow bridge and a whip appeared in its hands, the lashes seemingly made of fire. It cracked them once, the noise amplified by the darkness around it, and started to advance slowly towards Gandalf.
Gandalf raised his staff, and brought it down hard onto the narrow bridge. "You shall not pass!" he shouted as he brought the staff down.
There was a loud crash and a blinding sheet of white flame shot up as the staff hit the bridge and broke asunder. As it hit, the bridge cracked; then broke beneath the feet of the Balrog. The Balrog cried out as it tumbled into the depths, the lashes of its whip trailing behind it.
Gandalf was turning to join his companion when something wrapped itself around his leg. Whilst falling, the Balrog had made a final swing of its whip, and had curled the thongs around Gandalf's knees. Gandalf was pulled to the edge of the broken bridge, and grabbed vainly for a handhold.
Frodo started to run towards the old man; but Sam grabbed him, holding him back. Gandalf had surely damaged the bridge with his staff. If anyone were to set foot on it who knows what would happen.
Gandalf slid further over the edge, and then looked back at his comrades.
"Fly, you fools!" he cried, then slipped over the edge and fell into the shadows.

The fellowship stared in shock for a few long seconds.
"Noooo!" cried Frodo, once again trying to reach the bridge.
Sam held the Hobbit fast. "Gandalf!" he cried, stepping back a little.
More Orcs had gathered on the opposite side of the chasm and once again arrows started to rain down upon the group.
Still in shock at their loss the fellowship fled, running up the final set of stairs. More arrows fell about them as they ran, and still more Orcs appeared. Finally they reached a large door.
A small group of Orcs guarded it, but taken unawares by the swiftness and power of Aragorn's attack they were soon either killed, or had fled. The group ran through the now unguarded door and into the world outside.
Across snowy rocks they ran, and on they went until they had reached a distance safely out of bowshot. Then each slowed and stopped as the loss of Gandalf hit them.
Gimli roared, and grabbed his axe. As he started back towards the caves Sam grabbed him. "He'll get himself killed if he goes back in there." Sam thought to himself, and held the struggling dwarf firmly. Around him he watched as the Hobbits sat or lay weeping. The Elf too seemed disturbed.
Aragorn sheathed his sword, and looked around. "Legolas, get them up!" He said gently, and the Elf moved slowly towards Pippin and Merry.
Sam turned. Surely rest was better for them, a chance to deal with their shock. "Give them a moment, for pity's sake!" he cried.
Aragorn looked around. "By nightfall these hills will be swarming with Orcs" he said. "We must reach the woods of Lothlórien."
Running back towards the group Aragorn spoke again. "Boromir, Gimli, Legolas; get them up."
Sam released the dwarf, and realised that he now knew the names of those around him. Gimli was the Dwarf; Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin were the Hobbits, The dark haired man was called Aragorn; and the Elf was called Legolas.
"Which means I must be Boromir." he thought to himself.
Sam looked around as Legolas and Aragorn helped the Hobbits to their feet. Which way would they be going?
Aragorn started down a rocky path. He moved fast and of all the fellowship only Legolas could keep pace. On down the mountain they went, until finally they reached the lowlands. As they approached a stream Aragorn ran on ahead, running through the water. He stopped at the other side, and looked out across the land. Not too far away the forest of Lothlórien could be seen.
The rest of the fellowship arrived at the stream; crossing to join Aragorn on the far bank, they too stood there gazing at the forest.
"There lie the woods of Lothlórien!" said Legolas. "That is the fairest of all the dwellings of my people. There are no trees like the trees of that land. For in the autumn their leaves fall not, but turn to gold. Not till the spring comes and the new green opens do they fall, and then the boughs are laden with yellow flowers; and the floor of the wood is golden, and golden is the roof, and its pillars are of silver, for the bark of the trees is smooth and grey. So still our songs in Mirkwood say. My heart would be glad if I were beneath the eaves of that wood, and it were springtime!" Legolas' voice held a hint of regret.
"My heart will be glad even in the winter," said Aragorn. "But it lies many miles away. Let us hasten."
Aragorn resumed the journey to Lothlórien, and the safety it might offer.

Al leapt headlong for the door of the Accelerator Chamber, his body glowing blue. He doubted he'd make it in time, and waited for the leap. He'd leapt before; the last time had been when a lightning strike had hit the complex while Al had been in the Imaging Chamber. The overload had caused the observer to leap, joining Sam in 1983. He still wasn't sure how he'd leapt back to the complex afterwards. According to what happened to Sam he should have leapt into another year, but instead Al had found himself back at the complex. Even now they couldn't explain it.

The noise in the Accelerator Chamber grew louder and the ambient light began pulsing. Al, still a few metres from safety, felt a buzz run through his body.
Then suddenly the light suddenly flashed out, and the noise reduced itself to a loud hum as the accelerator slowed.
The Admiral, still in his own body, rolled through the door and sprang to his feet.
"Ziggy! What the hell happened?" he shouted, trying to find out why he hadn't leapt.
"When the accelerator began firing, Gooshie decided to take alternative steps in order to disconnect the power in time."
Al thought for a second. "There are at least three circuits to de-activate, how did he manage to power them all down so quickly?"
Ziggy seemed to hesitate before answering. "Each circuit is fed from a single point. He simply disconnected the backup circuits and removed the power source."
"You mean he yanked the cable out?!?" Al exploded in fury. "The stupid nozzle," he thought to himself, "He should know better than most how delicate these systems are."
Al ran into the control room, Boromir forgotten for the moment, and looked around for Gooshie. Seeing him sitting by the wall, Al walked over.
"Just what were you thinking? We might have already leapt by the time you removed the power. You may have damaged the circuits! What would you have done if we had leaped and you were unable to retrieve us?"
Gooshie looked back at the Admiral, his eyes showing surprise. "I thought you'd've preferred not to leap, Admiral. Also, I didn't want to take the chance of losing the person Dr. Beckett is currently inhabiting. Also, Ziggy was kind enough to count down the final seconds before the leap. There was never any danger of me disconnecting the power after you had leapt."
Al calmed down at the though of Boromir leaping somewhere else. "Why would we lose Boromir?" he asked, "the last time I leapt it was to wherever Sam was."
"Yes Admiral," said Gooshie respectfully, "but for both of your previous leaps you were in the Imaging Chamber at the time. The link between yourself and Sam would have kept the two of you together. The Accelerator Chamber doesn't have that link. You would simply leap wherever, and whenever, it sent you. The patient would also leap, and although it's likely you would end up in the same place it is not certain; and how would you recognise each other? Each would see only the face of the person the other had leapt into."
Al rolled his eyes. "Not to mention the fact that this Boromir guy; a, doesn't trust me; and b, would be even more freaked out." Sighing he moved away from Gooshie, admitting to himself that the technician had done the right thing.
Gooshie stood up and looked over towards the main console. "I'll run a systems check, and find out if any circuits are damaged. I'll let you know the results, Admiral."
Remembering that he still needed to convince Boromir that he was safe, Al left the chamber. He walked back to where Mike was standing.
"Marine!" Al snapped.
Mike immediately stood to attention. "Yessir?"
Al motioned him to stand down. "Where did you get that Tazer?"
"I saw Gerry in the Mess-hall. I told him to give me his weapon, then alert Mac that a patient was loose." Mike looked at the Admiral calmly.
"And you fired the Tazer because?" Al looked at the impassive Marine.
Mike returned the Admiral's gaze. "Orders sir. You stated yourself that if ever a patient escaped the waiting room again we were to use the stun-guns to knock them out as soon as it was safe to do so."
Al was about to chew the Marine out for firing the Tazer in the Accelerator Chamber when he realised that none of the guards had ever been told that it was dangerous to use the electrical weapons in the chamber areas. Al had never thought that a patient would be able to enter the Accelerator Chamber unattended, let alone thought about briefing the guards on the best method of capture.
Al looked into the room where Boromir still stood.
"Well, you seen the effects of firing a Tazer in the Accelerator Chamber," said Al, "so I don't need to tell you. If you'd fired in the Imaging Chamber the effect would have been the same, or possibly worse. Make sure that you report to Mac that no guards are to use the weapons in either the Accelerator or Imaging Chambers."
"Yes Sir." Mike nodded, and holstered the weapon. "What about him?" he asked, gesturing in Boromir's directions.
"I'll go speak to him; maybe the fact that I tried to stop you firing will help us." Al walked to the door. "You stay here and stop him going anywhere if he gets by me."

Boromir watched as one of the men returned to the chamber, wondering what was happening. The man entered the room, and spread his hands to show he was unarmed.
Boromir stepped forwards a little. "Who are you, and what is this place?" he asked.
Al hesitated. "Well, my name is Admiral Al Calavicci. As to where this place is; I don't suppose you've ever heard of Stallion's Gate have you?"
"I have not, unless it is part of the Kingdom of Rohan. But, Admiral Al Calavicci, if you are of the Rohirrim then I am a Hobbit from the Shire."
"What's a Hobbit?" asked Al, puzzled.
"A halfling, such as Frodo or Samwise." Boromir looked at Al suspiciously. "Have you not heard of them?" he asked.
Al shook his head. "Not unless they're from the same place as those Orc things." Al shuddered at the memory of the beasts. "Man, they were ugly!"
Boromir watched as Al shuddered. "Obviously he is not an ally to the Orcs." he thought.
"A Hobbit is like a man, only smaller." said Boromir, aloud. "They rarely grow to a height above four feet, or so I am told. I was in the company of four of them when I was taken. Did you not see them?"
Al thought back to the brief visit to Sam. Yes, there had been four of them. "I think so. Curly hair, bare feet, yes?"
Boromir smiled to himself. He had carefully phrased that comment to see if these were indeed his captors. He had implicitly accused them of taking him, and they had not denied it. "And now that you have taken me, what are your plans? I am a Lord of Gondor, and one of her finest warriors. I will not be imprisoned again so easily."
Al groaned. How could he have missed such a loaded statement? "I was in the company of four of them when I was taken". At least he's still talking to me. Al sat on the floor, and watched as Boromir did the same. Reaching into his pocket Al retrieved the hand-link and held it up.
"You took one of these from me. Do you still have it?" he asked Boromir.
Boromir produced the other hand-link. "I do. But I will not return it. It is a key to open any door, and I will need it if I am to escape.
Al shook his head. "It's not a key any longer. It's been disabled"
Boromir laughed. "Clever words, but I doubt them. I have not let this thing out of my possession. You have had no chance to disable it."
Al pointed at the door. "Well, try to close that door."
Boromir's face grew stern as he raised the hand-link, and he pressed the button that had opened the door. Nothing happened. Again he pressed and again there was no action. He looked in disbelief at Al.
"I do not understand! What magic is this? How could you have dispelled its power so easily?" he said, still pressing the button.
"It's not magic," said Al wearily, "It's... complicated."
Boromir stood up, his eyes burning. "And you think I am too stupid to understand?"
Al too stood up, just in case Boromir tried to run. "Look, I'll tell you what. You're not a prisoner as such, but you're also not allowed to go where you wish. I'm an honourable Man and I give you my word that nothing will happen as long as you don't try to escape. I'll show you around here, and try to explain what's going on, but you have to trust me."
Boromir narrowed his eyes. What else could he do? There was no escape through the door, and although there were only two people here at the moment Boromir had the feeling that more would arrive soon.
Knowing he had no other choice, Boromir extended a hand. "I am Boromir, Lord of Gondor, and I give you my word I will not seek escape."
Al smiled inwardly, and also extended his hand. "I am Albert Calavicci, Admiral of the United States Navy, and I give you my word that you will be treated as an honoured guest."
Both men shook hands, and stood watching each other for a moment.
"So," said Al, the first to break the silence, "You hungry?"

Sam walked along the paths of Lothlórien, immersing himself within the beauty of the landscape around him. He had hardly noticed the rest of the group, nor the fast pace that Aragorn had set. The group had stopped once already. Aragorn had called for a rest when he'd noticed that Samwise and Frodo were falling behind. Wounds had been tended, and the group had enjoyed a rest and some food. But the stop had been brief and the Fellowship were once more heading for the safety of Lothlórien.
"Sam! Sam!" Al's voice caught Sam's attention.
Sam cleared his throat, trying to alert Al to his location.
At the cough Legolas turned to face him. "Are you well, Boromir?" he asked.
"I'm fine, thank you Legolas." Sam answered the Elf politely, and Legolas returned his attention to the woodlands around them.
Sam carried on walking, and Al suddenly appeared behind him. Slowing his pace, Sam dropped to the rear of the group. If anyone asked, he would tell them that he was merely watching behind them.
He reached the back of the party without anyone questioning him, and began to talk to Al.
"Well, where am I? What year is this? And what the hell is going on?" Sam hissed urgently to Al. "There's an Elf, a Dwarf, and some things called Hobbits as my companions. And what were those 'Orc' things?"
Al looked thoughtful. "Well, you're somewhere called Dimril Dale," Al looked around, "Or possibly you've already reached Lórien."
Sam looked toward the head of the party. "Aragorn, the dark-haired man, mentioned somewhere called Lothlórien. I think that it's nearby."
Al resumed briefing Sam. "Your name is Boromir. You're a Lord of a land called Gondor, and are part of a quest that is trying to destroy a weapon of some kind. You have 8 companions in 'The Fellowship'; Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Gandalf, Frodo, Samwise, Pippin, and Merry." As he spoke, Al rubbed his back.
Sam noticed his friends discomfort. "What's up? Did Tina make you sprain something?" Sam teased the hologram.
Al shot a dark look at Sam. Usually he wouldn't have minded the snide remarks but the fact that Boromir had blindsided him still rankled.
"Actually no," he snapped. "If you must know, that Boromir guy escaped the waiting room. He knocked me into a wall."
Sam's face grew serious. "Is he still loose?"
Al shook his head. "Naah, we caught up with him in the accelerator chamber. He thought it was the devil's work, and that we were agents of 'The Dark Lord'."
Al contemplated telling his friend that Boromir had almost leaped, but thought better of it. "It's not like it'd do any good." he thought to himself.
Al gestured to the rest of the group. "Need me to point out who's who?"
Sam shook his head. "No, I think I know who everyone is. What else have you got?"
Al looked at his handlink. "Well, I'll give you what I know so far. Aragorn, the dark-haired guy you mentioned, and supposedly the heir to the throne of Gondor. Legolas is an Elf, and also a Prince of somewhere called Mirkwood. Gandalf is a grey-haired old guy and, according to the real Boromir, a Wizard. Gimli is a dwarf. Hmmm, that's all I have on him at the moment. Then you have the four Shire Hobbits; Frodo Baggins is the oldest, Samwise Gamgee is next, then you've got Meriadoc Brandybuck, or Merry as he's more commonly known, and finally you have Peregrine Took, better known as Pippin."
Sam looked at Al. "Where are you getting this information? I definitely didn't have extensive mythology data in Ziggy's memory banks."
"The guy you've leaped into. We've finally convinced him that we're not "Agents of the Dark Lord" and he's starting to tell us about what he was doing when you leapt in."
Sam looked quizzically at Al. "How did you manage that? You said he thought you were demons."
Al grinned. "The way to a man's heart... We fed him. Who'd've thought that Italian food would be so useful."
Sam snorted. "And now he's eating out of your hand? Pardon the pun."
Al shook his head. "Not really, that was one of the reasons I came back before we had more information. He gave us details of his, I mean your, companions, but it's not really much more than that. I get the feeling he told us that much is because he wants to know what is going on back here. Do you think the imaging chamber could work for him?"
Sam tried to think about the technicalities of the project. Usually only Al could see and hear Sam's world, but Sam remembered a time when Gooshie had managed to MacGuyver the system so that Gooshie himself could contact Sam. Would the same thing work for Boromir? It was very probable, but might take some time.
Sam rubbed his chin. "It should do. Speak to Gooshie about using the same procedure as last time. If I know Gooshie he will have worked on the method since the last time just so it'd work better next time it was needed."
Al nodded. "Well, the quicker the better so I'm gonna go get started on this straight away. Anything else you need, before I go?"
Sam closed his eyes. "Anything you have might be useful."
Al pressed a few buttons on his handlink. "Boromir refers to Frodo as 'The Ringbearer', I don't know what that means yet. Samwise is usually referred to as Sam, watch out that it doesn't cause any problems. He's here as a companion for Frodo. Merry and Pippin are both here because it was easier to bring them than leave them behind. According to Boromir he, you that is, has been teaching them basic sword techniques. They might ask you to continue."
Sam nodded. "I can remember enough of the Morningstar Leap for that. Just as long as they don't want anything fancy."
Al opened the exit from the Imaging Chamber. "That's all we have at the moment. I'll be back as soon as we have more."
With that, Al stepped through the door and was gone, the door closing behind him.

The Fellowship continued on towards Lothlórien. As dusk approached Aragorn beckoned Legolas to join him at the head of the party.
"It will be dark soon." The voice of the Ranger was quiet, yet was full of urgency. "We should find a place of safety for the night."
Legolas thought for a moment, then spoke quietly. "It was the custom of the Elves of the Lórien to dwell in the trees, and maybe it is so still. Therefore they were called the Galadhrim, the tree people. Deep in their forest the trees are very great.
Gimli looked towards the forest and then at the path leading back to Dimril Dale. "Even in these latter days dwelling in the trees might be thought safer than sitting on the road."
Aragorn nodded. "Your words bring good council, Gimli. We cannot build a house, but tonight we will do as the Galadhrim and seek refuge in the treetops. We have sat here beside the road already longer than was wise.
The group turned into the forest, and headed deeper inside. Soon they came across a group of trees overhanging the Nimrodel. The trees had a great girth, and their height could not be guessed. Legolas stepped towards them.
"I am at home in trees, whether root or bough, I will climb up and see."
Pippin spoke up. "I cannot sleep on a perch. I would prefer a nice hole to sleep in."
Legolas turned to the Hobbit. "Then dig! But dig swift and deep if you wish to hide from Orcs."
Once more Legolas turned towards the tree and sprang upwards lightly, catching a branch above his head. No sooner had he caught it, hanging there ready to swing his body upwards to the branch, when a voice cried out from the darkness above.
"Daro!" The voice said in a commanding tone, and Legolas dropped back to the ground and shrank against the base of the tree.
"Stand still. Do not move or speak." Legolas whispered to the fellowship, and then turned his head upwards.
As he turned his head towards the darkness above there came another voice. Sam didn't recognise the language but Samwise spoke up.
"They're Elves." he said, craning his neck to catch a glimpse of those above.
"Yes, they're Elves," said Legolas, "and they say that you breathe so loud that they could shoot you in the dark."
Samwise clapped a hand over his own mouth. Beside him Gimli hefted his axe.
More voices were heard from above, and once more Legolas spoke. "But they also say that we should have no fear. They have been aware of us for a long while."
As Legolas spoke, Elves suddenly appeared around him. One stepped forwards and spoke softly to Legolas.
"Welcome Legolas, Son of Thranduil" he said in their own language. "I am Haldir. My brothers are Rumil and Orophin."
"Our fellowship stands in your debt, Haldir of Lórien." Legolas replied.
Haldir continued. "We have heard rumours of your coming. Though it is not our custom, you must stay here tonight. How many are you?"
"Eight." Legolas answered before Aragorn could speak. "Myself, four Hobbits, and two men." Legolas gestured towards Aragorn. "One of which is Aragorn, an Elf-Friend of the folk of Westernesse."
Haldir smiled. "Aragorn of the Dunedain is known to us. The son of Arathorn is well known in Lórien. He has the favour of the Lady."
Aragorn nodded, and bowed slightly. "Haldir." he greeted the Elf.
Haldir's smile faded and he looked at Legolas. "But you have mentioned only seven of the eight."
"The eighth is a Dwarf." said Legolas.
Haldir started. "A Dwarf? We have not had dealings with the dwarfs since the dark days. I cannot allow him to pass."
Frodo spoke for the first time. "But he is from the Lonely Mountain, one of Dain's trusty people, and friendly to Elrond. Elrond himself chose him to be one of our companions."
Haldir looked towards Legolas, and the four Elves spoke amongst themselves in their Elven tongue. Many questions were being asked of Legolas. After a little while Haldir nodded. Rumil and Orophin nodded towards Legolas and disappeared up the tree.
"Very well. If Legolas and Aragorn will guard him, and answer for him, he shall pass. But he must go blindfold through Lothlórien."
With that the three re-joined the rest of the Fellowship.
Haldir looked at the Fellowship, and spoke firmly. "You will follow me".

Al walked into Gooshie's office. It had already been a few hours since the observer had left Sam, and Al was getting impatient. Walking up to where Gooshie was sat at his terminal Al peered over his shoulder.
"Any luck yet?"he asked.
"I am making progress Admiral." Gooshie sighed. "It would go quicker if you were not constantly interrupting."
Al put his hands in his pocket. He knew he wasn't helping matters by distracting Gooshie but couldn't help himself. He so needed for this to work. Maybe then Boromir would be more willing to help.
"What about just using the same program as before, just for now?" asked Al.
Gooshie looked away from the Admiral. The only way he'd managed to do it last time was to add a temporary circuit containing some of his own cells. He'd told no-one how he'd done it, and destroyed the circuit soon after, as if the ethics board had found out they would close the project down immediately. He turned back to Al. "Umm, Admiral... The method I used last time was not exactly legal."
Al thought back to when Project Quantum Leap was still in it's infancy. Sam had used almost those exact same words. Al rubbed his thumb and finger together, thinking of the cells that Sam had taken in order to create Ziggy. He'd never told anyone, as far as he was aware Sam was the only person who knew about it, but somehow he sensed what Gooshie had done.
"So, what cells did you use?" he asked Gooshie.
Gooshie jumped. "M... m... my hand." He showed Al his hand, pointing to the fleshy part on the outside of the palm."How did you know? It took me a long time to even partially discover that Dr. Beckett had somehow used live cells in Ziggy's construction."
Al shrugged. He couldn't tell Gooshie that some of his own cells had been used, he'd promised Sam. "Me and Sam used to talk about things, and I guessed a few things he didn't tell me."
Gooshie turned back to his screen. "The procedure is painless," he said, "but we can't ask Boromir to donate cells. I'm not even sure the effect his cells would have on Ziggy. I'd also need to set up security locks, and they're highly complex."
Al sighed. He needed to do something to help. "What can I do to speed things up?"
"Aside from leaving me to complete the circuit?" Gooshie thought about some of the requirements that would mean the Admiral would have to be elsewhere. "You could try and persuade Boromir to undergo a full physical scan, and a CAT scan or an MRI will be needed to help tune the Imaging Room to his brain pattern."
Al straightened up. "What about cells?" he asked.
Gooshie shook his head. "We need to wait until the last moment to integrate the cells. You might try persuading him in advance though. It will save time later."
Al turned to leave. "I'll be back in a couple of hours."
Gooshie nodded, and once again turned to his screen.
Al hurried out of the office, digging in his pocket for his handlink. Tapping a few buttons brought up Boromir's current location and Al hurried to the Waiting Room. Walking inside he greeted Boromir.
"Hi, I didn't think you'd be back here so quickly." he said.
Boromir looked uneasy. "Why do people think they know me? Some of the folk here have spoken to me as if I am a familiar face."
Al gave a wry smile. "Well, they do know you... kinda. Remember I told you about Sam, they guy who's taken your place back where you were?"
Boromir still had a strange, hunted look in his eyes. "I do. But why should that make a difference. He is not here, I am."
Al reached into his pocket, and pulled out his wallet. "Do you know what you look like?"
Boromir glared at Al. "What sort of question is that? Of course I do." Boromir sneered. "Why? Can you not see me?"
Al nodded. "Sure I can see you. Want me to describe you, long hair and all?"
Boromir walked angrily to Al, his eyes blazing. "You dare insult a Lord Of Gondor!"
Al held up his hands. "Hey, I wasn't insulting you. Not at all."
Boromir stopped for a moment, and Al opened his wallet. From inside he withdrew a photo showing him and Sam standing in front of Ziggy's console. Boromir leant forward to look at whatever was in Al's hands, and then let out a surprised gasp.
"Such artistry with a brush I have not seen before." said Boromir, all memory of the insult swept away by the photograph. "Tell me, who painted this for you? I could use a skilled hand such as he must possess."
"Painted? Oh, you think this was painted? Oh, this is just a photo."
"A photo?" Boromir looked at the picture again.
"Yeah, a photo. We have a machine that makes them. It's complicated too."
Boromir sighed. "Yet more that is beyond my knowledge, no doubt." Suddenly Boromir looked dejected, and he sat on the edge on the bed.
Al gave Boromir the photo, and put the wallet back in his pocket. "What can you see in that picture?" he asked Boromir.
"Boromir looked carefully, and then raised his head. "I can see you and another man standing by one of those coloured tables you have."
Al nodded. "Yep. That other guy is Sam, my friend. Would you say he looks like you?"
Boromir laughed. "I look not at all like your friend. Few would say I am not a proud man, but it is certain that I am younger and have a more noble bearing. My looks too are easier on the eye."
Boromir noticed that Al's eyes had grown hard, and thought of the words he had just said.
"I meant no offence to your friend." he said quickly and sincerely. "He looks like a trustworthy man, a caring man. I was simply answering your question."
Al calmed down. "Arrogant Nozzle!" he thought to himself. "Sam's a hundred times the man you are."
"So, "he said aloud, "you agree that you both look different. Take a look in that mirror." Al gestured to a mirror above the washbasin.
Boromir walked to the mirror, and stared into it... Straight into a face that was not his own. He leapt backwards, and looked down at his body. "What joke is this? I can see myself here, yet how can I have a different face in my reflection?"
Al thought for a moment. Boromir probably wouldn't take too kindly to another "it's complicated", and Al needed him to want to help.
"We don't really know. We never actually planned on taking the place of someone, merely observing the events around them. Our best guess is that you can see a "Residual Self Image" of some kind. When you look at your body you see what you expect to see, it's like the mental projection of your physical body. We don't know why you can see Sam's face in reflections. Our best guess is something to do with subatomic interaction or something. To tell you the truth, I don't understand it myself." Al shrugged. He'd given up trying to figure out the reasons long ago, now he just accepted things. "When people look at you, they see exactly what you saw in the mirror. The face of a person they know."
Boromir stood quietly for a moment. "And in order to help this person you will need my help, my knowledge?"
Al nodded.
Boromir sat on the bed. "May I be alone for a while? To think..." he asked.
Al walked to the door. "Sure, but we don't have a lot of time."
Boromir put his head in his hands. "I will be no longer then I have to."
Al moved into the corridor. "I'll be around."
The door closed behind him.

The Fellowship had been walking for hours. At one point Haldir had said that Gimli was to be blindfolded, a position that Gimli had been decidedly against. Only when Aragorn had insisted that everyone should be treated to the same treatment had Gimli acquiesced, however Legolas had complained bitterly about being blindfolded amongst his kinsmen. Haldir had led them through the forest until he had received a message that all were to walk freely, even Gimli, and the blindfolds had been removed. Since then they had walked far, admiring the world around them. But now sunset was upon them, and Sam watched as the sun began to sink slowly out of sight behind the mountains in the distance.

On the fellowship walked, their way lit by the silver lamps of the Elves, and soon they reached a clearing. Visible far above them was the pale sky, and dotted here and there were the first stars of the evening. Ahead of them stood a swath of tall trees. Their height could not be guessed, and amongst the branches there were countless lights winking in and out of existence as the air moved the leaves around them.
"Welcome to Caras Galadhon," said Haldir. "Here is the City of the Galadhrim where dwell the Lord Celeborn, and Galdriel the Lady of Lorien. But we cannot enter here, for the gates do not look northward. We must make our way to the southern side, and the way is not short for the city is great." Haldir walked off, the Fellowship following him.
Sam's legs had begun to tire by the time the Fellowship reached the Southern gates, but he forced himself on, not wanting to delay the group.

As the party approached the gates Haldir spoke in his own tongue and the gates swung open. The Fellowship entered, the gates closing behind them, and walked on into the City of the Trees. Although no one could be seen, nor any footfalls heard, all around the Fellowship there was the soft sound of Elven voices. Further into the city the group went, onwards and upwards, until they reached the mightiest of the trees of Lorien. Beside it stood a broad white alder, and at its base sat three fair-haired Elves. As the Fellowship approached, the three Elves rose to greet them
Haldir paused, turning to look at the Fellowship. "Here dwell Celeborn and Galdriel. It is their wish that you should ascend and talk with them."
One of the three Elf-wardens put a small horn to his lips, and a single sweet note rang from it. Three answering notes echoed from the branches above, sweet and clear.
"Haldir spoke again. "I will go first, let Frodo come next and with him Legolas. The others may follow as they wish. It is a long climb for those that are unaccustomed to such stairs, but you may rest upon the way."
With that, Haldir started upwards.

Boromir lay back on the bed. So many thoughts were running through his head. Could he trust these people? Should he trust these people? He was a Lord of Gondor. Lords of Gondor were leaders, not followers. If he was to help them it should be as at least an equal. Yet how could he be an equal of these people? They were so much more advanced than any race he had met, even the Elves. Not even the Elves could travel in time, if indeed that was what they had done. Certainly the Elves could not snatch people from afar, and bring them to their realm. Boromir stood up and slowly walked back and forth. And still I do not know if these are Allies or Enemies. Doubts began to creep into Boromir's mind. If these were indeed enemies then how could he escape? He fingered the handlink in his pocket. He had refused to give it up, even though he was sure it was now useless. Maybe it could yet help him.

"So," Boromir thought to himself, "what must I do? That is the important question. I am surely out of my depth in such a place as this. I can find no common ground, no simple choice. How can I find what I must do? I have waited to see if my captors will give me my freedom, but they say that 'Sam' must first complete a task, a task that I was supposed to complete. But what?" Boromir sat once more. "It is, of course, the journey of the ring; yet what can I tell them? I do not even know what path we were to take. How I wish that Gandalf were here to council me, the wise words he could offer would be welcomed in such a choice as this." Boromir stood up, deep in thought, and once more paced about the room.

"So, I have thought of my problems. Now I must try to solve them. The people themselves I cannot change, or fight. To change their allegiance would take too long, and the attempt would likely start a battle, a battle I alone could not win. They are well trained and large enough in numbers to make a battle pointless. So what can I change?" A thought sprang into his mind.

"The common ground!" Boromir stopped moving, realising that he could make some common ground. Al had often said that Boromir was important, that they needed the information he held in order to help Sam do whatever he was required to do to 'Leap'. Boromir could use that to get the information he wanted about what was happening to the Fellowship, and improve the chances of his escape and eventual return to his companions. "But I must be careful.", he thought, "I still do not trust these people fully, I will give them only enough to get that which I desire. My freedom."

The handlink in Al's pocket bleeped. Quickly he dug it out. "Well?" he asked whoever had called him.
Gooshie's voice came from the handlink. "Admiral Calavicci, I thought you would like to know that I have managed to set up the skeleton of the circuit that should enable Boromir to see whatever is happening around Dr Beckett. I am about to combine it with Ziggy's circuits and I thought you would like to be here."
Al hurried to the control room. As he entered he saw Gooshie at an open panel, plugging a odd-looking card into the board visible inside.
"Ah, Admiral," said Gooshie, "We are ready to see if we can interface this new card with the Imaging Chamber systems."
"It'll work again, yes?" Al asked.
Gooshie looked nervous. He knew it'd work, the card's design had been substantially improved since its original design. Back then Gooshie hadn't been able to dedicate a lot of time to the design but, as Sam had suspected, Gooshie couldn't help improving whatever he built. Gooshie hadn't used live cells since the construction of the first card, but he had still spent long hours designing and re-designing the most advanced card he'd ever created for Ziggy, its construction even rivalling some of Dr. Beckett's creations. As long as Al didn't take too close a look at it and notice how complex it was then his secret should be safe.
Gooshie's attention returned to the Admiral. "We won't know for sure until we add the cells, but I'm sure the constructed hardware will function with the current system and perform to a suitable level of operability."
Al had worked as an administrator for long enough to know when someone was using technical jargon to cover something they didn't want someone finding out. He made a mental note to take a look at the circuit after the current leap finished. "No use stressing him out right now." he thought to himself.
"So, power it up already." Al said aloud.
Gooshie re-activated the board he had attached the card to. "Systems appear normal. I am running a diagnostic check to validate the pathways, it will complete itself in a few minutes. Admiral, now would be a good time to ask Boromir to join us."
Al was torn between watching the test and returning to the Waiting Room. He didn't want to be halfway though telling Boromir that they were almost ready to show him what was happening and suddenly get a message saying that the test had failed. On the other hand, the quicker he persuaded Boromir to help the quicker the circuit could be completed. Deciding that it was worth the risk, he left the room and headed for the waiting room. Before he'd made it to the end of the corridor he met Boromir coming the other way.
"Oh," said the Admiral, "I was just on my way to see you. We're almost ready to try and show you what's happening back where you came from."
Boromir looked towards the room that Al had just exited. "We will need to go into there?" he asked.
Al shook his head and gestured towards the Imaging Chamber. "We'll be in the there. It's called the Imaging Chamber. When we've finished you'll see why.
Boromir walked towards the chamber. "We can go in there now? I am most anxious to see what is happening to my friends."
Al checked his watch. "It'll be a minute or so until the room is ready to enter. You need to, ahh, do anything before we go in there?" Al's voice tailed off as he tried to make a subtle suggestion about using the bathroom.
Boromir shook his head. "No, I will enter as soon as I can do so. I wish to waste no more time."
Al walked over to the entrance to the Imaging Chamber, joining the already waiting Boromir. "This is only a test, something to see how things are working at the moment. We'll need to do some adjustments in order for you to talk to Sam directly."
Boromir turned to face Al. "But I will be able to see things?"
Al shook his head. "Not until we've done the adjustments. We need you to enter the Imaging Chamber so we can see how it affects the new equipment we've attached."
"You promised me that I would know what was happening." Anger flared once more in Boromir's eyes. "How will I know what is happening if I cannot see?"
Al gestured Boromir to remain calm. "Don't worry, I'll tell you what's going on."
Boromir turned back to the door of the Imaging Chamber. "I just hope I can trust you." he said, under his breath.

"Admiral, the Imaging Chamber is ready. You may enter when ready." Ziggy's voice came from Al's handlink.
Al punched a button, and the door opened. Stepping through he motioned Boromir to follow. When they were both inside he closed the door behind them.
Boromir started to feel uneasy. Was this a trap? How would he escape if Al should decide to leave him here.
Al, not noticing Boromir's unease, just stood there waiting for the images to focus. Quickly the images cleared into the beautiful sight of a city in a forest. No, not in a forest, of a forest. He turned to speak to Boromir, but found the young Lord staring about him.
"Sam must still be in Lothlórien,Lothlórien "there are..."
Boromir's voice cut him off. "It is beautiful. I never thought that the woods of Lothlórien would look this." Boromir's voice was full of awe.
Al stared, realising that Boromir could see what Al himself was seeing. They had yet to add the cellular link that should be required, so how could that be? What the hell was going on?

Sam sighed as he felt his legs growing weaker, and he sat on the stairs in order to rest for a while. The light around him was soft, yet bright enough to clearly illuminate the carved stairs and make the pathway safe to travel. As he sat there relaxing, waiting until he felt he could move on again, Sam heard the familiar sound of the Imaging Chamber door opening and he looked around to see Al with Boromir beside him. Al began to describe the surroundings but suddenly stopped, staring at Boromir. Sam wondered why Al seemed so stunned. It was obvious that Gooshie had managed to get the circuit working again, and with a little more success this time, so the observer shouldn't be that shocked. Al stopped staring and walked over to Sam.

'What's up with you?" Sam asked quietly, and looked over to where Boromir was still looking at the beauty around him. "You knew that if Gooshie got his circuit working that he'd be able to use the Imaging Chamber."
Al, too, looked over towards the awestruck Lord. "The only problem is that the circuit isn't completed yet, and he can see everything. Gooshie needed Boromir in the Imaging Chamber to calibrate the circuit before finishing it, so how can it work? There's something screwy with this whole leap!"
Al paced up and down. "We don't know how you got here, we don't even know where here is, and I can't even begin to think how Boromir can see things in the Imaging Chamber." Al sighed.
Sam thought for a moment. "Well, think about it, someone being able to see the opposite side of the leap isn't unheard of. Kids can see you, and animals. There was also that tycoon, what was his name?"
"Blake. Michael Blake. He could see me because of some brain pattern thing." Al supplied the answer.
Sam nodded. "That's right. He had a pattern close to mine. So, people seeing the other side aren't unusual. It's just that this is the first time we've seen where it's someone in the Imaging Chamber seeing where I am."
Al looked happier. Now that he thought about it that way it didn't seem so bad. "Maybe this Boromir guy has a similar pattern to you as well."
"Sounds likely," agreed Sam, "all you need to do is have Ziggy run an MRI. I wonder if he can he hear me too?"
Al called to Boromir, and watched as he tore his gaze away from the beauty surrounding him and walked to where the two men stood.
The young Lord spoke in a low voice. "I can see why few would want to leave this place, the world outside has little to compare."
Privately, Al agreed. This place was so calm, so beautiful. It would be a nice place to stay. But there were other things to deal with at the moment.
"Boromir, this is Sam. He's the friend I told you about." Al introduced the two men.
Boromir gave a respectful nod. "I have heard of your long journey, Samuel Beckett. May I ask how you came to end up here?"
Sam shrugged. "I don't know, I don't have any control over where I go."
Boromir turned to Al. "Why can I not hear his words. I saw him speak, but I heard nothing."
Al waved his hands. "Don't worry. Remember that I said that I didn't think this would work until we made a few adjustments? I think the only adjustment we'll need is to alter a few circuits so you can hear things."
Boromir looked happier. Maybe these people were not his enemy. Maybe it had only been an accident that they had taken his place.
Al gestured towards the upward leading stairs. "Are you going to be OK?" he asked Sam.
Sam nodded, and got to his feet. "Take Boromir back and see if the circuit works when it's finished. If not, you can try tuning the Chamber a little less accurately, maybe that will be enough."
Al called to Boromir. "We need to go and make those adjustments. We'll return in a little while."
Al tapped a button on the handlink and the exit to the Imaging Chamber door appeared. Al waved goodbye to his friend and stepped out, Boromir following behind.
Sam waited until the door had closed, then continued his journey upwards.

Al walked into Gooshie's office. It'd been less than five minutes since he'd left the Imaging Chamber but already he was growing frustrated. Gooshie was sitting at his terminal with a diagram of his circuit on the screen, and looked up as the Admiral entered.
"Well, will the circuit work properly next time?" Al asked.
Gooshie shook his head. "For the tenth time, Admiral, I don't know! Ziggy has yet to finish her analysis of the test results, and Boromir has yet to undergo a scan. Dr. Beckett was most likely correct though. It is possible that Boromir has a similar brain pattern to both Michael Blake and Dr. Beckett himself. We'll know soon enough, and you know what Ziggy is like when you try to make her hurry."
Al sighed to himself and sat down on a spare chair, making sure to pick one out of the range of Gooshie's halitosis. He thought back to the Michael Blake incident, and remembered being in this very office whilst Ziggy had carried out similar tests to the ones she was currently performing. They'd taken almost seven hours to complete that time, and Al wasn't too thrilled about waiting around for that long this time around. He'd been awake for almost thirty hours so far and whilst he could keep going, probably for another day or so, he tried to avoid doing so unless it was necessary. After a couple of minutes of thought he decided to rest until the results were analysed. He stood up and threw his handset to Gooshie, and smiled inwardly as the scientist almost fumbled the catch.
"Well, if we can't hurry Ziggy up then I'm going to get some sleep." he said. "If I'm not back by the time Ziggy is finished then call me. Otherwise, I don't want to hear about it until I wake up."
"Yes Admiral" said Gooshie, carefully placing the handset on his desk. What should I tell Boromir should he ask for you?"
Al shrugged. "I'm sure he knows that people need to sleep every now and then. Just tell him I'm resting, and I'll be back in a few hours."
"Yes Admiral." Gooshie watched as Al walked out the door, and returned his attention to his circuit.
"Ziggy," Gooshie called, knowing the computer usually had an 'ear' tuned to the office in case of any questions that might need answering, "could you inspect this diagram to check it's properly configured.
Ziggy was indeed listening and replied immediately. "I have been inspecting your work as it has progressed, and I can see no problems with the circuit as it is currently designed. When will it be ready to test?" she said, and before Gooshie could answer she continued speaking. "I have finished the preliminary test analyses, and can predict with a 68.4% certainty that the human known as Boromir does indeed have a similar brain wave pattern to Dr. Beckett. I am now printing to your screen a few minor changes that you will need to make to the circuit in order to maximise its efficiency."
Gooshie blinked at the data now being fed to his monitor. "How did you manage to process the data so quickly? It took several hours last time."
"As there was no data immediately available on the previous occasion I was unable to use a single set of figures in order to create a baseline for the new scenario. Now that I have created that baseline I can compute the variables at a much quicker rate, and to a greater degree of accuracy." Ziggy's voice seemed to exude a smug air, almost as if the computer was boasting about the task it had just completed.
"Should I call the Admiral? He'll want to watch the circuit test." Gooshie reached for his phone.
"That is unnecessary at this time, Boromir has yet to undergo his scan. The scan itself cannot be hurried and will take approximately one-point-five hours. Will the circuit be completed within that time."
Gooshie wrung his hands together, a habit that surfaced whenever he made the fast calculations about hardware building that Sam had found so useful when Project Quantum Leap was in it's infancy. "Well, thirty-nine minutes to fabricate the board; twenty-four more to create the required micro-components. It'll take about half-an-hour to build the skeleton card, and another fifteen to twenty to add the neurals... there could possibly be another twenty-two for the acquisition of, ahhh, additional materials..."
Gooshie paused briefly, and rubbed the outside of his hand. "Although we won't know about that part till after the second test is complete. That means it'll be..."
"Approximately one hour and twenty five minutes from the start of the work. As you have not yet added the changes to the design due to the data I have just provided I will add a ten percent overhead to the build time, as well as a fifteen minute addition for the design change itself. I calculate that the second circuit will be ready for testing in a little over two hours."
Gooshie did a few more mental sums. "Seems correct. So we can let the Admiral sleep?" he asked.
That is correct the Admiral should be left to sleep. His biorhythmic patterns have began to accelerate over the last few hours indicating over-exertion. He will feel better after a few hours rest." Ziggy waited a second, then continued once more. "I have provided you with the required changes that will need to be made to the circuit. There may be others needed once the scan is complete, but there can be performed during the periods that the Imaging Chamber is not in use. If there is nothing else?" Ziggy left the question open.
Gooshie shook his head. "Not at the moment. I'll get on with rebuilding the circuit.
After listening for a few seconds for a reply he realised that Ziggy had already closed her communication link and returned to work.

Boromir entered the room and lay his bed. He'd just returned from the tests he had agreed to and he now felt tired, and hungry. Even though he felt tired Boromir could not relax. He felt out of place here. In Gondor he would have people seeking him out for advice, friends whom he could talk to. Just having someone to talk to would be welcome. He walked to the door and opened it, looking for the guard he knew would be there.
"I have some questions," Boromir spoke to the guard in a soft, uncertain voice. "Would you be willing to answer them?"
"I'll answer as much as I can, sir." The guard answered hesitatingly, wary of what information he may give. "But I might not be able to tell you everything you want."
Boromir understood why the guard would not tell him everything. He too would say no more than he needed to a visitor to Gondor. He nodded his understanding and continued his questions.
In my land, when we have questions in our mind, there are wise men to whom we can speak. Are there such people here?"
The guard nodded. "If you need to talk to someone about something that's on your mind you'd be best off going down to Dr Beeks office."
Boromir felt relieved, at least there was someone he could speak to. "Where can I find Doctor Beeks?" he asked.
The guard activated his radio. "Ziggy," he asked the supercomputer, "Where is Dr. Beeks at the moment?"
"Dr Beeks is currently in her office." Ziggy replied.
The guard turned his attention back to Boromir. "Her office is down in section C. I'll be happy to show you." he said, and motioned for Boromir to follow him.
The young Lord fell into step beside the Marine, and the men walked in silence to Dr Beeks' office. Upon arrival the guard knocked on the door and waited.
"Come in." called a voice from the inside of the room.
The guard opened the door and leant into the room. "Hi Dr. Beeks. The patient needed to talk to someone and I suggested you'd be best. I hope you don't mind?"
Verbena Beeks shook her head. "Not at all Marine. It's one of the reasons I'm here. Send him in."
The guard exited the room and spoke quietly to the waiting Boromir. "I'm not sure how things work where you're from, but here whatever you say to Dr. Beeks is between you and her. Whatever you want to talk about will remain private."
The guard opened the door fully, and waved Boromir into the room. "I'll be outside if you need anything, either of you." With that he closed the door and left the two alone.

Boromir walked slowly to the door, and stood there for a while wondering if he had made an error by coming here. As if sensing his thoughts Dr. Beeks slowly walked up behind him and placed a hand softly onto his shoulder.
"Having second thoughts about this?" she asked.
"I am thinking whether it would be best to speak of my fears, or if I should return to my room and hold my own council." Boromir turned his head slightly to look at Verbena's face. "The warrior who watches me said that you would say nothing of the subjects we may discuss, is this true?"
Dr. Beeks nodded. "Yes, anything we discuss would be strictly between us. Nothing would be said, regarding anything you might say, to anyone. Does that make it easier?"
Boromir turned fully, and took a deep breath. "Truthfully, the difference is little. But I must speak to someone of my fears lest I let them consume me."
Studying Boromir carefully, Verbena noticed for the first time how much strain showed in his body-language. The drooping shoulders, the shallow breathing, the eyes that constantly searched his surroundings. Suddenly she realised that here was a man used to commanding those around him who now found himself reduced to following a path set before him by people he did not know, and barely trusted.
Dr. Beeks gestured to one of the chairs in her office. "Would you like to sit down?"
Boromir moved to the chair and sat, his body leaning forward and his arms resting upon his knees. His hands were clasped together and as he sat there in silence he began to rub his fingers together.
"You should try to relax." Dr Beeks spoke softly as she took a seat opposite the Lord.
"How can I relax, when all that I know has been taken. All whom I know are no longer here."
"Do you miss your home?"
Boromir looked up and snorted. "Who would not? Gondor is a beautiful place. It's people are kind and fair."
Verbena thought for a minute then turned a calm face to Boromir. "And do you miss your family?"
Boromir stared at the peaceful face before him. "My family are worthy men, my father especially. I have always tried to do right by my father. Heeding his words, reporting any news I found, and most importantly I have tried to perform all the tasks asked of me with honour and courage." He thought briefly about his brother. Faramir was a brave fighter yes, but not a pure warrior. Faramir had wisdom beyond his years, had studied the history of Gondor. Faramir should be here in place or Boromir. His should have been the task of journeying to Rivendell. No doubt he could have spoke of why the Ring should have gone to Gondor. I should be at home defending the land from the agents of Sauron. Boromir cut the thought off, knowing that he could do nothing about it now.

Sam walked a little quicker than he had previously. The chat with Al and Boromir, albeit brief, might have delayed him more than he had originally planned and he didn't want to be missed. After a few minutes he caught up with the rear of the party, and Pippin noticed him re-joining the Fellowship.
"I wondered where you were Boromir. I was about to ask the elves if we should stop and wait for you to catch up."
Sam shook his head. "I merely needed to rest my legs. It has been many months since I walked so far without stopping. But I have rested enough now."
Pippin smiled. "We Hobbits can walk for hours. If it wasn't for these stairs I could do this all day. I can remember one time where Merry and myself walked..."
Sam interrupted the Hobbit. "How far do you think we have left to travel?"
The Hobbit shrugged. "I don't know. It can't be much farther though."
"I hope you're right. I could do with a proper rest." Sam gathered his strength and walked a little quicker, so he could talk to Aragorn.
"How much farther?" he asked.
Aragorn spoke briefly to one of the accompanying elves, and turned back to Sam. "He says that the journey is short, and that we should be there soon."
Sam thanked Aragorn, and the Elf who had answered the question, and returned to walking with the rest of the Fellowship. Once again he found himself falling towards the rear of the group, and was soon walking alone with his thoughts.
"I wonder who we're going to see." thought Sam. "Someone called 'The Lady of the Woods' sounds like an important person." Sam wondered how long it would be until Al returned, and hoped that he'd have a working circuit. Sam had never spoken to anyone he had leapt into, and he wondered how it would feel.
Onwards and upwards the stairs led, and the Fellowship walked on steadily. The minutes passed, and Sam began to wonder just how far could be left.
"Come on Al, where are you?" Just as Sam asked himself where the Observer could be the Imaging Chamber door opened, and Al stepped through. Behind him was Boromir, and Sam breathed with relief when he heard the voice of the young Lord.
"They are still climbing?"

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