Disclaimer: I don't own any of the copyrighted materials I am using. I have recieved no money for the writing of this story.
Prologue
The man found himself under a tree. He was eating a tuna sandwich.
It was quite good.
_This isn't so bad,_ he thought. _Easier than what normally happens: no
boxer trying to hit me, no stage hands rushing me on-stage for a play when
I don't know which one it is, no VC in the trees trying to kill my brother's
SEAL team. This is kind of relaxing. Nice picnic area, the tree I'm under
has plenty of shade. I'm wearing blue overalls, glasses; that's not so
bad. And this is a damn fine tuna sandwich. Thank God, I'm not a woman
this time. Let's see the girl to my left is all in pink, she's pretty but
she's all over the guy in white, they look happy. The guy to my right in
black is dancing to a beat apparently only he can hear. There's a guy in
red and a girl in yellow performing a kata. Wait, I know her._
"Trini?"
"Yes, Billy?" Trini stopped her form to put her full attention
to his question.
_She called me Billy. Who's Billy? Wait, she mentioned a guy named Billy
before, he was an old high-school friend of her's. Oh no, I'm in high school
again. What the hell are those things?!_
"Putties!!" Jason bellowed.
"Let's get them, guys!" Tommy commanded. The rest proceed to
defend themselves against the putties.
"Oh boy..." Dr. Sam Beckett whispered.
* * *
Theorizing that one could time travel within his own lifetime, Dr. Sam
Beckett stepped into the Quantum Leap accelerator... and vanished.
He awoke to find himself trapped in the past, facing mirror images that
were not his own and driven by an unknown force to change history for the
better.
His only guide on this journey is Al, an observer from his own time who
appears in a the form of a hologram that only Sam can see and hear.
And so Dr. Beckett finds himself leaping from life to life, striving to
put right what once went wrong and hoping each time that the next leap
will be the leap home....
* * *
Sam watched in shock as the five teenagers, using various martial art stylings,
proceeded to fight off the grey humanoid creatures that they had called
putties. _I don't believe this, where the hell am I, the Jackie Chan Twilight
Zone?_
"Billy! I need your help!" Kim screamed out.
"Billy, hurry up and help Kim!" Tommy commanded.
_Oh, they mean me. They must think I know how to fight. Well, I'd hate
to disappoint them._
Springing to his feet, Sam ran toward the group of putties fighting Kimberly.
Using a Tae Kwon Do leaping kick, Sam connected with one of the putties,
which knocked it into two others. Rolling, Sam swept the legs from another,
then leapt to his feet and hit a third with a spinning backfist. Ducking
one of the grey figures attacks, Sam executed a flawless roundhouse on
two of the putties which had gotten close enough for him to kick.
Observing that when the putties were hit on the "Z", that they
proceeded to fall apart, Sam concentrated on connecting with it, and in
short order managed to destroy five of them. "Thanks, Billy,"
Kim managed to gasp out.
"No sweat, Kim." Sam answered. Then he leapt back into the fight.
Seeing that Trini was about to be overwhelmed, Sam runs forward then drops
down, rolling on the ground, cutting the legs out from three of the putties.
Rising quickly, Sam then jumps forward and tackles a puttie, then while
rolling off it, elbows it's "Z". Which causes it to break down
into it's component parts. Sam then rose swiftly to his feet.
The remaining putties teleported away and the Rangers came together as
they caught their breath. Tommy's communicator sent out it's alarm.
"Yes, Zordon?"
RANGERS, LORD ZEDD HAS STARTED A NEW CAMAPAIGN OF EVIL AGAINST YOU. BE
PREPARED FOR MORE RANDOM PUTTY ATTACKS. THERE IS LITTLE YOU CAN DO AT THIS
POINT, SO MAKE USE OF YOUR TIME AS YOU WILL.
"Okay, Zordon. Rangers out."
Looking around, Tommy saw that the other's were fine, just winded. "Why
don't we go to the Youth Center and relax. Jason, can I talk to you for
a second? We'll meet the rest of you there."
"Okay, Tommy. Don't be to long."
"All right, Kim. We'll be there soon."
After the other's had left, "Jason, has Billy been eating his Wheaties
lately or has he gotten alot better, alot faster than he should be?"
"Yeah, bro, I know what you mean. Did you teach him any Tae Kwon Do?
I sure didn't."
"No, I never did. Plus, did you notice that once he actually started
fighting he wasn't as hesitant as he usually is?"
"Yeah, maybe he read a book. You know, like the 'Tao of Jeet Kune
Do'. After all, he is smart."
"True, keep an eye on him anyway. It might be nothing, but you never
know..."
"Sure, bro." They walk after their friends.
The Juice Bar
Dr. Sam Beckett was a genius. Everything he put his mind to he excelled
in, be it sports, the martial arts, science or medicine. He had more doctorates
than he could count and yet he found it hard to understand the girl in
pink who was continually trying to draw him into a conversation. Sam had
gone to the bathroom and looked in the mirror at "his" face,
and found himself seeing a nice-looking young man who probably needed to
buy contacts, wear different clothes and get a better hair-cut.
Sam decided to wait and see if he could learn more about the attack in
the park by just sitting and listening to the teens talking. After Jason
and Tommy had joined them at the table they had chosen, Kim started talking
about some new mall store that she wanted to drag Tommy off to.
"Billy, I need some help with my trig homework. Can you give me a
hand with it?" Jason asked him.
"Sure, Jason. Let me see what you're doing." Sam held his hand
out for the text book Jason was using.
"Billy are you all right?" Trini asked, concern evident on her
face.
"I'm just fine, Trini. Never better." Sam didn't notice Trini's
look of puzzlement that she shared with Kim. Sam saw Al walk into the room
and start waving him towards the door.
Sam got up to follow Al out. "Look, I have something to take care
of. I'll meet you all later."
"Sure, see you later Billy."
The Waiting Room
Billy Cranston had dealt with many strange things in his life. Being
chosen to fight an inter-galactic evil by a giant head in a tube, having
his consciousness switched with one of his best female friends, and overcoming
his phobia of fish by being confronted by a 7' monstrosity called the 'Goo-fish'
were just some of things he had experienced. In all, he felt that there
were few things left that could amaze him. He was surprisingly pleased
to know he was wrong.
He first realized that something strange was happening when he felt himself
being pulled away from one of Kim's spur of the moment park picinics. Then
he found himself clothed completely in a form-fitting white jump-suit in
a feature-less room. _Oh great,_ he thought. _I've been abducted. Or I'm
having a real bad X-files dream._
It was a shock then, when a door opened and a slim, oriental woman dressed
in a lab coat and blue jeans and a yellow shirt walked in. "Hello,
I know this is all confusing for you, but if you bear with me it will all
be explained. My name is Dr. Trini Kwan, I'm with the Quantum Leap project.
I'm sorry to tell you this, but you look like a friend of mine while you
are here. In effect you've changed places with him. Please do not panic.
So can you tell me your name?" _Trini seems to be about 10 years older
than when I saw her last. Where am I?_
"Trini, my identity is known to you. It's me, Billy."
"Billy who?"
"Billy Cranston! We were fellow students in the Angel Grove School
system, we both belong to a rather exclusive 'Club'. I'm the individual
who helped you deal with your irrational phobia regarding elevated conditions."
"Oh my god... Billy...." Trini hugged Billy to her. "What
do you mean 'irrational phobia', Mr. 'I hate Fish'? Anyway, what do you
last remember before you came here?"
"I was in the park, having a picnic with you, Kim, Tommy and the others.
Then, I regain consciousness to discover myself in this environ."
"What color was Tommy wearing?"
"White, of course. Trini, due to the enthusiastic way you greeted
me, I can only believe that some grave matter has effected myself. Is this
correct?"
"Billy, I don't know how to tell you this except to come right out
and say it: several months after you graduate from high school, you grow
older at an accelerated rate. You're cured by a member of an alien race
known as the Aquitarans. You stay with her on Aquitar and marry."
Billy noticed that Trini is almost ready to cry. _I am engaged in the bonds
of matrimony and it is not to Trini. What horrid series of events must
have occurred to produce that almost inconceivable outcome?_
"Something tells me that you haven't revealed the entire truth of
the matter to me?"
"Yes, three months after you marry her, you have a rather bad reaction
to one of the local flora. You die before anyone can find a cure. You were
19. Cestria, the girl you married, commits suicide because Aquitarans mate
for life. I found out about all this, when I was in my 1st year of college.
I never got the chance to tell you...." Trini finally breaks down
and starts crying. Billy, after a moment of panic, hugs Trini to him.
"Shhh, Trini. It's okay, there was nothing you could have done about
it. It hasn't even happened for me yet. Since you told me this, it won't
happen."
"Billy, when you leap back into your body you won't remember any
of this. That's how this system works."
"Maybe you could show me the schematics for this 'Quantum Leap"
device? I might be able to find something I can do to keep my memory..."
_And make sure the two of us get together._
Outside the Youth Center....
"Sam, just walk with me for now. Trini's talking to the guy you've
leapt into as we speak. Just so you know, this is Angel Grove, California
and the year is 1994. It seems there's this intergalactic conqueror called
'Lord Zedd'?" Al looks at his hand-held computer, hits it four times,
then checks it again. "Anyway, the only defense against this guy seems
to be a group called the 'Power Rangers'."
"Al, apparently the guy I'm supposed to be is a Power Ranger."
Sam told him.
"Really? Hold on, Gooshy is calling me back, seems Trini has got some
information on our 'guest'. Why don't you go to the park over there and
wait for me to come back?" Al then leaves through the 'door'.
Project Quantum Leap
"What do you mean you want him to look at the schematics for the
Quantum Leap Accelerator? I don't care who he was to you. NO!"
"Admiral Calivecchi, I've been working here for several years. In
all that time, have you ever known me to do something that was detrimental
to the Project?"
"Trini, that isn't the point. Sam is my best friend, and as much as
I would like this genius boyfriend of yours to live again, I can't take
the chance that he'll destroy the Accelerator and Sam's best chance of
coming home." Al gently explained to her.
"Al, he wasn't my boyfriend. Which was a mistake on my part. It was
only after he died and I talked to my friend, Kim that I found out just
how much Billy loved me."
"Kim... you mean that gymnast friend of yours, Kimberly DeSantos?
How is she doing anyway?"
"Oh, Kim and Rocky are doing fine. They have another child on the
way."
"What about the rest of your friends, Trini? When I met them last
year they seemed like nice people."
"Well lets see. Tom and Katherine are doing fine in Angel Grove, she's
expecting in about a month. Tanya and Adam are on the set of his latest
movie. Jason and Emily are adjusting to being the parents of triplets and
let's see, Zack just proposed to Aisha and the marriage will be in July.
By the way, you are invited, Al."
"Thanks, I'll try to be there. Trini, I need you to be honest with
me. Were you and Billy members of the Power Rangers?"
"How'd you find out? Oh, Sam must have said something when you spoke
with him. Yes, Al, Billy and I were Power Rangers, as were the rest of
us, Kim, Rocky, Jason and the other's except for Emily. Oh my gosh! If
Sam has to morph he could have a problem."
"What do you mean?"
"The morphers only react to those who have the power. If Sam tries
to morph he could hurt himself. And it'll prove beyond a doubt that he
isn't Billy."
Lord Zedd's Palace
"Perfect, the Blue Ranger is all alone in the park. Goldar, go
down with the putties and capture him. Do not fail this time." Lord
Zedd commanded his minion.
"Yes, your evilness." Goldar growled. He then left with the putties.
Angel Grove park
Sam Beckett was getting bored waiting for Al to show up. He was ready
to get up and go back to the Juice Bar when there were several flashes
of lights. Standing in front of Sam were Goldar and the putties.
"Hello, Billy. Lord Zedd wants a word with you. Get him." Goldar
growled.
"Not now..." Sam moaned.
Angel Grove Park
Sam Beckett was in trouble. Not only did he have to deal with more
of the grey humanoids called "putties", he now had to fight their
apparent leader, a winged simian in golden armor. So Sam did what any smart
person would do in this situation... he ran away.
This shocked Goldar so much he forgot to order the putties to go after
him. Goldar then looked at the putties, the putties looked at him. With
a sigh, Goldar and the putties teleported back. _I knew I should have taken
the job Rygog offered me, Zedd's going to be pissed._
Project Quantum Leap, the Waiting Room
Billy Cranston was blessed, or cursed depending on how one looks at
these things, with an inquisitive mind. So he decided to try an experiment.
Looking around the "Waiting Room", Billy cried out, "IT'S
MORPHIN TIME!"
Then he reached back for his morpher and found it. "TRICERATOPS!"
He knew that Trini had asked him to stay in the room, but he decided that
maybe he could get better results by asking Zordon if he could borrow some
of his equipment. So Billy decided to teleport to the Command Center.
The Power Chamber
Justin was working on a device to defeat one of Dark Specter's more
irritating monsters, Red Rum. Demetria as usual was being less than helpful
with her questions, Alpha-6 would occasionally offer some actually decent
advice but for the most part it was Justin's project. So it was more annoying
than shocking when the intruder alarm sounded. Justin looked up to see
a very old Ranger uniform. The Ranger was wearing blue.
"This isn't the Command Center! Where's Zordon? Alpha?" The Blue
Ranger yelled out.
"Yo-yo-yo! What do ya want? I'm busy here, see?" Alpha-6 replied
in his less than melodious voice.
"Who are you and how do you know Zordon?" Demetria asked.
"Who are you? What are you doing in Zordon's tube, why is the Command
Center so different?" Billy shot back.
"If I told you my name was Demetria, would it mean anything to you?
Can you answer my questions as well?"
"Demetria? Never heard of you. My names Billy and I'm a Power Ranger."
"Who was on your team, Billy?" Justin asked.
"Jason, Tommy, Kim, Zack, Trini and myself. Have things changed that
much?"
"Demetria, it's the dead one." Alpha-6 told her in his blunt
fashion.
"How is it that you are here, Billy?" Demetria, inquired.
"I'm remembered as the DEAD ONE!" Billy screamed.
"Well, that and the quitter." Alpha-6 informed him.
"WHAT!? Which one called me the QUITTER?"
"Tommy. Sheesh, you humans."
Angel Grove Youth Center
Trini Kwan was a very perceptive person. Although in some ways she
wasn't as intelligent as Billy, she dealt with people much better. Part
of that was because she could pick up on the body language of others. She
knew beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Billy's was all wrong. This person
didn't carry himself like Billy, this person fought better than Billy ever
had and most importantly this person didn't speak like Billy did.
"Kim, have you noticed something strange about Billy?"
"You mean besides the fact that you didn't have to translate for him?"
"Yes. Did you notice he walks differently?"
"Trini, why would you notice how Billy walks?" Kim asked. "Is
there something I should know about?"
"Kim, as Billy's friend it is important that I know as much about
him as possible especially if Zedd managed to slip in a double to infiltrate
the Rangers. And why would there be something between us?"
"Wow, it's true what they say about you and Billy. You can see everything
but what's right there."
"Excuse me?"
"Nevermind, Trini. Nevermind."
Project Quantum Leap, The Waiting Room
"Okay, Trini. Billy can look at the blueprints to the Accelerator."
Al said while walking into the "waiting room".
"Billy, Admiral Caliveechi is going to let you see the... Billy? Al,
he's gone!"
"Oh, great." _Now what do we do? If the kid's not back by the
time Sam leaps...._
The Power Chamber
"Why exactly did Tommy call me the quitter?" Billy demanded.
"Perhaps because you left for Aquitar?" Demetria commented.
"Because you were a coward maybe?" Alpha-6 added.
"Demetria, shut him up or I shut him down." Billy growled.
"Is that a way for a Power Ranger to act?"
"Lady, I'm dead here. Cut me some slack."
"Billy, when I talked to Trini about you, she said that you used to
talk like a thesaurus. How come you aren't doing that now?" Justin
asked.
"Simply, put: I do that so people will leave me alone. Trini was the
first person who attempted to understand me, so I lessened it around the
others. Then we became friends. Besides, I need you all to understand me.
I'm leaving. There's nothing for me here."
"Alpha, would you encase him in a force-field please?" Demetria
asked.
After Alpha-6 had done so, Billy looked at her. "Why did you do that?"
"Where do you think you are going? Why did you leave where you were?"
"Why are you only asking questions?"
"Would you do me the honor of answering mine first?"
"No. Let me give you a piece of advice. Force-fields are pretty neat
and all, but if you know their weakness they fail."
"And what weakness is that?"
Billy pulled out his blade-blaster. "Channeling the Power Coin through
my blade blaster will destroy one." And Billy put his words into action.
When he was free, he looked at them. "I might be the dead one, but
I was also the smart one." He then teleported out.
Project Quantum Leap, The Waiting Room
In a flash of blue light, Billy appeared back into the room. He saw
Trini and someone else. "Er, hi."
"It's okay, Billy. He knows about the Rangers." Trini told him.
"Mr. Cranston, I will allow you access to the blue-prints for the
Accelerator. Just do not leave this room again, understood?"
"Yes, sir."
Al left the two alone.
"Trini, it's worse than I thought. What happened to the Rangers? Why
did Tommy start hating me? He called me the quitter! And I was told that
I was remembered as the 'dead one'. Did I really do that badly as a Ranger?"
"No Billy, you were one of the best. Tommy developed a jealousy of
you after you became a hero on two planets and you because you were Zordon's
favorite. You are remembered, he isn't. Aquitar and Triforia have days
of mourning on the week of your death. He failed as a stock-car racer.
In the end Billy, your legacy is greater."
"Really? I thought I never made that great a contribution to the team."
"Let me tell you a little about what you do, Billy...."
Angel Grove Park....
Trini Kwan finally found where "Billy" was. It looked like
he had been running a few laps around the park. "Hello." She
told him.
"Hello, Trini."
"Can I ask you a question?"
"Of course, Trini."
"Who are you and where is Billy? If you don't answer I'll beat the
truth out of you." Trini then took her Mantis style stance.
"Oh, boy..."
Angel Grove Park....
"One more time, where is Billy?" Trini demanded.
"Trini, I'm Billy. Now why don't you... OOF!" Sam grunted and
fell, as Trini kicked him in the stomach.
Punctuating each word with a punch, Trini asked, "Where! Is! BILLY!"
Sam blocked the last punch and then rolled to his feet. "Trini, stop
this now. This isn't funny and it's not helping. Don't make me fight you."
"Please, where is Billy?" Trini asked.
"I can't tell you that."
"Then I hope you enjoy pain."
Sam prepared to fight her. He had a third degree black belt in Tae Kwon
Do. He was bigger and stronger than he looked as Billy. He had more than
15 years experience on Trini at fighting.
He never stood a chance.
Project Quantum Leap, the Waiting Room
Billy Cranston looked over the schematics to the Quantum Leap Accelerator.
He was impressed with both the complexity and simplicity inherent within
the machine. While it was not beyond anything that he had worked on as
a Power Ranger, it almost exceeded his knowledge in the field of Temporal
Physics. _I knew I should have taken more elective courses dealing with
Time Travel._
Trini and Al were watching Billy. Al was impressed with the fact that a
high school student was able to even understand what this was, let alone
that he was going to try and fix it. Trini was concerned that Billy wouldn't
be able to make it work.
Billy looked up at them. "I think I found it. You need to reverse
the polarity in two feeds. Afterwards, switch them back. Not everyone needs
to remember they came here. But I'll leave that to your discretion, Admiral."
Billy then showed him on the schematic what had to be changed. When Al
left to get Gooshie to take care of it, Trini stayed behind. "Billy,
we need to talk."
"What about?"
"Us. Actually, how you will be able to make it so the two of us get
together...."
Angel Grove Park
Tommy, Jason and Zack were walking in the park, trying to figure out
Billy's strange behavior. They came upon Trini beating Billy while he was
laying on the ground. She was also shouting something at him....
"WHERE IS BILLY? TELL ME! WHERE IS HE?"
Jason and Tommy ran over to restrain Trini, while Zack went to help Billy.
Trini saw them coming and rose to her feet. "Stay out of this. He's
going to tell me where Billy is." She coldly told them.
"Trini, that is Billy." Jason told her.
"No, it is not. That may look like Billy and sound like him, but that
is not Billy. The walk, vocal patterns, body language and fighting
skills are all wrong. Billy never learned Tae Kwon Do. That is not Billy.
And I will keep doing this to get the information I require. Do not try
and stop me."
"Trini, I have to. This is wrong. I know you care for Billy, but beating
this guy up will not bring him back." Jason gently told her. He then
reached out to touch her.
Trini looked at him, then hugged him. Crying into his shoulder, she asked
Jason, "Where is he?"
Tommy looked down at Sam. "You better come with me. Zack, get Kim.
Tell her to come with you to the Command Center." He then grabbed
Sam by the shoulder and teleported. Jason and Trini followed.
Project Quantum Leap, the Waiting Room
"That's what I have to do?" Billy asked.
"Yes. If you had done that, most of this would never have happened.
Just do what I told you to. I will probably never know what hit me...."
Trini told him.
Al walked in. "It's set. When Sam leaps, you'll remember your time
here."
"Al, shouldn't you check on Sam?" Trini asked.
"Your right. Trini, you have to leave the room as well. No one can
be in here during a leap, except for the leaper." Al then left.
Trini looked over at Billy. "I hope this works, Billy."
"Me too. See you soon."
The Command Center
Sam was amazed at the complexity of the Command Center. It looked even
better than when he had designed the Project. He would have enjoyed it
more if he wasn't in so much pain. For such a slight looking girl, Trini
hit hard.
Zordon of Eltare looked over at Sam. _So he is the one of whom I was told.
I must have a talk with Trini later about the use of excessive force. However,
it appears she was finally able to resolve her feelings for Billy. Good,
it is about time they each realized their feelings for the other._
HELLO, I AM ZORDON. WHO ARE YOU?
"All right, my name is Dr. Samuel Beckett. I'm a time traveler. Before
you ask, I can only travel within my own lifetime. Just keep Trini away
from me."
"How do you know, Trini? If I remember correctly, you seemed to recognize
her in the park before the putties attacked." Zack asked.
"She works on the time travel project. I met her in college, while
I was teaching."
"Why are you here, Dr. Beckett?" Tommy asked.
"Unfortunately, I don't have any control over when and where I go.
Some force drives me to correct history for the better. Why I'm here, I
have no idea."
Al "walked" into the room. He was impressed. This was actually
nicer than the toys Sam had made for him.
"Sam, it's okay. Trini and I worked a few things out."
Zordon looked over to where Al was. WHY IS HE HERE, DR. BECKETT?
"You can see me?" Al was shocked. He thought only little kids,
animals and Sam could see him.
AND HEAR YOU AS WELL. YOU ARE A HELPER FOR DR. BECKETT?
"Yes, I am."
"Who's Zordon talking to?" Jason whispered to Tommy.
"Damn if I know." Tommy whispered back.
Zack and Kim then teleported in. Kim looked over at 'Billy'. "Who
did this to him?"
Trini stepped forward. "I did, Kim. I was right, he wasn't Billy."
"You of all people, beat the truth out of someone?" Kim
was aghast at the thought.
"Al, did you find out what I'm supposed to do to leap?" Sam asked.
"I'm working on it." Al looked at his computer. Then he looked
up at Sam. "Looks like it got done. You're out of here."
Sam leaped.
* * *
Billy looked around the Command Center. He saw all his friends. "Prodigious."
He whispered.
He walked over to Trini. "Hi, Trini."
"Hi, Billy."
"I was told to do this to get your attention." Billy then kissed
her.
When he finally released her, he looked her in the eye. "I love you,
Trini."
The same thought ran through everybody's mind at the same time. _WELL,
it's about time!_
Project Quantum Leap, Year 2008
"Admiral Caliveechi, how did you like Aisha and Zack's wedding?"
"It was pretty fun, Trini. Looks like there's another leaper in the
'waiting room'. You better take care of it."
"Of course, Admiral." Trini then walked into the "waiting
room".
Just before the door closed, Al could hear... "Hello. My name is Dr.
Trini Cranston. You may be wondering why you are here...."
Al then went to his office and turned on the news service. "Today's
top story is multiple Nobel Prize winner, Dr. William Cranston developing
a cure for AIDS...."
He switched to the sports channel. "And once again, racer Tommy Oliver
has won his fifth straight Indy 500, now he's off to see his wife Katherine
and their new son...."
E! Network. "And Adam Park and his lovely wife, Tanya are finishing
his third movie where she provides the soundtrack...."
Local news. "To repeat, Olympic gold medalist Kimberly DeSantos is
retiring, she will be opening a joint school of gymnastics and martial
arts with her husband, local Rocky DeSantos. This just in, hero cop Jason
Scott has successfully brought in the Stone Canyon Slicer. The Slicer,
a serial killer operating since...."
_Well_,he thought, _Time to go to work. I just wish that I could know when
things are changed by Sam._
