Chapter Five Al sat in an empty office in the science department, checking over the test. It was more difficult than most of the doctor's tests but somehow he had felt like he aced it. He thanked Doctor Beckett in his own mind for the phone call reminding him to study for it. He handed the test to Sam, and then waited around for the doctor to correct it. "You did a fine job, Al," Sam said when he finally completed the corrections. "You passed. I knew that you were always a smart person." Al took the test paper out of Sam's hand. "A ninety! Wow! Holy crap!" He was beaming. The imaging chamber door opened, and Tina stepped out. "Sam, you did it. He passed with flying colors." "Thanks to me, right?" "Well, my ma was on my case as soon as I came home," Al said, thinking about how Maria yelled at him and made sure that he studied hard for the final. "Sam, we just hired a new employee for the Control room. He graduated Magna in his graduating class, and has two doctorates, one in history and one in computer programming." "Really?" Sam asked as the teenager walked out the door to show the test paper to David who was standing outside the building. "Sure. Send him in, Ziggy," she commanded. "Hi, Doctor Beckett," the young man said. "Call me Sam, ok?" "Sure thing, Sam." It felt awkward to call his old professor by his first name, even if Doctor Beckett did date his adoptive mother. "Welcome, Al!" Sam took Al's holographic hand, and leaped. * * * * * * * * * * * Epilogue Sam found himself on a tropical deserted island. He looked around him from his seat on the white sand beach. In front of him, there was clear blue water. There was no sign of life anywhere to be found, except for plants and animals. Out of the ocean came a beautiful young woman wearing a French cut bikini. He must have missed her when he glanced around him before. She had long straight blond hair, brown eyes as pure as the water . . . and she was drop dead gorgeous. Sam always admired her eyes, but this time all he was looking at was what the top of her bathing suit was trying to cover. She walked over to Sam, and snuggled up to his chest. "Kiss me," she ordered. Hormones took over, and he kissed her, wrapping his arms tightly around her waist. After the kiss, he felt the water from the ocean hitting him. He let go of the female. "Oh, boy!" diana beckett (formally Monica Briggs)