The Big Bounce

Theorizing that one could time travel within one's own lifetime of movie memories, Dr. Alia Stockwell lead an elite group of scientists to develop a top secret project known as Project Quintessence Bounce. While trying to impress a visiting Senator's aide about the validity of the project and its need for additional funding, Dr. Stockwell accidentally sent the aide, Ms. Zoey Beckett, traveling into the Quintessence Bounce Accelerator... and she vanished. Zoey awoke to find herself within the last movie she'd seen, a re-run of one of her favorite movies that she'd caught the night before in her hotel room. Suffering from partial amnesia and facing a mirror image that was not her own, Zoey finds she must depend on Alia as the anchor to her own reality. Contact with her reality is maintained through brainwave transmission with Alia, who becomes her observer and appears in the form of a hologram that only Zoey can see and hear. Trapped in a cycle of movies, Zoey finds herself leaping from movie to movie, putting right plot elements that keep the movie as it was designed, and hoping each time that her next leap... will be the leap home. By Annsmac

1. General Mayhem (180 AD)
In her first bounce, Zoey Beckett thinks it might be a lusty amusement to spend a bit of time with the Roman general after his night of celebrating his final military victory. But she is changed forever by the impact of really coming face-to-face with a heroic man about to lose everything he holds dear in life. By Annsmac 5/04

2. The Gazelle And The Stallion (1948)
Dr. Stockwell has a crush on Professor Nash. But Zoey learns that his beautiful mind solves more than math problems... he also figures out how to give solace to a girl about at the end of her rope. And along the way, he opens her mind to some new experiences. By Annsmac 6/04

3. The Click and the Dread (1872)
Zoey has a spiritual awakening in an encounter with the avenging angel of Redemption. But has she lost her soul in the process? And will she do more damage than good to the preacher? By Annsmac 7/04

4. On the Edge of Society (1992)
Zoey fires into Australia, seething over the injustice of having her life's plans interrupted by a freakish accident wrought by a still-unknown force. It's a dangerous round for Zoey, who finds a target for her anger that may have more ability to deal with her than she could have realized. Will she survive the encounter? By Annsmac 8/04

5. First Sight (2000)
In London, Zoey reconciles to her new reality. Meeting a white knight trying to cope with his own wounds, can she face up to the much larger implications to the choices she'll have to make? By Annsmac 9/04

6. An All-American Anti-Hero (1955)
It's Christmas Eve in the City of Angels.... And Santa's missing. But who needs Santa's bag of toys when Officer Bud White is around By Annsmac 10/04

7. Writing in the Snow with Boys (1999)
Ever wonder what it's like playing for the other team? Zoey never had... but she's finding out now... and she's going to have to fight for every step she skates. It just may make her a better woman. By Annsmac 12/04

8. Silver Night (1956)
Somewhere in the Australian highlands, Zoey bounces into a strange storm. The man who rides into her life that one night brings peace but by morning, she must put things right. Alia, meanwhile, has a new clue to examine that may bring the key to transporting Zoey home in one final bounce. By Annsmac 3/05

9. On the Far Side of Everything (1805)
That longing look of Captain Aubrey aimed at the only woman in the film... was that really as close as he came to her? By the time Zoey finds herself in Lucky Jack's film, she is convinced she has found the answer to solving the mystery of returning home on one final bounce. Why not enjoy what she believes is her final encounter? By Annsmac 7/06

Writer's Note: All similarities and inside references to the wonderful sci-fi series Quantum Leap are intentional and are done with humor as well as respect.