Quinn stood, staring out at the vast landscape that stretched out before him. The mountains looming in the distance seemed shrouded in complete mist, the peaks covered in pure white snow. The valley below was filled with lush green grass and trees; and exotic plants were the final touch to its beauty. The last few weeks of peace and relaxation had been welcomed. Ever since the raid, Diana and himself had been working on unlocking the hidden code within the co-ordinates, while the others enjoyed this peaceful, untouched world.
He turned as footsteps came up from behind him, and smiled as Maggie appeared. She silently came to his side, and looked out with him, at the great scenery. The sun shone down on them, shimmering on the surface of the nearby river, the still surface being disturbed with huge ripples, and the joyous laughs and shouts that sounded.
Maggie slowly smiled. �Rembrandt, Mallory, and Wade are trying to catch some fish down by the river. With a little luck, they might even catch a few in time for lunch.�
�I�m glad that they�ve taken the time to enjoy themselves. They sure deserve it.�
�Have you seen Wade?� Quinn shook his head �no�. �She asked earlier if she could borrow one of my tops. It�s the first time that she has worn one with no sleeves.�
Quinn smiled his understanding. Ever since she had recovered from her ordeal, Wade had been too self conscious to show her arms, and reveal the scars from the Kromagg experiments. But now it seemed that she was finally regaining the courage, and her old spirit. �I�m glad. She�s been through so much � more than even the rest of us.� He sighed slowly. �What about Diana?�
�Diana is down by the river also, but is keeping well clear of the water, while she works on her PDA. When I spoke to her last, she mentioned that you both were really close to unlocking the code.�
Quinn nodded. �We�ve almost got it, I�m sure of it. We might even figure it out before we slide from here in a day�s time.� Turning around to face her, Quinn leaned in close and they shared a kiss. The two slowly pulled apart, before walking down the side of the hill towards the others...
On Kromagg Prime�
Amanda and Michael Mallory walked down the long corridor of the Counter-Kromagg Defence Base, and headed for the equipment room. As soon as the sensors in the control room had picked up that an unauthorised person had entered its vicinity, they instantly knew who it was. It did not take them long to reach the doorway, and after pausing for a moment, they slowly entered. Silently watching as Colin walked around the room, he was unaware of their gaze, as he cautiously picked up a timer from a nearby shelf.
�Amanda�� Michael suddenly cut her off, as she was about to go up to face him. �He has to do this.�
�But � but he still needs time to recover.�
�Colin has recovered. It has been almost two months since we phased him back into his normal state. Just look at him��
Knowingly, she turned to look at her son. He had completely changed from when he first slid onto their world, his face had regained its youth, his hair had gradually turned back to a vibrant brown, and he was generally a whole lot better.
�I just�� She tried to stop the tears in her eyes. �I just can�t bare to loose him again!�
�I know.� He said quietly, placing a reassuring hand onto her shoulder.
Hearing the slight sobbing sound from behind him, Colin looked up and almost jumped as he saw them. �Mum! Dad?!�
Michael let go of Amanda, and turned to move towards him. �You don�t have to say anything, Colin. I know that you need to do this, that you need to go and search for your friends ... and for Quinn. Just make sure that you are careful, ok. So that we don't have to worry.� As Colin nodded his head, Michael turned and picked up a strange device from off of the shelf. �This is a signature tracker. We will program into to detect Quinn�s distinctive quantum signature. When you arrive at an earth, you should be able to tell if Quinn has passed through. If he has, you will be able to track his wormhole, and eventually catch up with him.�
�Thanks, Dad.�
�Just remember to return before your timer completely burns out. This can happen sooner rather than later as you are sliding at will.�
Amanda stayed silent for a long time, before finally approaching Colin. Reaching out, she pulled him close, hugging him tightly. �Promise me. Promise me that you will come back!�
Colin slowly sighed, hugging her back. �I will Mum � we both will.� Turning, he picked up the last of the equipment that he needed, and then followed his parents to the control room, as they went to program the Quantum Signature Tracker.
�Wherever you are brother, and whatever you might be going through, I just hope that you are safe, that you all are. Just hold on a little longer, just hold on until I can find you..."
What if you could slide into a thousand different worlds?
Where it�s the same year
And you�re the same person
But everything else is different
And what if you can�t find your way home�
Starring:
Jerry O� Connell as Quinn Mallory
Cleavent Derricks as Rembrandt Brown
Sabrina Lloyd as Wade Welles
Kari Wuhrer as Maggie Beckett
Robert Floyd as Mallory
And Tembi Locke as Diana Davis
� Sliders!
He made his way far down the street, before taking out his Quantum Signature Tracker. Activating the device, it began to search for any sign of Quinn, but after a small while, it turned out negative. �� So, Quinn has never been to this world.�
Placing the device back into his pocket, Colin reactivated the timer. A stream of energy quickly shot out, hitting the air right in front of him, and opening up the vortex. The vortex formed faster than a normal wormhole, and soon Colin had stepped through it � on to another earth...
Rembrandt laughed in joy, not believing his eyes, as he stared at the four medium sized fish that was lying on the hot grass beside the river. It had taken them all a long time, but they had finally managed to catch enough fish to make a meal, even if it was nearing dinner rather than lunch. He slowly turned and smiled, as he saw Wade and Mallory in the middle of a water fight.
�Mallory! I swear to God if you � agh!� Wade was quickly cut off, as Mallory had swam underneath her, and dragged her below the surface. They both came up spluttering for air, but laughing hysterically. �Mallory!�
Mallory grinned broadly, before swimming away from Wade, as she shouted light threats of getting him back. �I just can�t see that happening!� He laughed.
�At least I have another top to change into!�
�No problem for me." He continued to grin. "The sun will dry the clothes right up!"
Maggie laughed at the pair from the grass, and then turned to see Quinn sigh heavily. They were sitting together under the shade of a large oak tree, while Diana and himself were trying to unlock the code. It wasn't long before Diana began to sigh also, and slowly rubbed her eyes.
�Go on.� Said Quinn, smiling. �Take a break, Diana.�
�You sure?� She replied, looking up.
�Yeah. You�ve been working really hard. Go on, enjoy yourself a little.�
Diana smiled, and then handed her PDA to Quinn, joining the others by the riverside. Quinn took a moment to stare at the co-ordinates � but he was no closer to finding a solution. �This is almost impossible." He said, shaking his head. "I just can�t do it.�
�You can Quinn.� Nodded Maggie. �Just take it slow. Break it down piece by piece and you�ll find it.�
He slowly shook his head. �I can remember what my parents had told me. They said that only Colin and I could unlock the code. So without him�� He sighed loudly.
�So only together could you uncover the code?�
�Exactly.�
Maggie fell silent for a while, looking up after a moment of thought.. �Well � he�s not your brother�� Maggie turned to the river. �But he is a Mallory.�
Quinn looked up and followed her gaze, a smile beginning to grow. �Maggie! You�re a genius!� He continued smiling as the kissed her on the cheek, and etting up, he called out to Mallory.
Mallory stopped in the middle of his water fight with Wade, turning his gaze as he heard Quinn call him.
�That can�t be right.� Smirked Wade. �Quinn calling you for help. He must be desperate.�
�Ha ha, very funny.� Smiled Mallory, splashing her again. He slowly waded his way out of the river, and then headed over to Quinn. �What�s up?�
�The one thing that my parents told me, was that only Colin and I could unlock the code within the co-ordinates.� He looked up at Mallory. �But since you are an alternate of myself��
�� Then I might in some way, be able to help you unlock it.�
�Right.�
Mallory shook the water out from his ear. �Well � I�m no genius, but I�m willing to give it a shot.� He followed Quinn as he sat down, and began explaining all that he had gathered so far...
�Yes!� Exclaimed Colin, loudly. He smiled as the tracking device suddenly beeped, having found traces of Quinn�s signature on the earth that he had just arrived at. From the looks of things, the traces seemed to be several months old. �At least it�s a start � and now for the hard part.�
Taking out another device from his pocket, Colin began to search the area, searching for the remnants of a photon trail. There were many gateways that had been activated from here in the last six months, but only one that contained traces of Quinn�s unique quantum signature.
Inputting the destination co-ordinates of the trail into the timer, he then set the timer to continue tracking that particular configuration of the vortex. �... This could take some time. I better get a new timer before this one burns out.� Saving the co-ordinates into the database, he then inputted the special co-ordinates of Kromagg Prime, and activated a vortex to return back home...
A raging fire burned brightly at the campsite, as one by one, the sliders retired and finally went to sleep. Soon only Mallory and Quinn were left awake, denying themselves any form of sleep, until they made some sort of breakthrough. A million stars shone brightly above them, a vast contrast to the haze that was constantly over a city�s view, as out here in the open, they could see everything without noise or pollution to get in their way.
Mallory eventually yawned. �I can�t believe we can�t see it.�
�I just don�t understand it." Mallory slowly shook his head. "Maybe I�m trying to look at it too scientifically. Maybe it�s not some complicated algorithm we're searching for, but just a simple numerical pattern.�
�Well, if it is, I still can�t see it.� Mallory moved back from the computer screen. �Wait a minute. Your parents said that only you and Colin could unlock the code � but have you really thought about why that really is. It can�t just be because of some super complicated code that only the two of you could work out, otherwise the Kromaggs might have as well.�
�Can�t argue with that � wait a second�� Quinn stared at the co-ordinates. �Mallory! You�ve done it!�
Mallory stared at him, puzzled. �I have?�
�That�s the puzzle! �Only Colin and I can unlock the code' ... my parents didn't mean us physically, but our names.� He turned and taped into the PDA: �Quinn - Colin�. �If I displace the letters for numbers, i.e 'a' is equal to '1', then our names will separately add up to 75 and 53!�
�So that�s the code?! 7553.�
�Not on it's own, but if I add it to the last digits of the co-ordinates ... there, we�ve done it!�
The two turned to each other and high-fived as they celebrated. The noise caused the others to slightly stir in their sleep, but they did not wake.
�Let�s get some sleep.� Smiled Mallory. �The only way we�ll find out if it works is the slide tomorrow.�
�I hope so.� Replied Quinn. �I really hope so...�
The next morning, the sliders rose up early to prepare for the slide. Diana marvelled intently, as Mallory related to her how they had hopefully worked out the hidden code to the co-ordinates. �I can�t believe it was so simple!� She said, smiling.
�Me neither. It was that line that done it. The fact that only Quinn and Colin could unlock the code. It was hidden in their names all along.�
Diana checked the timer�s display, suddenly alerting the others. �It�s almost time."
Quinn, Wade, Rembrandt, and Maggie stood nearby, apprehensivly.
�This could be the end of our journey, Q-ball.� Reflected Rembrandt.
�I hope so Remmy. We�ve been sliding for so long now that I thought that we would never accomplish our goals. But somehow, somehow we've managed to, and now that it is all coming to an end, I ... I can�t put words to it.�
Wade slowly smiled. �And once we finish off the Maggs we can finally go�� She suddenly cut her sentence short, her smile soon fading, as she thought about what she was saying.�
�I know what you�re thinking Wade.� Sighed Quinn.
Maggie nodded. �It�s kind of been on my mind too, though probably not as much as the others. After my home was destroyed, my home became with you guys now, wherever that took me. But��
�� After all this is over.� Wade continued. �Is home back on Earth Prime � or with your parents?�
Quinn stood silently for a while, but the activation of the vortex broke the awkward silence. �I don�t know Wade. I really haven�t thought about it yet.� He then turned and walked towards the newly formed gateway. �Well � here goes nothing!�
Quinn then ran forward, jumping into the swirling silver-blue vortex. The others took a moment to take a deep breath, before rushing to follow up behind...
Kromagg Prime�
�Huh?� A Technician suddenly turned as a signal appeared on his monitor.
Michael Mallory turned to look towards him. "What is it?"
�It seems to be a wormhole.� He quickly checked the responding data. �I haven�t got a confirmation of the quantum signatures yet but�" He paused, analysing the new data. "Uh! The gateway's source has a Kromagg configuration!"
�Kromagg? B-But that's impossible!" Michael shook his head as he spoke. "Quickly, re-route the vortex."
The technician nodded as he started the procedure, redirecting the pathway of the wormhole, and displacing it onto another earth.
It was not long before Amanda arrived, as she heard news of the commotion. She turned to look over the screen. �Could the Kromaggs have discovered how to slide through the Slide Field?�
�I don�t know.� Replied Michael. �But for now, we have to assume the worse...�
Between worlds�
Quinn followed the various fast twists and turns of the gateway as he was propelled forward. With every moment, the hope rose higher within him. This had to be it, he was finally going home, and soon he saw the bright white light up ahead of him, signalling the end of the vortex. Suddenly the exotic matter all around him began to shift and change, and the bright light finally vanished, as he was pulled in an entirely new direction. The new path wound its way quickly forward, and soon he found himself being thrown from the vortex.
Quinn landed roughly on the hard floor of a room, slowly coming to his feet as he glanced back at the gateway. �... What just happened?�
The others soon joined him on the floor, groaning in discomfort as the vortex disappeared from sight.
�Is it just me or did that vortex feel funny to anyone else?� Asked Rembrandt.
�Yeah.� Winced Maggie. �We were going along one way, and then were totally pulled in a completely new direction.�
Diana got back onto her feet, checking the co-ordinates on the timer. �Quinn��
�I know.� He replied. �This isn�t Kromagg Prime.�
The others looked around them. �Then where are we?� Asked Wade.
�It doesn�t matter. The co-ordinates were correct � but were changed somehow. Something overrode the exit and re-routed us here.�
�Then I guess we have to find out why.� Sighed Diana.
Maggie looked on as Quinn�s expression turned to one of sadness. He had really hoped that they had finally made it...
Rembrandt, Wade, Mallory, and Diana looked up from their table beside the bar, as they spotted Maggie coming over to them.
�How�s Quinn?� Asked Diana.
�Doing ok. He�s literally taking apart the timer to see if there is a fault with it.� She slowly sighed. �I think he knows that it is not a problem on our part, but he wants to check it nonetheless.�
Rembrandt sipped his beer. �So how long do we have here anyway? We�ve taken a look outside and the people here aren�t really that friendly. Seems that they've just come out of a civil war between two powerful religious groups. Religion is very big in this place.�
�Long enough.� Sighed Maggie. �Over 72 hours.�
�Well I say we just stay put right here and stay well away from anyone religious.� Stated Mallory. �We don�t want to be pulled into any riots or anything.�
Rembrandt nodded. �Definitely.�
�Well I better go and lend a hand.� Smiled Diana, finishing her drink before she went back upstairs with Maggie...
Colin was on the verge of exhaustion. His last stretch of sliding had lasted longer than 18 hours, and in that time he had been to so many worlds, that he had now lost count. His head was dazed with the different sights, people, and scenery that he had seen. But the one constant spurned him on. He was close. With every slide Quinn�s quantum signature was growing more distinct, and it would not be long before he had catched up with them.
He silently rubbed the sleep from his eyes, knowing that he should return home for some rest, but the next world � the next world could be the one. The one with Quinn. Slowly raising his tired arms, he opened up the gateway once more, and half stumbled - half ran forward, disappearing in a bright flash of light...
�Quinn?�
Quinn looked up as Maggie and Diana entered the room. �Hey, guys. The timer�s fine, I've checked every single component. So it must be something else.�
�Could it have been the slide field?� Suggested Diana.
�Or it might not have been the right code.� He shook his head. �But it has to be, every other possibility is a dead end.�
�Then someone must have turned the vortex away for some reason.� Said Maggie.
�Turned it away?� Realisation began to dawn in Quinn�s eyes, as he hit his head. �Of course! We have the right co-ordinates � but the timer is Kromagg in origin. Anyone that must have detected this must have seen that!�
�So how do we get to Kromagg Prime?�
���
�The only way might be to build a new timer.� Sighed Diana. �Otherwise we won�t be able to slide -� Diana was suddenly cut off, as a distortion appeared right in front of them. �A wormhole!�
Maggie instantly looked around, and broke off a leg of a chair, in order to use it as a weapon. �Watch out!� She shouted.
There was a bright flash of light, before a body flew out of the wormhole, and then out onto the ground. �It�s not a Kromagg�� Said Diana. Maggie slowly put down the chair leg.
Quinn moved from around the table, and went to help the slider up. �Hey, are you�� He suddenly froze in shock, and Maggie put a hand to her mouth, as she recognised who it was. �Colin!�
Colin looked up with wide eyes as he stared at them. �Quinn! Maggie!�
�Colin!�
The two brothers hugged as Maggie ran to join them. �We thought you were dead!� She almost cried.
�The last slide � it lead me to Kromagg Prime!� Colin turned to Quinn. �Our parents found me, and returned me back to normal from my unstuck state!�
�Mum � Dad � they�re safe?�
He nodded. �For the past few days I�ve been trying to find you.�
Diana smiled before she turned to run out of the room, going to get the others.
�Looks like you�ve picked up a few new passengers along the way.� Smiled Colin.
�A lot has happened. At the same time that you were made unstuck, I was merged into an alternate of mine.�
Colin looked at Quinn in shock. �An alternate? What happened?�
�There�s plenty of time to go over that later.� He said, looking down to the timer. �Wait ... can we?�
�Yeah. We can slide right now.�
The room was soon a hive of emotion, as Diana reappeared in the room, followed by Rembrandt, Mallory, and Wade.
�Farm boy!� Exclaimed Rembrand, running forward to embrace his friend.
Mallory and Wade stood to one side with Diana, smiling as the quartet were reunited.
�I think a quick introduction is in order.� Colin noted.
Rembrandt nodded. �This here is Mallory.�
�Mallory? The alternate?�
Mallory nodded. �That�s me.�
�And you must be Wade?�
Wade smiled. �It�s good to meet you Colin. I can see the family resemblance.� Wade then turned to Diana. �And this is Diana.�
�Nice to meet you.� She said, smiling.
"Well, shall we go?" Asked Colin, turning back to Quinn.
"Go?" Inquired Diana, finally smiling as she realised what he meant. "His timer isn't on a countdown!"
�It isn't? Well, what are we waiting for?� Joked Mallory. �Kromagg Prime, here we come!�
"Ready?"
Quinn paused, before nodded to Colin. "Ready..."
Pressing a few buttons on the timer, Colin activated the device, causing the air to shimmer and shift, as the distortion quickly spread, and a silver-green vortex formed. As soon as the gateway was firmly established, Colin turned to glance back at Quinn. �They�ve missed you, they've missed us both a lot.�
Quinn nodded in understanding. �I just can't believe that we're finally going home.�
With that he ran forward with his brother at his side, both disappearing into the vortex, in a flash of bright light. Maggie, Rembrandt, Diana, Wade, and Mallory, soon followed closely behind. The prospect of there journey being almost over, elating them with pure joy. The gateway soon came to an end as they emerged into the middle of a large white room. Quinn scanned the entire area, past the people who had gathered there, until he found the pair that he was looking for.
�Mum! Dad!�
�Quinn!� Amanda and Michael Mallory rushed forward to pull him in close.
�� I�m finally home.�
End.