Rembrandt yawned audibly, rubbing his reddening eyes, having been staring at the computer monitor for what must have been hours, and now needing a well deserved break. Getting up from off of his seat, he looked over at the others around the table, seeing that they were all in deep concentration, as they each browsed through the files that they had downloaded from the Kromagg timer. For the past few slides, the group had been searching through the list of worlds, using the computers in the local libraries, in the hope that they could find an earth advanced enough, to aid Diana in her research to separate the Quinns.
Glancing over at Mallory, he could see the sullen expression that remained on his features, his usual cheerful and charismatic smile, no where in sight, as he had been quiet for some time now. Remmy knew that he must be thinking about something very important. �Is everything ok, Mallory?�
Mallory lowered his gaze for a moment, before speaking. �Yeah, Remmy, I�m ok. I've just been thinking about things. If Quinn and I will ever separate, and if Diana and I will ever get back home��
�I know how you feel.� Sighed Wade. �It took us almost three years before Quinn could finally get us back home. And when we finally did, to see it � to see it like the way it was. But you just can�t give up hope, because there's a chance that you will see it again, though it just might take a while.�
Diana looked up from her screen. �I am positive that I am close to finding a way to separate Quinn from Mallory. Dr Geiger was telling the truth, when he told us that you are now both linked like Siamese twins, but I still think that the bond can be broken. I just need to find a world with a high enough level of technological knowledge, in order to complete my research, and not to mention, having the necessary equipment needed to carry it out."
Maggie slowly smiled, the prospect of getting Quinn back, being stronger than ever.
�Come on.� Rembrandt called to Mallory. �Looks like you could do with a break as well.�
Nodding his head, Mallory stood up also, and together with Remmy he left the library, stepping out into the fresh air, while the others continued to look through the database's files...
�Ugh��
Colin Mallory fell painfully to his knees, holding his stomach real tight, as a paralysing sensation ripped through his entire body, almost driving him into unconsciousness. Slowly opening up his mouth, he suddenly spat out a thick trail of dark oozing blood, wiping the remnant away with his sleeves. In the hazy dizziness, he could hear the many voices of people all around him, concerned about his condition, but unsure of what they should do.
Managing to slowly lift up his head, sweat continued to fall down the sides of his face, as tried to tell them that there was nothing that they could do for him, there was nothing that anyone could do. Soon the deafening siren of an ambulance drifted along with the beat of the wind, but he knew that it was useless, the process had already started.
Gasping in complete and utter shock, the crowd took several steps backwards, as they began to witness Colin's body begin to shift in and out of phase with everything around him. Strange particles of light blue energy danced along his body, causing the shifting to increase and worsen, until they saw him scream out in intense pain. The next few moments happened so fast that they could hardly comprehend what had happened. One moment he was on his knees, phasing in and out with reality, and the next, something seemed to pull at the very genetic makeup of his body. A bright flash of light suddenly shone out � and Colin was gone.
In this out of phase state, Colin could sense the very matter of a vortex all around him, ccould feel its very energy, its raw untapped power, as it coursed through his entire body. As the pain continued to get worse with every moment, another light eventually engulfed him, and when he finally opened his eyes, he found himself alone in the middle of a street. The pain slowly subsided, as his body gradually returned to its normal regular state.
He had been pulled into another dimension.
Finally collapsing as he attempted to stand, his head hit the hard concrete ground, and he lay there unmoving on its surface, crying in pain as blood continued to seep out from his nose. There was just no point in trying to seek medical attention, as it would not be long before it started all again, before he was pulled from this world. Colin slowly closed his eyes. This was his reality, being pulled from one world to the next, as the �unstuck� state slowly ripped him apart�
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: 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!
It suddenly entered his mind, that he did not remember even arriving here, but this was not the first time that something like this had happened to him. While he had been unconscious, he must have still been pulled from that other world that he was on, and thrown into this one. Still hurting all over, he realised that it also must have been fairly recent. Pulling himself over to a puddle that was forming, Colin gazed at the reflected image.
His normally clear skin was now dirty and weary, dark bags hung under his bloodshot eyes, and a few premature wrinkles lined the sides of his face. Moving his scruffy brown hair out from his eyes, he could see a few white strands amongst them. It was obvious what was happening to his body, the �unstuck� state was slowly killing him. Every time that he was pulled into another dimension, it caused the pain to increase even more, and soon it would not be long before he could endure it no longer.
Colin slowly closed his eyes, having pieced together what had happened to him some time ago. He worked out that during the slide, another vortex had purposely intersected with their own, the resulting effect causing his body to shift out of normal phase, and he had become �unstuck�. But all this time in such a state, he had also come up with a theory to reverse it.
If he could only get his hands on another timer and open up a vortex while he was being pulled, out of phase through dimensions, it would realign his body. But finding another timer was virtually impossible, his ttime on each world being so erratic, that there was not enough time to even look around thoroughly.
As he lay there on the cold ground, he ignored the rain that poured heavily all around him, and attempted to gather his thoughts. Buried somewhere deep inside of him, he still held onto a faint hope that Quinn would somehow save him, but that hope was gradually fading, disappearing with every new slide that he took.
�Uh� come on Colin, think!� He shouted to himself, forcing his body to steady itself as he pushed himself up onto his feet, and tried to focus his mind through the intense throbbing pain. �There's got to be another way!� But try as he might, Colin was not able to come up with an alternate course of action. As the tears began to form in his eyes, he soon slumped back down onto the ground. �Quinn! Maggie! Rembrandt! ... Where are you?!�
Colin stayed where he lay for a very long time, the tears streaming down his face, until the familiar and painful sensation grabbed hold of him once more, and his scream pierced through the rain, vanishing once more into the multi-verse...
The pain seared through his entire being, indescribable, soul destroying. Colin continued to scream out in pain, as he was dragged through the multi-verse, and pulled towards another dimension. Struggling to open his eyes through the searing pain, he could feel his body slowing begin to phase onto the new world he had landed on, his body temporarily regaining its normal physical state.
It took him a long time to recover, his breathing finally returning to normal, his body feeling solid once more, but the pain was a constance presence, reduced to a barable minimum. Coughing uncontrollably, the act seemed to weaken his already frail body structure.
�... Over eight different worlds in the course of a few hours. It's definately getting worse��
Wiping away the sweat and blood from the side of his face, Colin slowly stood up and tried to walk. He could see the nearby glances of passer-bys, who were dismissing him for just another drunken youth, as he attempted to find a quiet place where he could try and clear his head. Stumbling through the busy streets, he finally found a caf�, sitting himself down onto the seat, and slowly closing his eyes, trying to regain his strength.
�What would you like?� Said the sudden female voice, that seemed to be directed towards him.
�Coffee ... black, no sugar please.�
�It will only take a moment.� She replied whilst trying to smile, watching him for a moment longer before finally walking briskly away.
Colin waited until the coffee had arrived, before slowly reopening his eyes, taking his time to sip at the hot liquid, and once more letting his thoughts wander. As always, they returned to the thoughts of his friends. No matter how worse his condition did get, Colin continued to think about them. He missed them so much, more so than he could ever put into words, and he could not believe that after finally finding his brother, that they were separated again once more. He also had no idea what had happened to them after that fateful slide. If they were still all right, trying to somehow find him in the multi-verse, or if some other fate had befallen them.
Colin slowly sighed. �It's time to finally accept it. I am never going to ever see them again. And I only have a few slides left within me�� The sudden pain seemed to emphasise his words. �I have to stop wasting what little time that I have left, to stop trying to find some way to survive � and to try to find a way to say goodbye.�
The waitress exited the building, as she returned to his table with his coffee, screaming out in complete shock, at the sight of Colin's body shifting in and out of phase with reality. The mug that she carried, fell sharply to the ground, causing it to shatter, but the sound was dwarved by Colin's pain filled screams, as he finally vanished in a bright flash of light...
�... Are you ok?�
Colin slowly opened up his eyes, turning his gaze to look up into the form of a beggar looking over him. As the pain continued to rip through his body, Colin lowered his head back to the ground. �Ugh!��
�I � I have some aspirin if that will help?�
Colin glanced over at the small vial that the man pressed into his hand, and scanned the label. It looked pretty safe. Normally, he would not have accepted such a thing from a stranger, but the pain was so fierce, that he just had to take it. Resting where he lay to let the asprin do it's work, he finally pushed himself up once more, and wiped away more blood from his face. Waiting for his feet to balance on the solid ground, he thanked the beggar for all his help, before making his way down the street.
His form stumbled along the pavement in a complete daze, walking out unknowingly, into the middle of the road, falling to the ground. "� Quinn, Maggie, Rembrandt � I will never forget you��
Rembrandt sighed as he gazed out into the city streets, watching as the people slowly went about their daily business, before finally turning to face Mallory. For the last few hours, they had been getting some rest and enjoying a light hearted talk, and were now heading back to the library. �Mallory, there is something that I have been meaning to say to you for some time now.�
Mallory stopped in mid stride to turn to him.�What is it, Remmy?�
�As you know, it took us over three years to finally make it back home. Three years of sliding continuously. I don�t have to tell you that it took its toll � on all of us.� Rembrandt thought back to those times, years ago, and of the Professor. �What I�m trying to say, is that if you and Diana ever get the chance to go home again: take it.�
�What, and leave you guys? You know that I could never do that."
�But that chance might not come back around again. You have to take it, both of you. Take it and rebuild your lives.�
Mallory fell silent. �And what if that time comes before Quinn and I are separated?�
�... If that happens, then the others and I will continue sliding, and will try to keep finding a way. Once we do, we will slide back for you.�
�And what about the timer? You�ll need Diana to deal with all the problems.�
�I � I haven�t figured it all out just yet.�
Mallory slowly smiled. �I appreciate what you�re trying to say Remmy. I do want to go home, but given the chance, I still wouldn�t. I came on this journey so that you could find a way to separate Quinn from me, and I won�t stop until that has been done. After that, who knows? Maybe by then I can start thinking of going home.�
Rembrandt smiled at Mallory's words, turning to gaze back up ahead of him, but suddenly stopping when he saw a man in the middle of the road, fall to his knees in pain. His hands were on his head, as if trying to keep his whole body together, and with an echoing scream, his form began to shift in and out of phase.
�What the hell?!� Whispered Rembrandt. The man jerked his head upwards in pain, and this was when Remmy finally saw his features. �C-Colin?!� Not waiting another moment, Rembrandt rushed over to his side, but as he reached him, his hands seemed to pass right through him. �Huh?!�
�Rem � Remmy?� Colin forced out through the pain.
�Colin! Don�t try to speak, I�ll get you some help!�
Remmy stepped back as Colin screamed out loud, his entire body looking as if it was being pulled apart by some increadable force, and then he vanished in the bright flash of light that appeared. When the light had finally faded, there was no trace of him at all. He had gone. Turning to look behind him, Rembrandt saw the others rushing forward, hurrying down the steps of the library. �I-It was Colin!" Explained Rembrandt. "And he was in so much pain!�
Diana stepped forward, thinking for a moment. �It must be because of the effects of the �unstuck� state. It must have started to physically tear him apart!�
�Colin�� Mallory struggled to find the words.
�Is there a possibility that he is still alive?� Asked Maggie.
Diana shook her head. �From the looks of things, he won't be able to survive any more of it. If only we had found him sooner��
�There was nothing that any of us could have done.�
�� I could have tried to build a containment field around him, and anchor him in one dimension, or I could have��
�Diana.� Mallory placed his hands on her shoulder. �He would have been pulled from this world long before you had a chance to build it. There was nothing that we could have done..."
In another dimension...
Amanda Mallory slowly looked out of the nearby window, staring out into the war torn world that was before her. She could see the signs of battle far out on the outer perimeter, the Kromagg forces were growing bolder and more rash with every passing day. But it would not be long before they had to call off the attack, and retreat until reinforcements could arrive. At least with the Slide Field up in place around their world, the Kromaggs could not gain any help from their counterparts on other earths.
�... Amanda, something is trying to pass through the Slide Field!�
Amanda quickly made her way over to the technician, and glanced at his screen. �Can you identify the quantum signature?�
�Not possible. For some reason the signature is fragmented. All I can tell you is that it is human.� He turned to look at her. �But there is something else. The readings from this gateway is different than usual, I�m not even sure if it is a vortex at all, but it has the same generic properties." He shook his head in uncertainty. "Shall I let it through?�
She fell silent for a moment, weighing up the possible implications. �Ok. First, I want you to start de-fragmenting that quantum signature as fast as you can.�
�Right.�
�Taylor, I want you to backtrack the signal, and find out the co-ordinates of the world that the vortex came from. John, re-route the gateway into the main holding cell, and alert security to meet me there now.�
Quickly issuing the orders, Amanda then turned to make her way out of the control room, running down the silver steps, and taking two at a time, as she let the hope rise within her. This had been the first vortex activity in months that had tried to form on Kromagg Prime, and she was almost positive of what it could mean. It had to be them! But she needed to be careful; it could also be a Kromagg ploy.
Arriving at the holding cell, Amanda looked up to see the security personnel armed and aiming at the cell, awaiting the gateway that was to being re-routed there. They all suddenly tightened their grips, become alert, as they saw a point of light appear. Human screams echoed from the point of light, and she took a hesitating step backwards, as she witnessed the man shifting in and out of phase, his appearance one of obvious pain.
�Amanda, this is Rick.� As she continued to stare at the form that was trying to phase onto this dimension, she turned to the speaker that was located on the wall. �I've managed to finally de-fragment the quantum signature of the slider�" He paused, slowly shaking his head, "It's that of Colin Mallory!�
�Ugh...� Amanda let out a painful sob, as she placed her hand over her mouth, unsure if she should even allow herself to believe in the news that the technician had told her. But as she stared into his face, and heard the screams of pain, she knew that it was him. It was Colin � her son.
�From what I'm picking up, Colin's body is in some kind of out of phase state.� Continued the technician. "His body is highly destabilised and on the verge of total collapse!"
Amanda looked up in shock. �The, the �unstuck effect�?�
�It could be. Once he has fully phased in, the Slide Field should keep him anchored in our world.�
�Rick � I want a medical team down here right now!�
�They're already on their way.�
Moved away from the speaker beside her, Amanda motioned for the security personnel to stand down and move back, before she ran towards her son. �Colin!�
Colin continued to cry out in pain, as his body slowly returned to its normal state. When he finally opened up his eyes, he could not believe that he was looking up into the face of his mother. He wanted to try and speak, but found that it would only bring up more blood from inside of him. As the pain increased to an unbearable level, he finally blacked out, and faded into unconsciousness.
�Colin!��
Maggie, Rembrandt, Diana, and Mallory had waited in silence until the slide, before together they performed a small ceremony, a reflection for the passing of their friend. They travelled through the gateway, emerging out onto the new and unknown world, turning back to face the exit of the swirling silver-blue vortex.
�Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved, a wretch, like me. I once was lost, but now am found, was blind but now, can see��
As Rembrandt continued to sing, the others stood motionlessly beside him, and one by one, they each threw a single flower into the gateway, not knowing where they would eventually end up, but in a kind of symbolic gesture, it represented the life that all the Sliders led.
�In a way, I will always think of you as my own brother.� Said Mallory quietly. Throwing his flower into the vortex last, he watched as it finally closed, and the wind began to cease. �I know that Quinn will miss you so much. And all of us will never forget you��
The group tore themselves away from the scene, slowly turning to walk silently down the street, and confront the new earth that lay before them. As a few quick tears fell from out of Mallory�s eyes, he could not be certain if they were his own � or maybe Quinn�s.
End.