Chapter 13:
The sliders emerged from the portal and landed on the ground. They brushed themselves off and stood up.
"Why are they always so rough?" Rebecca asked.
"Because man has yet to invent the butt air bag." Sam replied, smirking.
"It's interdimensional travel, it's not fun, but it's the only way to travel." Michael said. "And anyway..."
He was immediately silenced by a car speeding past, blasting loud music. Rebecca covered her ears and winced.
"What is that?" she asked.
"I think it's Nirvana!" Sam replied, making air guitar motions.
"Yeah, it is! Nice!" Michael said.
"It sounds terrible. Why can't you like a good retro band, like the Beatles, or Queen?" Rebecca asked.
"You like Queen?" Michael asked incredulously.
"Of course!" Rebecca said. "I might be from a different world than you, but Bohemian Rhapsody is still an awesome song!"
"Huh, learn something new everyday." Sam said. "Let's find out what this world has to offer."
They walked down the street, eliciting some stares from passerbys that looked at them, puzzled.
"What are they looking at?" Rebeccca asked. "Don't they know that neon windbreakers went out of style in the 90's?"
"Maybe this world hasn't gotten past the 90's yet." Michael said. "Or we somehow landed in Canada."
"I don't think this is Canada..." Sam said.
"All I can say is, Michael, your hair is finally back in style." Rebecca said.
"Oh, thanks!" Michael said brushing his hair back. "It never left being in style."
"Guys, I think I figured out the difference between this universe and our's..." Sam said.
"What is it?" Rebecca asked.
"Uh..." Sam pointed to a poster on a wall. The poster proudly exclaimed, "Nirvana 27th Anniversary Concert Tour."
"Nirvana? But they can't still exist, because Kurt Cobain is dead!" Michael said.
"Apparently not." Sam said pointing at the poster, where an aged Kurt Cobain's face was.
"Wow. I guess he didn't shoot himself in this universe." Michael said.
"That explains the fashion..." Rebecca said. "If Nirvana was able to get super duper popular, they could keep the 90's going forever."
"Well, let's try to find a library or something. I want to research this world." Michael said.
"Good idea." Sam said. "Let's ask those guys."
Sam pointed to two men in flannel shirts standing at a bus stop. The sliders walked over and stood at the pole.
"Excuse me, we're trying to find a library?" Sam said.
"Library? Those things haven't been around since the first 90's." one of the men said.
"What? First 90's?" Rebecca asked.
"Where have you been? We're in the Third 90's now." the other one said.
"They might be from Europe, they didn't convert to our calendar, you know." the first man said.
"Yeah. Is there any way we can find some info on this country?" Michael asked.
"You have to go to the 90's Kid. He knows everything about the 90's." the second man said.
"Where can we find him?" Rebecca asked.
"He's in the Second Church of the Cobain. It's on Grohl Street." the first man replied.
"Thanks, dudes." Sam said.
"Rock on!" the men said in unison.
The group walked down the street, coming onto Grohl Street and seeing a large church with a statue of Jesus in front of it.
"Looks like they still have Jesus," Rebecca said.
"That looks more like Kurt Cobain." Michael said.
"Wow, a whole religion based on the 90's? That's awesome!" Sam said.
They walked into the church and saw an older man, about thirty or so years old. The man was hunched over something and the three walked into the aisle and started toward the front of the church.
"Excuse me? Are you the 90's Kid?" Michael asked.
"Eh?" the man asked turning around. "That's a name I haven't heard in a while. I mainly go by Louis now."
"Okay, Louis. What happened with this, Church of Cobain?" Sam asked.
"Well, dudes, that all started in 1994..." Louis started. "You see, Nirvana was at it's highest, and people loved that band. I was a lot younger than I am now, but boy was it fun back then. And after President Clinton did that stuff with Monica Lewinsky, the country wanted a fresh faced leader, one that knew what the young people wanted. The people wanted Kurt Cobain."
"And they elected him President?" Rebecca asked.
"They sure did, in the Election of 2000, he almost lost to Gore, but he made it. And everything was awesome. His first act as President was to have a new 90's, where it would be the 90's every decade." Louis said. "No wars too, because the country is too busy listening to his awesome music!"
"You've got to be kidding me, a pothead became President?" Rebecca asked.
"Come on, dude, he's a visionary! After he left office he was succeeded by Dave Grohl, and that's pretty much where we are now in terms of politics. Nirvana showed the world that stuffy politicians wasn't always the way to go."
"Woah." Sam said. "That's radical!"
"I know!" Louis said.
"Anyway, is there any hotels to stay at in this town?" Michael asked.
"Yeah, the Dominion Hotel's a pretty good place." Louis said.
"Thanks, dude." Sam said, holding out his fist.
"Rock on, dude! And remember, I'm 90's Kid and what you see, is what you get." Louis said fist bumping Sam.
The trio walked out of the church and down the street, finding the Dominion Hotel where it always was.
"Wonder if we can get a room, what currency do they use here?" Michael asked.
"Let's find out." Sam said. They walked to the counter and the manager took off his headphones when he saw them.
"What's up dudes?" he asked.
"We'd like a room." Sam said.
"Okay. Here's the key." he said handing a key to Sam.
"How much is it?" Michael asked. "For the room?"
"Oh, what's your favorite song?" he asked.
"Smells Like Teen Spirit, by Nirvana." Sam replied.
"Rooms are on the house for Cobain Followers." the manager said.
"Thanks!" Sam said.
They walked to their room and sat on the bed. Rebecca laid down immediately and sighed.
"What's wrong?" Michael asked.
"This universe infuriates me! Nirvana running the government?" Rebecca replied.
"Yeah, it's pretty odd." Sam said.
"Let's make the best of it, we're only here for... say, we haven't checked the timer since we arrived." Michael said taking the timer out. "Huh... Only a few hours."
"Good." Rebecca said. "The less time on 90's world, the better."
"What do we do to bide our time?" Sam asked.
"Hmm... I don't know." Michael said.
"Check the TV?" Rebecca asked. "I'd love to see the news of this government."
"Okay," Michael said picking up the remote control and turning the television on. The screen flashed to life and showed a music video. In the bottom right corner was the MTV logo.
"MTV, showing music videos?" Sam asked. "Looks like we found the part that makes this better than our world!"
"Haha." Rebecca said. "It still has a crap government."
"Anyway, where's CNN?" Michael asked.
"Uh, according to this, Channel 15." Sam replied.
"Got it," Michael said changing the channel.
"And tragic news tonight, as we sadly must inform you that former President Kurt Cobain is being hospitalized for a heroin overdose." the newscaster said.
"I guess cheating death only works for so long." Rebecca said. "I'd of figured the heroin would've gotten him faster."
"Yeah, plus all the personal problems he had in our universe." Sam said.
"I'd hate to be here if he dies. I assume that people would be rioting in the street!" Michael said.
"Yeah..." Rebecca said.
"Anyway, I'm going to search the room." Sam said opening a drawer. "Oh my god!"
"What?" Rebecca asked.
"In this universe they don't have Gideon's Bible, they have Nirvana CD's. And there's a bunch I haven't heard!"
Three hours later, Michael stood up and walked over to the CD player. He turned the CD player off and ripped the headphones off Sam.
"Dude! Why did you do that?" Sam asked.
"Time to go." Michael replied.
"Oh, okay." Sam said. "Can I take the CD's?"
"Sure." Michael said.
"Cool!" Sam said.
The trio walked to the front door of the hotel and walked outside. Rebecca sighed when she saw what Sam was holding.
"Okay. Let's go." Michael said, aiming the timer at the ground in front of them and activating it.
"Me first!" Sam said.
"Let me help!" Rebecca said taking the CD's and pushing Sam in. She placed the CD's on the ground.
"Don't want to listen to those for the next 6 worlds?" Michael asked?
"Nope." Rebecca said hopping in, Michael following behind her.
To Be Continued...