The timer lay open before him, the old power chip laying beside the device looking slightly burnt. Likewise, to the right of the open timer lay three different Motorola Microtac Cellular phones, each one opened with its chips and components strewn about the small table. Quinn was thankful to Dr. Jensen for getting him these cellphones in such quick time, reaching over and taking one of the three available power chips into his hand. He was glad he these people were willing to sacrifice their cellphones to this cause. The three microchips had a much larger capacity than his original, but he wasn't sure if it was enough to slide 200 people to a new home, not on its own.
"What are you thinking, Mr. Mallory?" Arturo asked calmly, his eyes raising from the open timer to his star pupil. Quinn likewise looked up for a moment, grinning as he quickly looked back down and reaching into the pile of parts, grabbed the necessary components to complete repairs to the Motorola timer.
"Well, we have three new and improved microchips, right? Along with a pile of extra parts"
"Right?" Arturo agreed, nodding along as he waited for an explanation to Quinn's plan. The young scientist only smiled up at the professor for a brief moment before quickly focusing back on his work.
"Trust me, professor, you're gonna love this"
Across the campus, Wade and Rembrandt looked around the large open yard at the sea of people. Some were families huddled together, others alone, all of them looking terrified of their still unknown fate. According to Dr. Jensen, there were up to 200 people here, an incredibly small fraction of the total population, all sitting and waiting in hopes that they would be saved by the power of sliding. The idea that countless lives would be lost on this Earth made the two friends sick, but they held onto the hope that they may at least be able to save the people here. If anyone could save them, it was Quinn and the professor.
As the two walked through the crowded yard, a small child no older than ten quickly approached the two. Rembrandt was the first to notice him, kneeling down to see what he needed. He immediately noticed the poor boy's distraught face, redness around his eyes, and a slight shake in his body. He reached out, placing a hand on the boy's arm in an attempt to comfort him as he spoke.
"Something wrong little man? Anything we can do?" he asked, offering a hopeful smile to the child, his voice colored with a happiness he didn't currently feel.
"It's my parents," The child replied, looking away from Rembrandt timidly, "they don't think the people here will really save us. They wanted to stay home, locked themselves in their room. They won't let me in, so I ran back here"
"What's your name?" Wade asked with a kind voice, her nervous eyes looking over to Rembrandt. His likewise locked on to hers.
"Malcolm" The child answered.
"Alright Malcolm, we'll help you. Can you bring us there?"
"Any progress, gentlemen?" Rickman asked as he approached Quinn and the professor, the two of them hunkered over the open timer. Quinn looked up from his work for a moment to spot Rickman now standing beside him. He turned back to the timer to apply the final touches, putting the device back together. As he did this Arturo turned to the special agent, explaining what they managed to accomplish in the last few hours of work.
"We've managed to reset both timers using Mr. Mallorys sliding equipment. From there we used some of the additional parts and were able to rebuild Mr. Mallory's timer to pull from all four microchips simultaneously. We were able to somewhat repair the original microchip to assist in the slide as well you see. Although it is still heavily damaged, any additional power we can offer the timer should be utilized. This should allow the wormhole to sustain a much greater load, but will undoubtedly fry the microchips, if not the entire timer once it's used" Arturo answered, Quinn turning his timer around in his hand and beginning to stand.
"I was able to repair the Egyptian timers original stabilizer enough for a handful of slides, but it will give out soon. It's a patch job more than anything, as I have nowhere near enough time to create an entirely new Stabilizer. We have to find a new world in at least five slides, or else I'll be forced to use the Sonics-based stabilizer in the Egyptian timer currently. I'd rather not risk that considering the Motorola timer may burn up after sliding everyone to the new world" Quinn said aloud.
Rickman nodded, stepping aside to give him some room as he stood. Turning a dial on the device a beam shot out, opening a swirling bright red vortex in the middle of the room. Rickman's face shifted to a look of utter shock and awe, as did Maggie and Steven. While the latter two had seen unstable wormholes during their tests, this was the first time they saw one so brilliant and functional. To see such a thing for the first time, was a brilliant thing to witness. Even Quinn and the professor looked surprised, having expected to see the usual brilliant blue vortex instead of a darker red. Quinn put the question of why aside, for now, wanting to remain focused on the task at hand.
"Now all we need to do is scout parallel worlds and find one suitable for all the people waiting here" Arturo informed Rickman, the beautiful sight of the vortex closing before them, returning the room to normal.
"When do we start?" Rickman asked, turning to face the two sliders, a new look of determination crossing his face.
"Now. The sooner I find a safe world to slide everyone to the better," Quinn answered, looking down to the timer as he spoke, "I will set the slide window to 15 minutes. That should give me enough time to scout out different worlds and make it back safely if they are too dangerous"
"I'll come with you, for protection" Rickman offered, placing a hand on his gun and stepping closer to Quinn. The young genius opened his mouth to refuse but was quickly cut off by Maggie and Steven.
"I would like to slide too. Once we settle on the new world we won't have any need to do it again. I would appreciate the opportunity while I have the chance" Maggie said aloud, moving closer to the two men.
"Seeing new worlds sounds like a fascinating idea. I too would like to accompany you" Steven agreed, stepping forward along with his wife. Arturo cleared his throat at this, catching everyone's attention.
"While that sounds like a delightful idea, I suggest we don't put any unnecessary strain on the timer until it is absolutely necessary. I would suggest two of you go at a time, at most. It is doubtful we will find a suitable Earth in a single slide" Arturo voiced, his gaze moving between each person in the room.
"Then I shall accompany you for the first slide" Rickman announced, nodding to Quinn who only sighed in response.
"Alright, just be warned it's a bumpy exit" Quinn replied, causing Rickman to grin. He turned away from the small group, spinning the dial on the timer once more, causing a bright red vortex to open across from them. Looking back to the professor he nodded, sliding the timer into his pocket and leaping into the vortex, Rickman following close behind.
Quinn screamed as he exited the vortex, landing on the nearby table he previously used to work on the timer. Several beakers and test tubes flew across the room thanks to the impact. Rickman likewise exited the vortex, landing on the cold floor beside the table. The room was dark as the vortex closed but Quinn immediately recognized it, realizing they slid into this world's version of Caltech. Quickly getting to his feet he offered a hand to Rickman, who took it and looked around the room in confusion.
"Weren't we just here?" Rickman asked, looking up to the lights which were currently turned off.
"We were, but on your Earth. We should have slid outside. Come on, we need to get out of here"
Rickman nodded, a look of wonder on his face as he reached out and ran his hand across one of the walls. The look of wonder reminded Quinn of his own wonder when he and his friends first slid. To know you were standing in a completely different universe, well for the first few slides it's an amazing feeling.
Quinn quickly went for the door, opening it and peering out into the empty and dark halls of the university. Rickman followed close behind, the two soon reaching the exit and walking down the steps to the surprisingly empty streets. The eerie silence felt like a heavy coat wrapping around both men and weighing them down. The two looked at each other, then out to the empty city once more, lost as to why this world seemed to be just as empty and devoid of life as Pulsar prime. Surly the two didn't land on another world doomed to die to a pulsar? Their thoughts were cut short as a bullet struck the glass of the nearby institute, shattering it on impact and causing both men to split up and run behind different nearby cars.
Quinn watched in mute horror as Rickman unholstered his weapon, peaking over the hood of his car as another bullet struck the sidewalk between their hiding spots. Quinn moved a bit closer, cupping his hands over his mouth as he tried to get Rickmans attention.
"Agent Rickman, we need to-"
"I am FBI Special Agent Angus Rickman! By the authority of the U.S. Government I order you to lay down your weapon and put your hands over your head!" he yelled, only for another bullet to strike his car as a response.
"We should-" Quinn tried again, only for Rickman to quickly stand, firing his weapon in retaliation. Using this opportunity Quinn rushed from behind his own vehicle to meet up with the special agent.
"I saw her, a young woman, late twenties," Rickman quickly informed him as he reloaded his weapon, "She took off, ran into the Chandler Café. Stay here, I'm going after her"
"Wait! We don't even know why she was shooting at us! This is a parallel world, for all we know our doubles could have attacked her at some point and she's just trying to survive!" Quinn argued. Rickman turned to him, looking at him with a sour expression.
"So what, we just let her go? For all, we know she may be a mad gunman. I'm going after her, I don't need your permission" Rickman bit out, preparing to stand as Quinn grabbed his arm.
"We don't know the entire situation! I've been sliding for years, I know how things can look one way but turn out to be completely different! We need to find out what's going on before we jump to conclusions! You need to listen to me!" Quinn begged, only for Rickman to shrug him off, pointing at him as he yelled.
"You are not in charge of me, Mallory!" he spit out, glaring at the young scientist with a venomous rage, "I am going to stop this woman before she takes the life of an innocent! I have been in charge for years, when you were a child in diapers! I do not need advice from you!"
"You never slid before, you don't understand just how different each world can be! Their laws could be completely different to yours!" Quinn yelled back, only for Rickman to stand and quickly leave the cover of the car, approaching the Café.
With a frustrated curse, Quinn quickly followed after him, looking down to the timer for a moment as he did. Rickman rushed inside the building, gun held ready as his eyes darted around the room, searching for the mystery woman. He walked past several empty tables, the sound of movement drawing his attention from behind. He spun around, eyes meeting Quinn's, and much to his horror the woman's as she tried to sneak up behind them. Her own eyes widened, firing her gun in a panic.
Quinn screamed, his arm on fire as the bullet grazed him, dropping the timer and falling back into the nearby tables, causing them to fall over. Utilizing this Rickman quickly followed up by firing his own weapon, several shots slamming into the woman's chest until she fell back, landing harshly onto the hardwood floor. Before either man had a moment to catch his breath a scream rippled through the establishment, a young girl rushing to the woman and clutching at her chest.
"Mommy! No! Mommy please!"
The woman, with a shaking and bloody hand, grabbed at her daughter's arm, weakly trying to push her away. She had tears in her eyes, looking from the child to Rickman, then Quinn.
"No…" she mumbled, her speech slurred as she turned her focus back to the child, "Run Olivia. Remember what I told you. Once a year the government allows murderers to run free. You can't let the bad men catch you. Please, you have to escape. Get away from here"
"I won't leave you!" She cried, turning to Rickman with a look of pure rage. Quickly she stood, putting her arms out in a protective manner, despite her mother's clear attempts at pushing her away. "I won't let you hurt her! You won't hurt my mommy!"
"What?" Rickman whispered, his face alit with horror. Quinn sat nearby, clutching his bleeding arm as he watched the exchange.
"Mommy told me all about people like you! She said the big bad people in charge allow monsters like you to kill other people every year without punishment! She said it's to kill off the poor!"
"Population control..." Quinn whispered, Rickman going pale at the new information, "Jesus, this is worse than Lottery world"
"Wait a minute, you're saying that your mom isn't a murderer?" Rickman asked with a tremor in his voice. The little girl shook her head, shaking as she turned back to her mother. She fell into her chest, crying as the older woman stared back with now empty, lifeless eyes.
"She was trying to protect her child," Quinn bit out, grunting as he moved to grab the timer, "I told you to listen to me. I told you we may not have all the information. Look at what you've done, Rickman!"
"I...I didn't know!" Rickman replied, looking horrified as he quickly put his handgun back in its holster. He then brought his hands to his hair, watching the scene in a clear panic. Quinn only glared at him, turning the dial on the timer as the numbers reached zero.
"I'm bringing the child with us, at the very least we can offer her a world where she can be safe"