Episode 3: "Nuclear Meltdown."
Diana picked up the hot cup of coffee from the desk and took a sip. The dark brown liquid trickled down her throat and warmed her up inside. As she placed the cup down she turned her attention back to the computer screen that was flashing at her. A thin wire led from the computer and to the timer that was resting beside it. Several pieces of paper, the notes from Claire's lab, covered the rest of the desk along with her drink and some tools.
She let out a small yawn and stretched her arms. The blinds of the nearby window were open, revealing the dazzling stars that shone in the night sky, and only a few clouds interrupted the view. She let her gaze wander and continued to look around the suite. Rembrandt and Mallory were sitting on the couch watching a movie on the television set while she could see the steam slip from underneath the bathroom door, indicating Maggie having a hot bath.
As she finished the coffee a beeping sound came from the computer signalling the end of the download. On the last world that they had slid into she had discovered that the Kromagg timer had more than just co-ordinates stored into it, it also held some information. That Earth did not have the necessary equipment needed to download the stored information so they waited until they arrived here to find out what was stored.
"Guys." Diana called. "The download has been completed."
"Great." Said Mallory, getting up. "Now we can find out what was stored on it."
Rembrandt joined the others by the computer screen and looked on as Diana typed in a few keystrokes. It was not long before the screen changed and lots of strange images and text appeared. "That writing, it looks like the Kromagg language."
Diana nodded. She continued to wait until the computer processed the pictures and made them clearer. "They … they are images of other Earths." A dark red symbol appeared next to some of the images, while others were noted with a blue.
"Worlds conquered by the Kromaggs?" Suggested Mallory. "Then that would mean that the blue are ones that have just been scouted out."
"Could be." Said Rembrandt. "If so then that's a hell lot of worlds."
Diana thought for a moment. "It has been around 13 months since the Slidology world was freed from the Kromaggs. So we can take this as a little out of date." The computer screen continued to stretch as more worlds were added to it.
As Rembrandt sighed Mallory placed his hands on his shoulder. "Don't worry. We'll find a way to free all the worlds."
"It will take ages to go through all this." Diana switched off the computer and unhooked the timer. "I will purchase a digital assistant on the next world so that we can go through it at leisure."
"Right. Let's keep moving." Smiled Mallory. "I don't like being in one place for too long."
"Why is that?"
"The hotel bill would be through the roof."
Rembrandt looked at Diana and they both chuckled. "We'll slide in the morning."
Mallory, Rembrandt, Diana, and Maggie stood together in a dark alleyway as they prepared for the slide. Diana typed in a destination co-ordinate for their journey and then activated the timer. The stream of energy shot out and a small circle of light began to form. But just as the gateway was forming the vortex suddenly began to flicker, shrink back down, and then fade.
"What was that?" Asked Maggie.
Diana looked over the timer. Seeing that nothing was wrong she banged the side of it and the stream of energy shot out once again. The vortex began to form but very slowly, the normal howling wind reduced to an almost silent whimper. It took a while but it soon fully formed.
"That can't be good. I'll check it out on the next world." Nodded Diana.
One by one the Sliders jumped into the vortex in a flash of light. As Diana jumped in she did not noticed the timer display flashing on and off…
What if you found a portal to a parallel universe?
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
Kari Wuhrer as Maggie Beckett
Robert Floyd as Mallory
And Tembi Locke as Diana Davis
… Sliders!
"Woah!" The vortex ended and Mallory emerged into the parallel Earth. He fell through the air and landed roughly on the ground below. Rubbing his arm that he had landed on he looked up to see the silver-blue vortex shifting in and out of phase a few feet above the ground. There was a flash of light and a shout as Maggie was thrown out of the vortex. Mallory held out his hands and caught onto her, falling back slightly.
"Thanks." Said Maggie, getting onto her own two feet.
"That has to be one of the roughest rides we've been on." He said smiling.
"Definitely."
Another flash ensued and Diana appeared. The two of them rushed forward and helped to catch her.
"Agghh!" Rembrandt's voice could be heard before he was even seen. He was thrown clear from the vortex and landed hard on the ground ahead of the group.
"You ok Remmy?" Smiled Mallory, helping him up.
"Just great." He said, patting the dust off. "We just got a new timer and it's on the fritz."
Diana looked up as the vortex closed and then around at the surroundings. They were in some kind of corridor, metallic plating was welded onto the wall, and it was very dark. She lifted up her hands to look at the timer. Switching the timer off and then on again she waited to see if their situation improved but there was no change.
"Is it me or is it very cold." Shivered Maggie. "Diana? What is it?" Maggie walked up to her. She looked down and saw that the timer's display was flashing erratically. "Something here must be interfering with the timer."
"So we can't slide?" Asked Rembrandt, rubbing his hands together.
"I don't think we can." Said Diana retrieving the timer. "For some reason the timer had just about locked on to this world's co-ordinates and struggled to establish a gateway to it. Sliding out might not be possible until we find out why."
"Well then let's look around." They turned to see Mallory already half way down the corridor, pumping his legs to the ground for warmth. The others followed. "Why is it so cold?"
"I'm not sure." Diana answered, still looking at the timer.
"What about a field of some kind?" Asked Rembrandt. "A defense to stop sliding into this world?"
"Maybe. I can't be sure."
The Sliders came to the end of the dark corridor and saw the large set of doors. They tried to push against it so that it would open but it would not budge. Maggie knocked loudly. "Hey! Is there anybody in there?!"
Silence answered her. She was about to shout again when a slit in the door moved to one side and a face appeared. The face looked them over and then vanished. They stood waiting for a while and then the door slowly creaked open just enough for them to enter in single file.
"Who are you?" They looked up to see a young woman, with long brown hair that covered half of her face, point a double-barreled shotgun towards them as they entered.
"We mean you no harm." Stated Maggie, holding her hands up into the air.
The woman looked the intruders over, looking at their clothes. "You've come from outside?"
"Erm … yes."
"Where is your protective gear?" She saw the puzzled expressions that were met with her question. "Your radiation suits, headset, oxygen apparatus?" More bewildered looks. "How did you get here?"
"Listen lady." Said Rembrandt. "We'll tell you everything you need to know. Just put down the gun and tell us where we are and what is going on?"
"Over there." She pointed with her guns towards some metal boxes. The group slowly walked over and sat down next to them. They watched as she called someone to her and they began to talk silently, her eyes still on the Sliders.
"Radiation?" Asked Mallory. "No wonder she asked us about all that protective gear."
"Could that be what is disrupting the timer?" Thought Maggie.
Diana paused. "No normal rate of radiation could disrupt the field that is generated from the gateway. If it was then it would have to be a dangerously high amount." She looked around and saw the people who slowly walked around the large room, apart from their heads they were dressed in thick protective clothing. She looked back up as the woman approached.
"We … were involved in an accident." Lied Mallory. "It happened just as we arrived here. Our heads are all foggy and we can hardly remember anything."
The woman watched his expression for signs that he was being sincere. "You mean you don't remember how you got here? What has happened? Or why you don't have the right gear?" They all nodded no. "… if so then you are lucky to be alive and indoors." She lowered her gun.
"What has happened?" Rembrandt asked again.
A boy with burns on his face walked over to them carrying some supplies. He gave each of them a blanket to warm them and some glasses filled with a strange dark green liquid.
"What is this?"
"It is a special mix that helps to reduce the effects from the radiation." They watched as the woman took a sip and then followed suit.
Mallory watched her and then taking a step forward he brushed away the hair that covered the side of her face. She quickly pushed his hands away, covering back her face, and looked to the ground. "Radiation burns?"
She nodded. "Almost everyone has them." She looked up. "Though you four seem to be ok."
"Please er…"
"Vanessa."
"Vanessa… what has happened? It might help to jog our memories."
Sighing Vanessa took a deep breath and then started. "Two years ago several Japanese hackers hacked into the Central Computer Database and proceeded to launch the unused nuclear warheads from the previous war. Our own experts tried to stop the launch but they had released a computer virus which stopped our attempts. We finally managed to severe their connection but not before a single warhead had been launched. Soaring high into the air it turned and landed right back down on our soil."
She stopped and watched the expressions on their faces. This really was a shock and new to them. "The result … what you see before you. The nuclear cloud blotted out the sun, vegetation and crops soon died, and radiation storms rage on all around. We can barely protect ourselves from it."
"So that is why this place is lined with metallic pieces: to help shield from the radiation." Said Diana.
She nodded. "We managed to put together protective gear so that we can travel outside so that we can scout out for any food that we can find. But the situation is getting dire. Supplies are running out and the Stormers keep stealing what we get."
"The Stormers?"
"A group of thugs who ride around in the radiation storms outside, waiting for an unprotected convoy to approach. They are all disfigured from being outside for so long."
"Would you mind if you give us a minute?" Asked Diana.
"… Go ahead." Vanessa stood up and walked over to some others.
"The radiation from the nuclear blast must be what is disrupting the vortex…"
"So we just need to find somewhere with enough cover to slide?" Suggested Maggie.
"Easier said than done. Looks like the radiation is integrated into the atmosphere."
"So what can we do?"
Diana looked around. "If it is dangerous to travel on the surface because of the storms I'm guessing they have tunnels leading down into the earth. To provide heat if not anything else."
"That's right." Nodded Rembrandt. "Towards the earth's core it would be warmer."
"And hopefully it will be far enough from the radiation to allow a slide."
"Vanessa!" Mallory called out to her. "Do you have any tunnels that go deep down below the surface?"
"Of course we do."
"What is the deepest ones that you have?"
She thought for a moment. "The main complex a couple of miles from here are very deep. Why?"
"Because we need your help."
Mallory zipped up the protective suit he was in and then put on the headgear. Flipping a switch on the side of the suit the small canister on his back opened up and the air inside it began to circulate to his head and then recycled itself as he breathed out. He turned to the others who were just finishing putting on their equipment.
"Ok. We go hard and fast." Said Vanessa. "The RV is parked just ahead and I don't want to be in the storm longer than I have to." They all nodded. "Ok, let's go." She pressed a switch on the side and the large doors opened, the storm quickly blew inside, blowing them back a little.
"God I can already feel my brain cells frying!" Mallory quipped.
"It's not your brain cells you should be worrying about." Maggie smiled. Indicating his groin.
Mallory flinched. "Let's pick up the pace!"
The group quickly reached the RV and then piled into it, slamming the door shut. Vanessa started up the engines and it soon roared to life and they were on their way. She squinted her eyes and struggled to see through the storm.
"Do you have any family?" Asked Mallory.
"My parents died a long time ago, before all this."
"It must be hard being alone."
"But I'm not alone. I have my friends who live in the complex with me."
Maggie stared out of the reinforced window and looked at the devastation that the warhead had done. The storm raged on all around and covered the entire area in a thick blanket. Looking up she could just about make out the sky; a large black cloud was all that could be seen, the sun no where in sight. It was almost half an hour later when they pulled up at a large complex. The group quickly ran through the storm and to the safety of the building, not seeing the several RV's that had been slowly trailing them.
"Much better." Smiled Rembrandt as he took off the heavy gear. "Fresh air… well kind of."
Vanessa waited for the group to take off most of the protective gear and then led the way into the Complex. They came to a door similar to the one back at the other site and she knocked onto it. They were quickly led inside, as they recognized Vanessa, the door closing shut behind them.
"Vanessa." Came a voice. They turned to see a man with radiation marks on his arm walk up to them. "It's been a while. How is your health?"
She smiled back and hugged him. "I have been alright. We are all still surviving."
"And who are these?"
"Maggie, Mallory, Diana, and this is Rembrandt." She introduced them. "Is it alright if we go down into the tunnels to warm up?"
"By all means."
Vanessa led the group through the large room and towards a side corridor. Suddenly a loud noise sounded and they all turned to see the entrance doors burst wide open. A group of men in heavy clothing and with weapons ran in.
"Stormers!" Someone shouted.
"Come on!" Vanessa quickly led the group towards the tunnels.
"What about your friends?" Asked Mallory.
"They will be forced to hand over their supplies. If they don't they will be killed." She shook her head. "I just don't understand why they are attacking?!"
"Maybe they think that you brought some precious cargo with you?"
"Of course! That's what they must think! Why else would an unescorted RV travel through the storm!"
They made their way through the corridors and then to a framed arch in the ground, the entrance to the tunnels. Vanessa grabbed a few flashlights that were to the side of the tunnel and then passed them on to the Sliders.
"Vanessa?"
"Go on." She said to Mallory. "I can't leave my friends."
They hesitated and turned as shouts came from behind them.
"Thank you for all that you have done." Said Maggie.
"Good luck." She handed over her shotgun to Maggie and ran back the way they had come.
As they descended into the depths of the earth all sense of time was lost. All they knew was that they needed to keep going down, there was no other alternative. Minutes merged into hours and the longer they kept going the more rougher the tunnels became.
"The area up ahead looks unstable." Said Diana. "But we need to keep going." After a brief rest they continued on. They had already begun to fill warmer the deeper they went and now it was almost boiling. Soon the tunnel sharply ended.
"Diana?" Hoped Maggie.
She looked at the timer once more. It was still flashing eratically. "Cross your fingers…" She activated the timer. The stream of energy that shot out from the timer flickered on and off and would not become stable. "I'll try boosting the power." Diana upped the outage and the stream slowly became steady. A wind blew all around them as the vortex slowly formed. But it stopped as it grew to half its normal height and flickered in between expanding and retracting.
"Oh no." Mallory shook his heads. "We're trapped here."
Diana would not give up. She routed as much power as the timer could muster and then activated it once more. She let out a sharp scream and dropped the device as a spark shot up her fingers.
"Diana! Are you alright?" Said Rembrandt, helping her up.
She managed to smile. "A little too much power."
She picked up the timer once more and then crouched onto the ground, keeping it as low as possible. She then pressed the button. The stream established into a steady flow and the vortex opened on the ground beneath them. It still flickered worryingly but seemed to stay intact.
"Way to go Diana!" Smiled Rembrandt. His smile faded as shouts from the Stormers came closer.
"Let's not waste any time!" Maggie shouted above the noise of the wind.
"I'm with that." Rembrandt stepped forward and dropped into the vortex in a flash of light. Mallory watched Diana jump in next and then quickly followed afterwards. Once everyone else was safely in Maggie jumped in with a flash of light. The wind slowly faded as the vortex closed.
The journey through the gateway started off as rough as before but seemed to calm as they approached the exit. Maggie emerged from out of the vortex and landed onto her feet. Looking around, she spotted the others, they had all landed in a grassy field. The blades of grass swayed violently in the breeze then became their normal rate as the vortex began to fade.
"That was close but we made it." Smiled Rembrandt.
"Better hope that everything is intact." Joked Maggie, looking at the two guys.
"It better be." Retorted Mallory. "Diana, how's the timer?"
Diana turned around to face the others and lifted up the device. They all gasped audibly as they saw the numbers that were ticking down.
"Please don't tell me that's what I think it is?" Asked Maggie.
"… Having to open the gateway so many times and add to that the jolt that passed through the timer must have disrupted the circuitry." She summarised. "We are back to the way we have started."
"Well easy come, easy go." Smiled Mallory. "No use dwelling on it." He checked the timer. "3 hours and 23 minutes. Not long but enough to scope out this world." He started off.
Rembrandt sighed. "Wish I had his attitude."
Maggie laughed. "You're perfect just the way you are, Remmy."
Diana joined them and together the three of them followed after Mallory. Eager to find out what this world would hold in store for them.
End.