Episode 8: "Last Chance."

A transparent distortion slowly appeared in the air, shimmering slightly, and grew until it formed into a swirling silver blue vortex. A faint sound came from the depths of the gateway and with a flash of light Mallory was thrown from it and landed on the soft grass. He instinctively rolled over to his left, as Diana and Rembrandt appeared, falling onto the place where he was a moment ago. It was not long before Wade and Maggie appeared in quick succession and then the vortex began to close. With a final howl it disappeared from sight.

"I don't ever want to go through that again." Said Maggie, as she slowly got up.

Mallory shook his head. "Well, if you and Wade had just played along…"

"You must be kidding." Joined in Wade. "You wanted us to just blend in! With a world that was stuck in the dark ages and still treated women like slaves."
"Hey, I'm not saying that I agreed with them. But like you're always telling me: 'we can't change every world that we land on'. I'm just saying that it would have been easier if you guys had acted the part. Instead we all got into a lot of trouble."

Rembrandt laughed. "The look on that man's face when Maggie talked up to him. It was priceless."

She snorted. "He would have preferred it if I had a collar around my neck with a leash leading to his hand. I sure set him right."

Diana smiled and then checked the timer. "Just over 17 hours here." Putting the timer back into her pocket she finally took the chance to look around. "… Where are we?"

Looking around the Sliders found themselves in some kind of park. Soft grass was beneath their feet, large trees lined the cobbled path, and a small pond with a fountain could be seen flowing in the distance. But what had caught their eye was the see-through dome that seemed to encompass the entire area.

"Is this some kind of nature preserve?" Suggested Wade.

"Looks like it." Mallory gazed upwards. "And I'm guessing as no-one else is around we shouldn't be here."

"Well let's take a look around and find a way out of here." Said Maggie.

Following the laid out path in front of them it took them through the centre of the garden and towards the back. As they continued to walk they noticed that the dome was getting lower, indicating that they must be nearing the edge of it, and the exit. A door soon came into view and slid open as they approached it, allowing them to leave. It was only when they stepped outside did they suddenly stop and turn to each other.

Diana placed her hand over her mouth. "This is … amazing!" Turning to the others she saw that they echoed her shocked, amazed, and awe-struck expression.

Ahead of them loomed a vast futuristic city. Buildings made out of a strange blue glass towered up towards the sky, a network of inter-linked pathways made its way upwards and outwards into every corner, strange robotic devices flew through the sky and drifted in and out of sight, and a faint mechanical hum came to their ears. They could only imagine the level of technology that this world possessed.

"Wow." Wade whispered, speechless.

"It's so advanced." Stated Mallory. "Looks like we've found the world that we've been looking for."

"Guys."

The group turned to see Rembrandt pointing to a strange structure a few feet away from them. It was some kind of raised platform, made out of a shiny silver alloy, a control panel to one side of it. The reason for the observation was that the platform was beginning to glow faintly. Suddenly there was a flash of light and a man dressed all in white appeared before them.

Maggie took a step back. "W-who are you?"

"How…" Diana looked on, amazed.

"Please, there is no cause for worry." He reassured them. "My name is Lang, Dr Kevin Lang. I am here to welcome you … sliders." The group suddenly turned to each other. "I humbly welcome you to our Earth."…

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

Sabrina Lloyd as Wade Welles

Kari Wuhrer as Maggie Beckett

Robert Floyd as Mallory

And Tembi Locke as Diana Davis

… Sliders!

The group stood in silence for a while before Maggie finally spoke. "You called us Sliders. But how did you -"

"With the level of technology that we've seen they must have discovered sliding a long time ago." Offered Diana.

"A correct observation." Smiled Lang. "For the past two decades my society has been rapidly advancing technologically. It was a Professor Orion who first made the journey to parallel worlds. He was the envy of the scientific community. When we picked up the energy matter of a vortex a few minutes ago we knew that some travellers must be passing through. So I was sent to greet you and show you around my world."

"Show us around?" Asked Wade, still in a state of shock and amazement.

"We enjoy meeting new people from parallel worlds and love to indulge in an exchange of information and knowledge. It is how we better ourselves and learn more. So, if you would be so kind." He stepped back onto the platform and indicated to them to join him.

Diana walked over to the platform and began studying it. "Some kind of transportation device?" She asked, intrigued.

"It's called a Trans-locator. It can transport physical matter over a manner of distances and reassembles them once at the destination."

"Hold on, Diana." Maggie stepped forward. "You're not just going to jump on and get your molecules ripped apart are you? We don't even know anything about him."

Lang nodded his head. "She is correct. We do not know much about each other yet. But this is the whole objective of this cultural exchange." He stepped off of the platform. "Then perhaps you will feel more comfortable walking until a level of trust can be gained."

Maggie nodded her agreement. "Sorry, it's just that we've been fooled by a lot of things in the past. We've got to be careful."

"Say no more. I understand. This way please."

Mallory shrugged his shoulders and followed after Lang and Diana as they started to walk. Rembrandt and Wade followed after, but Maggie was still cautious, so she stayed towards the back of the group where she could keep an eye on him. Despite this Maggie joined in with the others in hardly containing her awe and wonder at the sights that she saw. The streets were clean, and void of any type of car or vehicle, and strange devices could be seen held by children and adults alike. She looked ahead to see Diana bombarding Lang with a thousand questions.

"So you must have a really precise sub atomic analyser to be able to map and break down a subject's molecular structure."

"We do. It took our top scientists several years to be able to develop the necessary technology but we finally succeeded in creating a Trans-locator that was able to break down the complex molecular structure of humans." Lang stopped and turned to the group. "May I ask a question?"

"Sure."

"We noticed something peculiar upon your arrival. We detected four solid quantum signatures but the fifth one seemed to be meshed and integrated into a sixth signature. I can tell you that it caused a lot of speculation and thought among us as we have never encountered something like this before."

"That would be me." Sighed Mallory.

"I was actually hoping that you could assist us in our problem." Said Diana.

Lang smiled. "That is what we here thrive on. Encountering and solving new problems. We will be more than happy to assist you in any way possible. Ah, we're here." Pressing his thumb against a panel the large double doors opened and he entered the building that they had arrived at.

"Diana." Maggie motioned for her. Whilst the others entered the building she took her to one side. "Are you sure we can trust him? Maybe I am being too suspicious but we have to be careful here."

"We've got to trust others at some point, Maggie." She replied. "And this world seems to have both the technology and the minds to help me separate Quinn from Mallory."

"Just be careful, ok."

Diana nodded and then hurried to catch up with the others. Maybe she really was being too suspicious. But on the other hand someone had to keep a level head here. And it looked like Diana was too caught up in Lang and his advanced world to be that someone.

Wade watched Mallory as he looked out of the window. It had been several hours since they had arrived here, Diana was off with Lang discussing what had happened and her theory to separate them, while the rest of them waited in a side room. Rembrandt was snoring softly in a chair and Maggie was trying to find her way around a computer terminal to find some information.

"Find anything interesting?" She asked.

"Not much." Sighed Maggie. She turned off the console and joined Wade by the couch. "Seems that this world is pretty much how Lang described it."

"You thought he was lying."

"… I don't know Wade. It's just that everything seems so perfect somehow. I'm just waiting for something to go wrong."

"Yeah. But you've just got to keep being positive because if this all does work out we will be getting Quinn back."

Mallory turned his gaze away from the magnificent view. "It would be great to finally have my own body back."

"It must be a weird feeling. To know that you're going to see someone for the first time even though you have already shared his thoughts and memories."

"It is."

The door suddenly opened and they turned to see Diana and Lang enter. The group were about to smile but they saw the expression that was on both of their faces.

"Diana, what is it?" Asked Maggie.

"With Lang's help I was able to finalise my theory. Using a modified version of the Trans-locators and their sub molecular analysers we will be able to lock on to the two different quantum signatures in order to differentiate their separate molecular structures and reassemble them both back into their normal bodies."

"So why the long face?" Smiled Wade.

She shook her head. "We've been analysing and reanalysing the data over and over but it still points to the same conclusion. We can not safely predict that Mallory will survive the separation." She turned to face him. "If we bring Quinn back, then Mallory will die."

Mallory slowly sat down into a chair. "I'll … die?"

Maggie turned to face away from the group and hid the tear that slid down her cheeks. She hated herself. Hated her gut instinct for being right. Everything was going horribly wrong.

"So what do we now?" Said Mallory, slowly.

"What do you mean do?" Asked Rembrandt. "We're not going to do anything."

"But Quinn … this is your last chance to get him back…"

Diana shook her head. "If you go through with this the chances are that you will die."
Mallory stood up. "Well it's a risk that I am willing to take. I've taken his life. I've taken all that he was. It's time for me to give it back. And if this is the only way then I'll do it."

Wade could not believe what she was hearing. "Mallory?!"

"I promised you guys that I would slide with you so that you could get him back. This is your chance."

"Stop it!" Wade reached out and slapped Mallory across the face and he fell silent, stunned. "Just stop this! How can you say all that? I as much as anyone want Quinn back. But I would never … ever … exchange your life for his."

"I…"

Maggie wiped the tear from her eyes. "You are a part of us Mallory. This may have all started because of a promise that you made but its more than that now. Your life means more than that to us and it should to you too."

"I'm…" Mallory was lost for words.

"We just have to except that he is gone." Sighed Remmy. "But we have gained a valuable friend. That's you Mallory. Don't ever just throw your life away like it means nothing. Because it means everything to us."

'I can't believe it. After getting so close the chance to finally get Quinn back leads to a path that we can't take. If Mallory went through with the procedure, then he would die. It has hit us all hard. Diana is frantic in going over her research and searching for another solution, Maggie and Rembrandt have been silent: lost in old memories of Quinn, and Mallory … he is not sure what to say or do. Neither am I. But at the same time it has only strengthened our resolve to get him back. We'll find another way … I'm sure of it."

Wade

Wade put down her pen and looked up as the door suddenly opened and they turned to see Lang enter with several scientists along side of him. "I think that we have seen and heard enough."

The group looked around, puzzled.

"I am so sorry that we have had to do this Diana but like Maggie said we also have had to be careful."

"I … I don't understand." She replied. "This was some kind of test?"

"It was. You see we long ago agreed to freely share our knowledge and technology to all those who needed it but only if those people would use it wisely and for good purposes."

Maggie began to put it together. "So you manipulated the data somehow so that Diana would think that by bringing Quinn back Mallory would die."

"Yes. If you had decided that you could take Mallory's life in exchange for another then we would not have helped you. How could you be good people if you were willing to do such a thing."

"Then you mean…" Mallory stood up. "It can be done."

Lang smiled. "It can and with a high degree of success. I just hope that you can all forgive us but this countermeasure has been necessary in the past. We want to share our technology but not with those who will easily misuse it."

Mallory smiled and then turned to Diana. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's do this!"

Diana nodded and they all followed Lang into the lab.

With the help of Lang, Diana checked over every single piece of equipment, before she would give the go ahead for the separation. Technicians were putting the final touches to the two Trans-locators in the centre of the room, both with the modified sub-molecular analysers. Finally ready to go she turned to Mallory.

"I think we're ready."

"See you all in a few." He smiled. He turned as they all wished him good luck and stepped onto one of the Trans-locators. "I'm ready … do it."

Lang sat down by the computer console and then started the procedure. The platform hummed and then a bright light flashed from it as the scanning sequence begun. It was only moments before a detailed atomic map of Mallory's body was on the screen. Diana joined him by the console and started the second scan that would pick up the genes belonging to Quinn's distinctive quantum signature.

"Got it." She said. She saw Lang's puzzled look as he spotted something and answered his question. "Remember I told you about the skin grafts that Professor Geiger took off parallel Quinn's to help Mallory walk again."

Nodding his understanding he turned his attention back to the task at hand. "Now comes the precise part." Seeing that the technicians were on standby he started the next phase. He locked onto Mallory and then began to Trans-locate his body. But instead of moving his actual body he created a second lock-on to all of Quinn's molecular structure and attempted to reassemble him on the other platform.

"Quinn!" Wade looked on as she began to see an out of phase body appear. It was becoming clearer by the second and was undoubtedly Quinn.

"Come on Diana." Whispered Rembrandt. "You can do this!"
Diana shook her head as she studied the screen. "Some of Mallory's own genes are being pulled along with Quinn's."

"I'm trying to enhance the visual lock on his signature now." Said Lang. "I think that's got it. Now Diana, bring his body into phase."

She quickly pressed a few buttons and then turned to look at the platform. Both Quinn and Mallory slowly came into phase. As their bodies solidified they both suddenly collapsed and fell onto the ground.

"Mallory! Quinn!" The Sliders rushed forward.

"Hold on!" Shouted Lang, holding his hands up to stop them. "Their bodies are simply adjusting to being separate again after being intertwined for so long. They need time to stabilise and getting into contact with them at this time will make things worse."

Diana came to his side. "He's right. They will be fine, just give them some time for their bodies to adjust."

Maggie turned and watched as Quinn lowered his head and vomited over the base of the platform. He then lay on his back and closed his eyes, trying to shut out the pain. Mallory was mirroring his moves and holding his stomach tight. He finally looked up and smiled at them all.

"I … I did it…" He managed to say.

Wade took a deep breath. She hovered just outside of the room and was not sure if she could gain the courage to enter. Finally deciding she closed her eyes for a moment and then entered the room. She instantly smiled when she saw him sitting up on the hospital bed while the doctor checked him over. Seeing that his patient had a visitor the doctor put away his tests and left the two alone. They stood, staring at each other for a long time, like when you see a long lost friend after many years but are not sure if it is them. Suddenly the tension lifted and they both stepped forward and embraced into a tight hug.

"Quinn!" Cried Wade.

"Wade! I can't believe it's you!"

"I…" She pulled away from him and then tried to cover up her arms with the scars running down them.

"It's ok, Wade. I remember." She looked up. "Even though I was in a dormant type state I remember bits and pieces … fragments really … of Mallory's own memory." He continued to look at her. "It's just so good to see you again. We thought that we had lost you for good."

She wiped the tears from her eyes. "And we thought that we had lost you too."

They hugged again, both needing that sense of familiarity and closeness that the months of being apart had taken from them. They then looked up to see the others standing by the door.

"Q-ball!" Shouted Rembrandt. He rushed in and hugged his friend. "It's good to have you back."

"Glad I am back, Remmy." Said Quinn. "And you kept it all together…"

Rembrandt nodded and smiled. "Even got back home and kicked the Magg's butts. But there's time for all that later."

Diana then stepped forward. "It's good to finally meet you Quinn."

"You too Diana." Quinn then looked up to see Mallory standing in the corner. "Thank you…"

"No need to say anything." He smiled. "I would not give up until I got you out of me. It feels good to have my own body back to myself."

There was a cough at the door and they turned to see Maggie enter. Rembrandt motioned to the others and after saying that they would catch up with Quinn later they left the room. Soon it had emptied and there was only the two of them left.

"Hi Maggie."

"Quinn."

Both seemed nervous and unsure of what to say to one another. After a long moment of silence Quinn finally held out his hand and she took it. Burying her head into his chest she began to cry tears of happiness. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close.

"Maggie I … I could never truly express what I felt before."

She looked up into his eyes. "Words aren't everything Quinn."

Nodding he leaned in close and they kissed.

"What's this?" Lang stared at the small container that Diana had given him.

"It is a blood sample from Remmy. It contains a virus that once heated into the atmosphere will protect your world from the Kromaggs if they ever invade."

"This is … remarkable." He smiled. "Thank you, Diana."

"It's the least that we can do after all of your help."

After saying her goodbyes Diana left the building and joined the others outside.

"Just come back and he's already messing with the timer." Joked Rembrandt. Wade and Maggie joined him in his laughter.

"Just a little tinkering Remmy." Smiled Quinn. "I need to adjust the power flow so that the wormhole is stable enough to hold all six of us. There, it's done."

"We've accomplished so much." Smiled Mallory. "So what's left?"

"All that's left to do is to find Quinn's home-world and a way to take out the Kromaggs once and for all." Stated Maggie.

Quinn closed his eyes at the mention of home. Memories from Mallory of Colin' death came back to him. As the display reached zero, he activated the timer and the vortex slowly formed. Holding out his hand to Maggie the two jumped together into the swirling vortex and disappeared. The others ran forward and followed closely behind, disappearing into the gateway in a flash of light. As the wind slowly died down the vortex began to fade and then finally closed.

End.