Season Finale:
Episode 11: "The Dimensional Nexus." Part I
'Dear Journal:
It all feels like some strange dream. Feels like some long forgotten hope. Those dreams of long ago were lost in the abyss of worlds and slides but now they are finally coming true. It has taken us years of sliding, travelling to new and strange worlds, where we've seen many beautiful things, but also dangerous places of death, destruction, and the darker side of human nature. We've lost some good friends, like the Professor who we will never forget, but also gained some new ones. And now it is finally all coming to an end. This is it. The journey will soon be over. We've finally slid into Quinn's true home.
It won't be long now. Won't be long before I get to slide back home. Finally I can return home again. I just hope that in some way I can find my parents, and I pray that they are safe, and well. But for now all thoughts are trained towards the Kromaggs. Quinn, Colin, and Mr and Mrs Mallory have been getting together and using their combined intellect to try and figure out a way to stop the Kromaggs once and for all.
But … but I can't help feeling this sinking sensation in the pit of my stomach. The Mallory's are not just figuring out a way to get the Kromaggs off of a few worlds … but to totally wipe out their entire race in the multi-verse! I – I haven't forgotten, how could I ever forget, what the Kromaggs did to me. But the totally extinction of their race? I just … just can't live with that. I just can't.
If we go ahead with this growing plan then that makes us no better, no even worse, than they are. I haven't told the others how I feel … yet. But I'm going to have to. I just can't be a part of this but I can't ignore it either. The cost is too high. It's just not right…
Wade.'
Rembrandt silently watched as Wade began writing in her journal, a range of expressions passing through her features. Since the day after they had arrived she had become withdrawn and silent, not her usual self. He knew that something was preying on her mind and now that they were alone together he could ask her. Maggie and Diana were with the Mallory's in the Conference Room while Mallory was out exploring the compound.
"Wade? You ok?" Rembrandt stood up and made his way over to her.
Wade looked up, closing her journal, and tried to smile. "Yeah, of course."
"Then say it like you mean it. Come on girl, I know that something's wrong. What can't you tell me?"
She sighed. "Rembrandt it's just … it's Quinn."
"Quinn?"
"Remmy he wants to totally wipe out the Kromagg race!"
Rembrandt fell silent for a while. "The Maggs have caused so much pain…"
"I know. Don't you think I know that? They've taken over worlds, forced humans into slavery, killed hundreds of innocent people, made us breed with them… but … we can't do this." She lifted up her face and stared directly into his eyes. "We can't destroy their entire race! That's mass murder! We just can't. We can't turn into what they are."
"… I understand your view Wade. Even after all that they have done to you, done to all of us, wiping out their entire species is something that we can't take lightly. But I know that Quinn and his parents won't make such an important decision without thinking it all through first."
"But that's exactly the problem Remmy … I don't think they will…"
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:
Jerry O' Connell as Quinn Mallory
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
Special Guest Stars:
Charlie O' Connell as Colin Mallory
Linda Henning as Amanda Mallory
John Walcut as Michael Mallory
… Sliders!
"The results from the analysis have come in." Amanda Mallory looked over at Quinn, Maggie, Colin, Diana, and her husband as she went through several files that she held in front of her. "Because of the chemical in-balance present in our atmosphere due to the Kromagg's previous attempts at Biological Warfare, the virus present in Rembrandt Brown can take up to two weeks longer to process."
"At least it's something." Said Diana. "The sooner the virus is integrated into the atmosphere the sooner we can rid the Kromaggs from your world."
"What about the attacks?" Asked Maggie. "Will you guys be able to hold on until then? I guess you've been fighting for so long that a few more weeks won't be too hard."
Michael Mallory nodded. "We can hold on."
"But this is only the first step." Said Amanda. "We now need to continue our efforts to finding a way to free other worlds from the Kromaggs reign."
Colin spoke up. "Freeing one world at a time would take forever. There are an infinite number of parallel Earths. What we need to do is find a way to simultaneously distribute the virus throughout the multi-verse."
Quinn sighed. "My research is going slow. If only we could find that way we could finally stop the Kromaggs once and for all. It's just finding it." He looked up. "We need to put our heads together. Between the six of us we must be able to come up with something."
"Er, the five of you." Maggie smiled and stood up. "Somehow I can't see myself being of much help." She went over and kissed Quinn. "I'm sure you'll think of something." She turned to leave the room but looked up as Wade and Rembrandt entered. "Hi guys."
"Hey Maggie." Said Rembrandt, his usual smile gone as he prepared himself for the events to unfold.
Wade hovered over by the door for a moment before stepping into the room. "Quinn, I … I need to talk to you. Well, all of you really."
"What's the matter Wade?" Asked Quinn, getting up.
"It's…" She looked over at Rembrandt for support and then slowly took a deep breath. "What you are doing is wrong."
"Wade … I don't follow?"
"Quinn this is genocide! Mass murder! You can't do it!"
Quinn took a step back and looked at Wade, puzzled. "What do you mean? The Kromaggs are killers. We can't just let them be and take over world after world, killing and enslaving. What do you think we've been fighting for? What do you think this has all been for?!"
"I know what we've been fighting for! We've been fighting for our home! For our home, not for destroying an entire race, no matter how evil they become. If you do you'll turn out no better than they are!" She turned to the others around the room. "We're not Gods. We don't decide who lives and who dies! We just protect those who we love!"
Quinn stepped forward. "So what about the countless others who have lost their lives to the Kromaggs? What about the countless others who are enslaved, have their eyes taken out to eat, and live their lives in fear? What about the other countless worlds who will soon be taken over by the Maggs? What about them Wade? Do we just forget about them?!"
"Hey!" Said Rembrandt. "Lay off her Q-Ball. Wade knows all what those damn Maggots have done. But I agree with her when she says we just can't wipe out their entire species!"
"Then what do you have planned Remmy?" Said Quinn, becoming sarcastic in his anger.
"We can just free those worlds that are Magg occupied…"
"That could take years!" Shouted Quinn. "If anyone I thought that you would understand the need to stop the Maggs."
"But your not stopping the Maggs you are wiping them out!" Backed up Wade.
Quinn shook his head. "Come to think of it I did expect this off you Rembrandt."
"And what does that mean?!"
"Back with the Professor, on Maggie's home world, you were willing to just let an entire planet die just to get yourself home!"
"Guys!" Shouted Colin.
"Hey! That was a long time ago!" Remmy defended himself.
"And nothing's changed. You're still out for yourself!"
"Guys!" Echoed Maggie. "Stop this! This isn't doing anyone any good!"
Quinn calmed down and turned to Wade once more. "When was the last time you looked in the mirror Wade?" Wade's hands instinctively wrapped themselves around her arms, to cover herself up. "Look at what they did to you. Have done, and are doing to countless others. What should we do? Just let them take out world after world and let them be? Just free the ones that we care about and leave the rest? I'm not a murderer … but I will fight for those who can't … in any way that I can!"
Suddenly a loud alarm blazed through the nearby speakers and the three were snapped out of their fight.
"What's going on?" Asked Diana.
"The perimeter alarm!" Exclaimed Michael. "The Kromaggs must be starting their next wave of attacks!"
There was a short crackling sound and then Mallory's voice could be heard over the speakers. "Guys! The Maggs have made a sudden attack on the right side of the Compound's perimeter fence. You'd better get up to the Control Room right now!"
Mallory shook his head as he stared at the screen and the images of Kromagg soldiers trying to break through the defences of the Compounds perimeter fence. Automated defences had kicked in and now an electric blue force field surrounded the compound, and ground defence weapons had been activated. He looked up as he heard the mass of footsteps come up from behind.
"The defences?" Immediately asked Amanda.
"Operational." Responded a nearby Technician.
"Can I be of any use?" Asked Maggie.
"We have manual point defence lasers that you could use."
"I'm on it."
"Hold up Maggie." Mallory rushed after her. "I'll give you a hand."
"Be careful." Warned Michael. "The lasers are above the field's designated area so that they are able to fire but so can fire be returned."
The two nodded and left. The others watched as forces on the ground began to form in case the Kromaggs broke through the perimeter field. Maggie and Mallory ran up a flight of stairs and went through separate doors that led to the weapons. They strapped themselves into their chairs and activated the weapon. The shield doors opened and they got a few of the Compound. Maggie quickly got the hang of the device and began to fire at the hoard of Kromagg soldiers that were storming forward.
"Yahoo!" Came Mallory's voice from the other room.
The Kromagg forces began to fall back at the bombardment from both the automated and manual weapons that were being fired down on them. Soon a full-scale retreat sounded and the unit turned and scattered.
"We did it!" Shouted Mallory. "Ha ha! Look at them Maggs run!"
"Great work, Mallory." Smiled Maggie.
Amanda relaxed as the attack was stopped. She looked up to speak to Quinn but found that he was gone. Wade had left the room also.
Knock! Knock!
Quinn knocked on the door but no answer came. Lifting up his hand he knocked on it again, this time louder.
Knock! Knock!
He could hear Wade hesitate from inside but slowly her footsteps came nearer and the door opened slightly. They stared at each other for a moment before she opened the door wide enough for him to enter and then closed it back shut behind him.
"Listen Wade about be-"
"No, wait Quinn." She sighed. "I'm sorry. I know that you are doing this for the good of everyone. You always do. You constantly drived us onwards, trying to get us home, helping people that we came across, you're always looking out for everyone, even at your own expense. But even though this still feels wrong I want you to know I understand. And I support whatever you do."
Quinn smiled and stepped forward to pull Wade into a hug. "I'm sorry too Wade. I was too hard. And you were right. Maybe I wasn't thinking this all through properly. But … but I can't see any other way. We both want the same thing. One's just a faster method than the other, that's all."
She nodded. "I understand that now."
Wade wiped away the drops in her eyes. "Gosh, look at me. I'm gonna cry."
He smiled. "Never change Wade."
Wade looked up.
"Never change who you are. You care so much about people, and even if they have done such wrong, you can always find it in your heart to forgive them. So never change, Wade. Your big heart is what makes you so special."
Wade smiled. "Quinn…"
They hugged once more and then turned to go back to the others.
Quinn looked up at all his friends and family that had gathered in the conference room. They had all decided to meet up here and pool any ideas, no matter how weird they sounded, in an attempt to stimulate possible avenues for theories that could be explored. Quinn kept gazing over to Rembrandt, unsure of how to apologise, as Rembrandt mirrored Quinn's looks, wanting the same thing.
"Ok." Said Michael. "Let's start with what we know."
"Well." Said Wade. "When we slide a gateway is formed in between two worlds…"
"Right." Said Mallory. "We also know that vortex's can intersect one another. Like Professor Geiger's research and how Quinn got merged into my body and Colin became unstuck."
Colin thought for a moment. "In an 'unstuck' state my body was pulled from one world to another. So maybe we can go further with that idea but use it for the virus?"
"I can't see a way of doing that." Said Amanda. "And getting just the virus to travel randomly from one world to the next could take as long as distributing it ourselves."
"I think that we should stick with the intersecting vortex idea." Replied Diana.
Quinn remained silent.
"Quinn?" Asked Rembrandt. "You got something?"
Quinn smiled as Remmy talked to him. "Well … I'm not sure."
"Any idea no matter how weird you said, remember?"
He nodded. "From each world we can stabilise a vortex to every other world, and from those worlds to every other one and so on. So … theoretically the gateways must interconnect at some point. Like when Mallory's vortex intersected with ours."
"Do you think it's possible?" Asked Colin.
Amanda smiled. "I think it could be likely. A single point in space time where all vortex's cross paths."
"Some kind of … dimensional nexus." Thought Diana.
"Geiger's research would be a great starting point." Quinn turned to Diana. "He was able to intersect two vortex's. If we can expand on his theory then we might be able to figure out a way to find the exact point from which they intersect. We could phase the virus to that point and it would automatically spread throughout the multi-verse!"
"Sound's like a plan to me." Smiled Rembrandt.
Amanda turned to him. "In the meantime I'll get our scientists to start synthesising the virus in your blood stream."
Maggie smiled. "The others and I will hold the fort and deal with any crisis that might come up leaving you guys to focus solely on this."
Quinn smiled. "That would be great."
Michael nodded his agreement. "I'll inform our staff to leave you in charge until we've figured this out."
"Good luck." Smiled Rembrandt.
"Thanks Remmy." Replied Quinn.
Wade, Rembrandt, Maggie and Mallory left the room, leaving the others to figure out calculations and solid, practical theories for the Dimensional Nexus.
"What is your report?" The heavy Kromagg accent came through the secure communicator.
"My continuous surveillance of the Mallory's has brought something of importance that you might want to hear." The Technician looked up to see if he was being watched and then turned back to the transmission. "Since Quinn's arrival on Kromagg Prime he has been busy with secure meetings with the Mallory's but I have been able to patch into the communications system and survey their actions. It appears that they are putting together the base work for a theory on a 'dimensional nexus' a point in space time where they think that they can distribute the virus throughout the multi-verse." He laughed. "A theory that I believe has no substance whatsoever."
"Fool!" Came the loud shout. "You do not know Quinn Mallory at all! That mind that we have been trying to capture for all these years will think of a way to make it happen!" The Technician bit his lip. "Keep up your surveillance of the Mallory's. Any progress and I want to be informed. If he succeeds then this could signal the end of the Kromagg Dynasty! However in our hands this could prove a priceless advantage."
"Yes, Kronith." The Technician cut off the transmission and returned to his station.
To Be Continued…