Season Finale:
Episode 12: "The Dimensional Nexus." Part II
Maggie looked over the Technician's shoulder and checked the view screen. Nothing. Not even a little blip on the scanner. Since the sudden attack by the Kromaggs all Maggie's military training was telling her that it was too small to be their main attack. The unit was little more than just scouts, the main full-blown attack would be coming soon; she just did not know when. She made her way around the Control Room and made sure that the Compound was on full alert in case there was another sudden attack, this time with a much larger force.
The central doors opened and Rembrandt and Wade entered the room. Rembrandt rubbed the upper part of his arm, with his other hand, from where the virus was extracted from his blood stream. The synthesising would begin straight away in preparation for the break through into locating the exact co-ordinates of the Dimensional Nexus.
Rembrandt turned to Wade and smiled. "Look at her. She's right at home in command."
Maggie laughed and smiled back at him. "What can I say? I like taking charge." She made her way over to her friends. "Don't suppose there is any news yet?"
"No not yet." Answered Wade. "They're all still working hard. Only once or twice I've seen them come out and that's just to get some delicate equipment and electronics."
"They've been at it for hours. Better tell them to have a rest." She sighed. "Wish there was something else that we could do."
Just then the doors opened once more and Mallory entered. "Well there is something that we can do. For Quinn anyway…"
"What is it?" Asked Rembrandt.
"You can count me in." Smiled Maggie.
"But you've got to stay here and look after things." Noted Wade. "We'll be fine, don't worry. You're needed here."
Sighing again Maggie nodded. "Just be careful, ok?"
"We will."
"So Mallory." Asked Rembrandt. "What's this mission?"
Kromagg Prime: Kromagg Compound…
Kronith paused as he reached the large double doors and made sure that he was presentable. Knocking loudly he waited for a response from within and then went inside. He entered into a large rectangular room, spacious and with few furnishings, a large desk with important Kromagg personnel at the end of the room.
"What is your status, Commander Kronith?" Asked one of the Kromaggs.
"As you know our spy in the human Compound has informed us of Quinn Mallory's arrival here on Kromagg Prime. He has also discovered amongst their party Wade Welles, our escaped test subject, Rembrandt Brown, the man who carries the deadly virus in his blood stream, and Colin Mallory, Quinn's younger brother."
A loud murmur erupted as the Kromagg personnel began whispering to one another. "This is indeed a critical time for the Kromagg Dynasty. The Sliders have been a thorn in our side for so long and it seems that they have finally made it here."
"This will prove to be our destruction!" Shouted another.
"Silence!" Shouted the most official of the Maggs. "There's more, Kronith?"
He nodded. "The Mallory's are trying to develop a way to pinpoint a place in space time where every vortex intersects one another … a dimensional nexus … as they have put it." He waited for the next round of whispers to die down. "If they succeed then I do not have to tell you of the implications. With Rembrandt Brown in their care they could use the virus inside of him and send it to this Nexus…"
"… And the Kromagg Dynasty will be finished!" The official finished. He paused for a moment. "Kronith, prepare the entire troops. We can not let them succeed! Prepare for the final full on assault of the human Compound!"
"Yes Sir!"…
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!
"There…" Quinn added the final touches to the complicated schematics that they had been working on, and then sat back in his chair, looking over at the others in the room.
Colin looked over the schematics, and then after a while lost in thought, he changed one of the figures slightly. "Hhmm… I think that would work better."
"Agreed." Nodded Diana. She smiled. "I can't believe that we have come this far already!"
"That's what you get when you leave a lot of genius's in a room to work together." Laughed Michael.
"We're so close." Smiled Amanda. "The schematics and accompanying theory is sound. We just need to put it into practice."
Quinn nodded. "Ok, let's go over what we've got. By utilizing a variation of Geiger's research we can begin to map out the dimensional pathways of different vortexes and so find the exact point from which they intersect. This will require so much power than we currently have to keep the vortexes open and to stabilize a direct link into the Dimensional Nexus. Once we've released the virus in it's gaseous state it should … in theory … travel along thousands of interconnected pathways. There are an infinite number of parallel worlds so we can't hope to reach them all but by the time the power runs out we would have reached so many! But the good part is that the residual virus remaining in the Dimensional Nexus will be carried along with any future vortex that opens!"
"When you say it like that it almost sounds impossible." Sighed Colin.
"Have faith brother. We can do this!"
"What about the power?" He looked over the calculations. "Do we have enough on the Compound?"
Amanda thought for a moment. "We have several stand alone generators that can be used. Some of them are back-up reserves for the Field but since the Slide Field has to be completely shut down for the scan to take place that's not much of a problem."
"Except it gives the Maggs plenty of time to call reinforcements from off world." Sighed Colin. "But there is no other way. We have to take the chance and prepare ourselves as best we can."
"Ok, let's get started." Said Michael. "Quinn, Colin, Diana … using the schematics you need to put together the Dimensional Pathway Scanner that will be used to scan for the Nexus. I will set up the generators to be processed into the machine while Amanda will help Maggie with defence preparations."
They all nodded in agreement. If all went according to plan the Kromaggs would be stopped once and for all…
"You guys prepared?" Asked Maggie.
Mallory looked up as he saw a Technician walk up to him and handed him some equipment: their old timer, one of their advanced timers, and three weapons. "Now we are."
"The co-ordinates to the world that you specified have been transferred into the new one." Nodded the Technician.
Thanking him Mallory handed back the old timer to Maggie and then turned to both Rembrandt and Wade. "Ready?"
"We're ready."
Turning Mallory activated the timer and a stream of energy shot out. A distortion ripped through the air as a bright silver green vortex began to form. It was silent, hardly making a sound, as a small wind picked up all around them. They waited several moments for it to fully form and then jumped into the gateway one after the other. As all three had disappeared the vortex slowly closed.
"Be careful…" Maggie whispered.
The journey through the vortex was as they had expected. Fast but smooth. Soon the exotic matter faded all around them as a bright light appeared from up ahead. The world appeared before them as Mallory landed out from the vortex first, lightly stepping onto the ground. Soon Wade appeared and Rembrandt followed closely behind, narrowly messing bumping into her.
"We're here." Said Mallory. "Slidology World…"
Wade looked around. "Now all we've got to do is find Mrs Mallory…"
Several hours later, Kromagg Prime…
"Ok, Quinn … give it a try now!" Shouted Michael.
Quinn nodded and once again powered up the newly built machine. The lights and flashes of the control panel appeared signalling that it was booting up. "Ok, it's powered up. Colin, try the transformers once more."
Colin nodded and went over to the transformers. Flipping a switch the transformers that converted the power from the Compound's stand alone generators into the Dimensional Pathway Scanner turned on. "Great! It's working now!"
Quinn checked the control panel's screen. "Ok, looks like everything is set. You guys ready to lower the Slide Field?"
"We're ready." Answered Maggie. She turned to the Technician and nodding he entered a series of commands that would disable the Field.
"The Slide Field is disabled." He informed.
Quinn typed in the commands into the Dimensional Pathway Scanner and then looked up. A stream of energy shot out from the machine and opened up a small silver blue dimensional distortion in the air right in front of it. A thin red beam then shout out afterwards and into the small vortex.
"All systems stable." Noted Diana. "The scan is in progress."
Colin turned to his parents. "How long before the Kromaggs realise that the Slide Field is down?"
"Half an hour … an hour tops maybe." Answered Amanda.
"That's too long." They all turned to Maggie. "We've got movement from the Kromagg Compound!"
Quinn, Diana, Colin, Amanda, and Michael ran towards the view screen and to where Maggie was looking. "Ah oh…" Said Quinn. "Gliders, ground troops, heavy machinery … it's a full scale assault!" He turned to the others. "But that was way too quick for them to know that the field was down!"
"Maybe they don't know yet." Said Michael. "From the size of the force it looks like the vast majority from the Kromagg Compound. So they haven't got reinforcements yet."
"Then they somehow must know that something is up." Said Colin.
"Are the defences powered up and in place?" Asked Quinn.
Maggie nodded. "Troops are standing by and the defence weapons are at the ready. We'll hold them off for as long as possible."
"Hey…" Diana suddenly realised. "Where are the others?"
"They're … safe." Maggie saw their puzzled looks. "They just needed to take care of something. They'll be back as soon as they're done."
They all turned their attention back to the approaching Kromagg Unit. The final battle was about to begin…
"Commander Kronith!"
Kronith turned as a Kromagg Communications Officer approached him. "We have a communiqué from our spy in the human Compound."
Nodding Kronith went over to the officer and picked up the communicator. "What have you to report?"
"I have great news…" The Technician's whispered in a low voice. "As the Mallory's begin their scans to find the Dimensional Nexus they have had to lower the Slide Field!"
Kronith's eyes lit up. "The Field … is down?"
"Yes."
"You have done well. Once the Kromagg Dynasty has retaken our world you will be heavily rewarded."
"Thank you, Kronith." The transmission ended.
He then turned to the officer. "Prepare a transmission back to base. Tell our superiors … tell them that the Field is down … reinforcements can immediately be called for!"
The officer nodded and after saluting he went to carry out the orders. Kronith smiled, showing his white, pointed teeth. Soon Kromagg Prime would be theirs again. And the humans would be crushed…
Slidology World…
Mallory, Wade, and Rembrandt ran out of the secluded alleyway and out into the street, a stream of screaming people running after them. They dodged their way in and out of the crowd, being dragged, touched, and pulled this way and that, as they headed for the waiting cab that was to take them to their destination. They dived in, slamming the doors shut behind them.
"Go?" Asked the driver.
"Go!" Replied Mallory.
Rembrandt just chuckled, in a fit of laughter. "Aha ha! I think I lost something back there."
Wade laughed. "I'm surprised we escaped that crowd with our lives!"
As the car pulled out from the screaming fans Mallory sighed and tried to catch his breath. "That was not pleasant."
Rembrandt continued to laugh. "That's what you get when you're a Superstar."
"I know you would enjoy it!"
"Come on, you did too. The thrill of running from a screaming mob, the chase, knowing that one step wrong and you're dragged into a heap of screaming women!"
"Hmm… well when you put it like that…" He went to open the door.
"Hey!" Smiled Wade.
Mallory laughed. "I'm kidding!" He looked out of the window. "Well according to what we've found out: after we left here Claire and her goons were sent to jail while Mum, er, Mrs Mallory became an icon in herself and is living really well here."
Rembrandt nodded. "I'm glad that she is safe. We've got a lot to tell her. About getting Quinn back, finding Colin, and finally getting to Kromagg Prime."
"Not to mention the fact the Earth Prime is now free…"
It took a while but soon the group arrived towards the edge of town. They came to a stop outside a large house that looked more like a mansion.
"Wow!" Gasped Wade in awe. "This is where she lives?!"
"I guess she can have anything she wants here." Smiled Mallory.
The group got out of the cab and tried to pay the driver but he refused. "You kidding me?! It was my pleasure being able to unite the Sliders with Mrs Mallory! Safe journey!" With that he turned and drove away.
Quickly getting off of the street and out of sight the group headed towards the building and rang the doorbell. It was not long before the door opened and a butler in a black suit answered. "Can I help…" He froze. "Y-you … you are the Sliders!" They just stared at him. "Please! Come in, come in!" As they entered the house he ran into an adjacent room. "I will inform Mrs Mallory of your presence right away!"
Wade continued to stare in awe at the interior of the building as the waited in the hall. Mallory was already touching the ornaments that lined the wall while Rembrandt peered into the various doors that were everywhere.
"Quinn? Rembrandt?" Mrs Mallory ran towards them.
"Mum!" Mallory rushed up and embraced her in a tight hug.
"I'm glad that you are safe!"
"Me too. I knew that you would be ok but still…" He took a step back. "Just seeing you makes it all so real."
She nodded and turned to the others, her smile fading. "So I see that…"
"Quinn is fine." Smiled Wade. "We managed to separate them."
"You … did…" Her eyes lit up.
"He's back on Kromagg Prime. They're close to finding a way to stopping the Kromaggs."
She shook her head, trying to process all the information at once. "They're?"
"Yeah." Answered Rembrandt. "His brother Colin and the other Mallory's."
She smiled. "I'm glad that he finally made it there."
"… He misses you." Mrs Mallory turned to Mallory. "He hasn't forgotten you… just been caught up in trying to get us all safely to Kromagg Prime." Turning Mallory activated the timer. "I know that you want to see him again too…"
Tears came to her eyes as she slowly nodded. Mallory reached out his hand and she took it. As the vortex fully formed they stepped through together. Wade and Rembrandt followed after.
Kromagg Prime…
Maggie and Quinn looked up as a silver green vortex suddenly opened up behind them. They rose the weapons that they were holding out in front of them and prepared for the worse. Two quick flashes in succession appeared and the two people appeared.
"… Mum!" Exclaimed Quinn.
"Quinn!"
Mrs Mallory rushed up to her son and they embraced into a tight hug. They stood there like that for a long time. Soon Wade and Rembrandt appeared and the vortex slowly began to close. A sudden blast hit the Compound and they all fell to their feet.
"What's going on?" Screamed Wade.
"The Maggs are attacking!" Answered Maggie. The sound of several vortexes opening came to their senses. "They are calling for reinforcements from off world! The Slide Field had to be lowered in order to complete the scans!"
Diana checked the control panel. "We've almost got the entire co-ordinates for the Dimensional Nexus. But its still going to take some time to complete!"
Mrs Mallory looked up as her double and her husband entered the room.
"We're glad that you are safe." Said Michael. Another explosion hit the Compound. "But there's no time for talk right now." They turned and ran over to the consoles. "How's the situation?"
"The manual defence lasers are not working for some reason." Said Quinn. "Colin is trying to locate the problem right now."
Colin hurried down the long corridor as he searched for the electrical panel that was connected to the defence lasers. He rounded a corner and looked up; a Technician was standing beside it, pulling out wires and destroying the circuitry. "Hey!"
The Technician looked up, and turned to run. Colin lifted up his weapon to stun the man but it hit the wall harmlessly and he continued down the corridor. The sound of a vortex opening filled the area. Colin ran to catch up with him but he had already disappeared into the gateway.
"Quinn?"
Quinn turned to the communicator. "Go ahead, Colin."
"One of the Technicians was messing with the weapon's circuitry. Must have been a Kromagg collaborator!"
"Can you fix it?"
"I'll try. Colin out."
"Five more gliders have appeared through newly opened wormholes!" Stated Maggie.
"The outer perimeter has been breached!" Shouted Diana. "Troops are going in to intercept."
Quinn went over to the control panel while Rembrandt, Wade, and Mallory helped the others to set up the canisters containing the synthesised virus. "Almost there." He said. "Just a few more minutes and we'll get the last of the co-ordinates."
The lights began to flicker and the power blacked out for a second.
"We're running low on power." Said Amanda. "I don't think it will hold out until the process is complete!"
Wade looked up. "Then we need to get more power." She turned to Quinn. "What about connecting the transformers to power cables from another world?"
"I think you're on to something Wade." Quinn thought for a moment. "The cables themselves wouldn't be able to reach through the vortex but if we just connect them to the outer rim of the gateway the power should travel along the exotic matter and out onto the other side. The transformers can easily be configured to collect that power."
"Then what are we waiting for?"
"You'll need help with the connectors." Said Diana. "I'll configure the transformer on this end." A sudden thought then crossed her mind. "Kevin … Dr Kevin Lang … on the world that helped us to separate Quinn from Mallory … he'd be more than willing to help. They should be able to give us more than enough power to help finish the process!"
"I'll stay here and help Maggie." Said Mallory.
"Right."
Michael stepped forward. "I'll transfer the co-ordinates from your timer into the new one." Mallory nodded and handed over the timer he still carried. Michael quickly went to complete the transfer.
The silver green vortex burst open and Quinn and Wade landed onto the parallel Earth. The vast futuristic city loomed ahead of them and they saw the strange platform that could transport matter. They headed for the structure, knowing that their arrival would have been detected, and watched in awe as Dr Kevin Lang appeared.
"Lang." Said Wade.
"Wade Welles, Quinn Mallory, it is great to see you two again." He looked around. "Is Diana with you?"
"Not right now, it's an emergency."
Lang saw their expression and nodded. "Follow me. You can explain everything on the way."
Diana looked up as a vortex began to appear directly in front of her. The transformer had been configured and she moved the conductor cables towards the outer rim of the vortex. The vortex sudden ruptured and tripled in size as electric particles flowed through the exotic matter of the gateway and then into the conductors. The sudden surge of energy almost short-circuited the transformers but they managed to hold. The power converted and travelled into the Dimensional Pathway Scanner.
Colin ran into the room. "I've patched it up as best I can."
"Right." Maggie nodded to Mallory and they ran towards the manual weapons room.
"Almost…" Amanda checked the display. "Almost … there! We've got it! The Dimensional Nexus! Stabilising a direct pathway to it now!" The red beam faded and the intensity of the vortex changed causing it to grow in size.
Rembrandt lifted up a canister. "This is … for what you did to Earth Prime … and to Wade and I!" He threw the canister into the vortex.
Colin walked forward. "This is … for all the pain that you've caused…" He threw one in.
Amanda and Michael approached the vortex. "This is … for making us lose so many years with our sons … for not seeing them grow up and become the great men that they now are…" She threw the one she was holding into the vortex.
"This is for everyone that you have ever hurt, forced to breed with, and killed!" Michael threw his one. Nodding to the Technicians that were standing by they stepped forward and threw the remaining canisters into the vortex. He then turned to Diana. "All set."
"Ok … here goes!" Diana typed in a set of commands into the console. A bright red pulse suddenly shot out from the machine and entered the gateway. It travelled along the exotic matter of the wormhole and to the point in space-time, the Dimensional Nexus, where all pathways interconnected. The pulse hit the canisters … and they exploded. The explosion triggered a massive modified Slide Wave.
Distortions began to rip through the dimensional fabric of parallel Earths and with it the Slide Wave propelled the virus onto the worlds. The virus quickly spread, out onto every dimension, the power from Dr Lang's power grid keeping it going.
Colin looked up and pointed out of the window. Distortions began to appear on Kromagg Prime and the virus was being pumped out. The Kromagg soldiers on the ground suddenly looked up as they saw the wormholes and began to shake. The howling wind from the vortexes were blowing the gas towards them and soon they began to drop and shake on the floor. They were dying.
"You guys did it!" Shouted Mallory as Maggie and himself returned to the Control Room. "The Maggs are history!"
Colin smiled. "It's finally over."
'Dear Journal:
It has been almost three weeks now since the fall of the Kromaggs. There have been huge celebrations and much rejoicing as the humans finally get their world back. Kromagg Prime is theirs once more. Though now that name is just not fitting. Preparations went underway to get this world back into some semblance of normality but it will take a long time. The dead have to be buried. A new start has to be made. And eventually … eventually they will be able to move on.
And now it's our turn. Our time to make that transition. I have been trying not to think about it, spending as much time as I can with all my friends but now the hardest decision is going to be made. I already have an idea of how it is going to turn out.
I think that only Rembrandt and I will return to Earth Prime. I know that Quinn will want to stay here, with his real parents and Colin. Maggie has always said that her place is with him. She'll stay also. Diana and Mallory will probably stay here a little while longer in the hopes of finding the co-ordinates to their world. Then they will return home. As for Mrs Mallory … I am not sure what she will do. She could return home to Earth Prime … or maybe she might return to the Slidology World.
I just don't know right now. It hurts to think that we are going to part … but at the same time is a joy to know that our journey is finally over. But I don't want to leave my friends. We've been through so much and come so far. They're all more than just friends … they're family…
Wade.'
Wade closed her journal and looked over at Quinn. As he saw her gaze he smiled, and she sighed. It was time. "Everyone…" All eyes turned to her. "Its time to say goodbye." She saw their pained expressions. "It's time to return to Earth Prime and find out if my family are alive and ok."
Rembrandt sighed. "Me too. And by now it should have mostly recovered from when we drove the Maggs out."
Quinn slowly nodded. He stood up and made his way over to the other side of the table. Wade stood up and then the two friends hugged each other, tight. "I'm gonna miss you, Wade…"
"I'm gonna miss you Quinn! Don't ever forget me, ok?" She cried.
"How could I ever?" He smiled and took a step back from her. "Why the tears? This isn't a goodbye, Wade. I'm going to slide and pay you a visit every week."
Wade laughed through the tears. "Me too."
"You can't get rid of us that easily." Smiled Maggie. "We'll be seeing you guys a lot."
Wade smiled and then hugged Maggie. "Thanks, for everything."
"Good luck, Wade."
Rembrandt turned to Quinn. "Gonna miss you Q-ball. Things won't be the same."
"You too, Remmy. Look out for Wade."
"I will."
Wade looked up as Mallory came up to her. "Take care Wade."
She hugged him. "Mallory … I hope you and Diana find your home soon."
"We will." Smiled Diana. "The Mallory's are going to help us search for it. And with the Kromagg Database now in our possession I'm sure they have it stored somewhere." She turned to Rembrandt. "Likewise, we will be paying you guys a visit a lot … we're not giving you a chance to forget us!"
Rembrandt smiled as he hugged her. "We'll be looking forward to it!" He turned to Colin. "Well Farm Boy … you've come a long way since I first met you…"
Colin smiled. "And you've grown on me to Rembrandt." They hugged.
Wade wiped the tears from her eyes. "It was great getting to know you a little Colin." She stepped forward and whispered in his ear. "Make sure Quinn asks her soon…"
Colin nodded. "I'll make sure of it. You'll be the first we invite."
Wade sighed. She turned to Rembrandt and then to Mrs Mallory. "Mrs Mallory? Have you decided what you are going to do?"
She nodded. "There is nothing back there for me now. And I have been through so much…" She turned and smiled lovingly at Quinn. "I think I will return to Slidology World. It is peaceful there."
Quinn walked up to his mum and hugged her. "I will always think of you as my Mum…"
"And I will always think of you as my son…"
"I'll take you." Smiled Mallory. "Looks like Diana and I have some time to spare until we find our home co-ordinates."
"Safe journey Rembrandt, Wade." Said Amanda as she handed Rembrandt a timer.
"Thank you." He turned to Wade. "Well girl, are you ready to return home?"
Wade smiled. "I am."
Pressing the button Rembrandt activated the timer and a silver green vortex appeared. They stopped. Hesitated for a while as they looked back at their friends. But they knew they would see them again soon. Turning they jumped into the gateway and the vortex slowly closed.
Mallory and Mrs Mallory then stepped forward and opened up another vortex. "See you in a while, Diana."
Diana nodded. "Goodbye Mrs Mallory.
Quinn waved goodbye to his mum, Maggie at his side.
Mallory nodded to Mrs Mallory and together they disappeared into the vortex. As the vortex closed all the noise died down and there was silence. Colin walked forward and pulled Quinn, Maggie, Amanda, Michael, and himself into a hug. "So…" He smiled as he looked at Quinn and Maggie. "When's the wedding?"…
Kromagg Breeding Outpost 174…
He opened his eyes. Putting a hand to his head he tried to shake off the pain that he was feeling in his head. He looked human, but had pointed teeth, deep set eyes, and ridges that lined his forehead. The trainee officer stood up and checked around the room. He checked the pulses of the Kromaggs that littered the floor. Dead. All of them. Stepping through the door he noticed that other half Kromagg / half-Human hybrids were also getting to their senses.
"What happened?"…
End.