Here it is, chapter 2. Hope you all enjoy. By the way, if anyone can tell
me how to format this so it doesn't look like one huge paragraph, I'd
appreciate it. It looks just terrible like this. This is NOT how I typed it
out, I promise. I spent a lot of tim of this, and want it to look the best
it can. Anyway, chapter 2:
Chapter 2: Slipstream
Mrs. Amanda Mallory walked into the building with a worried look on her face. Every time her son entered one of those wormholes she prayed for his safe return. She had lost him once, no, three times before, and never wanted to lose him again. "Oh God, please let them come back safe," she thought to herself. She knew he was trying to find their homeworld, but she still wished for him to never slide again. Diana had said it was a miracle that he had even returned at all. About a week after Rembrant had left, Mallory had simply woken up one morning with Quinn's mind. Diana was amazed, Maggie was thrilled, Amanda was ecstatic. Diana figured that when Dr. Geiger had attempted to split the two Quinns, he had somehow brought her son closer to the surface. The now shared the body equally, like they did the day the merge first took place. Although the person still looked like Mallory, both people had control part of the time. Mrs. Mallory smiled to herself. Her son had returned to her, at least in a way, which was something none of them had ever expected. And now he was gone again, off in some other parallel universe exploring alternate Earths. As she made her way into the building, she took in her surroundings. The Slipstream Institute was impressive, even she had to admit. The top scientists of this world were doing extensive research on sliding and wormholes, learning more everyday. At first they had studied the abandoned Kromagg devices Claire Lebeau had held away. She wasn't going to use them anymore, she was serving a long term for attempted murder and blackmail. Eventually they began constructing their own equipment, including a sliding machine. Now Quinn/Mallory, Diana, and Maggie spent most of their time traveling to other worlds in the hope that one day they might come across their homeworlds. As Amanda made her way into the departure room, Diana, project director and head of the institute, greeted her. "Mrs. Mallory," said Diana, "right on time. They should be returning pretty soon. "How much time, exactly?" asked Amanda. "Less than a minute. I understand how you feel, these things scare me to death, too, they always have. I worry about them every time they leave, and when I go with them I always wonder if we're coming back. But, this work is necessary." "Yes, I know," said Amanda. The work her son was doing was important. They had already visited dozens of worlds and had made many discoveries since Diana had begun the project, but still were no closer to finding their homeworlds. Or following Rembrandt, for that matter. Although he rarely spoke of it in front of her, Amanda could tell her son also desperately wanted to find his real world, and his true parents. "Incoming wormhole," came an announcement, interrupting her thoughts. "Is it them?" she asked. "It should be," answered Diana. "They're right on time" Just then a bluish-gray wormhole opened up in the middle of the room. A few seconds later two people burst form the event horizon. Maggie Beckett and Quinn/Mallory stood up and shook themselves off. "Thank God," said Amanda as she approached them. "Quinn?" she asked. "Sorry Mrs. M.," Mallory said with a grin, "wrong Quinn. I'll get him." Mallory closed his eyes and let Quinn take control of the body. "I'm here, mom," said Quinn, "we're okay. It was a pre-industrial world with little technology." "No matter how many times I see that it's still impressive," said Diana to Maggie. "If you didn't know any better you'd swear he was suffering from some kind of multiple personality disorder." "Either that or he's a Tok-Ra," Maggie said with a smile. "A what?" asked Diana. "Never mind," smiled Maggie. "I still sometimes can't believe it. Quinn was there all along, just buried. I wonder what it must be like for him, having to share his body with another person." "Don't you mean "them"?" asked Diana. "Yeah, sure, I just meant.." "I know what you meant," interrupted Diana." You may be able to fool some people, but I can tell by the way you look at him and the way you talk about him." "Nothing can ever happen, so don't get any ideas," said Maggie. "At least not until we can get the two of them separated, if it's even possible." "I doubt it," replied Diana. "Geiger said if we ever tried to separate them we would have to choose who lived and who died." "Yeah, I remember," said Maggie. "At least this way we can have them both. You know, she hasn't missed a single slide." "Amanda? I know. She's here when he leaves and here when he gets back." "She's terrified of losing him again," said Maggie. I wonder what it must be like for her, having to look at her son in a different body." "I just hope I can fix this someday," remarked Diana. "Di, we all know you're doing everything you can. If nothing ever comes of it, then at least we'll have that." It's not fair," begun Diana again, "Geiger made this mess, now I'm responsible for cleaning it up. And I don't even know if it's possible or not. "You still haven't forgiven him, have you?" asked Maggie. "I believe he was sincere in his apology, but I can never forgive him for what he did to Mallory and I, not to mention Quinn and Colin. Maybe someday I will, but it won't be anytime soon." "He did try to separate Quinn and Mallory, and he did give us the minidisk with yours and Rembrandt's home coordinates on it." "A lot of good it did," replied Diana. "The Kromagg sliding machine fried it just after Rembrant left. At least he may have gotten home. What about you? "What so you mean?" asked Maggie. "Can you ever forgive Geiger for what he did to Quinn and Colin?" Maggie thought a moment before answering. "Honestly", she began, "no. He took Colin away from Quinn, took Quinn away from me, and betrayed you and Mallory. Now my Quinn is fused together with yours, God knows what's happened to Colin, and you two can't even get home. So no, one last act of redemption couldn't make up for that, no matter how great it was." The two women talked a few more minutes before Quinn/Mallory walked up to them. "So, when's the next ride leave?" he asked, obviously with Mallory's personality back in control. "Me and Quinn have time to hit the town before the next sliiiiiiiide?" Maggie and Diana chuckled for a moment. They were getting better at telling the two Quinns apart, but still sometimes got them mixed up. "We're done for today," said Diana. "You two go, I don't paint the town or something," she laughed. "Oh don't worry," he said grinning, "we'll give it two coats. You guys wanna come?" "Not today, Mallory," said Diana. "I've got some data to go over. You two don't want to stay like this forever, do you?" "Hell no," he replied. "Maggie?" "I'm out, too. I think I'm going to get some rest," she answered. "Oh come on," he said, "where's that Air Force spirit?" "This former Air Force Captain is going to get some sleep," she said, smiling and punching him in the shoulder. "All right," he said, sighing and turning to leave. Just as he reached the door he let Quinn take over to ask "Sure you don't want to come, Maggie?" "I'm sure," she replied. Quinn smiled at her and started out the door. "You better behave yourself," called Amanda. "Don't worry, mom," said Quinn, "I will." "I was talking to Mallory," she smiled. Quinn laughed as he finally left. It was late, well after 1:00 in the morning when Quinn and Mallory made it back to their apartment. Mallory had been in control most of the night, and still was when they got home. They, or rather he, had spent most of the night clubbing through downtown San Francisco. "So, do I get a turn now?" asked Quinn from inside his mind. "Sure, why not," replied Mallory. "After all, there's no girls around so you don't have a chance of embarrassing yourself anymore," he said with a grin. He closed his eyes and let Quinn's mind and personality completely take over. "Oh come on", Quinn said. Said, not thought. "It wasn't that bad." "Dude, few women are impressed with quantum theory or advanced physics. And you actually tried to use it!" he laughed. Since they shared a stomach, they were both pretty hungry. Quinn walked around the kitchen fixing them something to eat, but continued to talk to Mallory as he did so. Well, Quinn did the talking and Mallory pretty much "thought" his answers to Quinn. When one of them was in control of the body, the other one was free to think at will, and if he chose to could actually talk to the other. It was like hearing a voice with nobody else in the room, a voice coming from inside the mind itself. Few people knew the truth about the two Quinn Mallorys. Thanks to the Seer, everyone knew who they were, or rather, who he was. But few knew that they now shared the body. As far as everyone else was concerned, Mallory was still the same person who had slid into their world almost a year before; one person with one mind who sometimes had memories from his duplicate after a scientist had merged them into one body. But this was just not so anymore. True, they were still trapped in one body, but now both of their minds were their own thanks to Dr. Geiger. Although they were pretty much free to think in their own, sometimes their minds would intertwine and their thought would be one. However, they were checked out almost daily by Diana to make sure that one of their quantum signatures didn't become dormant like Quinn's had. She didn't think it was possible, but still wanted to ensure that one matrix didn't become dominant over the other. After Dr. Geiger had "stirred the pot" so to speak when he tried to separate them, it had brought their body into equilibrium. The two matrices were no longer fighting for control like at first after the merge. They were simply two people in one body. "Well, what did you think of the blond?" asked Mallory. "She was okay," Quinn simply thought. He didn't have to talk for Mallory to hear him; they could communicate in thoughts. But when they were alone or with friends whoever was in control would usually speak to the other. Actually, Quinn preferred "thinking" to Mallory. After all, it was the only time he heard his true voice. But, they were alone and he didn't see the harm in speaking aloud. "She seemed a little wild, though." "Oh come on, man, they're the best ones!" Mallory replied. "Nothing wrong with a little excitement." "I wish you could have known Wade," said Quinn. "She was a wild girl if I ever saw one." "I did, in a way," thought Mallory. When our minds were totally fused together I could remember her a little. And sometimes even now when you think of her I can see what you're thinking or remembering and I feel what you feel." "Yeah, that's true," said Quinn. "The same thing happens to me sometimes." "Just don't go back to sleep or whatever," thought Mallory. "Your mother would kill me, and you in the process." Quinn smiled. He wished more than anything for a normal life again, but if he had to be stuck with someone else, this guy was alright. "Same here, bro," thought Mallory, their thoughts and minds slightly melded. Quinn remained in control when the two went to sleep. That was one of the drawbacks they had. One Quinn couldn't go to sleep while the other remained awake, it was both or none. As Quinn drifted off to sleep, he began to dream. He saw himself in an endless field of grass, with the sun shining overhead. His mother was there, and so was Colin. He could even see his birthparents sitting with them. Bopper, the dog he had when he was a boy was even there, playing in the grass. Suddenly he noticed something else in the distance. He couldn't make out the strange figure, but it seemed to be a person. All of the other figures in the dream had now disappeared. It was just him and this other thing. It was a person, he was sure of that, walking towards him and calling his name. Quinn suddenly realized he wasn't alone, three figures now stood by his side. One of them was Mallory, which wasn't so unusual. They often shared dreams with each other. But the other two people he saw were none other than Rembrandt Brown and Maximillian Arturo. The four of them stood side by side, gazing at the figure in the distance. Quinn could definitely hear the person calling to each of them. As the person came closer, they started to recognize her. "Quuuiiinnn, Remmmmy!" the woman called, her voice sounding like wind in the air. They started to make their way towards her, but then a wormhole opened in the sky above them, causing them to stop. A few seconds later another one opened, then another and another. Soon the sky was filled with thousands , if not millions of spinning vortices, of all shapes, sizes and colors. Quinn again tried to reach the girl, but just before he reached her she disappeared. Then, all of a sudden, he saw Arturo being pulled into a shimmering orange wormhole. At the same time, a bright red one opened and pulled in Rembrandt. Before he knew what was happening, a bluish -gray vortex appeared and swallowed him and Mallory. As the two men were flying through the tunnel, they could still her the mysterious voice calling to Quinn. "Quinn! What is that?" Mallory shouted over the noise of the wormhole. "I don't know!" he answered. "That woman looked like Wade!" "Wade is dead!" shouted Mallory. "That beer from last night is messing with our heads!" "What? Quinn shouted. Before Mallory could answer, the men rounded a corner of the tunnel, and saw the light that signaled they were reaching the end. Just as they did, Quinn woke up, covered in sweat and panting as if he had just ran twenty miles. "Wow," thought Mallory. "Wild dream, wonder which one of us had it?" "I think I did," Quinn said out loud. "But I don't think I just had it, I think it was directed at me." "Wade is dead," Mallory repeated. "I know you miss her, man, but you have to accept that." "Then how do you explain that dream?" said Quinn. "We know she could do that." "Dude, you probably just miss her, that's all. Why else do you think Rembrandt and that Arturo guy was there too? You probably just miss them all, and had a dream about them. I hate to bring you down, man, but we have to be realistic here." "I know," said Quinn. "I know." "Sorry, bro, but we all need to move on. Wade is dead, your old professor is dead, and God knows what happened to Rembrandt. Don't dwell in the past. I hate to say it, but move on." "You're right," he said. He settled back under the covers and started to go back to sleep. As he was lying there, he remembered all the times he had spent with Wade over the years. They had grown up best friends, and had gone on the most incredible adventure of all time. He cursed the Kromaggs for what they did to her. "Move on," came Mallory's voice again. Quinn remembered that in order for one of them to sleep, they both had to, and decided to let Mallory win this argument. He knew his double was right. It was time to move on. "I'll always love you, Wade," he thought to himself, making sure Mallory didn't hear. "And goodbye."
Chapter 2: Slipstream
Mrs. Amanda Mallory walked into the building with a worried look on her face. Every time her son entered one of those wormholes she prayed for his safe return. She had lost him once, no, three times before, and never wanted to lose him again. "Oh God, please let them come back safe," she thought to herself. She knew he was trying to find their homeworld, but she still wished for him to never slide again. Diana had said it was a miracle that he had even returned at all. About a week after Rembrant had left, Mallory had simply woken up one morning with Quinn's mind. Diana was amazed, Maggie was thrilled, Amanda was ecstatic. Diana figured that when Dr. Geiger had attempted to split the two Quinns, he had somehow brought her son closer to the surface. The now shared the body equally, like they did the day the merge first took place. Although the person still looked like Mallory, both people had control part of the time. Mrs. Mallory smiled to herself. Her son had returned to her, at least in a way, which was something none of them had ever expected. And now he was gone again, off in some other parallel universe exploring alternate Earths. As she made her way into the building, she took in her surroundings. The Slipstream Institute was impressive, even she had to admit. The top scientists of this world were doing extensive research on sliding and wormholes, learning more everyday. At first they had studied the abandoned Kromagg devices Claire Lebeau had held away. She wasn't going to use them anymore, she was serving a long term for attempted murder and blackmail. Eventually they began constructing their own equipment, including a sliding machine. Now Quinn/Mallory, Diana, and Maggie spent most of their time traveling to other worlds in the hope that one day they might come across their homeworlds. As Amanda made her way into the departure room, Diana, project director and head of the institute, greeted her. "Mrs. Mallory," said Diana, "right on time. They should be returning pretty soon. "How much time, exactly?" asked Amanda. "Less than a minute. I understand how you feel, these things scare me to death, too, they always have. I worry about them every time they leave, and when I go with them I always wonder if we're coming back. But, this work is necessary." "Yes, I know," said Amanda. The work her son was doing was important. They had already visited dozens of worlds and had made many discoveries since Diana had begun the project, but still were no closer to finding their homeworlds. Or following Rembrandt, for that matter. Although he rarely spoke of it in front of her, Amanda could tell her son also desperately wanted to find his real world, and his true parents. "Incoming wormhole," came an announcement, interrupting her thoughts. "Is it them?" she asked. "It should be," answered Diana. "They're right on time" Just then a bluish-gray wormhole opened up in the middle of the room. A few seconds later two people burst form the event horizon. Maggie Beckett and Quinn/Mallory stood up and shook themselves off. "Thank God," said Amanda as she approached them. "Quinn?" she asked. "Sorry Mrs. M.," Mallory said with a grin, "wrong Quinn. I'll get him." Mallory closed his eyes and let Quinn take control of the body. "I'm here, mom," said Quinn, "we're okay. It was a pre-industrial world with little technology." "No matter how many times I see that it's still impressive," said Diana to Maggie. "If you didn't know any better you'd swear he was suffering from some kind of multiple personality disorder." "Either that or he's a Tok-Ra," Maggie said with a smile. "A what?" asked Diana. "Never mind," smiled Maggie. "I still sometimes can't believe it. Quinn was there all along, just buried. I wonder what it must be like for him, having to share his body with another person." "Don't you mean "them"?" asked Diana. "Yeah, sure, I just meant.." "I know what you meant," interrupted Diana." You may be able to fool some people, but I can tell by the way you look at him and the way you talk about him." "Nothing can ever happen, so don't get any ideas," said Maggie. "At least not until we can get the two of them separated, if it's even possible." "I doubt it," replied Diana. "Geiger said if we ever tried to separate them we would have to choose who lived and who died." "Yeah, I remember," said Maggie. "At least this way we can have them both. You know, she hasn't missed a single slide." "Amanda? I know. She's here when he leaves and here when he gets back." "She's terrified of losing him again," said Maggie. I wonder what it must be like for her, having to look at her son in a different body." "I just hope I can fix this someday," remarked Diana. "Di, we all know you're doing everything you can. If nothing ever comes of it, then at least we'll have that." It's not fair," begun Diana again, "Geiger made this mess, now I'm responsible for cleaning it up. And I don't even know if it's possible or not. "You still haven't forgiven him, have you?" asked Maggie. "I believe he was sincere in his apology, but I can never forgive him for what he did to Mallory and I, not to mention Quinn and Colin. Maybe someday I will, but it won't be anytime soon." "He did try to separate Quinn and Mallory, and he did give us the minidisk with yours and Rembrandt's home coordinates on it." "A lot of good it did," replied Diana. "The Kromagg sliding machine fried it just after Rembrant left. At least he may have gotten home. What about you? "What so you mean?" asked Maggie. "Can you ever forgive Geiger for what he did to Quinn and Colin?" Maggie thought a moment before answering. "Honestly", she began, "no. He took Colin away from Quinn, took Quinn away from me, and betrayed you and Mallory. Now my Quinn is fused together with yours, God knows what's happened to Colin, and you two can't even get home. So no, one last act of redemption couldn't make up for that, no matter how great it was." The two women talked a few more minutes before Quinn/Mallory walked up to them. "So, when's the next ride leave?" he asked, obviously with Mallory's personality back in control. "Me and Quinn have time to hit the town before the next sliiiiiiiide?" Maggie and Diana chuckled for a moment. They were getting better at telling the two Quinns apart, but still sometimes got them mixed up. "We're done for today," said Diana. "You two go, I don't paint the town or something," she laughed. "Oh don't worry," he said grinning, "we'll give it two coats. You guys wanna come?" "Not today, Mallory," said Diana. "I've got some data to go over. You two don't want to stay like this forever, do you?" "Hell no," he replied. "Maggie?" "I'm out, too. I think I'm going to get some rest," she answered. "Oh come on," he said, "where's that Air Force spirit?" "This former Air Force Captain is going to get some sleep," she said, smiling and punching him in the shoulder. "All right," he said, sighing and turning to leave. Just as he reached the door he let Quinn take over to ask "Sure you don't want to come, Maggie?" "I'm sure," she replied. Quinn smiled at her and started out the door. "You better behave yourself," called Amanda. "Don't worry, mom," said Quinn, "I will." "I was talking to Mallory," she smiled. Quinn laughed as he finally left. It was late, well after 1:00 in the morning when Quinn and Mallory made it back to their apartment. Mallory had been in control most of the night, and still was when they got home. They, or rather he, had spent most of the night clubbing through downtown San Francisco. "So, do I get a turn now?" asked Quinn from inside his mind. "Sure, why not," replied Mallory. "After all, there's no girls around so you don't have a chance of embarrassing yourself anymore," he said with a grin. He closed his eyes and let Quinn's mind and personality completely take over. "Oh come on", Quinn said. Said, not thought. "It wasn't that bad." "Dude, few women are impressed with quantum theory or advanced physics. And you actually tried to use it!" he laughed. Since they shared a stomach, they were both pretty hungry. Quinn walked around the kitchen fixing them something to eat, but continued to talk to Mallory as he did so. Well, Quinn did the talking and Mallory pretty much "thought" his answers to Quinn. When one of them was in control of the body, the other one was free to think at will, and if he chose to could actually talk to the other. It was like hearing a voice with nobody else in the room, a voice coming from inside the mind itself. Few people knew the truth about the two Quinn Mallorys. Thanks to the Seer, everyone knew who they were, or rather, who he was. But few knew that they now shared the body. As far as everyone else was concerned, Mallory was still the same person who had slid into their world almost a year before; one person with one mind who sometimes had memories from his duplicate after a scientist had merged them into one body. But this was just not so anymore. True, they were still trapped in one body, but now both of their minds were their own thanks to Dr. Geiger. Although they were pretty much free to think in their own, sometimes their minds would intertwine and their thought would be one. However, they were checked out almost daily by Diana to make sure that one of their quantum signatures didn't become dormant like Quinn's had. She didn't think it was possible, but still wanted to ensure that one matrix didn't become dominant over the other. After Dr. Geiger had "stirred the pot" so to speak when he tried to separate them, it had brought their body into equilibrium. The two matrices were no longer fighting for control like at first after the merge. They were simply two people in one body. "Well, what did you think of the blond?" asked Mallory. "She was okay," Quinn simply thought. He didn't have to talk for Mallory to hear him; they could communicate in thoughts. But when they were alone or with friends whoever was in control would usually speak to the other. Actually, Quinn preferred "thinking" to Mallory. After all, it was the only time he heard his true voice. But, they were alone and he didn't see the harm in speaking aloud. "She seemed a little wild, though." "Oh come on, man, they're the best ones!" Mallory replied. "Nothing wrong with a little excitement." "I wish you could have known Wade," said Quinn. "She was a wild girl if I ever saw one." "I did, in a way," thought Mallory. When our minds were totally fused together I could remember her a little. And sometimes even now when you think of her I can see what you're thinking or remembering and I feel what you feel." "Yeah, that's true," said Quinn. "The same thing happens to me sometimes." "Just don't go back to sleep or whatever," thought Mallory. "Your mother would kill me, and you in the process." Quinn smiled. He wished more than anything for a normal life again, but if he had to be stuck with someone else, this guy was alright. "Same here, bro," thought Mallory, their thoughts and minds slightly melded. Quinn remained in control when the two went to sleep. That was one of the drawbacks they had. One Quinn couldn't go to sleep while the other remained awake, it was both or none. As Quinn drifted off to sleep, he began to dream. He saw himself in an endless field of grass, with the sun shining overhead. His mother was there, and so was Colin. He could even see his birthparents sitting with them. Bopper, the dog he had when he was a boy was even there, playing in the grass. Suddenly he noticed something else in the distance. He couldn't make out the strange figure, but it seemed to be a person. All of the other figures in the dream had now disappeared. It was just him and this other thing. It was a person, he was sure of that, walking towards him and calling his name. Quinn suddenly realized he wasn't alone, three figures now stood by his side. One of them was Mallory, which wasn't so unusual. They often shared dreams with each other. But the other two people he saw were none other than Rembrandt Brown and Maximillian Arturo. The four of them stood side by side, gazing at the figure in the distance. Quinn could definitely hear the person calling to each of them. As the person came closer, they started to recognize her. "Quuuiiinnn, Remmmmy!" the woman called, her voice sounding like wind in the air. They started to make their way towards her, but then a wormhole opened in the sky above them, causing them to stop. A few seconds later another one opened, then another and another. Soon the sky was filled with thousands , if not millions of spinning vortices, of all shapes, sizes and colors. Quinn again tried to reach the girl, but just before he reached her she disappeared. Then, all of a sudden, he saw Arturo being pulled into a shimmering orange wormhole. At the same time, a bright red one opened and pulled in Rembrandt. Before he knew what was happening, a bluish -gray vortex appeared and swallowed him and Mallory. As the two men were flying through the tunnel, they could still her the mysterious voice calling to Quinn. "Quinn! What is that?" Mallory shouted over the noise of the wormhole. "I don't know!" he answered. "That woman looked like Wade!" "Wade is dead!" shouted Mallory. "That beer from last night is messing with our heads!" "What? Quinn shouted. Before Mallory could answer, the men rounded a corner of the tunnel, and saw the light that signaled they were reaching the end. Just as they did, Quinn woke up, covered in sweat and panting as if he had just ran twenty miles. "Wow," thought Mallory. "Wild dream, wonder which one of us had it?" "I think I did," Quinn said out loud. "But I don't think I just had it, I think it was directed at me." "Wade is dead," Mallory repeated. "I know you miss her, man, but you have to accept that." "Then how do you explain that dream?" said Quinn. "We know she could do that." "Dude, you probably just miss her, that's all. Why else do you think Rembrandt and that Arturo guy was there too? You probably just miss them all, and had a dream about them. I hate to bring you down, man, but we have to be realistic here." "I know," said Quinn. "I know." "Sorry, bro, but we all need to move on. Wade is dead, your old professor is dead, and God knows what happened to Rembrandt. Don't dwell in the past. I hate to say it, but move on." "You're right," he said. He settled back under the covers and started to go back to sleep. As he was lying there, he remembered all the times he had spent with Wade over the years. They had grown up best friends, and had gone on the most incredible adventure of all time. He cursed the Kromaggs for what they did to her. "Move on," came Mallory's voice again. Quinn remembered that in order for one of them to sleep, they both had to, and decided to let Mallory win this argument. He knew his double was right. It was time to move on. "I'll always love you, Wade," he thought to himself, making sure Mallory didn't hear. "And goodbye."