Chapter 7:
The sliders fell out of a portal above the alley way and landed on the ground. Michael grabbed his stomach and fell over.
"I don't feel so good." Michael said.
"Serves you right for drinking." Rebecca said.
"What was I supposed to do? Your double ordered the drink for me!" Michael rebuked.
"Guys, stop fighting, we need to figure out where we are. We have about half a day here." Sam said.
"Man, we've been getting lucky with the times huh, we haven't hit a world with more time than two days." Michael said.
"Anyway, let's check this place out. It might not be so nice..." Rebecca said.
"Good idea." Michael said as they walked out of the alleyway.
The trio stepped out to see a sleek white city. The buildings, streets and even the cars seemed to be made of of the same shiny white plastic.
"Is this the future?" Rebecca asked.
"Can't be. The timer is only programmed to travel between universes, not travel through time. This must be a more evolved society." Michael replied.
"Wow. I guess we should check around for some people." Rebecca said.
"There's some people over there!" Sam said.
"Let's go introduce ourselves..." Michael said as they walked toward a group of people.
The people were all wearing similar clothing. It was a completely black uniform, that seemed almost military in nature, except with rank insignia. The sliders walked up to the people who were conversing.
"Hi there. Uh, I'm Michael, and these are Sam, and Rebecca. We're new around here, can you tell us where the best sights to see are?" Michael asked.
"Ah yes, the government allowed attractions. Those are quite good. I especially like the large ball of synthetic string." the tallest one, and seemingly the leader said. "Oh, and my name is Lewis, and these are Doug, Noah and Lindsay." the other three waved.
"Is this a police state?" Sam asked.
"Ha ha, no. This is a socialist utopia." Lewis said.
"Indeed. We follow the views of Robert Owen, and Charles Fourier." Doug said.
"Wow..." Rebecca said. "Sounds interesting..."
"The utopian towns sprung up after the American Civil War, as the Confederate's invention of mustard gas led to the decimation of the Eastern cities. The survivors migrated to the west and created utopias, free of war, poverty and hunger." Lindsay said.
"But how is there no crime? You can't just stop crime!" Sam said.
"It's not that hard. The government regulates everything, everyone has what they need, and no one has more than anyone else." Noah said.
"Isn't that communism?" Rebecca whispered to Michael, who nodded affirmatively back.
"Anyway, we have to go, we must now go work, as our daily allotted work time is over." Lewis said.
"Nice to meet you..." Michael said and the sliders began to walk the opposite way to scope the city until they had to slide.
"Guys, this is insane. The government has complete control!" Sam said. "We have to help them!"
"This isn't our war." Michael said. "We lay low, and we slide. That's it."
"I hate to say it, but Michael's right. We can't get involved in another world's politics." Rebecca said.
A disheveled and dirty looking young man suddenly shot out of an alleyway. He appeared to be in his mid-twenties, and was very unshaven.
"You guys! You can't hang out with those nutjobs! The government controls everything, but I'm off the grid. Come with me." the man said. "I'm James by the way."
The sliders followed the man into an alleyway, where he lifted a garbage can to reveal a hidden tunnel. They climbed into the tunnel and started to walk through it.
"These are from when, during World War I, the Democratic Rebellion used to hide out, now my group, the American Party for the Liberation of the People, or APLP, hide out." James said.
"Tell me more about the history behind this world." Sam said.
"You really aren't from around here, are you?" James asked.
"Nope, tell us." Sam replied.
"Well, after the utopian towns showed up, the government turned them all into utopias. Then, after the entire country became utopias, except for the East Coast, which they left to their own devices after they got involved in the foreign wars. Then, when Russia did the same thing, following the ideals of Karl Marx, and then of course, taking over America was easy. There was so much propaganda in the damn news, radio and television, that no one noticed. Cept for me of course, I noticed and so did my people." James said.
"Sounds terrible!" Rebecca said.
"Try living it. Anyway, here we are." James said leading them into an alcove with a bunch of people polishing weapons. "Stand down!"
"Hi! Uh, we're just visiting for another... few hours or so." Michael said.
"Nice to meetcha." one of them said.
"Anyway... We'll get out of your way..." Michael said stepping backwards toward the door to the alcove.
"Not so fast, how do we know that they won't turn us in?" another of the group asked.
"Because, I agree with your cause! This utopia is a mad house!" Sam said.
"I like this guy!" the man who asked the question, who was a large man slapped Sam on the back. "You'll fit right in!"
"Right..." Rebecca said. "We just need to lay low for a bit."
"Yeah, so we can't really help out all that much." Michael said.
"Listen. I saved you, therefore, you owe me big time. We have a mission that must be done by unregistered people. And you definitely are." James said.
"We aren't helping." Michael said.
"Yes we are." Sam said, and he stood in front of the door to the alcove. "We have to do it, this world needs us! It needs a change!"
"Fine..." Michael said, and turned to Rebecca. "Sam is a bit... stubborn. When he gets an idea he goes with it. It'll be alright."
"Yeah!" the group shouted and ushered the sliders into a room with equipment.
"Take what you want." James said and pointed to a wall of armor and guns.
"I'll take this." Sam said picking up a large gun.
"I'll pass." Rebecca said.
"Don't want to take part in the fight?" Sam asked.
"I hate guns. Something I was taught by my dad." Rebecca said.
"Really?" Michael asked.
"Yeah. My grandfather was killed in a hunting accident. My dad has abhorred guns ever since." Rebecca said. "He instilled the idea in me."
"Well, I'd rather not touch the guns either. I think Rebecca and I will stay behind with the timer." Michael said.
"Fine then. Suit yourselves." Sam said. "Let's kick some utopian ass!"
The group of freedom fighters, and Sam ran off as Michael and Rebecca remained behind and stared at the timer. Michael turned to Rebecca.
"So, about that last world. What happened with my double?" Michael asked.
"He thought I was his Rebecca, and we led him to the restaurant to do the switch." Rebecca replied. "Why?"
"I saw that guy, he seemed like a sleaze. And I might have been drunk, but it seemed like you left in a hurry." Michael said.
"Well... He might have been a little forceful, but I just figured that it was how this universe was." Rebecca said.
"Did you punch him in the face? Because I would've." Michael said.
"If Sam hadn't walked in at the right time, he would've been lying on the ground, and my double would be arrested for assault." Rebecca said.
"Well, if we ever land on a world where it's the reverse scenario, and your double tries any of that on me, I'll respectfully tell her no." Michael said smiling.
Suddenly a group of large men in the black uniforms that Lewis and his associates wore ran into the room. They aimed their guns at Michael and Rebecca, who put their hands up.
"Come with us. Now!" one of the men said.
They were led out of the sewers and into one of the white buildings. They were shoved into a cell and a force-field appeared at the door.
"God damn it!" Michael shouted. "I knew we shouldn't have gotten involved!"
"Calm down. I'm sure we'll get out of this." Rebecca said putting her hand on his shoulder.
"At least we still have the..." Michael said grabbing his pocket. "The timer!"
"How did we lose it?" Rebecca asked.
"They must have taken it when they brought us here." Michael said.
"I hope they didn't get Sam. He was with those freedom fighters, and we might not get to him before the slide." Rebecca said.
"Me too." Michael said.
Meanwhile, Sam sat in the interrogation room, as an officer punched him in the face. Sam just sat there smiling at the officer.
"Just tell us what this is, and we'll give you back your friends." the officer said pointing to the timer.
"I told you. It's a device that can open a portal to another universe." Sam said.
"Nice try, the government has said many times that travel between dimensions is impossible." the officer said.
"Your government is wrong!" Sam said.
"Shut your face!" the officer said punching Sam again.
Michael sat with Rebecca in the cell. He stared out of the cell and rested his face in his palms. He looked at Rebecca.
"Hey, what's your opinion of me?" Michael asked.
"Taking away that stuff about stranding me away from my home, you're okay I guess." Rebecca said.
"Am I attractive?" Michael asked.
"To me? No. But I guess to someone else you could be." Rebecca replied.
An officer walked up to the cell and turned off the force-field. Michael and Rebecca stood up and braced themselves for a fight. The officer took off their goggles to reveal that they were in fact, Lewis.
"Guys, I'm breaking the law, but I felt I owed you." Lewis said motioning to the door.
"Thanks. Do you know where Sam and my "phone" are?" Michael asked.
"Yes. I'll bring you there." Lewis said and led them to a room. He opened the door and Sam was lying in a chair.
"Sam!" Michael shouted and ran in to untie him. Rebecca grabbed the timer and looked at it.
"We have a minute!" Rebecca shouted.
"I got Sam untied!" Michael said and stood Sam up. "Buddy, are you okay?"
"The government is lying! Fight the power!" Sam said.
"Is he telling the truth?" Lewis asked.
"Listen, I'm not sure, but there's this guy named James, and he can tell you everything. We have to go." Michael replied as Rebecca activated the timer. The vortex opened and Michael pushed Sam in and he and Rebecca followed. Lewis looked on in awe.
"Oh my god..." Lewis said.
To Be Continued