HK
Gamemaster

"This...." said Logan, trying to talk whilst simultaneously holding her breath. "Is the second most horrible world I've been to."
"What was the first ?" asked Quinn, sitting next to her. They had called a truce after a storm had left them barricaded into the Dominion hotel. Unfortunately, someone had let Henry the multiple-farting dog in.
"Oh man." said Rembrandt. "I told you, we should crack open a window or something!"
"No!" said Wade. "Just because he has a flatulence problem doesn't mean we should throw him out."
The hurricane pounded on the plywooded (is that a word ?) windows as the occupants suffered inside.Everyone stared at the dog as Rembrandt rolled his eyes.
*perf*
"Miss Wells, there is a visible fart haze forming in this room."
"Come on guys, there's just a few seconds left." She counted down and activated the timer, which set a few things on fire. Literally.
"The vortex is on fire!" said Arturo redundantly.
"No kidding." said Logan, trying to hold back laughter.
"Well, uh, come on guys, let's go." said Quinn.
"What about Logan ?" asked Wade.
"I've got a few seconds left. Here we go." Logan activated the timer, which was strapped to her wrist. A glowing orange bullet of energy screamed across the room and exploded. A clear vortex formed soon after.
Quinn looked at it with surprise. The others had already leapt into the vortex. "When did you fix it ?"
"Wouldn't you like to know ?" said Logan, suddenly whipping out a gun. Quinn didn't need to know anymore, but leapt into the vortex as Logan shot in frustration.
"Damn" she said after the vortex closed. She had heard him cry out, but wasn't sure whether he was hit. Unfortunately, there was no time to find out. "I know where to find you, Mallory."

Meanwhile, our sliders had checked into the dominion hotel, where there seemed to be some kind of theme. Arturo studied the curving architecture as they went upstairs.
"Well, looks like another laid back world. Anyone for the amusement park ?" Wade asked as they walked.
Quinn looked at the timer. "Well, it's still functioning normally. No qunatum singularities popping up."
"Huh. No John Tesh either. I think I'm going to like this world." said Rembrandt.
"Well, then. We're going to have some fun. It's been awhile, if you know what I mean."
Arturo frowned as they went upstairs. "This architecture is familiar. I'm going to have to research this. It might be important."
"Oh come on, professor." said Quinn. "Let it lie for awhile. I'm sure there will be interesting architecture on the next world too."

Logan flew out of the vortex into the empty basement of the Dominion. She quickly looked around for the gun she had thrown in before her. She picked it up, and checked it. One bullet left. Relieved, she put it back in her coat and quickly hid the timer under her sleeve. She had soon learned that some worlds didn't take kindly to blinking red digits.
She narrowed her eyes at her surroundings. Interesting. She could slide here every world until she found the sliders again. A devious smile formed as she realized her luck. Somehow, she would get Mallory to fix her timer and send her home. One way or the other.

The receptionist looked up at the woman who approached the table. He wasn't one to judge, but she was pretty good-looking.
"Hello, I'm looking for some friends. Has anyone by the name of Quinn Mallory checked in this week ?"
"Ohh, you just missed him. Do you want me to buzz him down ?"
Logan thought a little, then smiled. She had all the time in the world, thanks to Quinn.
"Sure, tell him..."

"What do you mean you hate rollercoasters ?"
Rembrandt shook his head. "Girl , I group those things with bungee jumping and jumping off cliffs." He frowned. "We did that a lot recently, didn't we ?"
"You can stand water rides, right ?" asked Wade anxiously.
Quinn just smirked and continued reading the newspaper. "Hey professor, check this out. Escaped lion mauls theatre-goers after San Francisco Olympics."
The professor walked into the room, nursing a glass of iced tea. "Hmm. It seems this world is obsessed with medieval times. It must be the current fad."
"Like the 60s ?" asked Wade. "I kind of liked that world better."
"Yeah, what kind of culture is inspired by mass killings and random taxes ?" asked Remmy.
"Well, people hardly remember things for the negative, Mr. Brown." replied the professor. The buzzer sounded, startling them.
"Strange." The professor turned to see who it was.
The sliders looked at each other, puzzled.
"Well, whatever it is, it's probably interesting." said Remmy.
"Great." said Wade. "There goes the amusemnt park."
The professor returned, frowning deeply.
"Who was it ?" asked Quinn, sensing something wrong.
The professor paused. "It's Logan St. Clair. She wants to see Quinn."

He looked at the sliders. She had finally caught up to them.
********************************************************

Hurrikain : That has to be the weirdest starting ever.
Slider142 : What about that two paragraph RK start ?
Hurrikain : I stand corrected.
Slider142 : Hey, Mychand, what's up ?
Mychand : They cancelled Sliders.
Slider142 : Oh boy...
Torch <voice of Veronice Cartwright> : Maybe we should move on...

Slider142 : Right. Hey Ann, your turn.

Quinn was somewhat less surprised about Logan's reappearance than the others. Back in the world where their lives were a tv show he'd heard several fans begging for her return, even though she'd only been a one episode character. He thought back on the day they'd met and found it hard to separate the real memories from his emories of the show... He knew that on tv she'd been set up as a recurring villan. He smiled... she was a villan he could get used to. During their truce at that barricaded Dominion he had spent a lot of time with her, learning about the subtle differences made to their lives by that one chromosome. For a while after discovering that she was his double, he'd felt silly about his attraction to her.. it seemed egotistical, but now he understood that they had a bond, just like all the other Quinn's he tried to help and he could leave her lost. He had no intention of sending her back to her own world, of course... she'd done too much damage there already... but he might be willing to help her get started somewhere else... maybe some world without a Quinn at all. So when Arturo told him the message was from Logan, he wasn't surprised, after all she'd found them at the last hotel, hadn't she?
"Quinn?" Wade tried to call him back to this world. She stepped back from the window where she'd been watching a joust in the courtyard. For a second she tried to remember if the other dominions had had courtyards. She frowned, she couldn't remember, oh well. "Quinn?"
He looked up.
"How did Logan find us again? and why does she want to see you, didn't she hear enough from you last time?"
"There's one way to find out..." he headed for the door.
"Q-ball have you lost your mind?" Remmy grabbed his arm. "Now I know you had some kind of truce thing going on back there... but we aren't back there anymore.."
"I'm sure it'll be fine, Remmy. We talked, she's not going to try and hurt me again"
"She shot at you man! or have you forgotten how that last joust ended? if hadn't been for the armor..."
"I thionk our sudden arrival in the midst of it all was sufficient distraction, Mr. Brown. With or without the bullet."
Remmy let go of Quinn for second to face Arturo.
"Look Professor, I just don't think it's a good idea for Quinn to just answer the girl's beck and call. I mean what do you think she has planned now?"
"That's what I'm going to find out." with that, Quinn was through the door and striding confidently to the front desk.
Wade, meanwhile, had been distracted by what was going on in the courtyard. But what was going on in the courtyard? They'd stopped the joust for some reason and everyone was staring at a door back into the hotel. Soon Wade was glued to it too. She didn't even turn around when she heard the noises in the hall, or when she heard Rembrandt, "What the hell?" or the professer "I'm sure it's nothing, Mr Brown, come and try these- what was that?" It sounded as if someone was being attacked and dragged down the hall. Remmy rushed to the door "Calm down Mr. Brown, I'm sure it has nothing to do with us. "Q-Ball?!" Remmy called into the empty hallway. Just then Wade saw the crowd become more frenzied as the door openned...

****************************************************************

Ann - Tah Dah!! I introduced conflict, got in some character and managed to use the appropriate language for each character. it's all yours Mychand! <Ann ceremonially lifts the torch from it's cradle and presents it to Mychand on one knee>
Torch - Will you get on with it!
Ann - <to Mychand> It's up to you now. Good luck!
-Ann

Mychand: Ok, Ok, here goes nothing...................
****************************************************

"Hey guys, look out here," said Wade. "Something is going on out in the court yard."

Remmy and the Professor ran to the window.

"I can't see a thing," said Remmy. "There are too many people in the way."

"I have a sinking feeling that we need to get down there," replied the Professor.

Wade, Remmy and the Professor headed down to the entrance of the Dominion. By the time they reached their destiny the crowd has dispersed. There was no sign of Quinn.

"I knew that girl would be trouble," said Remmy. "I wonder what happened to Quinn?"

"Now Remmy," said Wade. "We don't know if that crowd had anything to do with Quinn."

"Just a moment and I'll asked at the front desk," said the Professor.

Wade and Remmy sat on the front steps of the Dominion until the Professor returned.

"The desk clerk was no help," he said. "He didn't see the commotion out front and he never saw Mr. Mallory come through the lobby."

"Now what?" asked Remmy.

"I say we give the boy a few hours," said the Professor. "He may just be meeting with Miss St. Claire. There is no cause for alarm just yet."

"I agree," replied Wade. "Quinn is a big boy. Let's go find something a little more fun to do while we wait."

"You two go ahead," said the Professor. "I'll wait upstairs for until Mr. Mallory returns."

"Fun, fun, fun," said Remmy. "Girl, that's all you want these days."

Wade smiled. "Come on Remmy," she said. "There is this little shop around the corner that I want to check out."

Remmy followed Wade. She knew he would follow her anywhere she wanted to go. Wade was the first to enter the shop. She was so excited that she didn't notice at first that Remmy was not behind her.

Wade heard a loud crash outside the shop and went to investigate.

"Remmy?!" she said. "Remmy, where are you?"

Remmy was no where around. Worried, Wade ran back to the hotel to find the Professor. When she got back to the room the Professor gone. The room had been ransacked. Wade suddenly felt dizzy. "What's happening to me?" she said as she fell to the floor.
******************************************************

Mychand: Ok, I'm done. It's your turn at the desk HurriKain. I kept it short.

<Mychand passes the torch>

HurriKain: Well, it's about time.

Ooooooooooh boy...........

==================================================================

When Wade woke up, she found herself in a very ornate room. The chairs, funiture, drapes, and bed was all fancy and seemed to have a medieval feel. She immediately reached for the doorknob, but to her misfortune, it was locked. Then she thought that's how the other's probably disappeared also...but she couldn't explain the dizziness. The least she could do was to wait for someone to come to her quarters and explain what's going on...

The Professor found himself in a room adjoining a modern lab. He couldn't recall how he got there, all he knew that he was feeling dizzy and decided to take a nap... then he was here. Arturo decided to survey his surroundings so he can try to find out his location. The lab was pretty modern: test tubes, Bunsen burners, Graphs and charts, and a computer at a nearby wall... but it was somehow different. On a shelf near the door, He notice some strange materials... "Eye of Newt? Tongue of Dog? Dragon's Tears? How poposterous... I think I might have stumbled in 'MacBeth' World..."
When he tried the door, it was locked. And with his frustration, He banged on it, "Open this door! You can't Keep me in here, you blistering idiots! Let me out, confound you!" After a while, he realized it was no use, There was no one around to hear his ragings and orders. He decided to pass time for someone should get here, he should rummage thorugh the lab for something useful, and at the far corner he saw a cauldron..."Good Greif"...

"Look, Look. They're coming around."
Quinn woke up and saw men looking at him strangely... "Wha? Where am I?"
One of them spoke up and the way he was dressed differently, he might be the leader.
"Well don't worry, we won't harm you. I hope we didn't trouble you both..."
Quinn looked confused. "Both?..." Then he looked beside him and saw Remmy coming out of it as well.
"What the devil's going on here?"
"Well...you're in the Knight's Quarters...and it's almost time for Training..."
Remmy looked confused. "Training?"
"Yes", the leader spoke. "I've been given orders to bring you here and suit you up as you came around..."
Quinn was more confused. "Why? We're not from here..."
The leader smiled, "We know... but all my leage told me that you had great promise... So come with me and I'll teach you proper procedure..."
As the leader walked down the hallway, Remmy and Quinn had a whisperring conversation as they followed.
"Q-Ball, what did you think he meant as he knew we were strangers here..."
"I don't know... but If we stick around here for a while, we might find out what's going on...
"Did you meet Logan back at the lobby?"
"No... I must have blacked out before I could..."
"What do these people want from us?"
"I don't know Remmy.... I don't know..."

Wade was staring out the window, seeing a vast courtyard. She saw many people passing by and tried to get their attention, but the glass must be soundproof... She sat in that beautiful room which felt like a couple of hours by herself. Then she heard a sound that startled her... someone was opening the lock on the door...

==================================================================

HK: Well... That's that.
<BritSlider walks beside HK to see what he wrote...>
BritSlider: This is what I have to follow up on?!?!?!?!!?!?!
HK: I said I was out of ideas...<hands BritSlider torch>
BritSlider:<mumbles> thanks a lot!
HK: Don't mention it... and hurry up with your part, I want to do my commercial afterwards... it's going to be a real doosy...
<HK runs away with maniacal laughter... leaving the torch with BritSlider...>

--------------------------------

Wade turned to face the door as it was opened. Three young women entered the room, all dressed in very plain clothing. As they approached Wade they all bowed. "Is the Lady ready for her morning bath?" the first one asked.
"Er, yeah. Sure." Wade replied, more than a little confused. She almost started to protest when they started to undress her, but she figured that if they want to pamper her then she would damned well let them! Another maid entered with buckets of steaming hot water, and poured them into a large tub that Wade had failed to notice in the corner of the room. When all was ready, she lay back in the tub and let the warmth of the water course through her aching body.
About ten minutes later she thought she heard someone open the door to her room. Maybe if was another maid come to top-up the tub with hot water? She turned to see who is was, and let out a sharp gasp of recognition; "YOU!!"

-------

The Professor approached the cauldron with some trepidation. The smells coming from it were somewhat pungent, and not in the least bit inviting, but his curiosity got the better of him and he went to have a look. He took a ladle hanging on the wall next to it, and scooped out some of the contents. To his horror he saw what appeared to be bone fragments from a human hand! What kind of would had they gotten into now? He was having a little trouble with the dichotomy of the modern computers, and the 'witches' ingredients. It seemed this culture had made advances in certain fields of science, but not in others. Very strange. A further search of the room revealed a work journal, belonging to; "Alchemist To The Court Of King David". Reading the latest entries he saw that this alchemist had finally perfected a way of turning lead into gold, and that was now being used to fuel the countries economy. "Those blistering idiots!" The Professor spat. "Don't they realise that if you degrade lead into gold then it becomes highly radioactive? They are poisoning this planet for the sake of money!"
Just then the door opened, and a voice reached the Professor; "Ah, I see you've found my latest work. Interesting reading, don't you think?"
The Professor turned to face the voice, and a look of horror spread across his face as he recognised the person in the doorway, "YOU!!!"

--------

Quinn and Remmy followed the two squires to an armoury. "So," said Quinn, "Who do you think their Liege could be?"
"I don't know," replied Remmy, "and didn't that guy call him his 'leage'?"
"Yeah I know, he obviously doesn't know the proper word for that either. Maybe he's from Canada?"
There in the armoury they were kitted out in the full gear ready for combat. Then they were taken to the courtyard, where they were to begin their training. Their instructor started them with the basic block and parries, before moving onto more complex combinations that left the two of them gasping for air after an hour in the hot metal suits of armour. As they took a quick break to rink some water, one of the squires came up to them. "My Leage is impressed with your progress, he's coming down to speak to you right now."
"Don't you mean your Liege?" Asked Quinn
"Hey, that's how we pronounce it in Canada, smartass!"
Quinn was just about to say something else when a man in regal apparel walked into the courtyard. Quinn and Remmy both gasped when they saw who it was.
"Y........" they began. "Oh. I'm sorry, we thought your were someone else. Our mistake."

---------------------------------------------------------

<BritSlider lays down the pen, and takes the torch out of it's special holder, ready to give to SL4ever. He walks over to the chair and extends the torch towards him>
BritSlider: Here you go, your turn for the story now.
SL4ever: But I don't want to get out of this chair, it's too comfortable. Can't you just drag the desk over here for me?
BritSlider: No way! If I do that it will leave big scrape marks on the floor of my nice new cave! I still haven't got all the stains out from that blanket party we gave Peckinpunk!
SL4ever: Yeah, sorry about the mess, I guess I got a little carried away with that baseball bat!
BritSlider: That's okay, he had it coming.
<BritSlider goes to hand the torch to SL4ever, but is stopped by a plaintive cry from the back of the cave. They turn to face the source of the voice>
BritSlider: YOU!!!
SL4ever: Oh, don't start that again! You've given me enough of those in the story already!
BritSlider: What? I just thought I'd give you enough free reign to take the story where you wanted.
<They see the form of HurriKain rushing towards them>
HurriKain: Hey, he can't carry on with the story just yet; I've got to do my bit first.
BritSlider: Oh yeah, your advert.
HurriKain: My COMMERCIAL!
BritSlider: Well, you might call it that in Canada, but this is my cave, so in here it's an advert!
HurriKain: I am NOT from Canada! Stop saying that!
BritSlider: Then quit going on about my ass!
SL4ever: Look, do I get to do my bit in the story or not?
HurriKain: No, I have to do my, erm, 'selling bit' first.
SL4ever: Cool, I'll just stay here in the chair then.
<BritSlider hands the torch to HurriKain, but not without some small measure of reservation>
BritSlider: Go on then, do your worst!
HurriKain: Oh don't worry, I intend to! HAHAHAHAHA!

TO BE CONTINUED...

<SL4ever sets the oil lamp's flame at just the correct height, adjusts his seat just so, spies Sarah, Chaser, and Blinker picking up the large thick blanket and hurriedly picks up his quill pen ...>

****
Logan smiled. "You wear bath water well, my dear."

"Yeah, well, you'll be trying to breathe it if you come any closer. How about you just take yourself right back out that door?"

Logan ignored that and wandered over to where Wade had stacked her clothes. "I'll bet that you never imagined yourself sitting naked in a tub while I searched your pockets, did you?" She reached for Wade's jeans.

"That's it!" Wade spat and rose from the water.

Logan wheeled and a pistol appeared like magic in one clenched fist. "Sit your hot ass down! NOW! If you have the timer I'll be taking it. If you don't sit down this instant, I'll be robbing a corpse rather than an irritating pixie!"

Wade's face burned but she did as she was told and settled back in the water.

"Good girl." Logan muttered haughtily making it a point to turn her back and search the other woman's belongings. "So you don't have it. Unless you are hiding it on you?" She turned and smirked at Wade. "Not very likely. Very well, have a good bath. And stay out of my way. I am far too amused to kill you right now, but if we cross paths again on this world, I'll not be so magnanimous. Ta ta."

Fuming, Wade leaped from the tub the instant the door closed. "That #@!$*%) -ing *(%U#@&$!!!!!! I'll show her 'pixie' as soon as I get my boots on!!!!"

***

The Professor stared into his double's face. "What kind of world would turn me into a bone caressing charlatan?"

Arturo2 shrugged. "Not this one. I Slid through here last year and decided to stay behind when I saw the 'golden' opportunities available. This world is a paradise to one with my advanced knowledge and infinite intellect. I am rich beyond your wildest dreams, graced with any luxury and companionship I desire, and I even have some political pull. What more could one ask for?"

Arturo felt anger coursing through him. "Oh, that is a very good question. Let me examine that for a moment. I've got it!! My soul! My self respect! The companionship of my close friends! How is that for starters, you morally deprived renegade!"

Arturo2 clutched his heart dramatically. "Oh! You wound me, sir! How shall I ever recover? I guess a cup of the finest wine in the land, a roasted pig, and a fresh wench will see me through my emotional wounds."

"What is it you want with me?" the professor sighed.

"Oh," the other man seemed pleased with the question, "now we arrive at the point, I see. It is quite simple. I pulled strings and arranged to have your friends picked up when I spied you arrive. I have also arranged for them to enter various dangerous contests which should result in their demise. But you ... you I am offering to spare if you will agree to come work with me. Two heads are better than one. Plus, if I appear to be in two places at once that will only strengthen my reputation as a world class wizard."

"I fine plan, especially since three dozen people have seen me since I arrived and probably have little doubt that I am a different person than you. To say nothing of whoever brought me here to this room. They must have NO doubt that I am a different person." Arturo pointed out gleefully.

Arturo2 looked to be even heavier than his double, no doubt he had been living the good life, and now he rubbed his massive tummy contentedly. "That is irrelevant. Nothing that cannot be explained. Give me an answer, will you join me or share the fate of your friends?"

****

"Ahhhhhhh. Moist excellent, if I do say so myself. It's up to you now, Sarah! Say Sarah, did you ever hear the one about the guy who could tell time by grabbing a donkey's -."

Slider_Sarah: "Plech! I hardly think that is proper conversation! Potty mouth!"

SL4ever: "Hey! It's not what you're thinking! I wasn't talking about what you think I was! You didn't let me finish!"

Slider_Sarah: "Very well, finish."

<SL4ever leans forward and whispers the joke to her.>

Slider_Sarah <fighting a fierce blush> : "That was the most foul, disgraceful, reprehensible joke I've ever heard! You should be ashamed of yourself!"

SL4ever <tapping fingers together and using best Burns voice>: "Ex-cel-lent."

All others in unison: "Will you get on with it!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!??!?!"

Torch <sighing> : "He- ... oh, why bother?"

***

The regally dressed man spoke. "You progress is impressive. You have mastered the basic principals quickly and will be rewarded. There will be a tournament in 5 hours. You have been permitted to enter." The man was Ryan (okay, so I didn't have many options!), the guy the Sliders had met back on 'Lottery World' and who had attempted to win Wade's love. There was no hint of a recognition of Quinn or Rembrandt in his face, so Quinn and Remmy both concluded that it was not the same Ryan.

"Those were the basics? A Tournament? Now? We're not ready!" exclaimed Remmy.

The man they knew as Ryan turned around with sweeping movement of his cloak. "You have no choice. The greatest wizard of our world has requested it and as you have reached a suitable enough point in training, we honour his wish. Therefore you will participate in the tournament to the death."

Once Ryan had left, one of the squires turned to the two Sliders. "We will now got to join our leage. You are to stay here. Further training is your responsilbility." With that the squires exited the courtyard quickly and attempted to catch up with their 'leage.'

"What do we do now?" asked Rembrandt, the ever practical. "We can't possibly survive in a proper tournament!"

"You're telling me!" replied Quinn. "Either we have to get very good very fast, or we have to find a way out of here. You up for option two?"

Remmy didn't even need to think about that one. "Always been my lucky number!"

***

Having thrown on a few clothes, enough so she was at decently covered, Wade almost pulled the door handle off in her haste to chase after Logan. hat b***h couldn't be allowed to get away with that! Wade was totally outraged. Logan had not locked the door behind her, so Wade was able to open it and run out onto the corridor.

No-one was there. She called, "You can't hide from me!" but all she received in return were echose. She ran further down the candle-lit, stone-walled corridor until she reached a crossroads. She looked both ways, but in neither direction could see any trace of Logan. Where had she disappeared to.

Suddenly, Wade was hit from behind and she collapsed into darkness.

When she finally awoke, she was totally unprepared for that which she saw. She was back in the room again, but this time it was different. Very different. A figure loomed over her...

***

The professor thought for some time before announcing an answer to his double. After a few moments, he came to the conclusion that he could do more to help his friends escape by playing along with his double's schemes and secretly sabotaging. It was cliched, but it was the best chance he had. "I have no wish to die. I will join you." It pained Arturo to say those words, but he disguised them well. It pained him because it felt like he was betraying his friends, even though he knew he was not, and also because Arturo knew he was dying anyway and nothing could be done to prevent that.

"I suspected you were more like me than you cared to admit!" roared his double. The he sobered. "But until I know I can trust you, there will some restrictions. I'm not mentally challenged!" The Arturo double slumped into a comfy chair behind a desk. "Ah! I think I shall have a meal sent up to my apartment. Would you care to join me? We can discuss a few things afterwards, and maybe hire a little entertainment." Arturo2 winked at the last part, indicating the kind of entertainment he preferred.

Arturo did not wish to spend any time with this particular double of his, but could find no real reason to refuse politely without setting off alarm bells in Arturo2's head.

"Now this is interesting," muttered Arturo2 as he read off the computer.

This piqued Arturo's curiosity. "May I enquire what has you so enthralled?"

Arturo2 turned his head sharply back to face the Slider. "We can discuss it over our meal. Come!"

***

<Sarah stands up from her chair and picks up the torch from it's holder. As she moves away from the desk, she trips over it's leg and goes flying into the middle of the cave. She looks up to see Chaser9>
Sarah: Ah! There you are! Your go! I tried to be nice, but erm... I got a little stuck. Several times. Have fun with it anyway!
<She shoves the torch up towards Chaser, but can't reach from the ground so has to stand up.>
Chaser9: Er... thanks.
Sarah: You're welcome! Oh Blinker! There's a quote in there! A nice easy one too!

Chaser: oy vey!
__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________



Arturo stared at his double. He disgusted him. He had no table manners wahtsoever. Arturo2 began to speak, "As you can see here *munch* *munch* *munch* There was a large energy spike emananting from somewhere nearby. It appears *munch* *munch* *munch* *burp* to be a localized distortion of some type." "Meaning ?" Arturo asked. His double eyed him strangely, " I was hoping you could tell me what it meant."

Quinn and Rembrandt quietly crept through the corridors. They were attempting to avoid being seen. It seemed to be working for the moment.

"All clear QBall?" Remmy asked. "Shhh. Someone's coming." Quinn replied.

Ryan and his squire walked down the corridor. Quinn and Rembrandt hid in the sidewalls as the two passed.

"That was close, Remmy. You can get your elbow out of my back now." "I'm over here, Quinn." Quinn saw Rembrandt was standing right next to him. "Then who?" Quinn turned around to see Logan holding a gun. "Hi, Quinn . . . . let's have a little fun."

Wade's eyes began to focus, she could finally make out the figure standing abovce her. It was an older man. He wore outlandish wizard-like clothes and seemed to have a very strange look in his eyes.

"Who?" Wade asked. "Yes yes, you are awake at last I see. Who I am is Merlin and I believe you can be of great help to me. Great help indeed."
___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Chaser: Okay! I gave it a try! Hope it's enough Blinker. Blinker?

<sounds of arguing>

Sarah: I want the remote, Blinker!

Blinker: No! We're watching Earth 69! I can't get enough of Coleen!

Chaser: Blinker!

Blinker: oh yeah . .right. . . the story .

<Chaser9 hands Blinker the torch>

Chaser: Yeah, knock yourself out. Think I'll go over here and down a six pack of Colin Mallory's Can of Whup Ass and take a couple of Kari Wuher's Caffeine Pills . . . . .

Wade blinked sleep from her eyes. "Muh... Merlin?" She laughed
uneasily. "As in the legend of King Arthur?"

Merlin held himself up regally, though not without a touch of irritation.
"Do I *seem* a legend to you, my dear?" He snorted. "I'd advise you
not to speak so rashly to a Wizard of the Blue Robes."

Wade looked nervously to each side. "What do you want with me?"

"Ah!" He smiled in approval. "That's a matter best discussed while
we're on our way." From his billowing cape, the mage withdrew an
impressively jeweled wand, then aimed it at the wall.

Space withdrew, then twisted around a point like the water in a
draining bathtub. Wade soon found herself looking down a glowing,
ruby-coloured passageway that seemed to stretch unto infinity.

"Coming?"

***

"Energy spikes, you say?" The Professor squinted and put down his
roast... *something* leg. "Do you have the data on that recorded?"

His double did not so much as blink. "You weren't already aware of
this?"

Arturo hit the roof. "Of COURSE not, you blistering idiot! I've barely
been here a day and I haven't created any kind of... localized
distortion."

The alternate held his gaze a moment longer, then sighed and rested
his head on one fist. "Rats. Well, I suppose it might be some new
creation of the Guild."

"Hm?"

"The Wizards' Guild. They're not real wizards, of course..." He cast
about for a suitable comparison, then snapped his fingers. "You might
call them techno-mages. They mimic the, uh, the magic of legends
through the use of technology.

"Their leader's name is Herbert Thackeray... though he prefers to be
addressed as "Merlin." I myself have built up a greater reputation than
these lunatics... I'd dismiss the lot of them as harmless if they weren't
effectively a branch of the government."

"Government??"

"Mm, yes. This is a culture that places great emphasis on the archaic,
even the occult. They've buried themselves in their own superstitious
past." Arturo's double swallowed and shook his head. "I'll show you
the readings I collected in a moment. God only knows what the Guild
is up to if these spikes are their fault..."

***

"The timer, Quinn. Where is it?"

Quinn's mind raced, yet he tried to keep his voice as collected as
possible. "I don't have it. It's... back in the hotel room."

Logan smiled. "That's what I thought. Five seconds to hand it over, or
I kill him." She swung the gunsight onto Rembrandt.

Quinn tried to stare her down, but knew he'd lost. He removed the
timer from his vest and handed it over. Satisfied, Logan pocketed it
while keeping the gun trained on both of them.

A moment later she collapsed to the ground, victim of a very nasty
blow to the head... dealt by Ryan.

The trainer shook his head. "A firearm. Less than chivalrous. I believe
we have found ourselve a third prospective contestant..."

=====
<The writers start to file back into the main cave>
HurriKain: Well, Chaser, on behalf of the players I'd like to formally
thank you for your contribution of a MAYBE Machine.
Chaser9: You're very welcome, HK. And now if you don't mind, I
shall *GET BACK TO* trying to fix up my brother's Aptiva. I'm
telling you, that thing's gotta be the oldest machine on *EARTH*.
Probably, oh, *SIXTY-NINE* thousand years old at the least.
*WE* don't even use it, unless we *NEED* to. Which I hope won't
happen any*MORE*, don't you, Blink?
Blinker: All right! I get the message! So your brother's computer
sucks, big deal!
sleepingtiger <entering the cave>: What are you just standing there
for?
Blinker: Hm? Oh, I'm carrying a torch for you.
<sleepingtiger blushes furiously and snatches the torch away...>

--Blinker 7:-)

Logan was pissed. How dare these pathetic plebians degrade her in such a manner? They would pay dearly. The bast--Before she could complete the thought a sword breezed by her face. Automatically she blocked. Thank the gods her stepfather had insisted on fencing lessons. They might just save her life this time. After much sweat and blood had spilled Logan stood victorious over her victem--er opponent. Declared the winner she stalked away. Quinn was next.

Quinn and Remmy had finally convinced Ryan to let them meet the legue--er leige. A sad rotund carbon copy of the Professor laughed delightedly at their confusion. "What do you think my double, should I take this one for his brain?"
A miserable looking Max Arturo shook his head at his two companions.

Herbert Thackery aka Merlin looked at delight upon his newest aquisition. This mirror could speak. "Mirror mirror on the table who among the wizards is the most unstable?"
"Ah my friend that would be the dynamic duo that is Maximillion Arturo." His fears confirmed Merlin summoned his fellow techno mages. And he prepared to argue for the death of his protoge.

"Damn she's not one of them either."
"Junior could Dad be completely wacked?" She turned her dark eyes on her childhood friend. This quest had taken them two years and only once had they come close to the answers they needed.
"I'm sorry Xine."
"Excuse me," the single Wade spoke, "my friends are in trouble. Can you help?"
"If they are willing we can send your doubles. Unfortunatly we don't have time to help your group."
"No easy sting this time eh?" The man calling himself Junior grinned at Xine. The third member of their group walked in with their gear and a timer. The five sliders gasped. He looked like Quinn; not an exact copy, but a brother or something.
"Hello. I'm Colin.I see you recognize my looks?" He smile was sweet. He didn't have the devilish attitude of the Quinns. "I have the means to send you midevil."

A few hours later two Wades, Quinn, Remmy and Arturo stood outside the palace. "This should be fun." Wade couldn't figure out which of the men spoke.




st: Stretches. I'm off to bed.
Sarah: That's what you left wrldjmpr with?
st: I've lived up to my rep. It all ties in now.
Sarah: But you brought back Junior and Maxine from Game 10. That was too easy.
st: I didn't do it the wind did.
Brit: sure it did. You know we don't believe you.
Chaser9: Whatever inbreed. I like it. So when are you sending me another Divergence?
st: You can't even read it right now. By the time your computer's fixed.
Brit: Did you just call me inbred?
st: Not Again. Boys I have towels...
both: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
st: Blinker I owe you...Here's the torch wrldjmpr. Good luck.
wrldjmpr: Thanks. Thanks a bunch.
st: I'm grabbing one of the new couches. Peeks guard.
A very large mountain lion growls at everyone except Chaser9. He scruffs her head a bit and much the amusement of the others in the cave Peeks purrs.
SL4ever: I wonder if I could do that.
He seemed put off by her yawn. As the feline and st curl up he can be seen tenativelly petting the feline before returning to his chair.

*I'll be back tomorrow!!

TO BE CONTINUED....

the three would-be rescuers sneak into the cave. they see their friends huddled together
on the various furniture that litters the cave, their ears reddened from the torment.
wrldjmpr sees the torch, lying haphazardly on the desk, its flame almost out. When she's
sure that JOC isn't looking, she makes a mad dash to the desk <accompanied by gasps by
the cave dwellers>, grabs the torch and a pen. She quickly begins to write.

**********************************************






The two Wades, Quinn2, Remmy2 and Arturo3 (this is SO confusing!) stood outside the
palace walls. Colin, the slider they'd met earlier that looked like Quinn, had opened up
yet another vortex and sent them through. This vortex, like the one of the wizard Merlin,
had not sent them to another earth, but just to another spot on this earth. It certainly beat
walking as a mode of transportation.

"I've got to find my friends!" Wade1 said frantically. She'd never found out how much
time they had until the slide, and for the obvious reasons, did not want to get stranded on
this lunatic world for 29 years.

Quinn2 put a hand on her shoulder. "We want to help, any ideas where to start?"

"Yes, Miss Welles, where did you see them last?" Arturo3 asked.

"Well, its all so blurry in my mind. Quinn had gone to meet Logan," she spat the name
out like a profanity, "you--I mean our professor had settled down for a nap, and Remmy
and I were out, looking around town. First, Remmy disappeared, then I passed out and
woke up in this really strange room."

"So, what you're saying is that you have no idea where they are?" Remmy said.

"Yeah, sorry," Wade1 answered, dismay on her face.

"Based on our experiences on this world, I believe that we will find your companions
inside the castle walls." Arturo3 said with authority.

"Its a good a place as any to start." Quinn2 agreed. "Any suggestions on how to get in?"

They all looked at each other.

"That vortex-thingy sure would come in handy right now," Wade2 said. Everyone
nodded in agreement.

"Well," Remmy2 started, "we don't have it, so no sense wishing for it. I say we go look
around the castle, see if there's not some kinda entrance that we can sneak in."

"Good idea, Remmy," Wade1 said with a smile, "glad to see that my friends and I aren't
the only sliders who have perfected the art of 'sneaking in'."

The others laughed as they made their way around the castle.

*************************************************

Meanwhile, Remmy1 and Quinn1 were not enjoying their meeting with 'the leage/liege'.
When he had turned out to be an Arturo double, they'd experienced a moment of hope.
That hope had intensified when they recognized their Arturo. The double quickly
squashed that hope with talk of brain removal. Now, both were frantically trying to think
of a way to get out of this mess (and I know the feeling!).

Quinn1 looked around the hall, looking for an escape route. Ryan stood guard at the door
they'd entered through, and that appeared to be the only option. It occurred to Quinn that
castles always had secret, hidden escape tunnels. He put his hopes that this castle was no
different.

"So," Arturo2 started, leaning back into his large, velvet colored chair, "what shall we do
with these two, mmm my fine double? Are you ready to show your loyalty to me, as you
promised earlier?"

Arturo1 squirmed as Quinn1 and Remmy1 looked at him in shock. He glared back at
them, silently demanding that they see through the duplicitous-ness of his actions. It
might be their only chance of escape.

Arturo1 pulled himself up to his full height, haughtiness written all over his body. "I do
suggest that we remove the timer from Mr. Mallory with all due haste. I wouldn't put it
past him to use that as a means of escape." Arturo1 stepped over to Quinn1 and held out
his hand for the timer. He needed to know how much time to the slide in order to
formulate a plan.

Quinn1 shook his head. "Sorry, professor, but I don't have the timer. Logan took it from
me."

"Logan!" Arturo1 shouted, forgetting himself, "I warned you not to meet with that poor
excuse for a double! What is it about her that you find so irresistable that you constantly
put yourself in--"

"A-hem" Remmy interrupted, nodding his head at the Arturo double seated on the throne.

"Yes, well, then, I suppose we don't have to worry about escape then, do we," Arturo1
stated, recovering himself.

Arturo2 had watched the exchange in amusement. His double was doing a poor job of
showing his loyalty. By God, he was most transparent! Arturo2 motioned at Ryan.

"Take these THREE to the dungeon. I will decide what to do with them after my
afternoon nap. And, find that Logan woman and bring her here, she sounds as though she
would be most useful to me," Arturo2 said, a lewd grin on his face.

*********************************************

<wrldjmpr throws down the pen> that's it I'm done!

HurriKain: who cares, someone grab Jerry!!!

<Blinker, Chaser9 and Britslider make a mad dash for Jerry, who had been distracted by the impressive writing from wrldjmpr>

Jerry: HEY!

<BritSlider puts a hand over his mouth> Be quiet! You have tormented us long enough, you charlatan!

They throw him out the door of the cave and then lock it.

sleepingtiger: you guys got here just in time. SL4ever, CMEER baby, you are my hero <she wips out a towel>

<SL makes a mad dash for the secret door. It disappears just as he reaches it. He looks back to see sleepingtiger grinning, the remote-thingy in her hands>

sleepingtiger: thanks wrldjmpr

wrldjmpr: no problem. <She looks around the cave, sees who she's looking for and dashes over to ThomasMaltus, torch in hand.>

wrldjmpr: I believe this is for you! <she hands him the torch>

ThomasMaltus: Wait, this is what you leave me with? You spent so much time on that stupid skit that you hardly wrote anymore to the story!!

<wrldjmpr grins> too sad, too bad!

wrldjmpr distributes the goodies from the amusement park and heads to the sofa where she quickly falls asleep.

The cave groans. TM cries out, "Hey, it's better than Jerry singing the Carpenters," to which the board members groan less audibly. JOC starts belting out "Why do birds suddenly appear..." and the cave finally acquiesces.>

As the Ryan double leads our Arturo, Quinn and Rembrandt up the stairs, the trio grumble incessantly. Finally, Quinn talks to them in a quiet voice, the one he usually uses to suggest an escape plan.

"Hey guys, remember what a wussy pushover Ryan was on the world where we encountered him?"

Rembrandt and Arturo both nodded. Finally, the light dawned. "Hey", said Remmy, "why are we letting that little pipsqueak push us around? There's three of us and one of him."

"I like those odds," the Professor commented and promptly punched out Ryan. "Now what say we get out of here, eh?" As the Professor, Rembrandt and Quinn started searching for a secret passageway like you would see in old movies from the 1930s, a strange portal enveloped Quinn and Rembrandt. Before Arturo could so much as register his astonishment, a new troupe of guards discovered him and quickly rendered him unconscious.

*****

"So what are we looking for again?" Wade (our Wade of course) asked her newfound companions.

Arturo3 attempted to explain. "The Arturo of the other world, not yours or the native Arturo, slid here using a sophisticated sliding system. Instead of being stuck here twenty-nine years when you miss a set window, this device has an alternating slide window that lets you choose between a different, constantly varying number of parallel pathways, each one leading to different parallel worlds. This could be the key to escaping this world."

Wade just nodded. "Are our chances that good?"

"Well, we just have to break into the highly sophisticated fortress of the world's most powerful technowizard. Piece of cake." Rembrandt2 said with his trademark chuckle.

Wade just smiled back, but still looked determined. Arturo's mind pondered exactly how they would pull it off. Colin, being Colin, had no lines.

*****

A dark pit. Wet, dripping. Chains hung around them. Rembrandt and Quinn had never landed on a world this dismal and never planned to again. What had carried them here? A dark figure approached, and the sliders could only fear what that meant.

"The two shall come before my eyes
And what they have shall be my prize
Though their path shall be nearly worn
And though their souls will soon be torn
In springtime of the final year
When they will be the last to hear
The final chapter of the tale
Of those who on the worlds did sail."

The sliders were dumbfounded. "W-what does that mean exactly?" Rembrandt had the courage to ask.

The thing broke out in an extremely hideous grin. "I don't know, really. It sounds cool, though." The thing stepped enough into the light, a small light presumably coming from a torch somewhere far off, to see that it had sharp yellow, skin with a bluish tint and claw-like fingernails. "It was prophesied that when you came I must recite it. I've always been a real stickler for prophecy, so..."

"What are we doing here? Where are we?" Quinn asked, in a voice that was growing louder and more impatient.

"All in due time, Mr. Mallory. Be patient, all of you. I have a few more surprises."

"That's right," said a voice from behind the creature. "He does." Logan St. Clair emerged into the light, although it was clearly a double, as this Logan had several scars and a tattoo on her arm. What had the sliders gotten into this time?

I hereby pass the torch...

Chaser9: What, no snappy exit line? I may be new here, but I thought that was the thing to do...

SL4ever: Rule No. 1 of Sliders BBoard games: ThomasMalthus doesn't follow the rules, even when they clearly make sense or when he initiated them himself.

BritSlider: Rule No. 2 of Sliders BBoard games: ThomasMalthus
must make at least one joke per chapter that NOBODY (and I do mean, nobody) gets.

TemporalFlux: Rule No. 3 of Sliders BBoard games: ThomasMalthus must always make people who don't participate in story games say his dialogue in his part of the story game or make people say completely improbable things.

mrpoopoo: Right on, old chap! Cheerio!

Chaser9: Um, question, why do all the rules have to do with ThomasMalthus?

The Torch (suddenly the voice of John Rhys-Davies, who must be getting a serious workout with this story game): Just bloody pass me on already!!!

TM: OK, OK.

The Torch is passed...

ThomasMalthus

************************************

LP: *sigh* Fine. Let's see what I can do with this. She puts the torch in its lovely holder, picks up the pen, and begins to write.

**************************

The evil alchemist Arturo was deeply enjoying his nap when his buzzer rang him out of his dream. He reached over and pressed a button on his nightstand.

"This had better be important!" he bellowed grumpily. "What is it?!" "It's the woman you asked for. Logan St. Clair," replied the guard on the other end. "Very well then," the alchemist replied, somewhat mollified. "Send her up." He rose, ran a comb through his hair and put on his best dressing gown. He looked in the mirror and practiced his most enchanting grin (which wasn't very enchanting at all, really.) He was just thinking what a handsome devil he was when there was a knock on the door of his chambers. He entered his sitting room and barked "come in!"

The door opened, and a guard entered dragging a protesting Logan by the arm.

"Welcome, Miss St. Clair!"

"You!" she cried upon seeing him. "I should have known."

Arturo2 chuckled. "Leave us," he said to the guard. The guard looked skeptically at him, having had a good introduction to Logan's character, but he saluted and obliged, shutting the door behind him.

Logan crossed her arms and looked peevishly at Arturo2. "You're fatter than I remember," she mused. "I assume you had me dragged here so you could get the timer."

Arturo2 chuckled. "attractive and fisty, too! I think you're going to turn out to be quite entertaining. No, miss St. Clair. I don't need your timer. I have my own, although I don't plan on leaving here anytime soon. My life is too luxurious to leave behind. I had you brought here because I wanted to meet the woman who could outwit Quinn Mallory. "

Logan smirked. "Flattery will get you nowhere, Max. On the other hand, it might. What exactly is it that you want?"

"I have a proposition for you." He had poured two glasses of brandy from his wet bar and offered one of them to Logan, who took it and sat down on a convenient plush couch. "Seeing as how you're so good at stealing things, I want you to steal some things for me. Right now, in particular, I want you to steal some information for me. I want to know what Herbert Thackeray and the rest of those Wizard Guild idiots are up to. I need someone with brains and cunning, which are somewhat lacking among my regiments."

"Are you offering me a job, Max?" she asked coyly.

"Yes I suppose I am!" he replied.

"Very well then, what do I get in return?"

"First of all, you get to stay alive. I could have you put back in the tournament. I don't' think you were enjoying yourself very much out there. Second of all, you get to share in my wealth. I have plenty to go around, and I don't mind sharing it with a ....companion such as yourself." He looked at her with a licentious grin.

"Let me think about it, Max," she replied, trying to keep the look of disgust from her face as he sat down next to her. He put his hand on her knee, and she put it back off again.

"I cant' see that there's much to think about, Miss St. Clair. It seems as if you are in my power for now." She jumped off of the couch, ran to the wet bar, and grabbed an icepick she had noticed.

"I don't think so! Now let me out before I poke some holes in you, lardass!"

Arturo2 shook his head and chuckled. " I wouldn't if I were you." He pulled a tiny pistol from the pocket of his dressing gown. "All I have to do is press one button, and the guards will take you down to the dungeon." Logan thought about her situation, then decided that she had put up with a love affair with this man on another world before, and she could do it again, especially if it meant she could profit from it. An opportunity would come up eventually to get rid of him, and she would be ready to take it. In the meantime, she would play nice girl.

"Very well, then, Max." She put the icepick down. "I'll accept your offer. You just have to understand...I'm not used to being ordered around."

"Yes, I know! And that's one of the things that intrigues me about you!" He went over to her and began to nibble on her neck. Suddenly, the buzzer rang again.

"Damn it!" Arturo2 swore. He pressed one of the communicator buttons. "What is it?" he bellowed.

"Two of the prisoners have escaped!" cried a guard.

"What!?! How???"

"I don't know, sir. They just disappeared. We still have your double, though."

"Fine. Bring him here." He jabbed the button again angrily, muttering about how he couldn't trust anyone to get anything right around here, and returned to Logan. The lascivious grin was restored to his face as he said, "Now, Miss St. Clair. Where were we?"

************************************

In the dungeon, while logan2 and the ugly wizard were gloating and grinning, and while Remmy was shouting at them to let him go, Quinn looked around the dungeon to try to find a means of escape. Unfortunately, there was none obvious at the moment. He was suddenly distracted by the presence of the wizard's claw-like hand around his neck.

"So where's my 'prize'?" the wizard asked of him. The object my prophesy spoke of?"

Remmy looked over at Quinn. "I think he means the timer, Qball."

Quinn sighed, as much as he could sigh with his arms chained to the wall and a hand around his throat. "Of course he wants the timer. Everyone wants the timer. What else would it be? "

"The timer, yes," the wizard hissed. "Give it to me."

" I don't have it anymore," said Quinn. "It was already stolen by someone else."

The wizard grew angry, and his grip tightened. "By who!?!"

"Y'know, he might be able to answer if you'd let go of his throat," said Remmy as Quinn choked.

"Very well," said the wizard. He released his grasp. "Where is it, Mr. Mallory."

"Logan has it," he replied, trying to catch his breath.

The wizard looked at Logan2, who shook her head, and then lookd back at his prisoners. "Don't toy with me, gentlemen. I can make you suffer along time before you die. "

"Not that Logan," said Remmy. "There's another one hanging around the city. She's got it."

"Another Logan? How come I wasn't aware of this? You'd better be telling the truth!" The wizard produced a crystal ball from the depths of his robe and glared into it, waving one hand over it. "Hmmm. Yes...I see her....in the arms of that fool, Arturo. This is strange...I am disturbed that I did not know of her presence. This wasn't part of the prophesy. " He frowned for a minute, then continued. "Well, this is as good a time as any to take her off guard, isn't it?" He gave a sinister laugh. "My dear, would you like to do the honors?" he rasped. "We'll take care of your payment when you return." Logan2 nodded and flexed her tattooed muscles.

The wizard continued to stare into the ball. As Logan2 was leaving, she passed Quinn and paused to whisper in his ear. "I just thought you'd like to know...you're my payment! After he takes your brain, that is. Then I can do whatever I want with you. Ah, the fun we'll have together? I can't wait!" She grinned evilly and bit him on the ear, then went on her merry way.

"Qball, what did she say?"

Quinn sighed again. This just kept getting better and better. "she said that as soon as he gets the timer, he's taking my brain and giving me to her to be her slave. Why is it that everyone wants my brain, too?"

"That doesn't sound too good, Qball. Wonder what he's gonna do with me?"

"I'm going to turn you into a toad, if you don't shut up, that's what I'm going to do with you!" shouted the wizard, who was still pissed off because things werent' going exactly as he had expected. He tossed the crystal ball into the air with a flourish, and it promptly disappeared into thin air.

"How does he do that?" asked Remmy incredulously.

"Wouldn't' you like to know, Mr. Brown?" the wizard gloated and humphed off to figure out what to do next. "Don't worry...I'll come up with something deliciously evil to do to you, Mr. Brown," he yelled back over his shoulder as he faded into the gloom.

Remmy looked at Quinn. "Let's just hope Wade is still free and can help us before he comes back," he said.

Quinn just sighed again.

"What? it could happen!" said Remmy.

And they waited.

*********************************************

Outside the castle walls, our wade and the other sliders were still trying to figure out how to get in. They had found the only entrance, but it was heavily guarded.

"Great. What do we do now?" asked Remmy.

"Quinn, can you see how many there are?" asked the second Wade.

"I count 4, but there may be more inside the gate. "

"Hey, four's not bad!" she replied. "There are 5 of us! We can take 'em."

"I don't know, Wade. They've got weapons, and we don't."

"Weapons, schmeapons," she replied. "I'm going to go distract them." She started to run off in the direction of the guards, but Arturo3 stopped her and pulled her back to the ground.

"Miss Wells," he said, " that is hardly a plan."

Wade1 spoke up, "Well I've got an idea." She stood up so the guards could see her and cried out, " Help me, please! I'm in distress! Help!"

"Very funny, Miss...er...miss Wells. I'm still not used to there being 2 of you!" said Arturo as he quickly searched the ground for something he could use as a weapon. The guards had noticed her, but of course could not see the rest of the sliders. Two of them were dispatched to see what this woman wanted. As they came closer, they were jumped by the 3 men, who had grabbed the biggest rocks and sticks they could find. Fortunately, the guards were taken as off guard as possible and did not put up much of a fight before they were knocked unconscious. The second set of guards, seeing that the first set had disappeared, came running after them. They too were attacked and rendered helpless, which was made easier by the use of maces scavenged from the first two. The uniforms of the 4 guards were removed, and the sliders made sure they wouldn't be following by using their own handcuffs to cuff them each around a tree. Quinn, Remmy, and Arturo then dressed themselves in a uniform and they prepared to enter the castle using the two Wades as pretend prisoners.

"See?" said Wade1. "That worked out ok, didn't it?"

The men grumbled at her. "next time, Miss Wells, fill us in before you go surprising us like that," replied Arturo2 as he grabbed her arm and prepared to lead her away. Wade grinned sheepishly.

The group headed towards the castle entrance to face the next part of their adventure.
**************************************

<LP throws down the pen>

LP: Well, that's it for me. I'm tired.

Brit: I bet you are, after all that kissing! *snort* Somebody needs to get him out of here.

<A cry of protest arises from the group of women who has gathered around Jerry>

Brit: I think I liked it better when he was singing. AT least move it out of the way of the Tele, ladies!

LP: Robin? You're up. <Looks around to find Robin in line.>

Robin: You mean I have to give up my place?

HurriKain: You'd better give up your place! <he brandishes a can o whupass>

Robin: Fine, fine. <She takes the torch from LP, and LP prepares to leave>

Sarah: Hey, isnt' there a rule that says SL4ever is supposed to be in every skit? I haven't seen him.

<Just then, SL4ever dashes by, still being chased by sleepingtiger.>

LP: There he goes, and now so can I. <sits down on the couch> So what's on TV tonight?

The End..............?

Oh well here goes nothing.... Um, let's see, there were 3 Arturos, 2 Quinns, 2 Wades, 2 Remmys, 2 Logans, 1 Ryan, Merlin/Herbert and a partridge in a pear tree... oops, that's Colin. Alrighty then....

Logan2 was searching for her double when she came across the big group of sliders. (That's all the doubles and our Wade... and was Colin there? I don't remember. Oh well, it's not like he added anything to the story anyway.) "You!" she gasped when she saw Arturo3, Quinn2, and Remmy2.
"They're not who you think they are, they're doubles," Wade1 said. Then she muttered under her breath, "God, there's too many freakin doubles in this story," unknowingly mirrorring the thoughts of Robin14334.
"Oh," Logan2 replied, slightly confused. There were too many doubles for her, too.
"We're looking for our friends, well, her friends," Wade2 said, gesturing towards Wade1. "They look like those two guys over there," then gesturing towards Quinn2 and Remmy2.
Logan nodded. "We have them," she told the gang. "If you help me find my double, I'll bring you to them." An evil plan was beginning to formulate.
"Alright," Wade1 agreed. The others were about to agree also, but a beeping noise stopped them. Arturo3 looked in his pocket and took out a timer.
"It seems we have to go, Miss Wells," he said. "Looks like you're on your own now."
"Wait a minute!" Wade1 cried. "You can't just leave me like this!"
"Just, uh, go with the nice tattooed lady," Remmy2 said. Personally, he thought she was creepy and wanted to get away from her as soon as possible. Quinn2 felt a little guilty about leaving Wade1 with Logan2, but they had to go or they'd miss the slide. And they couldn't take her with them, she wouldn't leave her friends.
Arturo3 opened the vortex and the doubles all jumped in, leaving Wade1 and Logan2 alone. "Well," Logan2 said, "let's go find my double, shall we?"

Meanwhile, Arturo2 decided it was time to send Logan1 out to get some information. She was roaming the halls when she came face to face with... herself.

Wade didn't really like teaming up with Logan2 but then again, she didn't really have a choice. Logan2 seemed to know where she was going, so Wade just tagged along. The guards, mistaking Logan2 for her double, let them go by without stopping them. They turned a corner and there was Logan1. Wade sort of hung back and let the two Logans duke it out. She couldn't really hear everything they were saying, and she couldn't tell which Logan was saying what, but it sounded like a killer cat fight.
"Don't mess with me, b*tch!" <thwapp! thump!>
"Why you little-- <splat> SH*T! You broke my nose b*tch!"
Wade heard the sound of someone being thrown against a wall and of bones crushing. She heard one of the Logans mutter, "Pissant," and then footsteps coming towards her. She got ready to fight in case it was Logan1, but when she looked it was Logan2. "Ready to go get your friends?" Logan asked her, grinning evilly. She had just killed her double and she felt gooood. Wade nodded meekly.

When Logan returned to the wizard she handed Wade over to him with the words, "Here's another one. Oh, and I got the timer," she added, taking it out of her pocket. The wizard smiled and tossed a surprised Wade into the dungeon, waking a dozing Quinn and Remmy.
"What's going on... oh, hi Wade," Quinn said dejectedly.
"Well, gee, don't sound so happy to see me," Wade sighed.
Remmy also sighed. "There goes our escape plan, Q-Ball."
"Where's the Professor?" Quinn asked Wade.
"I don't know, but I'll tell you who I *did* meet..." And Wade began to recount her tale of how she had come to be in the same dungeon as her friends.

<Robin throws down the pen and gets up from the desk.>
Robin: Who's next? Come and get the torch yourself, clear the couch, I'm gonna collapse. <She promtly does so, as story game participants scatter from the couch.>
Robin: <slightly dazed and exhausted> Hey, is that Earth 69? Kewl. <falls asleep on the couch>

~Robin

********************************************************************

Quinn: So, what do we do now? Escape is almost impossible, ya know?
We're all in here, and the Professor is who knows where! I doubt he'll get here in time!
Remmy: I don't know, Q-Ball. Maybe when this weirdo lets you out, we can jump him.
Wade: Why would he let Quinn out?
Remmy: He wants his brain.
Wade: Again?
Wizard: Don't worry, you won't be able to escape. Not while I live.
Hmmm. This new addition intrigues me. Face it, Mr Brown, you're useless. I can use his brain, and, well, Miss Wells is a beautiful woman. I'm sure I can find *some* use for her . . . But you . . . ?
You are of no use to me. Perhaps I should just kill you. But, of course, I'd have to think of a deliciously painful way for you to die.

**********Meanwhile**********
Arturo looked around. ^Where am I?^ he wondered. ^And where are Quinn and Mr. Brown?^
~I can perhaps answer both those questions, and more~ Arturo did not hear this so much as feel this message.
Arturo: Who are you? And where are you?
~You deafen me. Stop shouting. I can hear your thoughts just fine. My name is Gandalf~

********************************************************************

Slider_Sarah: Hey, that's in The Hobbit.
misswells: So? I couldn't think of a better name.

********************************************************************

^Hello, Gandalf. Are you friend or foe?^
~Oh, friend, of course. I am a slider, myself, you know.~
^No, I didn't know.^
~Oh, don't sound so surprised. But, now. Where are you? You are very close to your friends. We could get there easily. And your friends are nearby.~
^Where is Miss Wells?^
~With Mr. Brown and Mr. Mallory.~
^Where are you?^
~That is more difficult to explain. You could call it an alternate dimension, you could call it an astral plane, but it is neither of these, for you can hear me, although you cannot see me, and yet, I can read your thoughts, and that is to where I speak. It is not something your Earth will get even an inkling of for many years to come. Do not bother with it for now.~
^What can I do to save my friends?^
~I will help you. We leave now.~
And Arturo found himself transported.

**********To Arturo2**********
Arturo2 paced. Where was that wench? She ought to have been back.
Or maybe not. Getting information can take time. So he settled back, poured himself some wine, and waited.

**********Back in 'The Dark Place'**********
Quinn: Just who are you, anyway?
Wizard: Have you not guessed? No? Well, then, I won't spoil the surprise! <He laughed gleefully>
~No, but I will!~
It was the strangest sensation Wade had ever felt. Someone was shouting, but, she didn't *hear* it, so much as *feel* it, deep within her mind. Looking around, she knew the others did, too.
~This villian's name is Maximillian Arturo! Yes, my dear Professor, he is your double.~
Wade: *This* is this world's Arturo? Wow.
Arturo3: Gandalf!! What are *you* doing here?!? I thought I banished you!!
~You would!~ Gandalf shouted into their minds, deafening them.~Well, now is your turn!~
A device that looked very much like their timer flew into the deep, dark recesses of this underground lab.
NOOOO!!! That thought was echoed by many, and, indeed, shouted out by the all in the room, except Gandalf.
Arturo3 ran into the darkness after the timer, with Logan close on his heels.
Arturo: Why!?! You pompous traitor! You said--
~You misjudge me. It was an illusion. Now go. In his cabinet-- Yes, that one there. The key is also there. Unlock your friends.

**********In the Deep, Dark Recesses**********

**Bless us and splash us, my preciousssssss! I guess it's a choice feast; at least a tasty morsel it'd make us, gollum!**
Arturo3 nearly jumped out of his skin: What?!? Who are you?
Logan: What do you want?
**Aaahhh! Two of them, precioussss. Hmmmm.**
A piercing scream came from Logan as she felt cold, cold hands upon her neck, but was quickly cut off as the Gollum broke her neck. **We should save it for later, my precioussss. Now, what is this, my preciousssss?**
Arturo3: Do-don't eat me! I could turn you into a frog! I could!
**Well, then, maybe we should sit and chat with it, my preciousssss, and praps it likes riddles, does it?**
Arturo3: Maybe . . .
Then he thought. This strange creature could eat me, and I can't do a thing. May as well . . .
Arturo3: Fine, I like riddles. You go first.
**What has roots as nobody sees,
Is taller than trees,
Up, up it goes,
And yet never grows?**
Arturo3: Easy! Mountain.
**Does it guess easy? It must have a competition with us, my preciousssss. If precious asks, and it dosen't answer, we eats it. And if it asks, and we don't answer, we lets it go, and lets it out.
Yes?**
Arturo3: Yes, allright!
Thirty white horses on a red hill,
First they champ,
Then they stamp,
Then they stand still.
**Chestnutsssss. Teeth, teeth, my preciousss, but we only has six!
It cannot be seen, cannot be felt,
Cannot be heard, cannot be smelt.
It lies behind stars and under hills,
And empty holes it fills.
It comes first and follows after,
Ends life, kills laughter.**

Arturo3 had heard that before, and besides, the answer was all around him anyway: Dark!
A box without hinges, key or lid,
Yet golden treasure inside is hid.
The Gollum thought and thought, and thought, buthe could not think of the answer. Suddenly, Gollum remembered thieving from nests, long ago, and sitting under trees teaching his grandmother to suck--
**Eggses! Eggses it is!**
**Why is a Raven like a Writing-desk?**
r>
********************************************************************

misswells: Does anyone know the answer???
SL4ever: No, sorry.
Chaser: Nope.
All around, misswells was greeted by blank stares and the shaking of many heads, and sorrys.
misswells: Well, I suppose I'll survive.

********************************************************************

Arturo3 racked his brain. He thought of every logical answer, then all the illogical answers. He drew a blank, every time. After several long moments, the Gollum spoke, a rasping whisper.
**Is it nice, my preciousssss? Is it juicy? Is it scrumptiously crunchable? Time's up, we thinks. It has not answered, my precioussss.**

The cackling of Gollum's laughter could drown out the terrible screams, nor the awful crunching of bones.

********************************************************************

misswells: Well, what d'ya'll think?
Slider_Sarah: You took the ending from The Hobbit.
misswells: I couldn't help it. It was on my mind. Now, who's next?
nycslider is after me, but should we give SliderNum5 another chance?
nycslider: Uh, yeah, give him another chance.
HK: No, he was too slow the first time, he'll never get it this time.
misswells <thinking how to solve this>: Well, I will give SliderNum5 three days to do his part, then, nycslider, it's your turn. Ok?
HK and nycslider: Ok.
misswells places the torch into the silver holder, and reclaims her position on the couch. She grabs her book, and the cotton candy, and settles for a long wait for the end of the story . . .

HK: We were all confused just go with it.
misswells:come on nycslider we have been waiting.
nycslider: ok.

*******
All of our sliders were in the dark dungeon of the evil Arturo.

"Quinn have you thought of something yet" Remmy turning his head as much as he could.

"I think I have an idea..." Quinn looks at all these doubles and smiles. His brain that was the object of everyones affection was working overtime.

Wade impatient as ever "well....we are waiting"

"Wade, Ryan is the key." Quinn looked at Wade and had a devil's grin.

"Quinn, what are you thinking. If you remember correctly you said that this Ryan was NOT the Ryan from Lottery World."

"Wade I know but that does not mean that we could not use him to get us out of here.

Remmy jumped in "Qball what the hell are you getting at."

Just then a squire approached to bring food and water he looked up only for a second and gazed at our Quinn. He was a boy no more than 13 years old. Quinn recognized him so did Wade and Remmy.

The squire spoke "They said your name is Quinn Mallory and you as well. I am truly amazed."

Quinn spoke "Quinn?"

"Yes I am the Quinn of this world, I did not know that the magicians that brought you here knew that I am you and you are me. I am going to look like you when I am an adult."

"does anyone else know that you are a Quinn?" Wade asked the boy

"No" he spoke quickly and quietly

"Make sure no one finds out it could put you in danger." Quinn looked at the boy who took him back to his childhood.

"I am a squire I bring danger on, If I ever wish to be a knight... I shall help you this could bring my knighthood" He said excited

The door of the dungeon opened...a voice called "Squire, no talking to the prisnors.. you are to only bring there food."

"Yes, sir" He yelled back to the henchman. He spoke in a low tone almost a whisper. "I will be back and you will soon be free."

Quinn added "We are also in need of getting something that belongs to us that we need to travel..."

"First things first Mr. Mallory..." The Professor comes in totally desguisd as a henchman holding the timer.

"Professor!" Quinn and Wade and Remmy (all ours) yeeled in sheer joy.

********

Nycslider: Wow I am am tired, I hope I didnt get this story more out of wack since Qball has to come in and wrapp it up.
Qball79: nycslider I take this torch finally it has been the longest story game ever.
HK: You got rid of Jerry for now at least thanks.
nycslider: Your welcome. I am now going to find him not to bring him into the cave but I figure I could use a beer and Hopefully they are in town.
Qball79<Takes the torch> Ok everybody here we go the end is near.

QBall79: Now, where were we? Oh yes...

====================================================================

"Shut up!" Arturo whispered as loud as he could. "How do you expect me to rescue you if you all shout 'Professor' as I enter the room?!"

"Sorry," Quinn said. "Why do always expect me to think of everything?"

"Common sense, my boy," Arturo said. "Common sense."

Arturo whipped out a keychain he got from a guard he had knocked out. He tried key after key until the right one opened the cell.

"Now let's get the timer," Wade said.

"Sounds like a plan," Quinn said. "But from where?"

Arturo spoke, "My guess is my double has it with him. I doubt he would leave it lying around somewhere unguarded."

"So what do we do?" Rembrandt asked.

"Well," Arturo said. "Nobody knows I'm here, and hopefully nobody knows that you are being rescued. I suggest I pose as my double in order to gain access to the timer."

"What about us?" Wade said.

"There is an exit...down the hall, to the right, second door. You and Rembrandt go to the Dominion and wait for me and Quinn. We will retreive the timer."

"We'd better go, girl, before their boss starts making rounds," Remmy said, looking down at two unconcious soldiers.

"Remember, Mr. Brown," Arturo said. "Down the hall, to the right..."

"Yeah, yeah I know," Rembrandt interrupted. "To the right, second door." He and Wade ran down out of the building and directly to the Dominion Hotel.

Just then a guard ran up. "What in the world happened here?"

"The prisoners have escaped, you blistering idiot! What does it look like?" Arturo said. "The others ran that way!" he pointed down a different hallway.

"Now to find the timer..." Arturo said pensively.

"I know right where it is!" Little Quinn spoke up. Quinn and Arturo had forgotten all about the young squire.

"Great!" Quinn exclaimed. "Can you take us there?"

"No problem!" Little Quinn replied. "This will make me a knight for sure!"

Quinn and Arturo exchanged a glance that said, *How on earth does he think that he will be knighted for betraying the governent?* They both shrugged their shoulders as if to say, *Oh well.*

====================================================================

Rembrandt and Wade arrived at the Dominion and had a seat on the front steps, where they would wait for their companions.

"Man, they'd better make it," Remmy said. "If they fail, we'll be stuck here for almost 30 years!"

"Then they won't fail..." Wade said with a reassuring smile.

"Please tell me I didn't hear you say what I think I heard you say," Rembrandt said.

"What? They won't fail?"

"Yeah, that's what I'm talking about!" Remmy replied. "You remember the last time you said that, what happened..."

====================================================================

"Your timer is in there," Little Quinn said, pointing to Arturo2's chamber. "He keeps it in the drawer of his nightstand."

"He may be in there," Arturo said to Quinn. "We have to be very careful. You want to break down the door?"

"Why don't we see if it's locked first?" Quinn said.

"Right..." Arturo laughed at himself. "We break down doors without checking the locks NEXT season, how silly of me."

Quinn eased the unlocked door open. He looked back at Arturo and smiled as if to say, *It's unlocked! ha HA!!!* Arturo scowled back at him as if to say, *I know! Now just get the damned timer!*

Quinn entered the room and saw that Arturo2 was inside, but peacefully sleeping. Tiptoeing toward the snoring Arturo2's bedside, Quinn prepared to open the drawer. When he started to open it, he immediately noticed the squeak that filled the spacious room. He would have to do this carefully. Opening the drawer just wide enough to reach in with his hand, Quinn...well, reached in with his hand and felt for the timer. Once he felt it he grabbed it and tiptoed out of the room. He held it up and smiled as though to say, *I've got it!* (They say so much without saying anything at all!)
Arturo scowled at him.

"That's not the timer, that's a damned celluar phone, you blistering idiot!!!" Arturo grabbed the phone and stomped into the slowly waking Arturo2's bedside. Opening the drawer, he saw the timer and grabbed it. He then suddenly felt a hand grabbing his arm.

"Did you really think you could get away that easily?" Arturo2 said. Just then, Arturo2 felt the icy hand of death upon him...well, it was actually a Gollum, but it felt a lot like death, especially when he snapped Arturo2's neck.

He then looked over to Arturo. "Run, my precioussssss!" he hissed. "Run like Hell!!!"

"You don't have to say THAT twice!" Arturo said, tossing the timer to Quinn. Remembering every turn of every hallway, the twosome found their way outside and to the Dominion Hotel, where their friends were waiting.

"Thank God you made it!" Rembrandt said. "For a while there I thought you were doomed for sure!"

"Why is that?" Quinn asked.

"Nevermind," Wade said. "Let's just concentrate on getting out of here. How much time do we have?"

Quinn eyed the timer. "What the..."

"What is it, my boy?" Arturo asked.

"The timer," Quinn replied. "It isn't counting down! It's blank!"

"What does that mean?" Wade said.

"It means that you've done it again, girl!" Remmy said. "Oh, then we won't fail! They won't fail! Well it looks like we freakin' fail again!"

"We must have missed the window!" Quinn said. "We could be stuck here for a while."

"With Arturo2 on our heels?" Wade said. "I don't think so!"

"Well what do you propose we do then, Miss Wells? Hmm?"

"I don't know..." Wade noticed a familiar figure approaching the group.

"I couldn't help but overhear your little dispute," he said. "I believe I can help."

"MERLIN!" Wade said.

"Hush your mouth, woman!" Merlin said. "Do you know how many people would love to take me down? Arturo2 would love to have my head on a platter!"

"I thought the 2 was silent," Arturo said.

"It is," Merlin said, cracking a smile. "But he hates it when I pronounce his name wrong, so I do it all the time! The look on his face..."

"Enough!" Rembrandt said. "Now you said you can help us. How?"

"Well, I saved the coordinates of the earth you would have slid to during the window of opportunity. Now, if my theory is correct, and I open a vortex to that world through which you all slide, the timer will begin working again, and it will be as though you never missed the slide."

"It's not a perfect plan, Merlin," Quinn said. "What if the window has already passed on that world? And what if the timer still doesn't work at all? Whatever world we land on, we could be facing 30 years to life there!"

"Well, you could face 30 years or DEATH here," Merlin said. Just then the voice of Arturo2 was heard.

"There they are!" he shouted as his group of guards ran toward our sliders.

Merlin opened the vortex that would lead into an uncertain world with unknown consequences. "It's your choice," he said.

The sliding foursome looked at each other as if to say, *Well, here goes nothing*, and one by one they leaped into the wormhole hoping and praying that they would come out safe, and more importantly, that the timer would be working.

TO BE CONTINUED!!!
END STORY GAME #16
====================================================================

The story game cave is silent. That is until SL4ever breaks the silence.

SL4ever: So what happens? I mean, you just left us hanging!

QBall79: That's why they call it a cliffhanger, SL! Whoever goes first next time will have to pay off the cliffhanger. What they do with it is their choice, so even *I* don't know what will happen.

HurriKain: I don't know...I'm not so sure I like this idea. It hasn't been done before.

Chaser9: I like it! A story game first! A cliffhanger is great!

The posters begin to take sides. QBall79 draws partisan support from his ABLers, as well as some others who like this new idea. Others still are against it, because it will lock Blinker and Slider_Sarah into a specific order when they post reruns on their sites.

An all-out riot begins to ensue, when all of a sudden everyone is stopped in their tracks by the most cacophonous wailing they have ever heard.

JOC: Myyy frriends asssk meeeee.....Why I crYYYYyyyyyy...

Britslider: Bloody hell!!! How did he get back in?

[the singing continues]

SL4ever: Let's take him out!

SL4ever, BritSlider, and QBall79 decide that the three of them can handle this guy. But as they approach him they realize that the closer they get to him the harder it is to stand. JOC's singing is too much for them. They collapse.

There is but one option left...the ladies line up to make out with him...it's the only way to make him shut up. Jerry, of course, is all about it.

JOC: If we're going to make out, let's do it in comfort!

[Jerry steps over to the nearest reclining chair and has a seat. A series of beeps starts to fill the cave]

Blinker: Hey, wait...isn't that...

Thomas Malthus: SL4ever's chair!!! The detonator!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

JOC [picking up a countdown device attached to the chair]: Hey guys I found the timer! 5...4...3...2...1...

KKAAAAAAAABBBOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!