HK

Dexibal Lector: I'm all over it.

****

It was a dark and stormy night.

The Maximum Security Prison Ship "Frank Morris" plowed through the rough waves as it turned back towards the northern California coast. It would not take shelter in San Francisco, however. Not even a HurriKain could force the captain to make that decision. The ship would go down before the captain would risk allowing any of the prisoners to escape. The Frank Morris was just getting closer to shore to allow the coastal radar to track them in case they DID sink so that the bodies could be recovered and the prisoners all accounted for.

A guard approached a cell. "Mallory! TV time!"

The prisoners were not allowed to interact, so only one of them was allowed in the dayroom, where the only TV was, by themselves. Each of them got one hour to do whatever they liked in the dayroom every three days. The prisoners didn't have to watch TV, but that was the only thing most of them did.

Quinn Mallory rose from his bed. His shadow fell across the wall next to the bed. The shadow passed over various newspaper clippings. From the hallway the guard could only make out the headlines. "He just kept stabbing! witness testifies." "Local college student was obsessed with electronics store coworker." "The 'Genius Slasher' sentenced to life in prison."

Quinn approached the bars and put his hands through the food tray hole so that the guard could handcuff him. Only then did the guard signal the door to be opened. The procedure was reversed once Quinn was safely locked in dayroom. Rubbing his wrists and ignoring the TV (which was blaring the highly rated but hideous reality show "Treevivor") Quinn walked over to the chess board. The Birdman had made his move so Quinn studied the board. "I don't suppose you could turn that >:-#ing TV off, could you?"

The guard shook his head. "I asked the warden. He said the law doesn't stop at this ship's hull. It's against the law to turn off TVs, so it will be no different in here. It stays on even if you don't wanna watch it."

Quinn sighed and finally made his move, capturing a white pawn. Still holding the pawn, he walked over to the bookcase and scanned the titles to see if anyone else had brought back a book he'd read less than a dozen times. No such luck.

"I don't like the Weeping Willow's chances tonight, Jeff." The color commentator reported grimly. Everyone hates a crybaby, and I can tell she is really getting on the other trees' nerves."

"I agree. The Palm has been very successful forming an alliance and we remember from last week that he hates the Willow."

Quinn rolled his eyes and did his best to ignore the show. It went to a commerical. After screaming commercials selling Rolaids suppositories and Nylon cowboy hats, there was a news break.

"Tonight at 11. One of our camera crews catches four people suddenly appearing in a downtown park."

Quinn glanced over and suddenly became still as a statue. Of the ten seconds of footage they ran during their teaser, a full five seconds showed a very alive and very beautiful Wade Welles. He got a profile of himself and a couple seconds of his old Professor and some other man. But he only had eyes for Wade.

So Sliding was possible. Here was all the proof he ever needed.

And there she was ... all alive again.

He heard a loud snap and realized that he had clenched his right hand so hard that the wooden pawn had snapped in two. Several droplets of blood escaped through his fingers and hit the floor.

There she was ... all alive again.

This would never do.

****

An ensign woke the captain less than an hour later. "We've got a man overboard, sir!"

Captain Bligh rolled up, rubbing his eyes. "In these seas? He's finished."

"I hope so, he's a prisoner. Quinn Mallory."

"How did this happen?" He demanded as he slipped on his boots.

"We didn't have the deck manned because of the weather. So all he had to do was get past the guard taking him back to his cell. Apparently Mallory shoved a broken chess piece into the guard's eye, stole his handcuff keys, and ran for the upper deck. The bow guard spotted him and fired at him but Mallory made it over the side and into the ocean without taking a hit."

The Captain followed his man out of his room and through the corridor to the upper deck. The 60 mile an hour wind ripped the air from his lungs and almost bowled him over. Waves crashed against the starboard hull, pitching the ship. The driving rain felt like tiny knives against their skin. The twenty-foot journey to the bridge door exhausted both men and soaked them from head to toe.

"Chrissie on the cross!" The Captain exclaimed. "Forget a search. No one could survive that mess. We're miles from shore. He drowned. They'll do an air search in the morning after the storm but they're not going to find him. Alive, anyway."

****

Seven hours later Quinn Mallory dragged his exhausted body up the shore and out of the water. The storm had subsided and the sun was just coming up. He pulled off the life vest he'd stopped to take and discarded it. If Captain Bligh had known one was missing he might have been less optimistic of Quinn's demise.

Quinn walked a couple blocks into the town he'd washed up against, a suburb of San Francisco, and then started checking garage doors. He finally found one that was unlocked and crept in. He was in luck, there were some old blankets in one corner. He curled up among them, desperate for some sleep.

He'd sleep for now. But then it would be time to start looking for Wade.

She was all alive again.

That would never do.

*******

Slider_Sarah: ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR BLOOMING MIND???????

Dexibal Lector: Yes. I believe so.

Slider_Sarah: Oh. Just checking.

dellyone <coming over, rubbing a tear from her eye> : Why didn't Eust sign up this time? I loved his part last time! The sound thing was brilliant!

Dexibal Lector: I ate him.

dellyone: Oh. Just checking.

Sarah: If I must…

-----

Quinn Mallory stood outside in the morning sun. Ah, it'd been a while since he's felt solid ground under his feet. The Prison boat was always rocking, but you learned not to feel seasick when you discovered you had to clear it up. Last night hadn't counted; he'd been too exhausted. But now… it was a wonderful feeling. The kind of feeling that made you think you could do… anything.

He been turted out of the garage at about 7:30 in the morning by a dismayed young woman. In some ways she had characteristics of Wade. The same elfin build and short hair, even if it was blond instead. He couldn't risk anything if he was to get to Wade, so he had grabbed the nearest heavy object and hit her with it. After he had gone through her wallet for what he could use, he'd left her lying there in a pool of blood while he legged it. He'd considered taking her car, but it was a very girly car, plus it was easily traceable. He wasn't stupid. He needed to evade capture if he was to get to Wade.

In a TV superstore, he stopped by one tuned to the news. This was his reason for coming here. He moved closer in order to hear the news report which was on the four 'Sliders.' The details of their appearance had obviously been released. He managed to catch the important snippets of information: They were staying at the Dominion Hotel. Hmmm. He didn't know it personally, but it wouldn't be hard to find. They were also under protective custody. That was no trouble for Quinn Mallory, 'Genius Slasher' either.

Then the news report moved to an interview with a couple of students based at the university who were privileged enough to work with the 'Sliders' to help their understanding. Quinn seethed with rage as he saw who they were: Conrad Bennish Jnr and Diana Davis. They were dumb animals compared to him! This had been his project before he'd been sent to the prison ship. He was not going to let them control his baby. He needed it if he was ever to escape this Hellhole totally. And he knew just how to get it…

* * *

"Well, did you have a fun day at the institute again, professor?" laughed Remmy as the older man slumped down in the chair.

"Oh wait till you see what they have lined up for YOU, Mr. Brown!" Arturo retorted, playfully.

"What?"

"Oh come now, Mr. Brown, that would spoil the surprise!!"

Rembrandt was about to make a reply, but instead Quinn cut in. "Oh leave it out guys, I'm shattered."

"Oh yeah? What have they had you doing all day then," asked Remmy with a smile and a wink.

"Nothing like that," replied Quinn sternly, "it's just all these tests and appearences. Where's Wade?"

"Oh she went down to the ice machine. She thought you two might need it."

Arturo nodded weakly. "She was damn right!"

The Sliders had been conducting tests and experiments for their hosts since almost the moment they arrived. They had 6 days on this world, and it seemed they already had a jam-packed schedule. They'd been nabbed when they exited the wormhole, and the scientists were so fascinated that they hadn't left them alone.

It turned out that the professor's double had never left England, and this world's Crying Man was actually a top class chef with a lot of high-paying clients. However, Quinn Mallory's double was conspicuously absent from the team of scientists, even though they already knew his name, but no one had mentioned his double to him. This perplexed Quinn who had been on the verge of asking that day, but had always seemed to be interrupted. Wade, also, was missing from their talk and rather a lot of them seemed almost as nervous around her as they were Quinn. It was very strange.

Wade was sitting curled up in the big chair. She'd been so overwhelmed by the response to this world and their seeming need for constant television interviews. She too, was shattered. "Guys," she said in a meeker and quieter voice than usual, "Did you have any luck getting closer to the timer?"

Quinn sighed. "No," he replied, "I'm still working on it. They keep finding other things for us to help them with."

"I don't think they want to let us off this world." Wade sniffled slightly. She knew for a fact that this world wouldn't let her rest until she dropped dead. For some reason they seemed fascinated with her, but they wouldn't say why."

"Wade, it's okay," consoled Quinn, as his walked over to her and gave her a hug. "We'll get the timer back and we'll Slide out of here. I promise you."

She smiled weakly as he ruffled her hair, but said nothing. She was still seriously worried, and she knew the others were as well, however much they pretended. oh why couldn't they have Slid into a deserted area!!

* * *

Quinn Mallory stood outside the Dominion Hotel, not far from the hoardes of people waiting to catch a glimpse of the newcomers. But Quinn was different. He only wanted a glimpse of Wade. Wade the rejector. Her double had callously rejected him and she wasn't going to get the chance to do the same. She was alive and that would never do…

-----

Mychand : But you've left me with very little opening!

Sarah: Nevermind, I'm sure you can manage something. Hey Dexible, that was actually a lot of fun to write! I say we have more lunatics in the game!

IHK: I think we already just gained another one.

Sarah: Who?

They all just look at her like she's stupid.

Sarah: Well, have fun! My part is done now, I can just laugh at you all… mwahahahahahaha!!!!

Brit: We definitely just gained a lunatic.

My: Whew...no blood and guts. I think I can handle this. Uh, SS..this one's for you! :o)

***********************************************
Evening was drawing near. The sliders were getting weary. The long hours spent with the scientists had taken it's toll. Quinn could barely keep his eyes open and crashed, fully clothed, on his bed.

Wade was unusually nervous and couldn't sleep. "I think I'm going to go downstairs to get some hot chocolate," she advised her friends. "Maybe it'll help me sleep."

"Well, I don't need anything to help me sleep," replied Remmy. "I feel like a walking zombie as it is already. Still, I'll go down with you if you'd like?"

Wade rejected Remmy's offer and headed downstairs to the small café that stood in the back corner of the hotel lobby. The hotel was quiet. Traffic through the lobby was minimal since most of the guests were already in bed for the night. Wade sat alone, worrying about how they would manage to slide out of this world. After about a half an hour, the hot chocolate began to settle her nerves and she decided she should head upstairs and join her friends. Little did she know that someone was watching her as she made her way to the elevator.

Wade fumbled for her room key as she got off of the elevator. While still digging through her purse, she suddenly felt a chill run down her spine. Something told her that she was being followed. She quickly headed towards the end of the hallway to the adjoining room she shared with Quinn. Before she could make it to the end, a man grabbed her from behind and pulled her into the room across the hall.

Wade tried to scream but the man held her tightly. "Shhh," he said. "I won't hurt you. I'm only trying to help you. If you promise not to scream, I'll let you go."

Wade shook her head and the man slowly let go of his grip.

"Who are you?" She asked. "Why did you grab me?"

The young man slowly reached for the light switch and turned on the light. Wade was shocked at the look on his face.

"Who are you?" she pressed on. "Why did you grab me?"

"My name is Colin Mallory," the young man replied. "I saw you on the news. You don't know what happened to your double on this world do you? You are in danger and I'm the only one who can protect you. I'm the only one he'll listen to. I know he's still alive. They won't believe me but I know he's still alive."

Wade grabbed the doorknob and attempted to leave the room. Colin placed his hand on the door to stop her. "Please," he said. "I swear I'm not crazy and I don't want to hurt you. Just hear me out. If you want to go after that, I can't stop you but I think if you go back to your friends you'll be in grave danger."

For some reason Wade was convinced of Colin's sincerity and decided to listen to what he had to tell her.

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

Mychand got up from the table and handed TM the pen. Okay, here you go.

SS ran over to the table to read what My had written.

SS: Woo Hoo..my boy! You included my boy!

Tigs: You included Colin?

My: Well, Tigs, you said we were in a rut with just the four old sliders so I decided to mix it up a bit. Besides, we needed a hero that wasn't Quinn for a change...of course...who knows what the others will do with Colin from here....or even if he'll live....:o)

Tigs: Ah..okay..who's next?

My: TM...GO FOR IT! Oh, and you noticed that this time everyone is fully clothed!

JennerationX: Yeah, go clothes. Now GET ON WITH IT!!!

Colin sighed deeply as he began the story. "Quinn's a genius, you know. And he knows it. Everybody's been telling him that since he was so small he couldn't even pronounce the word. It's been drilled in his brain all his life. 'You can do anything you set your mind on'. 'You have brain power that few people in the world could even hope to have'. You hear that for a while, you begin to think you're a god."

Wade looked at him intensely. "Maybe I sound like I'm apologizing for him. Believe me, I'm not. Just...trying to understand, I guess."

"You're getting ahead of yourself," Wade told him. "Just tell me what happened."

"Just before Quinn graduated high school, he met you at a bar one night after he had a big fight with mom and dad. He wanted to go to Harvard, they wanted him to go to Oxford. For the prestige. The way he told it later, you, your double, was the one person that he had ever met in his entire life that he ever really cared about. And considering the type of person that I've learned he is, that's a very dangerous thing. Your double just saw a handsome guy who was going places. I don't even think you wanted a serious relationship."

"And he did?" she asked, growing ever more fearful by the second.

"Did he ever!" Colin exclaimed bitterly. "When he finally decided to go to Oxford, he wanted you to come with him. To England! Mom and Dad threw a fit. When you didn't come along, he was furious. The entire time he was at Oxford, all he could think about was you. He flunked out his first year, he was so distracted. He came home and immediately wanted to get back together with you. Started following you everywhere you went. He's so arrogant, he thought there was no way that you really didn't want him."

"You keep saying 'you', like it was really me that he was in love with," Wade pointed out, her voice telling just exactly how creeped out she was about this whole situation.

"In his mind, you're the same as her. That's why he's going to kill you, Wade. Just like he did before." Wade gasped and nearly fainted, but managed to compose herself enough so that she could catch herself on the door to the sliders' room.

"It doesn't matter what stands in his way. He'll get to you. I can't stop him. I tried before. He's too smart and he's too determined." Colin sounded desperate now, pleading. "Your only hope is your Quinn. If he's as different from the one I knew as I think he is, he's your only hope. He's the one who can end this."

Taking this all in slowly, Wade disappeared behind the door to safety. "Thank you," she barely managed to breathe.

"I just hope that it was in time to do some good," Colin said to himself.

***

Quinn Mallory watched in silence, crouched like a panther, as he waited for Wade to return to her room. Finally, he saw her, coming into his sight like Venus from the painting by Botticelli. She was just as breathtaking in person as he remembered. He began to move out of the shadows, towards her, but...

Someone moved in the way, grabbing her from behind. Who would dare? He recognized the man as his own brother, Colin. Quinn waited in patient anger, the kind that had been slowly seething in him for all these years, as Colin blathered on, spouting cryptic warnings about his intents for Wade. The fool. He knew nothing of his real designs. How could he hope to comprehend Quinn's genius? He was only a store clerk in Oakland.

As Wade moved into her room, Quinn sensed that his chance to nab her was past. Cursing himself and his brother, he moved back into the shadows. He heard Colin say, "I just hope that it was in time to do some good." Mere moments afterward, Quinn Mallory leaped forward, drew the dagger he had stashed in his pocket, slit Colin's throat wide open and pulled the back of his shirt to his neck to catch the blood. He would have to dump the body outside, of course. At least make it look like it was something other than the escaped murderer Quinn Mallory exacting revenge on his meddlesome brother.

"Nobody will believe it was really just a mugging, but at least there'll be less media attention if there's at least some doubt." At that, he began to drag the body as silently as he could through the dark halls of the hotel. "Ten little annoyances, all in a row..." he cackled to himself as he took the back stairway all the way down to the dumpster.

***

The shaking hand of Maximilian Arturo picked up a phone in New York City and attempted to dial a phone number in San Francisco. After a few mistrials (these idiotic American phone booths!) he finally reached the number. "Yes, could I please leave a message for Maximilian Arturo." The words sounded odd out of his mouth, but he figured of the four of them who had 'slid' onto this earth, his own double would be the most willing to listen to them. "Tell them that I know the mind of Quinn Mallory and that I will let them know who he is when I get there. Don't let him get near you, any of you. For the good of humanity." He hung up the phone and got ready to board another airplane at LaGuardia. He sincerely hoped his double and their companions would be ready for this. Because the very fate of the universe could hinge on what they did before they left this world.

That's it, I'm done.

Jen: That's it, this is the last time I'm writing a chapter after TM. Why doesn't he just kill all the characters and leave me with that?

TM: Sounds peachy!

Cave: Groan!

The Torch spreads its flame and burns TM's hand. Yelping in pain, TM passes the torch to JennerationX.

TM: It's all yours now!

ThomasMalthus

D1: Ok, I've been waiting a long time for my part so Write yours already!!!

--------------------------------~!!~------------------------

Wade runs into her room and Jumps on Quinn's bed. Quinn sits up and looks at the fully disturbed Wade.

"Quinn, Your doubles here and He loves me but he wants to kill me and some guy saying he's Colin Mallory is next door and he's gonna help but You have to help too!!" Wade said very fast. Quinn looked at her with his mouth half way open. He stared at her for a second and then spoke.

"So?" Quinn groaned.

"I'm not Joking Quinn Come on!!" Wade grabbed Quinn's hand and ran out of the room. They walked acrossed the hall and knocked on Colin's Room. No answer. Wade started knocking again when Quinn puts his hand on her shoulder.

"What?" Wade asked. Quinn pointed down to the floor at a few drops of Blood. Wade looked down and Shrieked.

"Sh Sh shh!! You'll wake up the others, Come on!!" Quinn pulled Wade back into the room. Wade looked over by the elevator in the shadows. She saw a face but Quinn shut the door to fast for her to reckonize it. "Ok, Ok.. So we call the cops, simple as that!" Quinn picks up the receiver.

"No, we can't!! Colin said that the He escaped and the Cops thought he was dead!!" Wade persuaded.

"Well now Colins dead so who do we have to trust?" Quinn asked. Wade looked confused.

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

Quinn Stood up from kneeling and looked around. A woman came out of the elevator behind him. Quinn took out his knife again.

"Mr. Mallory, Can I-" The woman began before Quin shoved the knife into her chest.

"No, I don't think you can." Quinn replied as the woman fell to the ground.. He grabbed her keys and carried her over to the same place he dropped Colin. He ran into the elevator. He'd be back later tonight.. Now that He had access to every room, He could take Wade, Kill that so called Double of his and get what he'd been wanting for a long time... Quinn smiled devilishly as the door closed.

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

"We'll tell the others tomarrow when there's something to do." Quinn comforted.

"What if he breaks in? Whether you like it or not he's still your double.. You know know what that means don't you?" Wade asked.

"What?"

"He's a Genius!" Wade replied.. "And they call you a genius!" Quinn walks over to the door and puts the chain acrossed the door.

"He's not gonna get in!!" Quinn assured. Wade took her shoes off, followed by socks, and then her Sweater. She climbed into bed. Quinn walked into the bathroom.

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

"Go to bed kiddies.. Very good!! Tell her I'm not getting in, Very Smooth Quinn!!" Quinn looked down at the Maids keys and smiled one of those "I'm a smart ass" Smiles and looked back into the Window of Wade and Quinn's Hotel room from his roof top spot next store

==============================~~!!~~========================

Jenn: There.. A pretty boring part, but I ain't got the time to put into it right now!!

My: After my hard work, You don't even do anything?

Recall: Hey!! She set it up for Delly!! Now Quinn's gonna sneak into the room and get Wade!!

Southern: Yeah!! LOL.. I Wish it was me he wanted.

Jenn and Sl exchange strange looks as Southern dazes off into space.

Jenn: Uh, SS, He wants to Kill Wade.

Southern continues to daze.

TM waves his hand over her Eyes.

IHK: Oh Don't worry about it, She'll be out in a couple hours..

SweetOne: I can't Blame her.. I wish He wanted me too!!

Sweet goes into a daze as well.

Thomas: Oh Great!! Jenn!! Pass the torch to Delly!!

Tigs: Hey Check it out, I rigged the Torch to switch from Wade to Quinn to Remmy Similatiously!!

Cave: Oh god!!

Torch (wade): Well You

Torch (Quinn): Pass me

Torch (wade): Already! I

Torch Quinn: Gettin Anxious!!

Jenn: That's actually pretty cool!!

D1: Quinn's gettin Anxious!!

Jenn: Just go!!

And the Quinn-Wade torch was passed.

R317: Yeah. It's time to start reading.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~~*~*~*~*~

Quinn laughed as he saw that disposal of his brother was fairly easy. No one walked the back hallways tonight. He thought about killing a maid and retrieving her keys, but she would be missed so he threw away that idea. He mumbled, "Four little sliders sliding in a vortex. One shot dead. Now there are three little sliders sliding down a vortex. One slashed dead. Now two little sliders…" He imagined the horrors that Wade and Quinn were experiencing now that Colin had appraised Wade of him. Little did they know.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~~*~*~*~*~

The white gulls were soaring high above in the cloudless sky, talking amongst themselves. Every so often, one would dip down into the water and catch a fish in its bill. He sat on a spacious blue beach blanket under a wide red beach umbrella, watching his year old son and wife playing in the light surf rolling at their feet, listening to their squeals of laughter and joy. He adjusted his black sunglasses to glimpse the reasons for his happiness, his joy, his reasons for living, his salvation. A cherubic smile appeared on his face as he watched his wife gently lifting their son from the advancing waves. The giggles of his son brought tears to his eyes. In his blissful state, he didn't mind as the tears slowly trickled down his cheek, leaving meandering salty trails.

Darkness falls.

He looked around and found himself not on the beach, but transported to an abandoned warehouse with thin tendrils of light, snaking through and around cobwebs, dusty desks, large wooden crates, dark and damp rooms and empty corridors. Terror rose in his heart and mind as he felt an evil presence around him, enveloping his senses and mind. The smell of fetid decay weighed heavily in the air, choking him as an icy hand encircled his throat.

He felt cold hard steel in his hands and looked down at what he was holding - a .45 caliber automatic pistol. He scanned the room. Nothing. After moving the safety lever to the on position, he depressed a button located on the handle, above and to the right of the trigger, releasing the magazine into the sweating palm of his left hand. After holstering his gun in the shoulder holster under his right arm, he turned the magazine toward him and recognized the exposed bullet. A faint smile appeared on his face. He turned the magazine sideways and saw that he had a full clip.

"15 rounds of armor piercing hollow point bullets should be enough," he mumbled. "That's going to stop anyone even if he's wearing a flak jacket," he said, trying to reassure himself as he retrieved his gun. The familiar click of metal on metal reassured him as the magazine slid comfortably into the handle of the gun. Without conscious thought, he took off the safety and pulled the top of the gun, chambering a round then cocking back the hammer.

As his eyes slowly became used to the low lighting he carefully inched his way down a deserted hallway, gun readied in front of him. His eyes swept the hallway with heightened senses by not only his fear, but by his determination to get catch the kidnapper.

It seemed like hours, but in reality, it was only minutes as he took his time, listening and searching the shadows for his elusive prey. He heard water dripping in the darkness, but couldn't find the source. Light and darkness raced for domination in this eerie realm.

"So what are you going to do, smart guy?" echoed in his mind thoughts of rescue chased the manic laughter, taunting him even in his dreams.

Nothing. No sign of him or her yet. The cacophony present in his mind was not going to cloud his judgment. Disturbing thoughts intruded – what if he was late again, what if she was dead already, what if... He stopped and shook his head to rid them. Momentarily, the voices of doubt and feelings of vengeance quieted. He could continue and hoped that they wouldn't blind him when the time came.

The kidnapper would be brought to justice, no matter the cost - sleep, comfort, sanity even his life. He had decided this when he started the search. Whatever happened was going to stay with him for as long or short as he lived. He knew that he couldn't fail again. The stakes were too high. Failure was not an option.

"About time you got here!" came a voice in the direction of long forgotten wooden crates, to his left.

He spun on his heel and aimed his only physical weapon at the pile of boxes. He had his mind, but this one was a genius. He had tried once before and his words failed. Now he was going to use force.

"Bring her out. There's no where to run. All the exits are sealed. Give up. You're completely surrounded." He inched toward the box, glancing around for traps. He saw none.

"Who says I'm going to be leaving? This is it. This is my last stand." Maniacal laughter bounced off the dilapidated walls, mocking him from all directions.

"So this is it then. Then come out and fight like a man!" he taunted as he reached the first crate, his finger depressing the trigger ever so lightly. At the first opportunity of a shot, either clean or not, he had to take it or the window might never open again.

He saw movement to his right and instinctively adjusted his aim. He was ready for the final showdown. He had mentally prepared for this moment for days. Nothing was going to stop him now – except his death and he was ready for it.

Quinn, using her body as a shield, stepped from out of the shadows announcing, "We're here! Tsk tsk tsk. Is that the proper way to show respect to your gracious host?" A blood-encrusted butcher knife was pressed against her throat, tiny red rivulets dotting her throat. There was no fear in her eyes, just determination to end it here, now. He nodded to her and the fire in her eyes burned brighter.

"Stop screwing around," he ordered, as he closed the gap between them. He noticed that Quinn was indeed wearing a flak jacket, but he didn't have a shot unless it was through her first.

She yelped in pain as new trickles appeared. "Uh Uh Uh. Take another step and you lose another one."

He stopped. "Let her go. Can't you see that you're hurting her? You said you loved her and this is how you treat her?"

Quinn's eyes lit up at this. "Oh, she said that she loved me. She's just playing hard to get now." Quinn licked her behind her right ear then kissed her neck. This sent waves of revulsion through him as he watched Wade close her eyes in disgust. "So how's your partner? Detective Deadmeat? I must have stabbed her about twenty times." Quinn watched with evil fascination, awaiting his answer as he pulled her closer to him.

"Daelin's pregnant, you bastard!" He regretted it the second he uttered the words. A demonic smile appeared on Quinn's face as he processed this new information.

"See that Wade, all the time he professed his undying love to you, he was f…"

Wade interrupted him as she saw the anger in his eyes. "Nothing you say Quinn will stop me from loving him. We were through even before we began." She gave him a chance to capture Quinn. She mouthed 'I love you' for the last time.

*Oh shit! Don't do it Wade.* Too late. With one swift motion, she turned her head to the left, slitting her own throat. Quinn jerked to the left, exposing a vulnerable right shoulder. His aim was dead on and knocked Quinn back, releasing Wade from his deadly grasp.

"Waaaadddddeeeee!" he shouted as he woke from his nightmare. He frantically grabbed the air, his eyes wild with terror. He knocked over the stale coffee and bagels on the dashboard, liquid flew onto the windshield.

Daelin grabbed his arms and attempted to calm him down. "Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Everything's fine. Shh… Wake up. It's okay. Wake up!"

Ryan blinked a few times then realized where he was – in a car on a stakeout, across from the Dominion Hotel. "How long was I sleeping?" he asked as Daelin let go of him.

"About an hour. You haven't slept for the last three days have you?" queried Daelin as she wiped up the mess.

He rubbed his eyes then ran his hand through his hair. "No. He's out there. I can feel it." He stared at the Dominion and watched the lunch time crowd pass by.

Daelin had watched over her partner over the last five years as he got back on his feet. He never could forgive himself for attending to her while he let Quinn take Wade away. He saved two lives that day. Wade had given him Quinn, but Ryan still couldn't accept that. Eventually, his pain lessened but Daelin knew it would never go away.

She tried to turn his attention elsewhere. "Ryan, little Bobby keeps asking me if his favorite Uncle was coming to his fourth birthday party this Saturday. Steve wants to know if he's going to have a cooking buddy too."

This snapped him out of his stupor. "Yeah, I will be there. Can't disappoint my favorite godson." Fortunately, that was the day after Wade and the others were going to slide.

"Why don't you tell him yourself. You know he loves talking to you." Daelin reached into her purse and pulled out her cellphone and pressed the on button.

A frown appeared on her face. "It's dead. I forgot to charge it yesterday."

"Don't worry about it. I'll call him later. It's my fault for dragging you out here last night," he apologized as he went back to staring at the hotel.

"We're partners. I'm not going to leave you this time… um… I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that."

Ryan turned to her. "Don't be sorry. Wade knew there was no way in hell I was going to let her see Quinn alone that last time. I'm glad that you went with her."

"I didn't do much. As her best friend, I should have talked her out of it, but you know more than anyone that when she's made up her mind, that's it."

"I'm going to go check the hotel. You go ahead and check out the university. I'll catch you later at Wade's press conference at the convocation center." He opened the passenger side door, got out then closed the door.

Daelin voiced her concerns. "You remember what the chief said? Since he thought a stakeout was unnecessary, the only way that he was going to allow a this if I agreed to be with you at all times. I'm worried about you."

Sticking his head through the open window, he replied, "There's phones there too? I'll be fine. What trouble am I going to get into on this fine morning?" He flashed that irresistible smile once again.

She sighed. "Okay, you call the university if there's any trouble. See you later." He waved as she as drove off.

Inside the hotel, he went to the concierge to check the hotel guest list. After a few minutes, he came across the name Colin Mallory.

"Did Colin Mallory in Room 419 check out yet?"

"Let me check my computer." The concierge quickly typed in a few keystrokes. "No sir, he didn't."

With his suspicions raised, he thanked him and rushed to the bank of elevators.

Pressing all the up buttons, he thought *If he thinks that Quinn's alive, he has to be. I hope I'm in time if he is.* The doors opened on the elevator on the far right side. He rushed inside and pressed the fourth floor button.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~~*~*~*~*~

Professor Arturo gave the cabdriver the fare owed then made his way to the guest relations desk.

"I hope I'm not too late. All four of them are in danger," he muttered.

"Professor Arturo!" He spun around and saw Quinn Mallory. "My professor sends his regards and we decided that I would accompany you to the press conference so we can talk, privately."

Arturo was momentarily stunned by the exact likeness of his former student. "Mr. Mallory, thank God I found you. We must leave at once."

"I have a car out front. Let's go." Quinn escorted Arturo outside.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~~*~*~*~*~

Ryan broke down the door when his anxious knocking received no answers. He entered the room, armed. He made a sweep of the room, but didn't find Colin. He looked in the bathroom and found several towels conspicuously absent as well as the liners of the wastebaskets gone. The alarm was raised in his mind. He dialed downstairs and ordered a list of all employees on duty from yesterday morning until today to be drawn up. He told the manager that no one was to enter Colin's room.

"Where's the dumpster?" Ryan asked as he looked in the drawers. They were empty.

"Left side of the building."

"Thanks and don't let anyone near there either!" He hung up and ran for the stairs. He hoped his gut wasn't right this time, but he had the sinking feeling that it wasn't.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~~*~*~*~*~

Daelin watched Wade's press conference from the back of the room. She knew that her best friend Wade was dead, but still it took her breath away. *Daelin, your friend is dead. She's not her."

Daelin wished to talk to this Wade, but felt that it wasn't proper so she watched in silence, remembering the past.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~~*~*~*~*~

At the lab, Quinn, the Professor, Diana and Bennish were hard at work with calculations. They were in deep conversation as Remmy arrived with news about this world's Wade.

"Professor, Quinn. I have to speak with you right this minute."

"That's okay, you guys go ahead," answered Bennish as he and Diana looked over the calculations on the blackboard.

"Yeah, I think we can figure this part out," Diana replied as she looked at the last part of the equation.

The Professor and Quinn hurried to the corner of the room.

"What did you find out the Quinn of this world, Mr. Brown."

"You two aren't going to like this," began Remmy.

"Spit it out Remmy, we don't have much time left on this world," coerced Quinn.

"Okay. The Quinn of this world was exactly what Colin told you last night. He kidnapped Wade two days before her wedding. She had a detective with her at the time. A detective Daelin Richards Tennant."

"Daelin. He killed her too! Oh God, he has to be stopped." Quinn angrily paced, pulling out his hair.

"No, Quinn, she's alive. He stabbed her twenty times before he grabbed Wade out of the restaurant. Two days later, they finally captured him."

"What about Wade? How did she die?" asked the concerned Professor. This was worse than they had expected.

"Quinn was cornered by her fiancé, detective Ryan Simms. He had a knife to her throat and she…" Tears welled up in Remmy's eyes. "She took her own life so that Quinn would be captured."

"Good lord. And the security was dropped because they think he's dead."

"We got to get to Wade and get her in protective custody now!"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~~*~*~*~*~

Ryan ran to the two dark brown dumpsters and checked the area around them. He saw dried reddish brown spots near the left dumpster. *Oh God, don't let it be true.* He threw open the dumpster lid and hopped up on the thin side shelf. After a few minutes of searching, he saw the dead eyes of one Colin Mallory. He rushed to the street, dialing his phone in hand and holding out his badge with the other. He commandeered a car and raced to the university.

*Dammit. All the lines are busy. Daelin I hope you can save her this time.*

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~~*~*~*~*~

On their way there, Quinn gave him the timer to look over and Arturo told him of this world's Quinn. Quinn stoically took in all the information as he drove to the university.

"We're here!" Quinn announced jubilantly.

"And not a moment too soon."

Quinn and Arturo had entered just as the press conference broke up. Daelin took note of them as the reporters left the room.

"Will you excuse me? I need to talk to Wade privately first."

"By all means. I'll be waiting here for the both of you."

Arturo and Daelin watched Quinn escort Wade out of the room by the front doors. Daelin scanned the room once more before leaving.

"No, it can't be!" She saw Remmy, the Professor and Quinn entering by the side doors. She pulled out her gun.

"Freeze you, stay where you are! Quinn Mallory you're under arrest for murder, attempted murder of a police officer and escape from a maximum security prison barge!"

Quinn put his hands up in the air. "I'm not him. Tell him Professor and Remmy. I've been with the Professor the entire time."

Arturo stared at his double for a second. "Madam, our Quinn Mallory just took Miss Welles. He's also got your timer."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~~*~*~*~*~

Ryan reached the physics building parking lot. He couldn't get anyone to pick up or that the lines were cut. As he rushed out of his car, the building exploded, shattering glass, metal and brick through the air. Ryan was thrown back by the blast and hastily covered his head from the ensuing storm.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~~*~*~*~*~

At a stoplight, Wade opened her purse.
"Quinn, you and the professor left too early before I found this." She held up a loaded 9mm handgun.

"Let me have it Wade," he said as he held his right hand open.

As Wade handed over the gun she noticed a healing cut on the palm of his right hand.

*Yes, my dear, that would never do.*

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~~*~*~*~*~

R317: She killed almost all of them. What am I going to do with that?

Tigs: Man, she's dead meat for doing this. The others won't be too happy with it.

R317: Forget about the others I was talking about me.

Tigs: Good luck, newbie.

"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!" reverberated through the cave.

The writers ran to the room near the kitchen. R317 grabbed the papers before running off. IHK and SL4 broke down the door as the writers arrived.

IHK: Get your hands off her!

SL4: Don't eat her!

dellyone: You ate the last piece of sweet potato pie! Damn you!

Dexibal: I was hungry and you prattled too long. Good ideas for your fic.

IHK and SL4: That was for your fic?!?! We thought you were insane.

R317: She is. She managed to kill off all the characters except insane Quinn, Wade and Ryan.

dellyone: Hey, I wanted a naked Ryan. I got a half-naked Ryan. Good enough. Besides Colin already got killed off and there had to be another hero.

Torch (voice of Sabrina): May the curse of Peckinpah befall on those who decide to make dellyone's segment a dream sequence. She already did a dream sequence with the beach scene, a flashback with the warehouse scene, gave a reason for the absent security, solved the mystery of the blood on the hallway, the dead maid, and where Colin's body was dumped, did the Quinn switcheroo, gave Remmy something to do, allowed the Professors to meet and let Wade be kidnapped.

dellyone: I did my part. Your turn R317. Have fun. I'm going to make some sweet potato pies.

She handed him the torch.

Torch: About time. She was getting rather irritating.



dellyone

Torch: Then get on with it!

*****************************************************
"The Dominion's no longer safe. We need to find a place to hide out for the rest of the slide," Quinn said.

They'd been driving a while now. Wade sat silently beside him, her thoughts elsewhere. She didn't notice the quick glances Quinn made in her direction whenever a street light crossed her face.

'She's so beautiful,' he thought. He wanted to touch her, but that wouldn't do. Not yet.

Quinn scanned the road for a place to stop. On his right, he saw a sign for the Motel 12. He was going to pass it by when a second sign caught his eye- "No TV."

'That will do nicely,' he thought.

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

"I don't know Quinn. This place doesn't even have a phone." Wade was less than impressed with the accomodations.

"There's a pay phone out front. Besides, this is only temporary," Quinn said as he moved to the door. "I'm going to see if I can get in touch with the Professor. Stay here and don't open the door until you hear my signal."

He made a rapping noise on the door to demonstrate.

"We don't want you being fooled by my double." Quinn exited. He had to suppress a laugh.

Inside Wade tried to make herself comfortable. The room had only one queen-sized bed. It was not terribly unusual for the two of them to share a bed, but where would Remmy and the Professor sleep? Aside from the bed there was a dresser, a table, two chairs, and a nightstand. Wade sat down on the bed and sighed. At least she wouldn't have to deal with reporters anymore.

A knock at the door disturbed her- Quinn's signal. 'That was fast', she thought. Wade opened the door to find an ashen-faced Quinn.

"What's wrong?"

"The university was bombed right after we left...the others didn't make it out in time. I'm sorry Wade. They're dead."

Wade brought her hand to her mouth to suppress a scream. Quinn reached out for her and she buried her head in Quinn's chest. He held her close as she cried. He couldn't help smiling...

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

"Conrad Bennish Jr. was perhaps the most gifted and promising physicist to come along since Bill Nye. We are left to wonder at all he might have accomplished. It is a sad, sad day for cosmologists everywhere."

Ryan watched as Arturo gave Mr. Bennish an impromptu eulogy before the throng of media. Officers and rescue workers had begun combing the wreckage for survivors, but all were pretty sure that Ms. Davis, Mr. Bennish and three janitorial workers were not going to emerge from the rubble that was once UCal's Physics Department.

The bomb squad agent kicked a chunk of what used to be a part of the south entrance aside.

"This is going to take days to clean up. Whoever did this knew exactly how to cause the maximum amount of destruction."

"So you don't believe it was an accident?" Daelin asked. She had made her way over from the convocation building as soon as she heard the blast. With her were three very shaken Sliders.

"No way," the agent replied. "It's far too precise. The perpetrator wanted to make sure that someone--or something--was completely wiped out."

Ryan seethed. Wade was gone again. The only lead he had was the car Quinn had been driving- a brown El Camino. Ryan sighed. There must be 20,000 of them in the Bay area alone, he thought.

He tried to place himself in Quinn's shoes. Where would he go? Would he kill her the first chance he got, or would he torture her first? What did he truly want? Ryan had tried this mental game before, but he was no match for someone as quick as Quinn Mallory. The only time he had beaten him came after Wade did something that even Quinn couldn't anticipate...

He shook the memory off. He didn't need to go into Quinn's mind anymore. Not when he had something better. Ryan stared long at hard at the Quinn Mallory sitting by the curb.

---------------------------
Quinn watched over Wade as she slept. Now that she believed her friends were dead, she'd stick even closer to him. He was truly amazed by her total trust in him. She accepted his every lie so unquestioningly. For a moment, he was almost jealous of his other self. For a moment.

Quinn sat back down in a chair by the window and took out the timer. Or should he say, his salvation. Once the counter hit zero, he would be free. No one would be able to come after him or track him. He'd made sure of that--and in grand fashion.

He took one more longing glance at Wade before he closed his own. This time she would be his. And if she didn't work out as planned, he now had the means to find himself another...

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

dellyone: You didn't use half the things I gave you!

Recall: I had to save some stuff for the others.

HK: No explosion killing off half the cast, no crypic YOUUUUUUUU?, hmm...I think I can work with this.

Recall: Good. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to watch "Paradise Lost" on endless loop until I finish my next project.

Tigs: Now that's the true Curse of Peckinpah.

SweetOne: ok

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In a dark office Quinn and Ryan were discussing how to go about finding Wade. "Where would you take her?" Ryan asked.
"You mean if I were a derranged killer? I'd probably take her to some small hotel just outside of town. Preferably one without television, or phones. That would make it easier to keep Wade in the dark." Quinn said. "Do you think he'll hurt her?" came a voice from the back of the room. Daelin had come in without being noticed. "I don't think he wants to hurt her. I think he wants to posess her. As long as she thinks he is me, he will use that to his advantage." Quinn hoped he was right. Alt Professor
knocked on the door. "May I come in? I may have some information of value to you." "What type of information?"
Ryan asked. "Quinn was my student at Oxford he was also a student of Mrs. Hinley's she gave me some stories Quinn wrote for her class. You might find these interesting." Mr.Arturo took several folders from his bag and handed them to Ryan.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

**** <Crash, bam, crack> Dexibal was trying to tenderize his meal. IHK grabbed a pair of kliens off a nearby shelf. He was almost ready to strike when <chomp> "ahhhh!
That hurt, you bitch." <blak, spit, agh, gag>
Taste good? HOw stupid do you thinK I am? Do you think I would stay in the same cave with a cannibal without wearing my cannibal repellent? ****

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wade was waiting for her order. "HOw much longer?" she asked. She was anxious to return to Quinn. She didn't want him to wake up alone. Moments later the waitress handed Wade her order. "Here ya go honey." Wade paid for her order and headed back to the motel.

Visions of Wade flashed in front of him, "The bitch will pay. I'll show her ass. No one leaves me. No one!" He invisioned her lifeless body, throat slit blood pouring everywhere. A smile formed an evil smile. But before I kill her I think I will get what the other Wade would never give. Visions of Wade undressing, passionate kisses BAAAAAABAAAAAAA... The loud blaring horn of mac truck brought him back to reality.
Wade had narrowly escaped, how she didn't see that big truck was beyond her. Quinn slipped the knife back in the glove box. 'She came back, she does love me' he thought.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

**** IHK, Brit and DMD returned to the main part of the cave. DMD: you better put some ointment on that bite, it looks pretty nasty. ****

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Remmy and Professor Arturo were searching the remains of the lab. "Why are we searching for the timer?" Remmy asked
"Your double said Quinn's double already has it." "I know what my double said, but we have to be sure." Arturo replied. "Here it is"
The safe appeared to be unharmed by the blast. Professor Arturo pulled on the handle, the safe opened. "Damn it! My double was right. He has our timer." "Come on Professor we're not gonna find it standing around here." Remmy reasoned.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SweetOne sat down the pen. I'm done. SouthernSlider it's your turn.

SouthernSlider: I hope you left me with something descent.

SS sighed. If only . . .

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

Ryan thumbed through several of the pages, then handed some of them over to Quinn. As they both read the outrageous words, their stomachs lurched. How could he be so sadistic? was the common thought from both of them.

Quinn(2) grabbed Wade by the arm. "Why don't you look where you're going? You could have been killed?"

She looked down at his hand clamped around her arm and winced. "You're hurting me, Quinn. Let go. I'm sorry, I just didn't see the thing."

"Well, get your mind on your business. Where did you go anyway?"

"I went to get us something to eat. Here." She held up the bag in front of his face. He laughed to himself. Something to eat. Little did she know. A leering grin formed.

"Quinn, are you all right?" she asked.

"Yeah. Let's just get back to the room. Suddenly, I'm starving."

Quinn and Ryan ran down the street, the papers Arturo had given them fluttering as they went.

"I just hope we aren't too late." said Quinn over his shoulder.

"Maybe not." answered Ryan. "Look! My God! There they are!" He pointed ahead of him.

Quinn halted abruptly. "We can't let him see us. There's no telling what he would do."

"You're right." They stepped back into the doorway of the building and peered around the side.

Quinn(2)took long strides across the street dragging Wade behind him. He had just seen his double and Ryan turn the corner. This just wouldn't do. Now was the time to act.
-----------------------------

Deep sigh.

SS: Well, that was non-commital. Maybe it will suffice. Hmmmmm. Who's next? Ooooo. Tigs. Well, if I had realized that . . . She can fix anything. My worries are over.

SS gets up, thankful to have this one done with.

Torch <still in Colin mode> SS, that was very nice, but I like your romantic stories better. Shall we go to the JOC board and see what we can find over there?

SS: I've got a better place than that, my sweet baboo. <eyelashes fluttering>

She removes the Colin chip and replaces it with the Wade chip.

Torch <Wade mode> It's about time! That was mean.

SS: Will you stuff it!

She closes her fingers around the Colin chip and heads out.

DMD: Hey, SS, where are you headed? We just got IHK calmed down. I think he's going to be okay.

SS: I'm outta here, DMD. Glad to hear it. Gotta hot date!

DMD: <groan> Surely she doesn't mean . . .
------------------------------

Go for it, Tigs.

SS

SL4ever: Sucker! LOL!

<HK reads it and R317 peers over his shoulder.>

ø "Eeew." Wade cringed. "That's disgusting."

"I can't believe that our doubles thought this would be fun." Quinn picked up three empty popcorn containers, an empty jujuflies box, and four empty soda cartons. "That was...words fail me."

"Horrible?" Rembrandt laughed as the four Sliders walked out of the movie theater.

"I can't believe they got Max's double to take part in it." Maggie tossed Wade her purse and jacket as they followed the boys out.

"What stuns me is that the whole thing is Wade while she's getting the lethal injection," Quinn held open the door and the clatter of carts and horses assaulted the crew. "Why would she have wanted Ryan and," he looked around uncomfortably, "me dead?"

"It was just a movied," Rembrandt laughed as he took his wife's hand. "Isn't that right Wade?"

She looked up at him and snuggled closer while laughing, "it is indeed. I just can't believe all that detail."

"I can't believe how good of an actor your double is honey," Maggie gave Quinn a quick kiss to take the sting out of her teasing.

"Ok. I really tried to lie on that last world. It's not my fault I'm so honest."

All four chuckled as they walked into their suite at Canada Central which sent them into more peals of laughter.ø

<HK, MSR, and R317 looked at each other in shock.>

MSR: She can't do that!

HK: It wasn't a dream.

R317: But she destroyed what everyone else had done. She destroyed Dexibal's art.

HK: Every player tries to screw it up.

<Tigs had gotten up and smiled at the three before she bailed for another busy week.>

Tigs: You made me write it right now. So deal with it. Besides it's not that bad.

R317: But...

MSR: But...

<R317 and MSR walk back into the cave disappointed. HK and Tigs wait until they are inside, then HK hands Tigs a twenty.>

HK: I knew you could do it.

***

Quinn laughed maniacally as he cut Wade's body apart and flushed it down the toilet piece by piece.

***

And with that, Brit began to write....................

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

Quinn and Ryan were watching the motel room from the safety of the doorway. Nothing had happened for the last five minutes, and they were beginning to get a little worried. Ryan bent down, removed a gun from a holster strapped to his ankle, and handed it to Quinn. "If things get a little wild, you're going to need this. Your double is a sick man, if you see Wade is in any kind of danger, you take the shot; no hesitation!"

Quinn, seemed a little unsure about it all, but he wasn't going to let any harm befall his Wade. As traumatic as the thought of killing his own double might be, Wade's safety was his primary concern.

"We go in through the front door on my count," said Ryan. "Nice and smooth; I go to the right, you to the left, and stay alert!"

They crept up to the doorway, and Ryan silently mouthed the countdown for them to burst through the door.

.............

Inside the motel, Quinn(2) was having a little trouble flushing Wade away. He couldn't chop her up fine enough to get rid of her properly, but he had been prepared for this. Remembering an old "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" that he saw as a kid, he had brought a few jars of highly corrosive acid to melt the bones away. When he was done, there would be no trace of Wade left! His work was going smoothly; he had got rid of her arms and legs, and was just melting the last of her torso with the acid when the door to the apartment burst open.

Ryan and Quinn swept into the room, pistols held in front of them in the classic Weaver stance. Their eyes were drawn to Quinn(2) standing in the doorway of the bathroom; a half empty bottle of acid in his hands, and the dismembered head of Wade lying on the floor.

"NOOOOOOOOOO!!!" Screamed Quinn. "Wade!!!!!!!"

"Don't move Mallory!" Shouted Ryan. "You're under arrest, and this time you're going to be locked away somewhere you'll never escape!"

Quinn(2) didn't seem in the slightest bit concerned by the two armed men pointing their weapons at him. "But she had to die. I would have finished disposing of her if you had only given me another few minutes."

Something inside Quinn snapped. The shock of seeing Wade's head lying on the floor like that, the realisation of what his double had done; it all proved too much. He took careful aim, and sent a bullet through Quinn(2)'s left kneecap, shattering it; causing him to drop instantly to the floor in pain.

"Quinn!" Shouted Ryan. "Put that weapon down! He's going to trial. He'll pay for what he's done; but by due process, we are not vigilantes!"

Quinn turned to look at Ryan with dead eyes. Ryan had seen that look before; the look of utter desolation. He knew there was no way that Quinn was capable of rational thought right now.

"Oh he'll pay alright." Said Quinn, as he fired another shot; this time through Quinn(2)'s other kneecap. Quinn(2) screamed in pain, the blood was starting to pool around his shattered knees; forming a sticky puddle beneath him.

Ryan turned to point his pistol at Quinn. "Put..the..gun..down. I'm not going to ask you again. Don't make me do this. Please. Just put the gun down."

Quinn(2) grinned evilly at his double. He reached into his jacket pocket, and pulled out the timer. Flecks of blood flew from his mouth as he spoke; "I hope you like it in this world; because it's the last one you'll see!" With that, he smashed the timer hard into the floor; splintering it into hundreds of pieces.

Everything seemed to happen in slow motion.

Quinn loosed a cry of utter despair, and fired once more at his double; hitting him in the stomach. At the same time, Ryan put a bullet into Quinn's shoulder, trying to force him to drop the pistol. With strength born of fury, the bullet didn't halt Quinn, and he started to pull the trigger again; but Ryan's second shot caught him squarely in the chest this time, and flung him across the room. The pistol dropped from his now lifeless hand, as his heart beat its last after being torn apart by the bullet.

Quinn(2) lay in the floor, blood dripping from his mouth, and grinned at Ryan. "I never knew you had the balls. It's just a pity you couldn't do it all those years ago. Do you still have nightmares about your precious Wade dying in front of you? All you had to do was shoot me in the head, and it would have been all over. But you couldn't do it, could you?"

Ryan turned to look at Quinn(2). "You're going to pay for this Mallory, you'll never see the daylight again. I'll make sure that they lock you up and throw away the key, so that you can rot for eternity."

"I think not," said Quinn(2). "I've had enough of this world, I'll see you in the next one!"

With the last of his strength, Quinn(2) lifted the half-empty bottle of acid to his mouth, and swallowed it's contents in one go. His face contorted in pain as his insides started to melt, but his vocal cords had been one of the first things to go, so he made no sound as he slumped to the floor. His rictus grin taunting Ryan, even in death.

Ryan was filled with a sense of loss he had never known existed. Once more he had failed to protect Wade from the 'Genius Slasher'. Not only that, but his prey had killed himself before being brought to justice, he had been forced to take down one of the good guys, and now the Professor and Remmy would be stuck on this world; with no timer, no Wade, and no Quinn. Overcome by utter hopelessness, he pressed his pistol to his temple, mouthed a silent prayer for forgiveness, and pulled the trigger...............

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

Brit stood up from the writing desk.

Brit: Well, that's me done then, another story game concluded. Now perhaps I can get some sleep!

The rest of the writers went over to look at what he had written. A series of disbelieving gasps went up as they read the last few paragraphs.

My: I can't believe he did that!

Dellyone: My poor Ryan!

SS: Brit, hun. Are you sure your feeling okay? This is pretty horrible stuff.

Brit: Call it; "post-holiday blues" my dear. Now, I'm heading off to bed to get some well-deserved rest.

As Brit left the cave via the 'Project Narnia' door, Dexibal was reading the end of the story, and couldn't help but smile.

Dexibal: What a wonderful ending; I knew I liked that boy!