Theory: On the Exit Vortex and Timer

Date: 05/04/2000
From: Sabre_Edge

The lights in the hall dim as a man walks up to the podium.
Sabre_Edge begins, "Welcome, to the discussion on the location of the exit vortex and the theoritical science behind it."

"oh man! I thought this was an NSR post on music or something...", two bungee posters in the back get up and leave.

"Now that we only have the interested audience, I will continue":

The exit vortex that the Sliders use to complete their slide is not a random as some may think. There is only one factor that determines where the vortex entrance will open, that is where ever the operator of the timer directs it to be by pointing at a space. Now the exit vortex is a little more complicated. There are certain factors of priority that determine where the "other" side of the vortex opens in the new world.

The number one overriding factor is the manually inputted coordinates. *A projector shows a close up of the timer display and the glowing numerical coordinates.* The numerical coordinates in themselves are algorithms that point out which earth to slide to and where to "anchor" the exit vortex. This as been demonstrated in the pilot (the timer already holding the "home" coordinants), Exodus (same reasoning for Jensen's timer), and Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? as Quinn was able to immediately find Colin.

The second priority the timer is forced to follow is what has been dubbed "The Pin Prick Theory" by Professor Flux at an early conference. *A picture of the Profesor Flux is displayed from the projector* The Pin Prick Theory states that without inputted coordinates, an exit vortex will open at the exact location that the most recent entry or exit vortex last occupied. You see, sliding leaves tiny pin pricks in the fabric of space and time. *The projector shows a thin piece of fabric being pricked with a straight pin.* The wormhole would naturally choose the path of least resistance as it connects the gateway from earth to earth. This as been demonstrated time and again in the episodes following Exodus as the Sliders chase Col. Rickman. This theory may also be used to explain some of the more unusaul landings the Sliders have made.

I now submit to you the third and most natural factor in order of priority that determines the location of the exit vortex. The vortex does not act randomly when it determines where it will anchor itself. It needs some point of reference to use when no other factors are present. I came upon this theory as a result of my studying of the 400 mile slide radius. *The projector illustrates California and the theoritical slide radius* I wondered why out of all that land that the Sliders for the vast majority of the time landed in a big city, either SF or LA. So what do cities have that would attract this biased attention?"

Someone calls from the back, "Pigeons!"

"um...true, Silver Guy, but I doubt thats the reason...uh, how did you get in here anyway?! Security!"

"Anyway, I believe the deciding factor is electricity. The vortex would natural direct itself to an area where electricity can be found. The nature of electricity's close relationship to magnetism would be a logical choice, seeing as how the vortex must "anchor" itself to the earth, it is believed the earth's magnetic fields provides this foundation.

Ok, to make it simple, the vortex will be drawn to areas of electricity, which explains why they never end up in the middle of the Mojave. The vortex opens in major cities because of its abundance of electricity. This also explains some of the rural landings, such as Last of Eden (electrical shock pillars), Electric Twister Acid Test (electric tornadoes), the Lipshitz Live disrupted vortex, Dust's location (the archeology camp being the only source of electricity in the area), and Heavy Metal (the proximity of an electrically powered freight ship).

That is my theory, please add to or refute it. I hope the floor to discussion. Have fun :)

SE

Dr. Edge <waves hand from crowd>

Date: 05/04/2000
From: Tigs

Let me see if I understand the bare bones. The vortex opens near electricity if there is no "pinprick." <upon seeing the affirmative nod the questioner continues> Why would the sliders have landed inside the park in "En Dino Veritas"?

<waits patiently for the answer>

ktf
Tigs

Well

Date: 05/04/2000
From: JohnMU1

I'm not Dr. Edge, but I think I can answer the question.

When that episode took place, they were still using Quinn's original geographic spectrum stabilizer which had a landing radius of two miles. That entire area of land was inside the park, so they landed there. There was no significant source of electricity inside that radius to attract the gate.

<raises hand and clears his throat>

Date: 05/05/2000
From: Mallory95

"What about the episode 'Desert Storm'? From what we saw, the sliders landed out in the middle of nowhere with Logan's GSS. Now, you may say, 'that world may not have had electricity.' Well, you need a battery to run a truck with an internal combustion engine, right? If that were the extent of the electricity on the world, the batteries probably should have attracted the vortex.
"Second, it would be kind of hard to run oil wells and refineries to make gasoline without electricity. (I've never heard of a water-powered oil refinery, at least.) My point is, there must have been electricity _somewhere_ on that world.
"Now yes, it is possible that there may not have been a sufficiently strong electric signature within the radius. (This is only a comment on my part to help confront and clear up conflicts in order to get one step closer to the truth--whatever that may be.) It is also possible that electricity is only one thing that affects the end vortex location, or is not a factor at all."

<Mallory95 sits back down, opening the floor for more comments.>

 

Mallory95
[:::|o]}»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»(((O)))

Original URL http://bboard.scifi.com/bboard/browse.cgi/1/5/545/20413
Nominated by DMD