Couldbe....

Date: 01/18/1999
From: Ann_Fredericks

The Couldbe machine sputters and coughs for few moments before whirring softly as it becomes operational for the first time. Bear with me the following is the first product of the Machine - some tweaking may be necessary...

The Sliders land in a vast channel somewhere off the west coast of the continental united states. After dogpaddling and treading water for some time they are rescued by a small boat, but "rescue" may not be the correct word for it. Once out of the water they see a much larger ship about a mile farther west. It bears a flag none of them recognize, but is definitely a war vessel. No gunfire spoils the breezy day, however, and the air is warm. The sliders are questioned by the ranking officer of the smaller boat as they are rowed back. This is no vacation spot and he wants to know how they came to be there. Colin tells the man they come from Canada and he becomes confused. "We thought they were staying neutral in this issue," he says, and asks again why they're there. Quinn tries another tactic, "Perhaps you could help us. My name is Quinn Mallory and this is my brother, Colin. My brother and I are visiting our mother in Los Angeles. These are our friends, Maggie Beckett and Rembrandt Brown. Our umm plane crashed and we need a ride." At the mention of LA the officer becomes even more confused. "Is your friend alright?" he asks the others, "or don't Canadians watch the news?"
On this world, you see, California really did separate from the continental US in 1986 (anybody remember that prophesy?) after a series of earthquakes. Ca A.E.(after earthquake) is now three islands, LA is underwater and in the 13 years since then California has become more and more disillusioned with the national government and their "relief effort". At least one island is working toward secession - perhaps Hawaii has managed to stay separate too and they're using them as roll models. There is, at the least, serious frustration with the mainland US. Of couse viewers would probably have to go on slide online to find all of this out.
The officer, after radioing to the larger ship decides to drop the sliders near the mainland, since they obviously aren't islanders. On the mainland they meet relatives of the officer - many families were separated in the earthquakes and have been searching for each other for years. The sliders goal for this ep is to reunite the officer with his family - added bonus : they have to find the officer again anyway cause he confiscated the timer as a possible bomb or spy device. In the end the officer leaves the island to be with his family there is hope for some kind of connection between islands and mainland and the sliders get the timer back in the nick of time.
There - how was that?
-Ann

Pretty could...

Date: 01/19/1999
From: SL4ever

too bad the writers never read this board.

Are you going to keep the machine going? I think you should!

I like it

Date: 01/19/1999
From: SlidingThrough

That would have to be some earthquake to separate us from Canada.
Glad I wasn't there!

Keep 'em coming, this stuff is better than some of the current
writers can seem to manage.

ST

Clap.. Clap.. Clap.. Clap..!!!

Date: 01/19/1999
From: 1013shan

Way to go Ann! That was great! I especially liked the part about California A.E (after earthquake) --very creative! Writers are you reading this!!!!! Keep the couldbe machine going!

SL4ever: and I thought your title was a typo...clever..very clever... I must say, you never dissapoint..later tater...

1013shan

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Nominated by Blinker