"Othergates1.1" or "Blinker does fanfic"

Date: 5/3/99
From: Blinker

Not quite in the same way that Debbie does Dallas, but -- Hey, get that image out of your head *right* now! 7:-D

In Elizabethan times, 'othergates' meant the same thing 'otherwise' does today. I figured it would make a perfect triple-entendre title for a series about an alternate group of sliders - 10 points to whoever guesses all the entendres first! (No points for obscene ones!)

I'm going to be expanding on several ideas and characters first tossed out during the story games here. Profuse thanks to all who helped develop them, including ThomasMalthus, SL4ever, Slider_Sarah, Slider142 and Ann_Fredericks.

Lastly, each instalment will end with choices to be made by the readers. Vote early; vote often!

Our story begins, as did that other, in a San Fransisco basement...

Lost in Translation
Segment 1.1
=====

"All I can say is, I'm into something big here. Maybe the biggest discovery since... since..." Quinn floundered about for something to compare his invention to. Nothing was forthcoming.

"Hyper-gloss lipstick?" suggested Callie.

At the other end of the line, Quinn smiled thinly. His girlfriend's shallow naiveté could be amusing at times, but she was really no substitute for Wade. Unfortunately, Wade had died in a hoverboat accident before he had a chance to express his feelings for her. Quinn just hadn't been the same after that.

At least Callie's father was the richest industrialist in the state. She had no trouble manipulating him into providing funds for Quinn's experiments ... providing he could explain them in a way that would impress her diminutive mind.

Callie shifted on the couch and prepared to file the nails on her other hand. "Anyway, we're still on for Friday, right?"

Quinn turned away from his cynical thoughts to focus on the present. "Yeah. Uh, right. See you then."

But he wouldn't. Quinn Mallory would be in another universe on Friday, and he wasn't ever coming back.

***

Worker drones buzzed about the East Bureau, fulfilling any number of tasks that the Regime had set before them. Most labour in East Bureau was related to language, literature, and what passed for the arts in this decaying society.

"I'm waiting for an explanation." Ventek 36-A brandished a page of the day's Franciscan Gazette, featuring a column by one Parsons 21-V - the same man who stood before him.

"I was trying to explain the Totalitarians' rise to power in a fashion easily grasped by the rank and file Servants…" Parsons gestured with his hands as his voice trailed off.

"Ah. Well, that was your mistake. They don't *want* to understand and they don't *need* to. All they have to know is that the Regime exists, and they exist to Serve it."

Parsons seemed about to disagree, but swallowed his words and stared at Ventek's desk. "May I leave now?"

His superior looked up. "Not yet." Ventek shook his head in disgust. "I'm starting to think I was wrong to sponsor your application. You're heading for ten years of droneship at this rate."

"Please, sir." A nervous glance at his watch. "I don't want to be late for Service."

Ventek stretched his arms and yawned langorously before finally speaking. "Fine. Go."

Parsons was out of the Bureau before his supervisor had a chance to say anything more.

***

Quinn Mallory paced around his basement lab, savouring the knowledge that he would soon be the first in history to set foot in a parallel reality. Everything he'd worked and struggled for had at last come to fruition.

The initialization sequence was complete. The familiar transparent ripples took shape, followed by the dozens of multicoloured streaks that served to solidify the construct by phasing its energies.

The moment finally at hand, Quinn found himself slightly apprehensive. He took a tentative step toward the vortex, then checked the readout on his timer/remote.

When he looked up, Wade was in the room with him.

She stared into Quinn's eyes for a moment, then broke into a wide grin. "Quinn! I knew I'd find you! Hurry, there isn't much time..." She took him by the hand and indicated the swirling tempest of light...

Today's choices:

1. Should Quinn follow Wade into the vortex or not?

2. [cryptic multiple choice à la Mychand] Pick one of these words: "left" or "right."

Segment 1.2 will be posted tomorrow or Wednesday.

Blinker 7:-)

"It gets better." [holds up blinking timer] "A lot better."