Sliders Valentine Survivor, round 5

Date: 02/10/2004
From: DieselJeffProbst

Welcome to round 5 of the Valentine-themed Sliders Survivor. Sorry for the delay and the short voting window this round. Results of round 4 were as follows:

Obsession - 5
Last Days - 4
Luck of the Draw - 2

"Obsession" is eliminated.

For round 5, choose one of the following for elimination:

Last Days
Luck of the Draw
As Time Goes By

Voting closes Wednesday afternoon (EST).

DMD

"Luck" has nothing to do with it.

Date: 02/10/2004
From: TMytheEpisodeSpurner

"It" meaning BT, and not the book by Stephen King.

It's just the "Luck of the Draw", baby. Or at least that's how Bonnie Raitt puts it. Anyway, I vote for "LOTD". "Last Days" and "As Time Goes By" will be worthy competition for each other and I don't really want Krycek cutting in.

TMy

We need a big umbrella!

Date: 02/10/2004
From: Recall317

Make my handle e-mailable

Obsession was my pick for V-Day Survivor. I mean, Isaac Hayes, people!

Of the three, Luck of the Draw, a tale of keeping the population down, should go next.

R317

"Obsession", Exec hardly knew ye...

Date: 02/10/2004
From: ThomasMalthus

Some are obsessed with destroying Beginning Text.

I would have preferred that this episode make it to the final two as well, Recall. I think there's more romance and more of a romantic feel to it than any other episode (Romeo and Juliet at the beginning, Wade and Derek's past life, Remmy's romance with the nurse, etc.). Whether I think it should end up at the top of the heap would have taken some inner searching.

JermachesMolaudian: You mean in your wallet, for which episode's author donated you the most currency?

TM: Uh...no.

ThomasMalthus

Countdown

Date: 02/10/2004
From: Grizzlor

I'd have to say As Time Goes by. Wade/Ryan/Quinn and Wade/Quinn far outranks Quinn/various Daelins

As Time Goes By.

Date: 02/10/2004
From: sliderules

The time has come for this post to end.

Luck of the Draw

Date: 02/11/2004
From: Slider_Quinn21

end

No Time Like the Present

Date: 02/11/2004
From: HandmaidenAnde

You can't have a final round of Valentine Slider Survivor with a non-QW episode. My elimination vote goes to As Time Goes By.

"That would never do"

Date: 02/11/2004
From: MissingSliderRyan

BT do you know that Dexibal likes you? Do you?

DMD: NO! MSR STOP!

RECALL: STOP WITH THE STORY GAME ARCHIVE READING!

BLINKER: FOR THE LOVE OF RYAN, PLEASE STOP!

DMD: VOTE FIRST!

TIGS: PLEASE STOP! PLEASE!

SL4: GIMME ME PIE!

MSR: Voting for Last Days. Hehehehe... Nick's on Judging Amy! Awww... cute with his son. Awww... he's crying.

SL4: Is it because it has Vash?

DMD: It is because it has dancing?

RECALL: Where's Bill Paxton when you need him?

SL4: He's facedown in a ditch. Get over it!

TIGS: Hey we're not screaming anymore! Yay!

MSR: (rolls eyes) I can't type with an EasyBake chocolate chip cookie in one hand. Um... I was waiting for Q and Picard to show up. Given that the only reason Quinn and Wade kissed was because they thought they were going to die. Remember Wade almost died on 'Kiss Darkman and Die World." After that, how did Quinn show his love for her? (rolls eyes) Jealousy. But after he went after the Triple Daelins, it was over. Then it became "We don't have enough time." :-# Now to copy and paste. O:-D

All except MSR: NO!!!!!



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

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* 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.

~~~ "That Would Never Do"
http://slidersweb.net/blinker/cave/27.htm

(Note *, edited due a duh moment on my part and Brit catching it. :-D)






MSR

*gulp*

Date: 02/11/2004
From: Blinker

Beginning Text mustn't be swallowed!

Well, I'd rather see "Last Days" go next. But with my beloved "As Time Goes By" hanging in the balance...

"Luck of the Draw"

Oh, MSR is gonna kill me. Literally.

- Blinker 7:-P
http://slidersweb.net/blinker

Original URL http://bboard.scifi.com/bboard/browse.cgi/1/5/545/4067677
Nominated by Blinker