Date: 05/16/2001
From: SouthernSlider

Morning all. Missed you yesterday, but I hardly had a moment to breath, much less get on-line. Maybe today I'll have time to do some catching up.

DMD, hope your adventure this week is not all work and no play.

Okay, let's see what's up.
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Chapter Seven

While Quinn was at Professor Arturo’s learning the ins and outs of time travel, Colin buried his nose in the stack of books Quinn had brought back to the room from the
library. He was in awe at all that could be done in the universe, things his own world was eons from discovering. Some things as simple as indoor plumbing, others as complicated as time travel and sliding. He hoped one day he could return to his world and show them the wonders of universe.

“I wonder how Q-ball’s making out with the professor,” Remmy mused as he sat down next to Colin.

Colin reined in his wandering thoughts. “I am sure he is making good progress. If things had gone wrong, we surely would have heard from him by now. It is almost noon.”

“Yeah, and time for food. I’m starved,” Maggie said. “Let's head down to the bar.”

Just as they all rose, the doors opened and Quinn came bounding in with Professor Arturo on his heels. Remmy’s eyes lit up like landing lights at an airport. Maggie
smiled, surprising herself that she was actually glad to see the old windbag, then mentally reminding herself he wasn’t the same man. Colin stood back behind the others,
wondering what was in store for them.

Remmy couldn’t contain himself. He rushed up to the man with arms extended.

“Professor!”

Professor Arturo looked on at the man with indignant surprise wondering who the hell he was.

At that moment, Quinn realized his mistake. He had been so caught up in the moment, and learning about time travel that he had never gotten around to explaining to the man how his companions might react to him, especially Remmy.

Maggie saw what was going on and came to Remmy’s side. “Remmy, remember, he is not your professor.”

Remmy’s face sobered. His balloon had just been burst and reality came crashing back into his mind.

“Sorry, Professor. I forgot myself for a moment. You’ll have to forgive me.”

“It is quite all right, my good man. It just dawned on me why you might be so glad to see me. Mr. Mallory, here, has informed me a little about your situation. I take it
you thought of me as your Professor Arturo. I did much the same thing with Mr. Mallory when we first met.”

The awkward moment passed quickly, with Quinn ushering them all to sit down. He could see by the looks on their faces they were anxious to find out what he knew.

“So what gives, Q-ball? Can we really go back in time? Is it really as easy as it sounds?”

“I don’t think so Remmy. I’m afraid there are all sorts of complications, the first and foremost being that we’re not from this world.”

“I have reservations, Mr. Brown. I’m not sure what the ramifications would be. Would you go back to your time or the time of your double on this world? It is something I would have to investigate to be sure about.” explained the professor.

“But aren’t our pasts pretty much parallel, Professor? I mean, these are parallel worlds. And this one looks pretty much like our own. It’s just that the boy-genius on this
world lucked up on time travel instead of sliding. I would think my double has pretty much the same life I did -- before I got caught up in all this mess.”

Remmy’s expression couldn’t hide his disappointment or frustration. He hadn’t let himself even entertain the idea that he couldn’t easily get back to change so many
horrible events that had taken place. Maggie picked up on his feelings and put her hand on his arm, trying to convey understanding.

“Remmy, there’s a lot I have to look into before we can even think about possibly trying to go back in time. The Professor has promised to take me to his lab and show me
what all has transpired since his Quinn discovered this phenomenon. And I, in turn, am going to show him the ins and outs of sliding. You’re going to have to be patient and
give us some time to sort all of this out.”

Remmy stood and walked across the room in disgust, at himself as much as anyone or anything else. He had let himself get his hopes up too much too soon. He should have known better. Colin rose to talk to his friend.

“Remmy, let my brother do what he knows best. He and the Professor can look into this. Do not give up hope just because we can not go back in time right this minute.”
He turned to see if Quinn was listening to him. When he saw him talking to the professor he turned back to Remmy, lowering his voice. “Besides, I would think you would want
to know if there are any problems with this time travel. Not checking things out thoroughly is what put you where you are now in the first place.”

Remmy chuckled to himself then turned to his friend. “I guess you got me on that one, Farm-boy. I guess I just got ahead of myself for awhile. I let my heroic thoughts just
run away with me. Wanting to set everything right again.” He sighed heavily.

“I understand, Remmy. I have the same thoughts, and I am sure Maggie and Quinn do too. But, we just have to wait and see what the consequences would be. Who knows, maybe it will all work out just like we want it to. We have to give Quinn and the professor some time.”

Remmy gave his friend a pat on the back and a smile to thank him for his reassuring words, but deep down inside he still had a nagging worry. Quinn had said they only had a little over four days on this world, and they were already working on their second one. How long would it take them to figure out what could be done in their situation? He wasn’t sure there would be enough time to figure out all the ramifications. He shook his head. Would they go headlong into this like they had done with sliding, or
give up their dream of fixing past mistakes? It wasn’t going to be an easy decision for any of them. There was so much that needed to be fixed.
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See you tomorrow.

SS

Decisions and Disappointments

Date: 05/16/2001
From: sliderlynn

are ahead for our heros.I can't wait to see what happens
next. Will be waitng patiently for the next chapter to
this story. Very good SS. I love what you are doing here!!
:)

I can't wait

Date: 05/16/2001
From: Missye

...for the next chapter. This is so good.
Hope everyone in the south is handleing the heat well. My father is refussing to turn on the air conditioning, so my house is like a sauna. granted it is coolor inside then out, but it is still very hot in my house.
Missye

Where to start?

Date: 05/16/2001
From: DieselMickeyDolenz

Never build the timer? Maggie dies and Colin's never found. Too many thing to screw up. It'll be interesting to see what you're waiting to throw at us. I know there's a twist coming somewhere.

DMD

Original URL http://www.scifi.com/bboard/browse.cgi/1/5/1095/3394
Nominated by DieselMickeyDolenz