Date: Mon, 13 May 1996 20:50:04 -0600 (MDT) From: "Katherine R. Freymuth" Subject: Slide Before You Leap - Part 1 (fwd) Message-ID: NOTE: Read Part 0 - please! Slide Before You Leap A Sliders/ Quantum Leap Crossover Story by Katherine "Kat" Freymuth Part 1 11:41 pm December 31, 1996 A dock in San Francisco "Wow! What a party!" exclaimed the woman dressed in a slinky red dress with matching three-inch heel dress shoes. Her hair, once a light brown was now bleached blond. "Told you it was a kick in the butt," her companion replied. He smiled at her seductively. She giggled. "You know," she said softly, "I've never been in San Francisco before." "So you said before we even left New Mexico," he pointed out. "I know that," she told him, faining being insulted. "I just thought that maybe you could give me a little tour later. Maybe spend some time in Golden Gate Park, if you know what I mean." The man's smile widened. He liked that idea. But it hadn't yet struck midnight. The tour would have to wait. The band struck up again. The man looked at his companion. "Care to dance?" "I'd love to," she told him. The two began to dance gently to the soft romantic music. Suddenly, it felt as if the night would never end as long as they were in each others arms. She closed her eyes and let herself be swayed by his rythmic steps. After a while, it seemed as if they weren't dancing anymore. She opened her eyes and looked at her companio with concern. "Al? Are you okay?" Al was staring out behind her. *What the hell is that?* he wondered. "I'm fine. Would you excuse me for a moment, Tina?" With that, he walked toward the aberration. Tina, following his gaze, also saw it and followed. The bright round hole in the air wasn't very far - less than a block away - but it was far enough that anyone who had other things on their mind wouldn't have seen it. In fact, Al probably wouldn't have seen it if he hadn't been facing it when it suddenly appeared. As Al and Tina approached the tornado-looking hole, they saw four figures fall out of it with several thuds and groans. Both Al and Tina took a step back in astonishment. *What the hell....* they both thought. Stopping where they were (about ten to fifteen feet away from the new arrivals) they could easily hear them talk to each other. Al quickly and quietly pulled Tina behind a tree to avoid being seen. "Al!" she complained. "Shhh!" Al told her and pricked up his ears to listen. "Another perfect landing courtesy of Quinn Mallory," an overweight, scholarly-looking man said with a gesture to a tall, well-built but thin man who still remained on the ground after the other three had risen. Quinn Mallory stood up. "When we get home, I'll work on it, Professor." "If we ever get home," an African-American man complained. "Well," Quinn said, looking at a large object that kind of looked like it belonged out of Star Trek, "we have seventeen days and eighteen hours before there's another window and it's very late. I suggest we find someplace to stay and get some food before we start exploring. If this isn't home, we'll need someplace to call home for the next two weeks." "Mr. Mallory is quite right," the professor told the group. "Now is not the time to go adventuring." A young lady sighed with resignation. "Well, I am a little tired and I sure don't want to sleep on a dock." Quinn smiled. "Come on. I'm sure there's a hotel open for business. It is New Year's Eve, after all." He led the others toward the main city. The look on Al's face was pure surprise. The same was on Tina's. It didn't make much sense. The two remained quiet for a moment in thought. Finally, Tina spoke up. "Al? Did I hear that right? Was that Max Arturo?" Al nodded but didn't speak. "From the Project?" "Sure looks like him," Al commented. "But he's walking!" she exclaimed. "I know," Al told her quietly. "That's what gets me. That and why he's in San Francisco, of all places. You know him. He'd never leave the Complex unless he had to." "Then, what's going on?" Al thought for a moment. "Either we've had everything wrong about Max or...." "Or what?" Tina pressed. Al looked at her. "Or someone's impersonating him." "Why would anyone want to do that?" Al shrugged and shook his head. Just then the sounds of horns blowing and people shouting "Happy New Year" filled their ears. Al smiled sheepishly. "Looks like I spoiled the party for you." "I have a feeling the party just started," Tina told him as she kissed him. ------------------------------ Don't go away. There's at least five more parts to come. Comments? E-mail me at krfreymu@brain.uccs.edu Kat Freymuth "Your eyes are the window to your soul." from a fellow classmate