Date: Mon, 20 May 1996 15:46:39 -0600 (MDT) From: "Katherine R. Freymuth" Subject: Slide Before You Leap - Part 2 Message-ID: READ PART 0 FIRST! THANKS. Slide Before You Leap A Sliders/Quantum Leap Crossover by Kat Freymuth Part 2 The hotel room was quiet for many hours past dawn. Finally, at around 11 am, the first of the three male Sliders, Rembrandt Brown, woke. As he showered and dressed, he was followed by Professor Maximillian Arturo, who dressed while Rembrandt left the hotel room to check on Wade Wells, the only female in the group of four, who was staying in an adjacent room. "How's it going, girl?" Rembrandt asked with a smile. She smiled back as she finished putting on her shoes. "Doing fine. How's Quinn?" "Still asleep," he told her. She nodded. "After that last slide, I'm not surprised." She stood up from her bed. "Neither am I. Hungry?" Wade quickly nodded. "Good. When you're ready, come on over. I don't think Q-ball will be asleep much longer." She nodded again and Rembrandt left to go back to the room. His prediction was correct. When he re-entered the hotel room, Quinn was sitting on the side of his bed, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "Good morning," Rembrandt greeted. "What time is it?" Quinn asked groggily. "About eleven thirty," Rembrandt told him. "We really should get going and find out where we are." He picked up a television remote control and turned on the TV. "Good idea," Quinn muttered. "I'll go take a shower." He stood up and headed for the bathroom. "The Professor's in there right now," Rembrandt said just as Arturo came out. "Was in there," he corrected. "Good morning, Mr. Mallory," Arturo said as he passed Quinn. "Morning, Professor," Quinn answered and closed the door. Arturo went up to Rembrandt with curiousity. "Any luck, Mr. Brown?" Rembrandt took a breath and exhaled. "I don't know. Doesn't look like home to me. It's close but take a look at this." He took the TV off mute. "In international new, the conflict between Cuban guerrilla factions and the Castro government has grown increasingly more violent. President Clinton, in his last bid as president, promised to end the conflict before the end of his term. However, military analysts are saying that the best action the United States could make at this moment would be to remain neutral. In local news..." "Conflict in Cuba?" Arturo asked. "Interesting. Perhaps I can find more about this when I check the library after lunch." "I'll go with you," Wade said as she came in. "Any luck, Remmy?" Rembrandt shook his head. Wade sighed. Quinn came out of the bathroom, shirtless and drying his hair. He looked at Rembrandt with questioning. "No luck yet," Rembrandt told him. Quinn frowned slightly. "Anything remotely familiar?" "Just that shyster lawyer we always come across." Now Quinn sighed. "Well, we can't learn anymore just sitting here. Let's go get some breakfast and then split into teams of two so we don't lose anybody." With that, the four left the hotel in search of a quick meal. ********** Admiral Albert Calavicci, after having had breakfast with Tina in their hotel room, decided to do a little investigating on the events of last night. So, he sent Tina out shopping (much to her chagrin - she was hoping to spend the day with him) and started his investigation with a phone call to the Project Quantum Leap Complex. "Admiral! We weren't expecting to hear from you for another couple of days, sir." "Yes, I know, Corporal. Just wanted to check on something. Did Dr. Arturo leave the complex anytime, say in the past forty-eight hours?" "No, sir. Did you wish to speak with him, sir?" Al shook his head, even though the Corporal wouldn't be able to see it. "No, thank you, Corporal. That will be all." "Aye, sir," the Corporal replied just before Al hung up. *Max never left the complex*, Al thought. *Therefore, the other has to be an imposter.* Either that or a strange coincidence but Al didn't think so. Not to mention there was that strange portal. There were a lot of questions to answer and Al hated unanswered questions. He went out and got into his red Ferrari Testarosa. Best place to start, he believed, was the place where that portal appeared. Driving to the spot, he parked and got out, surveying the area. Absolutely nothing unusual could be seen. *They said something about getting a place to stay. Since they apparently had no means of transportation, wherever they're staying is probably within walking distance.* He didn't have to walk very far to find the four. They were sitting in a local cafe, having a late breakfast, except for the African-American who was having a hamburger with all the fixings. Mr. Mallory, as "Max" called him, was apparently having an omelet while "Max" was having what might pass as Eggs Benedict - if it were a fancy restaurant. The young lady was having fruit and juice. Al took a seat in another cafe across the street so that he could have a clear view of the four. Having ordered a cup of black coffe, he waited. Part three to come soon.