Date: Thu, 1 Aug 1996 14:27:25 -0600 (MDT) From: "Katherine R. Freymuth" Subject: Slide Before You Leap - Part 16 Message-ID: This is a pretty short part. Also, all scientific aspects of this part are completely my own idea, based on Quantum Leap. Don't complain if it seems off to you. I'm an historian, not a scientist. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Slide Before You Leap A Quantum Leap/ Sliders Crossover by Kat Freymuth Part 16 Quinn opened his eyes to a dark room. He sat up in an attempt to check the time on his watch which laid on a nightstand be the bed. As he did so, the room brightened slowly, allowing him to see the room clearly. "Good morning, Mr. Mallory," a deep voice said. "It is eight-seventeen a.m. Pacific time. How did you sleep?" Quinn looked around the room quickly. "Who's that?" "Admiral Calavicci requested that I attend to you," the voice said. "He and Dr. Beckett will be unable to join you in the lab today." Quinn sighed. "Thanks for letting me know. But who are you?" "You may call me Alpha." There was a very slight pause. "Miss Wells is awake as well as Professor Arturo. Mr. Brown is still asleep. I estimate that he will remain asleep for another one point four three hours." Quinn laughed slightly. "You sound like a computer." "I am a computer," Alpha told him. "As for my vocal articulation, Dr. Beckett and Dr. Arturo corrected that. I can register no verbal flaws." "You mean the other Dr. Artuo," Quinn pointed out. "If you are referring to the Dr. Arturo of this particular reality, that is correct." Quinn stood, shaking his head. "I can't believe I'm talking to a computer." "I will allow you to dress and have breakfast. If you need me, just call for me and I will do what I am allowed to assist you." Quinn looked around. "Thanks." "You're welcome, Mr. Mallory." Quinn took a breath. He took a quick shower, dressed, and went over to Arturo's quarters. "Come in," Arturo beckoned at Quinn's knock. "Ah, Mr. Mallory. I have just had a most fascinating conversation." "With Alpha the computer?" Quinn surmised. "I see you have had one too," Arturo replied. "What do you think, Professor?" Quinn questioned. "How long until we slide?" "Fifteen days, nine hours, and thirty minutes," Quinn told him, pulling out the timer to read it. "Well, then, since we have nothing better to do for the next fifteen days, I suggest we use the pre-offered lab to work on opening the window home." There was a knock on the door. "Come on in, Wade," Quinn replied to the knock. The door opened. "How's you know it was me?" Wade asked. "'Cause Rembrandt's still asleep," Quinn answered. "And Dr. Beckett and Admiral Calavicci aren't going to be with us today. Alpha told me." "You mean that annoying voice that spoke to me after I woke up?" Wade questioned. "Yeah," Quinn answered. "It's a computer and a rather sophisticated one from what I could tell." "Well, I think it's a little creepy having something talk to you from seemingly nowhere." She looked about. "I can't wait to get out of here." "We must make do with what we have, Miss Wells," Arturo told her. "After all, we did agree to obey their restrictions." "Within reason," Wade pointed out. "You said so yourself. Seems to me they're starting to go a little too far." "Listen," Quinn said, "we still have fifteen days until we slide so let's worry about them when we have to and focus on getting home. Besides," he added, "I'm hungry so let's get something to eat." ---------------------------------------------------------------- I won't be posting for a while. Will be gone for a couple of weeks. Hopefully I'll have the story finished when I return. Kat Freymuth