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Internet Message Format | 1997-03-17 | 54KB

From: "Kyrie Daniels" <[e-mail]>
Subject: The Prime Factor, 07/33 [TF]
Date: 04 Mar 1997 01:58:14 +0000

The Prime Factor
A Tomorrow's Future Story
by Kyrie Daniels


NOTE:  This is part of a collaborative project known as Tomorrow's
Future.  For more info of this fanfic universe and links to other
stories set within it, visit the Tomorrow's Future home page at:

http://www.calweb.com/~smccrory/fanfic/tf.html


NOTE:  This is part seven of a thirty-three part series.  All
disclaimers and notes are in part zero.  If you missed any of the
previous parts, you can e-mail me at [e-mail] or access them via
the web or ftp:

http://www.dnai.com/~kyrie/Fanfic.htm
ftp.dnai.com/users/k/kyrie/Fanfic



Part Seven

Kate glares at the impostor pretending to be Wade Welles.  She has to
be an impostor.  Just because this person could be the mirror image of
Wade doesn't change the fact there are too many thoughts in that head
that aren't Wadelike.  No tattoo on the wrist either, which Kate
always looks for first thing when meeting anyone - new acquaintance or
old.  Never can be too careful as a future Immortal where Watchers are
concerned.  From what Kate can pick up from the woman's thoughts, no
other identity or name is coming up.  Despite all evidence pointing to
the contrary, Jane Doe is convinced she is in fact Wade.  Kate gathers
it could be worse.  Janey here could be convinced she's Quinn.

"Why *don't* I own an answering machine?"  Wade knows this isn't the
best time to ask such an insignificant question.  She could tell Kate
the truth, but the others would have a fit over it.  Especially Quinn.
 Understandable, since Wade certainly wouldn't want him talking to her
sister's double about this.  Kelley would probably make some remark
about the things she'd do for the attention of a guy.  Wade really
wants to know what her double has against answering machines since it
is such an odd thing to be adamantly against.  Besides, it'll stall
Kate until she figures out a way to get around the truth.

Who the hell is Kelley?  Wade's an only child.  Kate could never
forget that because ever since meeting her, Wade was always saying how
she was the sister she never got.  She often imagined what it would be
like to have Wade as a big sister.  Wade's everything her brother
isn't - including understanding.  The Welles even let her drop by
whenever she wants, and they even checked on her last time Mom went
out of town.  Wade is an integral part of her life and there's no way
this fraudulent Janey is going to worm information out of her
regarding whatever.  Even the Watchers.  Wade is far more important to
her than any enemy organization out to meddle in her eternal
livelihood.

Closing her eyes, Kate struggles to maintain the illusion of
composure.  It doesn't work.  She can feel herself shaking, tears
demanding a release from her eyes.  "Look, I don't know what you want
from me, but I know I don't want any part of it."  She gets up.  How
could she get out of here as quickly as possible without drawing
attention to herself?

"Kate, please don't leave."  Wade reaches for the teenager's arm.
"I'll try to answer all your questions as best as I can.  But you have
to understand that I'm not lying to you on purpose.  The last thing I
want to do is scare you."  She offers Kate a napkin.

Janey's thoughts are consistent with what she's saying.  Kate doesn't
sense this person wants to hurt her or her family.  "You're not really
Wade, are you?"

She can't lie or Kate will know.  This is as bad as those truth bands
were.  "I've never met you before today.  But I really am Wade Welles.
 It probably doesn't make a lot of sense, but the details aren't
important.  I just need to know some basic information about the Quinn
and Wade you know."

"They work in New York.  That's all I know."  Kate figures it's a
feasible lie.  Trying to interpret Janey's thoughts gives her a
headache.  Nothing makes sense at face value.  She rubs her temples.
"I have to get back to work.  Sorry I couldn't be more helpful," she
mutters as she leaves the coffeehouse before Wade can object.

Wade watches Kate walk across the street.  The Mallory teen tilts her
head to the sidewalk and grabs her head with her right hand.

----------

Quinn sighs.  "None of us belong here any more than we do on any other
world we've visited, Remmy.  In fact, this world's been nothing
compared to most of them.  You'll probably feel better if you get some
rest this slide."

"That's not what I meant."  Rembrandt's forehead crinkles.  "It's a
feeling, but not like that.  More of an instinct than something
physical.    And I know it doesn't make sense, but that hasn't made it
go away either."

Arturo glances up from the newspaper.  "I must say that I agree with
you there.  There is something rather...unsettling about this world,
and the sooner we determine a concrete difference between this world
and ours, the better."

"We already know there's a difference," Quinn points out.

"While the fact your double has a younger sister proves this is not
our Earth, something more is going on here."  Arturo folds up the
section of the paper he's been reading.  "I'm particularly interested
in knowing where this Quinn is living.  Not to mention what the young
man is occupying his time with."

Rembrandt smiles.  "Considering how you took to this sister of
Q-Ball's, I'm not surprised his double skipped town."

"She didn't seem that bad.  A bit annoyed that I'd show up at her work
like that."  Quinn smiles.  How would he react to growing up with
someone like Kate?  From his brief encounter with her, it was obvious
she is a lot different than he was as a teenager.  He always assumed
having a brother or sister meant having someone around who shared his
interests.  Kate doesn't seem to, though.

Arturo nods.  "Is it possible he slides?"

"I don't think so," Quinn replies thoughtfully.  "I got the feeling
she regularly checks his thoughts..."

"Which would explain why he would want to leave San Francisco," Arturo
adds.

"He's got a point there,"  Rembrandt acknowledges.

Quinn smiles.  "I still don't think that's it.  I know how my mind
works, and I don't think I'd be able to stop thinking about sliding,
or any of my projects, whenever...."  His face drops and he purses his
lips.

Arturo notices.  "What is it, Quinn?"

"Professor, all this time I thought Kate was thrown off by me dropping
in like that on her, and that was why she seemed so uncomfortable."
Quinn sighs.  "Thing is, if she can read minds like that, and had me
around her whole life, she would know the sort of things I think
about."

"That stands to reason."

"What if she knows I'm not her brother?"

----------

Pacing in the living room of her London flat, Greer sighs in complete
frustration.  How is it her husband, Michael Gardner, is conveniently
absent when Adam starts in on the questions she's been truly dreading?
 She knew she should have made Michael wait on paging Adam until he
figured out all the details regarding this speculated connection
between the Tomorrow People and the situation regarding his favorite
Watcher recruit, Wade Welles.

"No, Adam, my lovely husband didn't bother to mention how he expects
the lot of you to help clear up this teleporting mystery."

Michael's voice startles Adam and Greer.  "Talking about me behind my
back, I see."

"She was just trying to give me the background of your problem.  With
the...teleporters."  Adam tries not to laugh at him.  Michael has
never been one to request outrageous favors.  Despite the respect he
has for the man, Adam can not help but find the concept of teleporters
with no idea of the fact they are doing so...not just once, but
multiple times...it seems like a bit of a reach.  Normally he would
take such an idea seriously, but for some reason he can't get himself
to do so today.  He's got to stop spending so much time with Megabyte.
 He's starting to think like him.

"Don't listen to whatever she told you.  This is serious.  I don't
know how else to explain how two people could be spotted in two places
at the same time.  If I don't help them figure out what's going on,
they could be in grave danger.  You should be able to imagine what
could happen if organizations like the Watchers were to believe
individuals had special abilities they truly did not."  Michael
glances at Adam for a glimmer of understanding.  He doesn't see one.

Greer sighs.  "I think my cue to leave was the bit about not listening
to me.  Either that, or that was my cue to do something else to you
for that remark."  Her smile turns wicked.  "But I wouldn't do
anything like that with the likes of him around."  She casually heads
upstairs.

Adam pauses, half wondering if he should call the others about
Michael's dilemma.  It can wait.  There's still a few more things he
wants to know first.  "Suppose they are Tomorrow People.  They should
have first teleported to the Island.  We all did, usually ending up in
the ocean first, but always drawn to the island.  Kevin tends to dream
about the new ones before they break out and usually tells Megabyte
about it.  Even if they didn't know about us, we would know about
them...somehow."

"I thought your kind breakout during youth...adolescence, isn't that
how it usually goes?"  Michael walks towards the couch and sits.

"So far, that's how it's worked."

"They are both in their early twenties.  And this is the first they
heard of their 'teleporting' abilities.  Wade further relayed that her
colleague Quinn was spotted by his sister and he didn't act as if he
knew the girl.  Yet at the precise same moment, he was working out of
the New York office."

"Cloning, perhaps?"  Adam can't think of another possibility.  At this
point he has to get the others.  It is a situation that has the
potential to hit uncomfortably close to home, from the sound of it.

----------

Back at the Dominion Hotel in San Francisco, Arturo turns towards
Quinn.  "What did you say?"

"What if she knows I'm not her brother?"  Quinn rises from the edge of
the bed.  "She knew you were trying to assess this world in the brief
time she was around you.  When I first saw her, I had no idea who she
was.  She had to have known that based on my thoughts.  The same way
she knew it would upset you if she directly addressed your thoughts."

"If she does indeed know, we could be in a lot of trouble.  Especially
if your theory about the work your double is doing holds true."
Arturo sighs.  "Perhaps sending Wade was a poor idea, in hindsight."

"Guys, I think you're overlooking something."  Rembrandt struggles to
sit up in the bed.

Quinn turns toward him.  "What's that?"

Rembrandt smiles.  "If this Kate can read minds, she would know if we
had ulterior motives in our contact with her just as she would if we
meant her no harm."

"Of course!"  Quinn smiles at Rembrandt.  "She must by now know at
least the majority of the truth about it based on our thoughts.  If we
filled in the missing pieces for her, perhaps she could help us figure
out how we can help Rembrandt and help keep us out of trouble until we
slide."

Arturo isn't convinced.  "Why would this child want to help us?"

"Oh, that's easy," Rembrandt remarks.  "To get the two of you out of
her life."


To Be Continued...

**I would appreciate any feedback on this piece, positive or negative.
 It would be great if I got a greater response from readers than error
messages from the SLFIC listserv.  :)  E-mail me at [e-mail].
My mailbox is very hungry for some feedback!**

**The SLFIC Archives are up and running!  If you want to check out the
fanfic output of the mailing list devoted to Sliders Fanfic, the
address is:

http://www.dnai.com/~kyrie/SLFIC/Sliders.html

To subscribe to the list, write [e-mail] with the
message:  subscribe slfic.  Or e-mail me at [e-mail] for more
information.**

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Caity <[e-mail]>
Subject: Received Memory, part 3?
Date: 04 Mar 1997 15:59:34 -0800

Several weeks ago I sent part 3 of Memory Over Matter
to TPFICT, but I never received it in my mailbox. Yesterday
I sent out another copy, but I never got that one either. Did
anyone recieve either of them?

-Allyson
--
*********************************************************************
[e-mail]
*********************************************************************
Creator and maintainer of "The Un-Official Kristian Schmid Web Page"
http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/8683/
or
http://www.dragonfire.net/~KS/
*********************************************************************

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Allyson Walters <[e-mail]>
Subject: test, ignore
Date: 04 Mar 1997 16:02:03 -0800

Just wanted to see if my usual address was
sending to TPFICT yet.

--
*********************************************************************
[e-mail]
*********************************************************************
Creator and maintainer of "The Un-Official Kristian Schmid Web Page"
http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/8683/
or
http://www.dragonfire.net/~KS/
*********************************************************************

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Jennifer Welk <[e-mail]>
Subject: A note of interest
Date: 06 Mar 1997 16:35:26 -0800 (PST)


Ever watch a Tomorrow People episode and find yourself wondering where
the TPs got their jewelry?  I've found a partial answer.

A web page called The Golden Rose [http://www.cybernetix.com/~rose/]that
specializes in Celtic knot jewelry has very close [if not exact] replicas
of Ami's necklace and earrings.

Footnote: Adam's pendant, I believe, is simply a triple-loop knot with
elongated loops, but I've yet to find even a close replica.

Till the next mindmerge--Jennifer


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Allyson <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: A note of interest
Date: 06 Mar 1997 18:55:59 -0600 (CST)

At 04:35 PM 3/6/97 -0800, you wrote:
>Footnote: Adam's pendant, I believe, is simply a triple-loop knot with
>elongated loops, but I've yet to find even a close replica.

Actually, I'm fairly certain Adam's pendant is meant to be a cross -
I know because I have one almost exactly like it that was given to me
at my Confirmation (I'm Catholic).

-Allyson
*********************************************************************
[e-mail]
*********************************************************************
Creator and maintainer of "The Un-Official Kristian Schmid Web Page"
http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/8683/
or
http://www.dragonfire.net/~KS/
*********************************************************************




-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Mara MacLeod <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: A note of interest
Date: 06 Mar 1997 20:15:16 -0600

Allyson wrote:
>
> At 04:35 PM 3/6/97 -0800, you wrote:
> >Footnote: Adam's pendant, I believe, is simply a triple-loop knot with
> >elongated loops, but I've yet to find even a close replica.
>
> Actually, I'm fairly certain Adam's pendant is meant to be a cross -
> I know because I have one almost exactly like it that was given to me
> at my Confirmation (I'm Catholic).
>
> -Allyson

  <delurk>
  Actually, if I recall correctly, it is a *Celtic Cross*, which can be
adapted here or there however anyone chooses. I don't know that it
carries any overtones or not.
  Just my two bits.

    Mara MacLeod - [e-mail]
  </delurk>


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: "Kyrie Daniels" <[e-mail]>
Subject: The Prime Factor, 08/33 [TF]
Date: 07 Mar 1997 02:47:43 +0000

The Prime Factor
A Tomorrow's Future Story
by Kyrie Daniels

NOTE:  This is part of a collaborative project known as Tomorrow's
Future.  All disclaimers and story notes can be found in part zero.
For more info of this fanfic universe and links to other stories set
within it, visit the Tomorrow's Future home page at:

http://www.calweb.com/~smccrory/fanfic/tf.html

NOTE:  This is part eight of a thirty-three part series.  If you
missed any of the previous parts, you can e-mail me at [e-mail]
or access them via the web or ftp:

http://www.dnai.com/~kyrie/Fanfic.htm
ftp.dnai.com/users/k/kyrie/Fanfic


Part Eight


Michael sighs.  "Cloning?  I don't know, Adam.  Even if that was the
problem, why those two individuals?  I can honestly say there's
nothing extraordinary about them.  Of all the people in the world, why
clone *them*?"

[Kevin!  Megabyte!]  "I don't know either.  But it's the only
possibility that makes any sense."  Adam attempts to once again
contact his friends mentally.  [Guys, you'll never believe what's
going on.  Guys?]

A flash of light brings Megabyte to the room.  "Come on, Adam.  You
knew I'd get here sooner or later."  He smiles at Michael.  "So,
what's going on that's so interesting?"

"I have a situation that's been brought to my attention, and since it
was right up the Tomorrow People's alley, I decided to run it by at
least one of you."  Michael grins.  "It seems that all I've done is
give Adam here a good laugh."

Adam shakes his head.  "It wasn't that bad of a theory."

"Just not a good one, eh?"  Megabyte smiles.  "Now that I'm here, you
might as well tell me about it."

Michael knows enough about the kids to know that Megabyte would be the
first one of them to rip holes into a theory like this.  If Adam did,
there's no doubt Megabyte would be merciless.  "What would you think
if I told you about two young adults spotted in two completely
different cities at virtually the same moment?"

"I'd say you've got some more of us on your hands."  Megabyte doesn't
get what the big deal is.  "New Tomorrow People?"

"Hardly, Megabyte.  Michael here forgot to mention the best part."
Adam grins.

"I didn't forget," Michael acknowledges.  "I just didn't get to that
part yet."

Megabyte rolls his eyes.  "Well, would you?"

Michael clears his throat.  "If they are teleporters, neither of them
know a thing about it."

"How could they not?"  Megabyte glances at Adam and watches the taller
teen laugh.  "What's so funny?"

"I've been at the spaceship for weeks without a single trip off the
island.  If there were new ones I would have seen them."  Adam takes a
seat on the couch.  "Even if I didn't, they would have had a hard time
missing the ocean.  How could they forget about something like that?"

"I don't know."  Megabyte glares at Adam.  "Besides, what did they do
that has *you* so interested, Michael?"

He smiles slightly.  "I know both of them.  Which is why I believe
Wade when she says she doesn't know a thing about how she could have
been in San Francisco at the time in question."

Megabyte laughs.  "What kind of a girl's name is Wade?"

"Who are you to talk, Marmaduke?"  Adam smirks.

Megabyte hates his real name, particularly when people who are
supposed to be his friends use it to taunt him like Adam's doing right
now.  "Very funny."  Megabyte groans, noticing Michael appears a bit
distant.  A bit somber for the circumstances, in any case.  "So
Michael, where was she when she was caught in San Fran?"

Michael gestures at his surroundings.  "Here.  She was on vacation and
decided to come up and see me."

"Oh, really?"  Megabyte grins.  The thought of Michael Gardner having
some mysterious female guest staying under his roof...with his wife's
approval?  Somehow, that's the strangest part of all.  "And Greer
didn't have a problem with this?"

"Wade is very special.  I taught her everything she knows about the
Organization.  She isn't much younger than myself, but I've always
treated her as if she's my flesh and blood.  I guess I see her as the
kid sister more than anything."  Michael nods.  He doesn't feel like
pointing out Greer's interpretation of the relationship at the moment.

Megabyte finds this intriguing.  Mainly because Michael never
mentioned this person before.  He wonders if she's attractive.  "Who's
the other person?"

"Quinn Mallory."  Michael paces.  "I don't know him all that well, but
he's been working with Wade for a couple of years now.  Mainly I get
to hear Wade whine about him.  He has a little crush on her and it
drives her mad on a regular basis.  She's afraid any rejection might
ruin their professional relations.  He was spotted in San Francisco as
well, but he was logged in at his New York office at the same time."

"There's no way that sighting was a mistake?"  Megabyte asks.

Michael laughs.  "I doubt it, seeing as how he was spotted by his
sister."

"Hey, when did all sisters earn credibility?"  Megabyte could see
Millie doing something like this to taunt him.  Whenever she's in town
long enough to do so.  "Oh, what's with both of them being seen in San
Francisco?  Could that mean anything?"

Adam nods.  "That is a rather odd coincidence..."

"Not really.  Both of them are from San Francisco and still have
family out there."  Michael ponders what significance it could have,
but beyond this, he can't think of a reason the two would be seen
there over somewhere else.

Megabyte has one nagging question that no one has bothered to answer.
Yet.  "Guys, while this is a fun discussion and all, what's the point?
 Assuming all this business about being in two places at once is true,
why does anyone even *care* about it?"

~*~*~

The dwindling budget on this project prohibits yet another bit
establishing setting outside the nearby area of San Francisco.  In
lieu of this, readers are asked to picture in their minds the image of
the Brooklyn Bridge to establish the return to New York and to Big
Apple Archives.  Thank you for your understanding and patronage - the
producers.

P.S. - It was brought to my attention that any new Tomorrow People
still working on those teleporting skills may accidentally teleport to
the Brooklyn Bridge if thinking about it too hard.  However, after
thoughtful consideration, it is the belief of the producers that if a
true danger existed of TPs thinking too hard, this adventure wouldn't
be nearly a 33 parter.  But if you suspect you may be a TP, proceed
with caution.

And now, back to the story, already in progress....

~*~*~

Quinn could hear Hurley muttering to himself in the hallway, just
outside his office.  It has something to do with Wade, but what else
is new?  She needs to spend more time on the field and less time here.
 Then the odds of her getting on Hurley's nerves as much as she does
would be slimmer.  Unfortunately, Wade's confidence isn't quite there
yet, despite her relatively tame assignment.  It isn't that he minds
having her around.  Quinn doesn't mind that part one bit.  Thinking of
her like that makes his cheeks flush.  How embarrassing if someone saw
him like this.  He tries to make out what Hurley's saying, but his
boss' heavy footsteps drowns out the words.  It doesn't matter much.
Just needed a momentary distraction from his train of thought.
Besides, Wade would tell him about it all.  Eventually.

He picks up the unwrapped box on his desk and lifts off the cover.
Removing the Scotland Yard magnet, he looks at it for a moment and
unconsciously flips it between his fingers.  Now he needs to get her
something on his vacation, but he has no idea what to get her.
Lately, he hasn't been sure if he wants to take the vacation he
intended.  She could probably use an Alcatraz magnet.

----------

"Megabyte, what kind of question is that?"  Adam cannot believe that
his friend would ask such a thing.  It isn't like Michael or Greer to
call on them for help like this unless there's a good reason behind
it.

Michael shrugs.  "A valid one.  Unfortunately, I can't give you a lot
of the details.  Partly because it is a confidential matter, but
largely because it is Wade's confidential matter.  I'm not sure how
happy she'll be about me getting others involved, much less revealing
things she shouldn't even have revealed to me to people she doesn't
even know."

"So then we'll have to meet her."  Megabyte knows Adam will not let
this thing die.  The problem is that until any of them know more,
there's little that could possibly be done.  Besides, if this person
might not want their help, what's the point of getting involved?

Adam glares at the redhead.  "Megabyte..."

"Don't 'Megabyte' me.  It's one thing if this Wade was asking us to
help.  Or even if she asked Michael to ask us.  If you ask me, all
we're doing here is meddling in her business when we should at least
ask her first."

"I'll be the first to admit that I should have broached the subject
with her before calling on either of you.  But she did ask me for
help, and I consider this help.  In her line of work, she's used to
surprises, but I wouldn't recommend teleporting right in on her."
Michael smiles, imagining just how Wade would react to meeting the
next stage of human evolution.  At least she's always had an open mind
about such things.

Adam nods.  "Where would be the best place to approach her regarding
this?"

Michael walks towards the phone, picking up a business card beside it.
 "Ironically, her work would be the best place.  It was set up in such
a way that it isn't entirely unusual for clientele to arrive
unannounced.  While I don't particularly find it the best way to run
such things, it has worked for them."

Megabyte hates it when Michael starts in with his evasive Watcher
talk.  "What's the name of this place?"

"Big Apple Archivers.  Wade is one of the sales people there.  If
she's not in, ask for Quinn.  He handles the bulk of the actual
archiving, so you could say that he's working on your project and not
attract suspicion.  With him, you might want to leave out the details
regarding your people."  Michael gives the card to Adam.

Adam accepts it.  "Why?"

"Quinn has a hard time grasping such things.  Sometimes I wonder
whether or not he questions the validity of what he does for a
living."  Michael shrugs.

"Let me get this straight."  Megabyte pauses until he has the
attention of the others before continuing.  "This guy doesn't even
believe in the whole Immortal thing, but he's a Watcher?  Is the pay
that good?"

Michael laughs.  "I know it seems a bit strange in theory, but I knew
the first time I met Quinn he would eventually join the Organization.
After his father's death, perhaps he wanted to believe that it is
possible.  In any case, that was what brought him in."

"To replace his father?"  Adam asks.

Nodding, Michael approaches the two teens.  "I've already told both of
you far more than you need to know.  Any other questions you'll have
to take to the individuals themselves."

Even though Megabyte knows Michael is leaving out some significant
details, it likely will be easier to go straight to the people in
question.  Maybe then this whole 'situation' would make a lot more
sense.  "Adam, we'd better get going, then."

"We'll let you know what we find out, Michael," Adam adds.

"Thanks again.  This means a lot to me."  Michael smiles as he watches
the two teens disappear in a flash of light.


To Be Continued...

**I would appreciate any feedback on this piece, positive or negative.
 It would be great if I got a greater response from readers than error
messages from the SLFIC listserv.  :)  E-mail me at [e-mail].
My mailbox is very hungry for some feedback!**


**The SLFIC Archives are up and running!  If you want to check out the
fanfic output of the mailing list devoted to Sliders Fanfic, the
address is:

http://www.dnai.com/~kyrie/SLFIC/Sliders.html

To subscribe to the list, write [e-mail] with the
message:  subscribe slfic.  Or e-mail me at [e-mail] for
more information.**


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: "Kyrie Daniels" <[e-mail]>
Subject: The Prime Factor, 10/33 [TF]
Date: 14 Mar 1997 00:07:43 +0000

The Prime Factor
A Tomorrow's Future Story
by Kyrie Daniels


NOTE:  This is part of a collaborative project known as Tomorrow's
Future.  All disclaimers and story notes can be found in part zero.
For more information on this fanfic universe and links to other
stories set in it, visit the Tomorrow's Future home page at:

http://www.calweb.com/~smccrory/fanfic/tf.html

NOTE:  This is part nine of a thirty-three part series.  If you missed
any of the previous parts, you can e-mail me at [e-mail] or
access them via the web or ftp:

http://www.dnai.com/~kyrie/Fanfic.htm
ftp.dnai.com/users/k/kyrie/Fanfic


Part Ten


Quinn barges into Wade's office.  She looks up, almost like she
expected him.  Maybe she thought he was Hurley.  It didn't matter.  He
figures he'll keep doing this until she quits barging in on him.  At
least she's alone.

"Wade, we have to talk."

"About?"

He sits down at one of the two chairs in front of her desk.  "You
*weren't* in San Francisco, were you?"

She shakes her head.  "I was precisely where I told you I'd be.  But
what difference does it make if the Organization thinks otherwise?"

"Kate spotted me at her work."

Wade drops her paperwork.  "You can't be serious!"

"I thought she was messing with me, but the more I think about it, I
don't think she was."  He stares into her eyes, conveying the same
confusion and fright.  "Then my mom said something about being in two
places at the same time, and I thought about how Hurley thinks you
were also there, when you were somewhere else entirely.  Me they can
verify being in this office virtually all day, every day.  You, they
couldn't, so there's no reason to doubt it..."

"Michael will verify my location if need be.  I called him, but he
wasn't in.  He and Greer probably had to restock the house after
having me there to eat them out of house and home."  She sighs.

Quinn notices a slight change in her tone.  "What was the big deal
about you in San Francisco?  There's something you aren't telling me,
isn't there?"

She fidgets.  "They have pictures of me with Rembrandt."  Wade notices
his eyes widen.  "Except it isn't me.  And I don't see how he could
have been there, either.  I planned this vacation so I knew he
wouldn't be doing much of anything besides his revival show.  There's
no way I would ever have been as close to him as I was in that
picture, but it didn't look faked to me.  It's not like anyone has it
in for me, unless you do..."

"Now, why would I do something like that to you?"  He snickers.  "And,
why would Kate, of all people, think she saw me at her work?  I
wouldn't be caught dead at her work without back up!"

"Good point.  She's hardly president of your fan club."  Wade grins.
She likes Kate.  It's hard to believe they are products of the same
gene pool at times.  Kate isn't afraid to speak her mind.  Not to
mention the minds of others.  Self-restraint is not in that girl's
vocabulary.  The funniest part of what Kate has to say about Quinn is
how much of it is exactly true.

Quinn remembers how well he and his sister got along when she was a
kid and can't believe how much has changed in the span of a decade.
"I think something strange is up.  Before someone in the Bay decides
to spot Hurley out there, I'm going to check things out over there."
He dreads going home and dealing with Kate, but his sister's
obnoxiousness is a small price to pay if it will gain him greater
favor with Wade.  "I told Hurley I'll take this as my vacation and
spend a week or two there to see if I can figure out what's going on."

"Don't you think we should go and handle this together?"  As soon as
the words leave her mouth, she regrets it.  He's bound to read into
them.  It's not what he would think, either.  Her career is on the
line here.  Okay, maybe an exaggeration.  But Hurley's been
threatening to get her out of the Watchers ever since she started
distracting researchers and trainees from what they should be doing.
He never names anyone specifically, but she knows he means one
particular researcher and trainee.  Quinn says Hurley can't touch her.
 She'd like to believe Quinn, but he can't explain how Hurley got
Dorian kicked out.  The last thing she wants is to be spoken of within
the Watchers the way Dorian is.

He wants to say yes.  A trip with her would be a fantasy come true.
Maybe an adventure of the outerworldly sort instigated by her will be
what leads her to see him as more than a friend.  Sure it would.
Thankfully, his logic overrides this ridiculous gut instinct.

"No," Quinn insists, "you just got back from vacation, and Hurley's
already suspicious where you are concerned.  Right now you need to lay
low here and be the best example of a Watcher you can."  He picks up a
pewter paperweight on her desk and fiddles with it.  "When you get a
hold of Michael, see if he has any advice for you.  There might be an
angle we're missing that he might shed some light on.  But staying put
is the best thing for you to do right now."

"I know.  But I am the one in trouble, not you."

He gets up, and smiles.  "You'd do the same thing if the tables were
turned."

"I know.  I owe you one."

"In that case, I have a request," he begins.

Oh, no.  Wade prays he doesn't ask her what he just might.  She's been
pressing her luck today where he's concerned.  "What?"

Quinn opens the door, and turns back towards her.  "No more Topps
tunes in the office."

----------

It would be a lot easier to concentrate if it weren't for this stupid
picture.  Wade takes it out of her top desk drawer, and stares at it.
It looks like her, and it looks like him.  But it isn't her.  She
hasn't set foot in San Francisco in years.  There's no way it could be
him, because in all the time she's been watching Rembrandt Brown, he
hasn't ever left the East Coast but once, and that was to do some dumb
talk show in LA.  She even checked and his show had been running right
on schedule.  There's absolutely no way he could have gotten to the
West Coast and back without missing a performance.

But the thing is, it isn't a faked picture.  They ran all sorts of
tests on it.  Meaning that if the picture is for real, the scenario
pictured must have been faked.  She could see how a lookalike
Rembrandt could be rather easy to come by, but the fact that someone
could be running around looking that much like her is disturbing.

The 'why' disturbs her more.  Who would want to do this to her and
why?  She laughs.  Maybe Quinn's behind it.  In his misguided attempt
to win her heart, he set up this elaborate scheme in order to come to
her rescue and right everything so she could be forever indebted to
him.  Actually, it sounds more like one of his sister's theories than
something he'd actually do.  Unless he decided to start listening to
Kate out of the clear blue.

Her intercom clicks on.  "Wade, there are two young men here to see
you."

"Thanks."  Wade isn't expecting any actual clientele today.  With this
whole San Francisco mess, clientele would be more than welcome as a
distraction.

She hears a knock at her door.  "Come in."

Two young men enter her office.  Neither can be older than eighteen.
The taller one absently brushes his brunette hair out of his eyes.
Wade can't help but wonder if by chance her age guestimate might be
wrong.  It's highly doubtful they are out of high school, unless they
are Immortals.  And that's even less likely in her opinion.  "What can
I help the two of you with?"

Megabyte approaches her desk.  This Wade certainly didn't fit the
image he had in his mind of what she should look like.  Maybe because
he just assumed all female Watchers would look more like Greer.  Not
that Greer Lewis is ugly or anything.  She just isn't as...glamorous
as this Wade seems.

"My name's Megabyte, and..."  Megabyte smiles sheepishly and extends a
hand.

Wade shakes the redhead's hand.  "Megabyte?  I thought my parents
hated *me*..."

"It's just a nickname.  Beats what they really stuck me with, believe
me."  Megabyte grins.  "This is my friend Adam."  He gestures towards
his friend.

Adam smiles at the petite brunette woman.  "Hello.  We don't want to
take up a lot of your time..."

She notes his Australian accent.  "Now, how was it you were referred
to me?"  Wade can't imagine what these boys could want with the
archiving services, but she doesn't feel like questioning such things
today.

"We're friends of Michael's.  He's a bit worried, to say the least."
Adam puts his hand on one of the two chairs facing her desk.

"Oh, I'm sorry.  Please, take a seat."  Wade can't believe her lack of
manners.  "So, the two of you know Michael?  Michael Gardner?"

Megabyte nods.  "Yep.  He thinks we might be able to help you out
somehow."

"How much did he tell you?"  Wade wishes Michael had asked her first
before recruiting some kids to help her with this increasingly
unsettling situation.

Adam shifts in his chair.  "Not much more than the fact you and a
colleague have been spotted on two different coasts at the precise
same moment."

She sighs.  "No offense, but why would he ask the two of you to help
me?  I mean, I don't think either of you are old enough to legally buy
cigarettes.  How could you help if people a lot older and wiser can't
figure it out?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"  Megabyte doesn't appreciate her
reaction, although it doesn't entirely surprise him.  "It's not like
you're an Immortal or anything!  You're not even that much older than
us."

[Megabyte!  Knock it off.  Remember what Michael said and bring it up
slowly.]  Adam interrupts his younger companion vocally as well.  "At
first, Michael thought we might have a bigger connection to your
situation than I believe we actually do.  But the more we heard, the
more we realized we should see if we could help.  Michael wanted us to
check with you first to make sure you actually wanted any before we
got further involved."

"Look, I'm sorry I sound ungrateful.  It's just that I wasn't
expecting this...you."  Wade wants to find a way to discount her
objections without insulting these kids.  "Sometimes I forget
Michael's way of doing things, and that they usually work more often
than they don't.  I should know better than to doubt them."

Adam smiles.  "What would you like us to do to help you?"


To Be Continued...

**I would appreciate any feedback on this piece, positive or negative.
 It would be great if I got a greater response from readers than error
messages from the SLFIC listserv.  :)  E-mail me at [e-mail].
My mailbox is very hungry for some feedback!**


**The SLFIC Archives are up and running!  If you want to check out the
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message:  subscribe slfic.  Or e-mail me at [e-mail] for more
information.**


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Subject: Nightmare 01/01
Date: 16 Mar 1997 00:46:09 -0800

<---- Begin Forwarded Message ---->
The young boy was thrashing in his bed, screaming.
"Andrew, Andrew, wake up!"  John shook him gently.
"Huh, what?"  Andrew came awake with a start.
"You all right?"
"Yes, John, thanks.  You're British again."
"Excuse me?"
"You were traipsing around in your underwear and a gun holster
speaking
with an Italian accent."
John laughed.  "You had a nightmare."
"It seemed real enough."
"Me, traipsing around with a *gun*?"
"Aye, and a switchblade."
"Andrew, just what sort of movie did Mike and Hsui Tai take you to
last night?"
"A Disney movie."
John didn't reply.  He just gave Andrew a dirty look.
"Ok, a really bad private eye comedy, all right?"
"With Italian men traipsing around in their underwear?"
"Well, um..."
"Just why was I bothering with a switchblade and a gun anyway?"
"Some woman."
"Now I *know* this was a dream."
Andrew laughed.  "Your hair was slicked back too, it was awful."
"I'll stay away from the grease from now on, OK."
"And claws too?"
"Claws?"
"This other dream I had earlier- you um, don't want to know, all
right?"
"All right.  You need to get back to sleep."  John ran a soft hand
over Andrew'shair.
"I know, I know."  Andrew lay down.
John pulled the covers over him and smoothed them out.
"Good night, Andrew.  Pleasant dreams.  This time."
"'Night John." Andrew replied, sleepily.
THE END

(By Beth Epstein.  BTW, this only *looks* like it's coming over the
list, it is actually coming over normal email from
[e-mail] -- no one who hadn't seen this stuff would get
it, after all.  Feel free to comment, but please don't send this to
anyone else, OK?:)

<----  End Forwarded Message  ---->



-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Tigger <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Nightmare 01/01
Date: 16 Mar 1997 13:04:19 -0600 (CST)

Ooops.  Darn.
Sorry guys, that was supposed to go to Dreadnought and *look* like it was
coming from the list.
*blush*
Beth (well, at least it wasn't completely off topic)


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Tigger <[e-mail]>
Subject: Nightmare 00/01
Date: 16 Mar 1997 13:12:12 -0600 (CST)

John and Andrew are the property of Roger Price and Thames.  Borrowed with love
but without permission.
The claw bit is refferring to "The Curse of the Claw"- a Ripping Yarns episode
that Nigel Rhodes appears in.
The whole other part of Andrew's dream refers to "Adventures of a Private Eye",
which is credited on the US release box as being owned by Academy
Entertainment.  It has NIck Young in it, but I really highly reccommend not
watching it.
My roommate and I rented this stuff as part of our traditional end of term bad
movie marthon.
(This was an in joke, but as it's posted I figured I'd better explain.)
Um, Wendy, we don't have to put this on the archives, do we?
Beth Epstein


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Subject: Tomorrow People
Date: 16 Mar 1997 19:45:43 -0500 (EST)

Hi!
I'm new to this list. My name's Melissa. I'm 15. I've never written any
fanfic, but I'n anxious to try. I love reading it, though, so I just HAD to
join this list!  : )  If I ever finish a fanfic story, I'll be sure to post
it.

Peace!
Melissa


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: "Kyrie Daniels" <[e-mail]>
Subject: The Prime Factor, 11/33 [TF]
Date: 17 Mar 1997 23:17:30 +0000

The Prime Factor
A Tomorrow's Future Story
by Kyrie Daniels


NOTE:  This is part of a collaborative project known as Tomorrow's
Future.  All disclaimers and story notes can be found in part zero.
For more information on this fanfic universe and links to other
stories set in it, visit the Tomorrow's Future home page at:

http://www.calweb.com/~smccrory/fanfic/tf.html

NOTE:  This is part eleven of a thirty-three part series.  If you
missed any of the previous parts, you can e-mail me at [e-mail]
or access them via the web or ftp:

http://www.dnai.com/~kyrie/Fanfic.htm
ftp.dnai.com/users/k/kyrie/Fanfic


Part Eleven


"You think she's seen them by now?"  Michael Gardner stares at a
nearby phone in his living room, which hasn't done much of anything in
the last hour or so.  Sending Adam and Megabyte to see Wade about a
work related situation isn't something he would have ever expected to
do, no matter what the circumstances were.  Indisputable evidence
placing the Watcher he brought into the Organization in two countries
at the same time isn't something Michael ever saw coming, either.

Greer sighs.  "Yes, I do.  She's probably a bit peeved that you didn't
warn her, knowing Wade."

"I could call her.  I *should* call her..."

"Michael, you worry too much."

He rises from his chair.  "I haven't told you everything..."

"Excuse me?"  Greer glares at him.  "Let me guess...there was a lot
more going on between you two than you've let on over the years after
all."  She grins, aware he might not recognize this as a feeble
attempt to put him at ease.

"Let's be serious for a moment," Michael asks somberly.  "This isn't
something I kept from you on purpose.  I didn't think it mattered
much.  It wasn't all that important at the time.  But suddenly it is."

"Something having to do with Wade, I take it."

"Not just Wade," he corrects.  "All three of them.  Wade, Adam and
Megabyte.  Kevin, too."

Greer is confused.  "You don't mean to tell me she's one of these
Tomorrow People..."

----------

Wade rolls over in the bed and rubs her eyes.  Random sliding at all
hours sure takes a toll on the body clock.  Across the room someone is
making noise.  She thinks she dreamt about those very sounds.  Those
noises probably woke her up.  As she's about to turn over, her mind
registers what she saw.  Jumping out of bed, she half-dreamily
staggers across the room.

"Quinn," she hisses, "where are you going?"

Tying his shoelaces, Quinn smiles.  "I never got a straight answer
from you last night.  So, I'm going to see my mother."

"You can't be serious!"

He looks her in the eyes.  "Watch me."

"Don't."  She grabs his arm.

"Will you tell me what you wouldn't yesterday?"

Wade nods.  "Just not here."

"Fine," Quinn remarks.  "Wherever you like."

----------

It isn't even summer yet, but SFO is as busy as ever.  Quinn hasn't
been here in at least two years, but nothing has changed.  Here at the
airport, at least.  It's another story where his family is concerned.
He hasn't seen Kate since she was about to start high school, and it
won't be much longer before she graduates.  Hard to believe this is
the same kid sister who delighted in serving him chocolate ice cream
with a handful of mud just to see if he'd catch on.

Hopefully this guy passing himself off as Quinn has kept his distance
from Kate.  The last thing Quinn wants is to see something horrible
happen to her indirectly because of him.  This guy better not have
gone anywhere near his mother, either.  If anything happened to his
family because of this fake, Quinn wouldn't hesitate to kill.

He picks up his keys at the rental car booth, and exits the airport
terminal to wait for the van that will take him to the lot where his
rental awaits.  It would have been nice to have Wade around for this
trip.  Company would be nice.  Quinn worries about the reception he'll
get from Kate this time.  Her unpredictable antics are practically a
tradition when he has a homecoming.  At least with Wade around, Kate
actually makes a point to try to behave like a normal young woman.

But Kate should have known it wasn't him she saw.  If it was just a
fake, why couldn't she sense it?  The one thing Quinn envies about his
sister is her ability to see the truth in things before it's obvious.
Wade insists it's because Kate can read minds.  He doesn't buy into
that sort of thing, but he acknowledges there's something Kate has
that is unique to her. According to Kate, it's common sense and an
attention span longer than three seconds.

Suppose Wade's right and Kate can read minds.  Shouldn't she then know
that the guy she saw wasn't him?  Even if you can duplicate outward
appearances, you can't duplicate thoughts.  Besides, if she's always
one step ahead of everyone like she is, shouldn't she be able to
deduce what's going on before anyone else?

Quinn smiles.  He never thought he'd live to see the day he'd put
himself at his sister's mercy by choice.

-----------

"I gather from the way both of you speak that you do have some
knowledge of the nature of my work," Wade begins.  She's never been
good at vulnerability.  To have to ask these two boys for help is
hard.

Adam nods.  "We have a basic understanding of the Watchers
organization."

"But Michael didn't tell us any specifics regarding your work with
them," Megabyte adds.

Wade opens her top desk drawer, and pulls out a manila file.  "I do
field work.  I'm still rather new at it, but I've been told I'm a
natural.  In any case, once I completed my training, I was assigned
to...wait, you said the two of you know Greer?"

Megabyte twitches.  He knew he should have been listening to her
thoughts so giant leaps in the conversation wouldn't take him so off
guard.  "Yeah, we know her just as well as Michael.  And about her, if
that's what you're getting to."

"Good."  Wade picks up her coffee mug.  "But would you do me a favor?"

"We'd be happy to try," Adam remarks.

"I need to understand something."  Wade observes the two teens,
looking for some sort of reaction.  None, really.  "The two of you are
from England, right?  I mean, that's where you met them..."

Adam nods.  "Not originally, but yes, that's where we spend the
majority of our time."

"I live there, but I'm American."  Megabyte sighs, placing both his
feet firmly on the ground.  "Your point?"

"I only called Michael a few hours ago.  Yet the two of you managed to
find out all about it and come here to see me in less time than a
flight from London to New York."

[Oops,] Megabyte communicates telepathically to Adam.  [We really blew
it this time.]

----------

"No, Wade is not a Tomorrow Person to my knowledge."  Michael laughs.
"But she's closer to them than any of them think she is.  Wade
included.  That's why I'm worried."

Greer hates it when people spring revelations on her.  It was bad
enough spending nearly a decade in the Watchers, developing a frame of
mind the Organization smiled on, only to discover she was an Immortal.
 That she is among those she trained herself to watch and record as if
they were laboratory mice.  Only real difference between Immortals and
lab mice is one group is bent on global conquest.  After all, there
can be only one.  But finding out she didn't appreciate being at the
receiving end of that attention upset her greatly, because of all the
time she spent on the giving end of it.

Chronicling history is one thing.  Becoming it is another.

She sighs.  "Michael, I don't understand this.  How is it that Wade is
connected to the Tomorrow People?  And how is it none of them know
about it?"

"Lisa," Michael replies quietly.

Lisa Davis was a name Greer hadn't heard a peep about in ages.  She
met Lisa about the same time she met the others.  Unlike the three
boys, Lisa didn't particularly enjoy her newfound abilities.  The girl
insisted she wanted to just have a normal life.  Ignoring all reality
in her recollection of the details, Greer laughs at the idea that this
wish of Lisa's, along with Greer's own observations, led Michael to
setting the girl up as a Watcher.

He looks at his wife, obviously lost in thought.  "Wade was the one."

"Huh?"  Greer turns towards him, terribly confused.  "What about Wade
and Lisa?"

Michael quietly continues.  "Someone within had to push her papers
through.  To hide the real records, and make sure no one found out
about Lisa being that teleporter that was all over the news.
Remember?"

Greer nods.  "And Wade was this person?"

"Yeah.  Thing is, I never told her anything about the details.
Figured that the less she know, the better should she get into
trouble.  Wade knew something was up, but didn't question me about it.
 Just did as she was told.  I know she remembers Lisa's name, mainly
because she's mentioned a desire to meet her."

"Do you suppose she could be the link they need?"  Greer runs her
fingers through her hair.  "They get so worried about Lisa, and if
Wade trusted them, and got Lisa to trust her...Wade could at least
ease their minds some.  Letting them know Lisa's fine."

Michael agrees.  "I also think it would help Lisa to know there's at
least one person in the Watchers who not only knows what she is, but
still thinks it's okay...and normal."

A thought suddenly pops into Greer's mind that causes her to erupt
into laughter.  "If we really wanted to get Wade to befriend Lisa, all
we'd probably have to do is send a certain colleague from her office
over to Lisa's..."

"Which one?"  Getting rid of Hurley would certainly win favors in
Wade's book, but Michael wonders if she wants to get rid of Quinn.
Despite what Wade says.

Greer smiles.  "Good point.  Besides, if you keep Hurley's mouth shut,
he's capable of making a good impression.  I think."

"Should I tell them?"

For a bunch of telepathic kids, Greer would think that one of them
would have stumbled upon this thought stream of Michael's.  "Yeah, you
should.  Wade, too.  She can be stubborn about things, you know."

"I know."  Michael is amused at the irony of this observation coming
from Greer.  "She's not the only stubborn woman I deal with on a
regular basis, either."


To Be Continued...

**I would appreciate any feedback on this piece, positive or negative.
 It would be great if I got a greater response from readers than error
messages from the SLFIC listserv.  :)  E-mail me at [e-mail].
My mailbox is very hungry for some feedback!**

**The SLFIC Archives are up and running!  If you want to check out the
fanfic output of the mailing list devoted to Sliders Fanfic, the
address is:

http://www.dnai.com/~kyrie/SLFIC/Sliders.html

To subscribe to the list, write [e-mail] with the
message:  subscribe slfic.  Or e-mail me at [e-mail] for more
information.**