As Agent Pratt drives, Ryan fills the Quinn and the others
in. "I'm sorry about earlier, but we couldn't let Director Rickman know
we suspect he's involved in the assassination plot." "How long have you
two been investigating Rickman?" Quinn asks. "For the last few weeks we
have been keeping tabs on him after Jaime and I picked up rumors of a potential
plot by Confederate and U.S. parties against the summit meeting here in
San Francisco. We suspected he may be involved when we learned he was making
a lot of secret calls to David Duke, the Vice President of the Confederate
States. Duke is a fierce Confederate Racist and has openly opposed the
Richards Agreement, while Rickman has been known for his feelings that
the U.S. and the Confederate States should not be
friends. That made us suspicious of him. Thanks to you we know he's
involved in a assassination that will destroy any hope of peace and friendship
between our nations." "Do you have enough evidence thanks to us?" asks
Mary. "No," Ryan replies "Your word against a man with a reputation like
Rickman's isn't enough, we need his voice on tape proving he's involved
in the conspiracy." "How did you know those guys were going to kill us?"
asks Bennish. "We didn't, but we feared Rickman may try to silence you
guys since you found him out. Jamie and I decided to follow you. We were
watching you from down the hall when those men showed up and tried to kill
you. If we hadn't been there you four would be corpses right now." "So
where are we going?" asks Quinn. "Back to headquarters, we need to go over
the wire taps we put on Rickman's phone. Hopefully we'll have something
we can use to expose the bastard as a traitor." "Can we help?" asks Autumn
"Sure, seeing as were going to need your testimony along with the fact
that two men just tried to kill you, I think it's a good idea that you
to stay with us."
As the sun set the sliders and the agents had spent the last several hours listening to the tapes of a weeks worth of phone calls made by Rickman in the lab at the FBI. When they started to give up hope of finding anything they listened to a conversation Rickman had just this afternoon. "This is Rickman." "Its Duke, is this line secure?" "Of course it is, do you want a progress report?" "Yes, Is everything set for tomorrow?" "Yes, the assassin is in place as well as our patsy Mr. Vice President, once Clinton is dead it will be revealed it was a FBI agent who was the assassin. The U.S. will be blamed for their gross negligence of protecting Clinton. Then when you're sworn in as President of the Confederate States of America, you will make your sure the agreement isn't signed and that the hostilities continue, just as we both want it to." "Excellent, for a Yankee you're a crafty man Rickman." "I'll take that as a compliment, good bye."
After its done playing Ryan practically jumps up and down
with joy. "That's it! We have him!" "Yes, but we still have to stop the
assassination," says Pratt "We don't know who the assassin is and where
he'll be shooting from." "We need to warn President Richards", says Autumn
"We can bring him the evidence and expose Rickman." "No good, Rickman is
a close friend of President Richards," says Ryan "Also Rickman's running
the President's security, he won't let us near him."
"Doesn't the Secret Service protect the President?" asks Bennish. "What's
the Secret Service?" Agent Pratt replies. As they continue to talk about
their options Quinn notices a newspaper on
the desk that has a photo of President Richards and his wife, the
First Lady. "Ryan, can we meet the First Lady? Maybe she will listen to
us and get us inside the conference building." "Its possible, but how can
you be sure she will listen to us?" "Lets just say I know her…in a way."
"I say we give Quinn's idea a shot, it's the best option we have." Autumn
says. Ryan and Pratt agree.
A while later, Quinn and the others wait in a FBI safe house
for Ryan and Agent Pratt to return. As they relax in the living room, Autumn
asks Quinn "Are you sure this will work? What if you don't have a double
on this world?" Quinn replies "Its a risk, I know, but its the best shot
we have left." As he finishes his sentence the front door opens as the
Agents lead the First Lady into the room. Quinn stands up and says "Hello,
thank you for coming." She nods and replies "From what these two agents
said it sounded very important, and besides, it's been a long time Quinn."
Quinn let out a small smile and said "It sure has Daelin.", which was a
true statement. It had been a while since Quinn had last seen a double
of Daelin Richards, his friend who moved away in the 9th grade and whom
he had a crush on. "Last I heard you where in Japan doing research into
anti-gravity." Daelin says. Realizing it was best to pretend he was the
Quinn on this earth he replied "I am, but I decided to come back home for
a vacation." "I'm glad, it's good to see you. Now, Agent Styles says you
have evidence that Rickman is involved in a plot to kill President Clinton
and ruin the talks?" "Yes, they have him on tape plotting with the Confederate
Vice President to kill him. We need you to get us into the conference building
so we can stop the assassination." "Are you absolutely sure? He's been
a friend of my husband for years, I can't believe he would be involved
in something like this!" "Daelin, you know me." Quinn says, hoping the
Daelin and Quinn on this world had been as good friends as he hoped "Trust
us." Daelin thinks it over and says, "You've always been a good friend
Quinn. I trust you. I'll do whatever I can to help."
The next day Daelin escorted Ryan, Agent Pratt and the Sliders
into the Conference Building. Thanks to
Daelin they got past Rickman's FBI security detail without any problems.
"Got a plan on how were going to find the assassin and stop him in time?"
Quinn asks Ryan. "Sort of, Rickman called me this mourning and told me
to meet him in the back before the meeting begins." "Oh my god…You're the
one he's going to frame for the assassination!" says Autumn, remembering
the conversation between Rickman and the assassin at the Dominion Hotel.
"Yeah, but he doesn't know we have the evidence to put him away. I'll go
in and try to get him to tell me where the assassin will be shooting from,"
Ryan replies to Autumn, "Then Jaime and the rest of you can stop
him." "I Hope this works," says Quinn. "So do I," says Ryan.
Rickman turns as Ryan enters the back room. "You wanted to see me Sir?" "Yes Agent Styles, I need your help." he says as he pulls out his gun. "I need you to be our patsy." "I know everything Rickman, the assassination on Clinton and you being in bed with David Duke to ensure The U.S. and the Confederacy stay enemies for a long time." "I should have known you would find me out, you're a good investigator, unfortunately in this case its going to lead to your death." "Where is the assassin?" "Oh, you'll be meeting him shortly, once he's done his job he'll make it back here from the balcony, then we'll kill you with his gun in your hand. Your fingerprints will be the only ones on it, making you the President's killer." Ryan nods, "A good plan, except one problem Rickman". "Oh?, what's that pray tell". "I brought backup."and as he finishes several FBI agents burst into the room, Rickman tries to shoot Ryan but he kicks the gun out of his hand with a nice kung fu move, allowing the others to arrest Rickman. "You think you've won don't you!" he says as the handcuff him. "You won't stop the assassin in time! Once he's done the job its all over!" Ryan picks up his radio and calls Pratt "He's on the balcony, hurry!"
From the balcony in the reception hall the assassin watches
as President's Richards and Clinton enter the room and shake hands. All
their aides and foreign dignitaries are their. He pulls up his gun and
prepares to kill Clinton. Suddenly a voice behind him says, "I wouldn't
do that if I were you." The Assassin turns to see Quinn and Bennish standing
behind him. He shoots at them but they jump back out into the hallway and
hit the floor. The assassin,
standing up, turns to finish his job. But Agent Pratt, thanks to
the distraction by the Sliders, shoots the assassin from behind before
he can get his shot off. Autumn and Mary run up to the guys. "Are you two
alright?" Mary asks. "Barely, man that guy almost got us", says Bennish.
Autumn helps Quinn up and says "Mission Accomplished." which gets a good
laugh out of the group as Ryan and security arrive to clean up.
3 days later the Richards Agreement is signed by President Richards and President Clinton, with the added stipulation that the Confederate States agree to end segregation gradually over the next 10 years. Thankfully for Clinton most of the citizen's in the Confederacy approve of the agreement, ending segregation is a price they are willing to pay to ensure peace with the U.S. Ryan, Agent Pratt, Daelin and both President's thank the Sliders personally for their help.
As the group prepares to slide out behind the Dominion Hotel, Autumn says "This was defiantly an exciting slide. Not only did we help stop a assassination, but we got to meet two Presidents. I'd say that's pretty darn good." "Yeah man, but I hope on the next earth we don't get sucked into any sort of conspiracy or assassination plot," says Bennish. Quinn remarks "Amen to that. Well, its time to go. We have some people we need to find", as he pulls out the timer. Quinn activates the vortex and the gang slides out.
