While working in his basement, Quinn Mallory opens the gateway to parallel worlds. For a test run, Quinn invites co-worker Wade Welles and his teacher, Professor Arturo, along. Upon opening the vortex, Quinn uses too much power, which causes the vortex to suck them in along with Rembrandt "Crying Man" Brown, who happened to be driving by Quinn's house. The four arrive on a world that experienced an ecological disaster and will have to survive until the timer hits zero.

A lightning bolt strikes the vortex during a slide, damaging the timer and trapping Quinn on the astral plane. Now the Sliders are stranded on a world with 1950s technology and Quinn can not be seen by the others. He tries to get the help from the only one who can see or hear him, a girl that has a history of hearing voices.