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.

The Sliders have come to the most unexpected world of all... home. While Rembrandt and Wade use their sliding adventures to kickstart their careers, Arturo steals the timer and claims sliding as his invention. However, Quinn remains convinced they are not home.