Rembrandt Brown stared at the man who stood under the Abraham Lincoln statue. While he was not the man Rembrandt had slid with years ago, the man looked like him. The British accent. The posture. The weight. He was Professor Maximillion Arturo.
"Mr. Brown, is it really you?" Arturo asked. He slowly approached him. "Is it really possible? Where is Mr. Mallory? Miss Welles? How-"
"I think we should be the ones to ask questions!" Ben Loveland said from beside Rembrandt. "First of all...who are you?"
"I'm sure I've mentioned the Professor, Goof," Rembrandt said. "He died on a world with puslars."
"I think not, Mr. Brown," Arturo said. "I'm standing in front of you. I was left here."
Rembrandt frowned. "What?"
Arturo touched Rembrandt's shoulders. Rembrandt backed away.
"Mr. Brown, I know that what I am about to say will sound far-fetched," Arturo said. "However, it is the truth...you slide with the wrong Arturo. I am Arturo."
Eric Price pushed through the crowd of people on the sidewalk. He ignored the glares that he got from the passerbys. He just wanted to live.
He saw that the sun was starting to set. He needed to get in a car...quick. Without solar power, this world would be dead in seconds.
Eric jumped out into the road. One of the cars srceeched to a halt. The driver got out of his car.
"What are you? Crazy?" the driver demanded.
Eric walked over quickly. "It's a very long story and I don't have time to tell it so-"
Eric swung at the driver. His fist connected with the driver's face. Eric didn't wait to see if he was okay. He was already shutting the door of the car. He sped down the street.
He looked in his rearview mirror. There was no sign of him. Good.
Eric thought about what happened. Sarah and her schemes. She wanted to...basically unmake the universe so Randall Heim did not exist, hoping her husband would still be alive. Instead, he was stuck on a world that did not use natural resources with no money or way home.
Randall would know what to do. So would Quinn. They lost Quinn on a world where the lottery was used for population control. Randall was lost here.
A stop light halted Eric. He cursed it. He had to make it out of town before...
The passenger door opened. Eric started to push down on the pedal. A knife dug into his leg. Eric screamed.
"Where do you think you're going?" Darnell Brown asked. He dug the knife in deeper. "You and your sliders have a lot to answer for."
Eric looked at Brown. Brown pulled out another knife. Brown grinned at him. Eric shivered.
"And I'm going to make sure you all answer for it," Brown said.
The last thing Eric saw was the knife shooting for his throat.
WHAT IF YOU DISCOVERED NEW WORLDS WITHOUT LEAVING EARTH? YOU'RE THE SAME PERSON AND IT'S THE SAME YEAR, BUT EVERYTHING ELSE IS DIFFERENT? MY FRIENDS AND I FOUND A WAY! NOW WE'RE TRYING TO FIND THE WAY HOME!
SLIDERS: ALTERNATE SPIN-SEASON 2
EPISODE 12: ADJUSTMENTS
Melissa Clark laughed. She looked over at her date. Randy Heim looked back at her. They had been there for thirty minutes Melissa thought. Randy was still not used to the art of dating.
"All I was saying," Randy said, "was that I would be better off if it was some machine. You know I can think of anything."
"No machines tonight, remember?" Melissa reminded him. "Tonight is just about us. No missed-up timer. No Logan or Quinn. No evil sliders. Just us."
Melissa looked at her hands. They shook on the table. Two bigger hands covered her own. She looked up from them to see Randy's warm brown eyes staring at her.
"I'm sorry for almost dying on you," Randy said.
"When you were shot..." Melissa started.
Randy put a finger to his lips. "Shh! It's okay. I promise not to die on you."
Melissa managed a smile. "Promise?"
Randy smiled. "Promise."
Melissa smiled and leaned in to kiss him. Randy leaned in to kiss her. Their lips were barely touching when the shot rang out. Melissa jerked back into her chair.
Randy sat across from her. His head was tossed back. His eyes stared up at the night. Blood poured out of his chest from the shot that was there.
Melissa jumped up from the table. She backed into something. She turned around and looked at what it was.
Sarah Weisschester-Carroll aimed the gun at her. She grinned.
"Guess who's next?" Sarah asked. She fired the gun.
"Ahhh!"
Melissa jumped out of the bed. Hands were around her. She looked at the face in front of her, hoping it was Randy. She glared.
"Get away from me," Melissa said coldly.
Richard Hall just shrugged his shoulders. "I heard you screaming and came to see if you were okay."
"How do you think she is? You killed her boyfriend."
Melissa looked over Richard's shoulder. Peter Carmichael and Eve Albright stood in the door of her hotel room. Eve leaned in the door with a blank look on her face. Peter had his arms folded over his chest. His eyes burned holes through Richard's back.
"Shut up!" Richard yelled.
"Make me!" Peter challenged. "Give me a reason not to kill you now."
"Boys!" Eve interrupted. "Not now. The last thing we need is to be at each other's throats! We're all being hunted. We're all going to die."
"Yeah, Petey," Richard said. "Chill."
Peter glared harder. "I'll chill when you're dead."
Melissa stood up . "Okay...I know we all are on edge, but let's not forget the mission."
"I still disagree-" Richard started.
"You...shut up," Melissa snapped. "I'm with Peter. This is your fault! You are helping."
"I don't have to do this," Richard protested.
Melissa corked an eyebrow. "Really? Why are you even here then? I'll tell you why. One: you're responsible, and two: you want to get home as much as we do."
Richard glared at Melissa.
"Okay...you don't have to do it," Melissa said.
"Really?" Richard muttered. A smiled started to creep onto his face.
"All you have to do is tell me who blackmailed you," Melissa said flatly. Richard's glare came back. "I didn't think so. So we stick to the plan...Peter and I are going to track Sarah down. You and Eve are going to distract Brwon and eventually...bring him here."
"Good luck," Peter said. "Rumors are running around about a new body."
"We told Eric not to run off," Eve replied. "He always was an idiot."
"Okay, let's head out," Melissa said. "Remember...we meet back here in two days."
"I don't even know how we are suppose to find him," Richard complained.
Eve just laughed. "How dumb are you? It's not a matter of us finding him. It's a matter of him finding us. We're just sitting ducks."
Richard turned to glare at Eve. "I am no one's sitting duck, lady."
Eve corked an eyebrow. "Really? I find that hard to believe."
"Hey, move!"
Richard moved out of the way as two bikers rode by them. He really hated the fact they had to walk everywhere on this world. All of their money was tied up in the hotel and food.
"What's your deal anyway?" Richard asked. "A few days ago you were ready to ride the stallion."
"I just did that to get Peter's goat," Eve said. She smiled. "It worked."
"Your group sure do like to play games," Richard commented.
"We just do what we want."
"Yeah. Look where that got you."
Eve narrowed her eyes at him. "I think you should be silent."
"Or what?" Richard challenged. "What are you going to do?"
"This!"
Eve swung a fist at Richard. He caught it, but Eve spun around. She slid to the ground. Richard felt his feet give way from under him. He looked up to see Eve looking down at him.
"I'm not an idiot," Eve said. "We crossers know enough to know we could run into trouble. We try to learn about the culture. I love to learn about all forms of...pain." She hopped on Richard's lap. "As well as pleasure."
Richard sat up. He grinned. "I bet."
"I bet you lose those bets, too," Eve said coldly as she got up. "Come on...we're getting eyeprints."
"I thought that's what you wanted, Icelady," Richard said. "So Proper can slice and dice."
Eve smiled weakly. "Maybe you want to die. I don't. I'm getting back to my world."
"Assuming they find Sarah before she slides out."
"Cross," Eve corrected.
Richard just got up and walked pass her.
"Whatever," Richard said.
Melissa stopped her bike outside the Royal Chancellor Hotel. She turned to see Peter do the same.
"I still think you should have told them you had extra money for bikes," Melissa said.
Peter shrugged his shoulders and let his bike to the bike rack. "Payback."
Melissa put her bike in place and frowned. "Is that all you think about?"
Peter stared at Melissa. His eyes narrowed on her. He just shook his head.
"Do you not know how it feels to have someone who is your whole world tore away from you?" Peter asked.
Melissa felt her eyes narrowed. "Yes. My sister...and Randy."
Peter's jaw dropped. His goatee with his thick face made him look like a fool. Melissa started to head for the door. A hand touched her shoulder. She turned to see Peter looking down at her.
"I apologize," Peter said. He managed a smile. "Who would have thought we would have so much in common?"
Melissa managed a smile. "Who would have thought?"
A loud boom caught Melissa's attention. She quickly fell to the ground.
"Duck!"
Melissa looked up. There it was again. Randy stood a few feet away. He was running toward Debra King. Richard and Eve fell to the ground quickly. Debra was too surprise by the inhuman beings called Humaggs to react. The laserfire shot through her like cheese. Randy also fell to the ground as laserfire got him in the side.
"Debra!" Brown yelled from the side of the building. He ran toward her. The laserfire seem to be missing him as he made it to her. He fell onto her.
Melissa crawled as gunfire shot through the air. She barely remembered it was Eric who had a gun. She made it to Randy.
He was barely breathing. His eyes struggled to stay open. Melissa looked at his side. It was all just mess.
"Randy?" Melissa spit out. The lump formed in her throat. She could find no other words to say.
"Debra, no!"
"Take that, freak!"
"Krolar is down! Emergency reopening!"
Melissa grabbed Randy's right hand in hers. His eyes focused on her as if he saw her for the first time.
"Melissa..." Randy managed.
"I'll take that!"
Melissa turned around to get a fist in the face. She fell over next to Randy. Sarah Weisschester-Carroll stood over her. She had the timer and her...Geiger device in hand. She also had some calculator thing with her.
"I think he almost got it working," Sarah grinned. "Let's find out."
Sarah turned a dial on the Geiger device. Light blinded Melissa for a second. When she opened her eyes again, Melissa saw that the Humaggs were vanishing through a red wormhole. A group of poeople shot at them. Sarah ran thorugh the crowd quickly.
Melissa looked at Randy. He was not there though. He never existed.
"No!"
Melissa looked at Brown. Tears fell down his face as he held Debra in his hands. She was limp like a dead child.
"Professor Brown!" Melissa managed.
Brown looked at her. Melissa said no more. His face was the face of a madman.
As he glared over at Richard, Eve, Peter and Eric, Brown's eyes narrowed. Melissa did not know what to say to him.
Then he attacked them at the Dominion.
"Melissa!"
Melissa looked up from the ground. Peter stood over her. She saw she was outside the Royal Chancellor Hotel...not some apartment building.
"It was just a thief, Lis," Peter said as he extended a hand.
Melissa pushed it away. She saw a kid being beaten by policemen with clubs. No one moved to help him.
"What-" Melissa started.
"He used an electrical object to steal a bike," Peter explained. "They really frown on that here. Only the media and the upper classes can have anything resembling electricity. We crossers found that one when another kid tried the same stunt on someone. He had the same fate."
Melissa just shivered. She thought that a world where people were more mindful of the environment would be nicer. As she watched the kid get clubbed, Melissa realized how wrong she was.
"Let's go," Melissa said. "You said Sarah might be here."
"Yeah," Peter said. "Sarah might see it as-"
The sound of something being cut through got Melissa's attention. She looked at Peter. He had a knife in his chest. It was abruptly taken out of his chest. peter fell on the ground. Brown looked down at the body and shook his head.
"I was expecting him to scream," Brown commented. "Pity." He smiled at Melissa. She backed away. "I was looking all over for you. How about we go and pay a visit on Miss Weisschester-Carroll?"
"Where is he?" Eve complained.
Richard took another sip of his coke and looked at Eve across the table.
"Maybe Proper got held up," Richard said. "I don't know."
"We should be out there causing a scene or something," Eve said. She stood up. "Maybe if-"
Richard grabbed Eve's arm. "Oh, no you don't. I'm not getting shot for you."
Eve corked an eyebrow. "Really? You want to make a bet on that?"
Richard released Eve's arm. He leaned back in his chair and grinned at her. If keeping Eve busy would keep him from getting killed, Richard would go along.
"A bet?" Richard said. "Sure why not?"
Eve grinned at Richard. Then she screamed.
"Oh my God!" Eve shrieked. "Where did you get that from? Aren't electric devices forbidden after sunset?"
Richard fell out of his chair. As he quickly shot to his feet, Richard saw various figures moving toward his table. He saw badges. He also saw their clubs. He looked over at Eve. She smiled.
"Have fun, tiger," Eve said.
Richard pushed over a table. People gasped as food flew everywhere. Richard jumped over another table. Salads flew on a guy's face. Richard hopped over the railing and made a break down the street.
He turned around to see the policemen making it over the railing. He cursed himself for thinking Eve would be no problem. She was like the other crossers he met. Deadly.
Melissa stood in the elevator with Brown. She looked him over again. Over the last few weeks, he had been slowly getting back to looking like his professorish self. He sported shades now and he had shaved his head completely bald. With the black clothes and trenchcoat, Brown looked like he could have come out of The Matrix.
"Yes, the hair was very extreme," Brown said aloud as if he read her thoughts.
"What's extreme is that you just gutted a man," Melissa said. Brown's face remained blank. "Does that not affect you at all?"
"No," Brown said flatly.
"It should. You come such a long way from where Randy and I found you palying Rebel on that world. Don't backslide now. It makes you like what you were afraid of...your Other."
For a second, Brown's face flinched. Then he looked at Melissa. His eyes looked so lost. So sad.
"Maybe if I had been more like my Other...Debra would be here now," Brown said. "I would be happy on this world. Now..." His face went blank. "She will be avenged...as will Heim's. You do want that, don't you?"
Melissa bit her lip. She would be lying if she said she didn't. They had just gotten back together.
"I want to get home," Melissa said. "That was always the plan...not murder."
"It would be justice," Brown said.
"We are not judge, jury, and executioner," Melissa said.
The elevator door clicked. It opened in front of them. Brown walked down the hall. To Melissa, he looked like a cold soldier.
"Brown!" Melissa barked. She got no reply. "Darnell!"
Brown's hand paused on the door where the clerk said Sarah was. He stared at Melissa. his eyes narrowed on her.
"Enough, Miss Clark," Brown said coldly. "You are trying my patience. That's not a good thing."
"Think about what you are doing," Melissa begged.
Brown just sighed. "I have thought about this. I thought about it as Debra died in my arms. If these people have the power to play God when they're not Him then they shoudl be punished."
"And you're acting like God right now," Melissa shot out. "Deciding who lives and dies." She managed a smile hoping it would disarm him. "How about we let Him decide this?"
Brown's forehead wrinkled up. Then he smiled at Melissa. She smiled again.
"No," Brown said with his icy smile.
Before Melissa could stop him, Brown kicked in the door. He ran in like he was a fireman. Melissa ran after him.
Melissa ran through the door. Her eyes fell on Sarah Weisschester-Carroll. Brown had her penned to the wall. Melissa remembered Sarah. She remembered watching helplessly as Sarah wiped Randy from existence. She had no compassion for Melissa at all.
"Darnell, hold on!" Melissa barked.
Brown actually hestiated when Melissa called him by his real name. She walked up to Sarah and glared at her.
"Are you happy now?" Melissa asked.
"No," Sarah replied. "There are still Randalls out there. Until they are all gone, I will never know peace...and Robert will never be avenged."
Sarah screamed. Melissa realized that Brown had tightened his hand on her arms. "Darnell!"
"You are on very little time, my dear," Brown said flatly. "I lost someone dear to me because of your schemes."
"Good!" Sarah spit out. "At least I'm not alone in my pain!"
"You're right," Melissa said. "We had just gotten together with our significent others...and you snatched that away."
Sarah just grinned at Melissa. "Your mistake for falling for Randall."
"His name is Randy!" Melissa spit out.
"Same person," Sarah said. "He deserved to die."
A hand shot for Sarah's throat. Brown tighten his grip.
"Maybe he did," Brown said. His face grew darker. "Debra didn't. Now you pay."
Sarah just laughed at him. "I...think...not."
Brown's right hand joined his left hand. Sarah just shook her head. She managed to let off another laugh. Then she pointed.
Melissa looked over to where Sarah pointed. The timer was on the table. So was the Geiger device and Sarah's crosser device. Melissa ran over to the timer. It was countdowning now. They had two hours left.
"What...if...I can...reverse what happened?" Sarah spit out.
"Brown, wait!" Melissa yelled. "Something is off with the timer."
Melissa turned to look at Brown. He still choked Sarah. Melissa ran over and put her hand on his shoulder.
"Darnell," Melissa said firmly.
Brown looked over at her. He was like an enraged tiger. He grabbed the timer from her. Sarah slid to the floor.
"What did you do to this?" Brown asked as he kneeled in front of Sarah. "It looks like you passworded it."
Sarah coughed. Her hands rubbed her throat. She glared at Brown. "As a...matter of fact...I did. I'm the only...one who knows it."
"Tell me," Brown demanded.
"No."
"I will beat it out of you."
"Go ahead. You will get nothing from me...but another dead body."
"Don't tempt me."
"I tempt."
"Enough!" Melissa yelled. She kneeled next to Sarah. "How do we get pass the password?"
Sarah grinned. "You...don't. Did I mention...your home coordinates are in...your device?"
Melissa gasped. The way home. Randy was not sure if eve had put them in. If they were in there...
"This is an obvious lie to save your skin," Brown said, cutting into her thoughts.
Sarah shrugged her shoulders. "Then kill me then."
"With pleasure."
"Darnell, no!" Melissa yelled. Brown stopped. "Go find Eve. Maybe she can figure out the password."
"That...tramp," Sarah said. "I doubt it."
"Watch her like a hawk," Brown instructed. He glared at Sarah. "You try somehting before I get back...well..it will not be pretty."
Brown left without another word. Melissa looked after him. After eveyrthing, she wondered if he would be all right.
"How does it feel to cross with a killer?" Sarah asked.
Melissa looked back at Sarah. She was slowly standing up.
"Maybe I should ask Eve that when she gets here," Melissa said.
"If Randall had not cross early-" Sarah started.
"Oh, get over it!" Melissa cut her off. "I have had to deal with what ifs for almost two years now. You deal and you move on."
Sarah laughed at her. "You should take your own advice. It's obvious you're still mad at me for your Randall."
"Randy," Melissa corrected.
"One and the same."
"I don't think so."
"What if I can bring your Randy back?"
Melissa glared at Sarah. "He's gone and he's not coming back."
Sarah walked over to the couch. She looked at her.
"It is possible, you know," Sarah said. "It would take a nice...simple...equation. Then you can have your boyfriend back. All you have to do is...let me go."
Sarah just grinned as she sat on the couch. Melissa just glared at her. The idea that Sarah could fix this mess was a tempting one. Maybe Brown would go back to himself as well. but to let a killer go?
"Well?" Sarah asked.
"No!"
Richard turned the corner and saw them. They were the last thing he needed. He hid behind a trash can nearby.
Trisha Eastwood glared at Daniel Peckin. "I don't dare what happened today! I am not getting clubbed because you won't use a camcorder like a normal person."
"That's a load of crap!" Daniel Peckin shot back. "The packs are a sure bet not to run out when we need them. Face it...we're using them!"
Trisha frowned. "Maybe you are. Come on, Joel."
Richard looked over at Joel. He sat on the sidewalk fiddling with a camcorder. He looked up in fear.
"Hey! This is between you two!" Joel said.
Trisha walked over and leaned over Joel. "Okay, Joel...honey...we're quitting."
"Like hell!" Peckin yelled. He walked over to the two of them. He slapped Trisha on the butt. "Joel, who writes your checks?"
Trisha stood up and punched Peckin in the stomach. Peckin fell to the ground. "Joel...who do you sleep with?"
"Who hasn't slept with you?" Peckin asked. "Joel, how do you think she got this job?"
Trisha glared. "Excuse me?"
"Trisha...is that true?" Joel asked.
Richard came from behind the trash can as they argued. He had come up with an idea as they argued. He snatched it up and walked pass them.
Richard opened the back of it. It looked like Peckin had won the argument in Joel's eyes. That worked for Richard just fine.
Rembrandt just sat down at the dining room. He looked over at Arturo. he stood in the door, his arms folded across his chest.
"Well?" Arturo said.
"What do you want me to say?" Rembrandt asked. "You just told me that a few years ago I slid with a double of yours. A lot has happened...Arturo."
Arturo nodded sadly. "Yes...Miss Welles and Mr. Mallory...both tragic losses. And this Miss Beckett...I do not know what to say."
"Then don't," Rembrandt said flatly.
"What else can I do?" Arturo asked. "Cromagons. Brain-sucking madmen. Female doubles. Merging universes. And I thought we had quite a dangerous life before we got separated."
"Assuming we got separated," Rembrandt said.
Arturo's eyes revealed his hurt at Rembrandt's words. They gave way to anger.
"I am telling the truth, Mr. Brown!" Arturo bellowed.
"Been there before, Professor."
"Why, you blistering-" Arturo paused. "Mr. Brown, I believe that is the first time you have called me that."
Rembrandt sat back in the chair. Arturo was right. Ever since Arturo had told him his story, Rembrandt had been battling with his thoughts. Part of him thought this was a trick...similar to the last time he slid to this world. Part of him thought about the years that had passed sicne then. He thought about the time Q-ball and he slid with the wrong Maggie.
"Does this interesting development mean that I am placing a shadow of a doubt in your mind?" Arturo asked.
"Well?" Ben asked.
Nicole looked back inside the window. "They are still talking."
"This is such a bad idea," Ben commented.
"It was Remmy's call," Nicole said. "I trust that he will do the right thing."
"You really trust in people a lot."
Nicole turned away fromt he window. Her face was blank except for her eyes. They had fire to them.
"I've had to deal with a lot in my life," Nicole said. "Along the way, you learn who has good instincts and who doesn't. Remmy does."
"As long as it doesn't mean we are getting another traveler."
Ben turned to look at the small geeky guy on the porch stairs. He looked back at Ben with his thick glasses.
"What do you mean, Bufford?" Nicole asked.
"Think of it," Bufford continued. "He says that he is one of Mr. Brown's sliding buddies. you think Brown is just going to leave him here?"
"No," Ben answered.
Bufford smiled. Then he went back to looking over the gizmo. "Good to know you do listen."
"You know what I think?" Ben asked as he sat on the porch stairs. "I think you don't want him to come cuz then we would have a real brain."
Bufford glared at Ben. "Have you forgotten the timer is set for eight people, twit? Us and Mr. Heim's group? Any extra mass and we could risk not getting home or worse."
"Guys, they're coming!" Nicole announced as she ran to sit on the porch stairs.
The front door opened. Ben turned and was shocked by the sight he saw. Rembrandt and Arturo were laughing.
"Well, that was back when Mr. Mallory could not throw," Arturo remarked.
"Between you and me," Rembrandt laughed. "he still can't."
They both laughed. Nicole ran up and hugged Rembrandt.
"It's good to see you solve your problem," Nicole said. "What now?"
"Now," Rembrandt said, "we slide out. The Professor's coming with us."
"What?" Ben and Bufford said in unison.
Eve put the last of her clothes in the duffel bag. She grinned as she thoght about how she got rid of Richard. Now she could use his diversion to attract Brown's attention. She would find Sarah and go home.
Eve made it to the door. A smile crept over her face. Everything would work out.
She opened the door. The smile crept off her face. Policement stood in the door.
"Eve Albright?" the policeman in front said.
"Yes, Officer...," Eve said, fishing for a last name.
"Posey," the policeman continued. He pointed at her bag. "Take it."
The policemen moved pass Posey. They grabbed Eve's bag before she could stop them. her clothes fell to the floor as the policemne turned the bag upside down.
Posey headed for the bathroom. Eve ran to the door first. She glared at him.
"What is the meaning of this?" Eve demanded. "Last I checked, I was a citizen here and-"
"We got a tip," Posey cut her off. "You better hope it's wrong."
Posey grabbed Eve by the arm. He tossed her away from the bathroom door. She managed to get her balance enough that she did not fall. He was already in the bathroom now. Eve ran over to the door, but Posey already came out...holding a set of batteries.
"No wonder you did not want me in the bathroom," Officer Posey said.
"Those are not mine," Eve protested.
"I do not see anyone else here, Miss Albright," Posey said as he pulled out a club.
Eve turned around. the other policemen were reaching for their clubs. Eve wondered how the batteries got in the bathroom. Then she realized there was a window in there...anyone could have come in there.
Like Richard.
Richard headed away from the hotel. His hands were in his pockets and he felt a whistle coming on. Now all he had to do was find Melissa.
A shadow shot up in front of him. Richard jumped back from it. He recognized the tall black man barely.
"Uh...Proper...we can talk this out right?" Richard said. A couple of bikers rode by without a glance. "We have known each other for-"
"Shut up," Brown said flatly.
"Okay. Shutting up," Richard said.
"Where is Miss Albright?" Brown demanded.
"She's in the motel room."
"Take me to her."
Richard shook his head. "No way, Proper. Icelady's in a load of trouble right now and I'm not going-"
Brown moved quickly. His hand gripped Richard's throat. It was like barb wire to the hand.
"Listen, you stupid twit!" Brown hised. "The only thing keeping you alive is Miss Albright. She's the only way we can get home. Now where is she?"
Melissa watched Sarah as she slaved over the Geiger device. Part of her thought she was crazy for trusitng the madwoman. The other part of her hoped she was doing the right thing.
"I still don't see why you love him," Sarah said as she typed into a mini-keyboard in the base of the Geiger device.
"I don't think madwomen such as yourself could understand," Melissa said. "Now work!"
"I am sure your Randall is just like mine," Sarah continued. "Some invention comes along and anyone he's close to is left in the dust." She sat up and pointed at Melissa. "Take that...timer, is it? The design is St. Clair's. I know she put a lot of devices into it to track you. I bet Randall still has not solved it."
Melissa's eyes narrowed on Sarah. "His name is Randy, and he was on his way to solving it...before you erased him from existence."
"While he was solving it, did he have time for you? I bet he did not."
"He did," Melissa said. "Now finish the equation."
Sarah held up the Geiger device. "Here. It's done."
"What?" Melissa said.
"I said it's done," Sarah said. "It was a simple equation after all. How about you try it?"
"How about you try it?" Melissa challenged. "For all I know, it's boobytrapped."
"You still don't trust me?" Sarah asked. "My life is in your hands. I doubt I would gamble with it. Now try it!"
Melissa looked at the device in Sarah's hand. It was the key to getting Randy back. She needed him. The others needed him.
Melissa reached for the device. "Fine. I-"
Sarah shot up quickly. Melissa snatched her hand away. Sarah was like a bat thougth. She pushed Melissa. Melissa lost her footing and fell on the floor. She looked to see Sarah standing over her.
A beep sounded through the door. Sarah picked up her crossing device and smiled.
"Oh, look," Sarah said. "My time is up."
Sarah aimed the device at the wall behind Melissa's head. Melissa turned to see the wall dissolved into a red circle. A shadow dotted pass her. Sarah jumped into the wormhole and vanished.
"No!" Melissa yelled.
It was too late. The red wormhole shifted back into a normal wall. Melissa sat up and saw the timer was still on the table. So was the Geiger device.
Melissa looked it over. She wondered if Sarah had even fixed it. Could she use it to get Randy back?
Eve hopped onto the bed. The policemen swept in on her. Their clubs were like guns. She hissed.
"This is all just a misunderstanding!" Eve yelled.
"A likely story, Miss Albright!" Officer Posey said. "Grab her!"
The two policemen lunged at the bed. Eve jumped over their heads. As her feet hit the floor, Eve shot for the door. Posey blocked it in a flash.
"Make no sudden moves, Albright," Posey said.
"I refuse to die like this," Eve said. "I did not cross...indulge in what the universe had to offer...just to die in a candle-lit room."
"Then maybe you should leave then."
Eve saw a figure behidn Posey. A fist shot through the air. Posey fell to the floor like dead weight. The other policemen lunged at the figure. They met his fists. Seconds later, they were unconscious along with Posey.
"Thank you for-" Eve started.
The figure came into the candlelight. Eve gasped. It was Brown. She backed away.
"Stay back!" Eve warned. "You will not find me so easy to kill as you did Eric."
"I am not here to kill you, Miss Albright," Brown said. "I need your help."
Melissa sat on the couch and watched Eve and Brown over at the table. For a second, he looked like himself. Then she remembered he refused to talk to her.
The couch cushions fell deeper into the couch. Melissa stopped watching Eve and Brown. Instead, she turned to look at Richard.
"Still in the doghouse with Proper?" Richard asked.
"You should talk about doghouses," Melissa snapped.
"Look," Richard said. "For what it's worth...I'm sorry."
"Sorry won't bring Randy back," Melissa said. She looked down at the Geiger device in her lap. Sarah escaped, but maybe she did finish the equation. Maybe...
"Bufford."
"What?" Melissa said in surprise.
"He's who blackmailed me," Richard said. "He saw me run down Laura Carmichael."
"He what?"
Melissa looked at Brown. His eyes burned with fury at the revelation. He went back to working on the timer.
"He wanted Egghead's invention," Richard continued, "and he had me over a barrel."
Melissa said nothing. What could she say? She had heard a lot from Richard since they started sliding. Just when she thought he could not sink low, he got lower. They were all paying for his secret.
The Geiger device fell to one side of her lap. She picked it up in her hand. She stared at it. Maybe she did not have to pay for Richard's secret.
"I'll be back," Melissa announced.
She did not look at any of them. She was already out the door.
"I think she is up to something," Eve said.
"Focus on the job at hand," Brown said. "We still do not know how to bypass the passowrd. Without it, we cannot go home."
"I cannot go home anyway," Eve said. "Sarah has the statuscope. God, I hate that bitch."
"Do you think you two could focus a little?" Richard asked. "Time is ticking."
Eve saw Brown look at Richard. His body was tensed as he looked at him.
"Maybe you should shut up...murderer," Brown snapped.
Richard crossed his arms over his chest. "You are one to talk!"
Brown said nothing for a second. He moved like a jet. Somewhere between the table and couch, Brown pulled out a knife. He held it to Richard's throat now.
"Tell me, Mr. Hall," Brown said with a smile. "Why are you still breathing?"
Eve watched Richard sqrium. Any other time it would amuse her. Right now she was more concerned with getting home.
"Maybe you want Richard to pay for his crimes on your homeworld," Eve suggested. "I am sure this...Bufford would testify to save his own skin."
Eve headed for the door. "While this has been fun...we are going to need the Geiger device for your timer and Melissa has it."
Brown paused. "What?"
"Are you going to stand there all day?" Eve asked.
Brown put his knife away. He headed for the door. He was like a soldier as he marched pass her.
Eve glared at Richard. "Come on."
"Thanks," Richard mumbled.
"Oh, no!" Eve said. "Don't thank me yet. The tension between you guys amuse me. THAT is the only thing keeping you alive."
"Well, Icelady, any idea where Melissa's going?"
"No."
Richard smiled. "Good. I know."
Melissa stood outside the building. This was where it had happened. Randy had left her life. Now...she could correct it.
She looked around. There was no sign of the policemen. Walkers just went about their business. She pulled out the Geiger device. She turned a dial on it and pushed a button.
A light shot from the device. Melissa covered her eyes. She heard a few screams.
"Melissa?"
Melissa opened her eyes. Randy stood before her with a smile on his face. It vanished.
"Duck!" Randy yelled.
He pushed Melissa to the ground. They barely missed being shot by laserfire. Melissa looked up to see Humaggs running for them.
"Heim, what have you gotten us into?"
Melissa looked behind her. Eric Price grabbed Randall Heim by his shirt collar. Peter Carmichael meanwhile seem confused.
"This is not my doing, Eric!" Randall protested.
"Duck, you idiot!" Peter barked.
The Humaggs fired on them again. Peter followed his own words and fell to the ground. Melissa felt hands lift her up.
"We got to get out of here," Randy said.
"Yeah," Melissa managed.
They ran down the way she had approached. Suddenly, the air dissolved in front of them as a red wormhole formed. Sarah hopped out of it and smiled.
"Told you I could do it," Sarah said.
Sarah's foot shot up and kicked Randy in the groin. She swung her hand out and slapped Melissa.
"Eric! Peter!" Sarah yelled. "Come on!"
Melissa's eyes widened. "You used me."
"You didn't think I would just rescue your Randall without there being something in it for me, did you?" Sarah asked.
A simmer went off. Melissa had not been paying attention. Now she saw Peter jumping into the wormhole. It simmer as he vanished. Randall vanished behind him.
"The best thing?" Sarah said. "They don't remember a thing. That keeps me safe."
"Wait!"
Melissa looked over Sarah's shoulder. Eve headed toward them. Richard and Brown were not far behind.
"I think not," Sarah said. She ran into the wormhole. It simmer. Then it shrank before Melissa's eyes.
"No!" Eve screamed.
"Duck!" Richard yelled. He pushed her out of the way just in time. The laserfire missed her.
"Thanks," Eve managed.
"I owed you one," Richard said.
A black shadow descended on the area. Melissa looked up to see a manta ship. It was about to land on them.
"Miss Clark, the Geiger device!" Brown yelled.
Melissa threw it to Brown. She watched as he connected it to the timer. He turned to Eve.
"Password!" Brown barked.
"Robert!" Eve yelled.
Brown typed it into the device. A beep came from the timer.
"Stop, Human!" one of the Humagg commanded.
Brown aimed the timer. "I think not."
Brown hit the button. Air dissolved in front of Randy and Melissa. A blue wormhole appeared in front of them.
"Jump!" Randy yelled.
"Not without you!" Melissa yelled.
They both jumped into the wormhole.
The wormhole opened upon a new world. Melissa fell from the sky. She landed on a wild prairie. Another whir sounded off. Randy fell into the long grass next to her.
Melissa grabbed Randy and hugged him tight. She backed away. He looked at her with a shy grin.
"Not that I am not happy, but...why all concerned?" Randy asked.
"You don't remember?" Melissa asked.
"Remember what?"
Before Melissa could tell Randy, a whir came from the wormhole. Brown landed next to Randy. Melissa looked over at him. He just glared.
"Professor-" Melissa started.
"Not another word," Brown said. "I see where your loyalties lie."
Another whir cut through the air. Richard fell out. He landed next to Melissa. He grinned.
"I thought we would never get away," Richard said.
"You son of a-" Randy started.
Another whir came from the wormhole. Melissa looked up to see Eve falling right at them. Melissa jumped out of the way in time. Eve landed in Randy's and Brown's lap. Melissa looked at the wormhole. It vanished.
"So," Eve said as she looked around, "what do we do now?"
"I still think this is a bad idea," Ben said as he looked at Rembrandt. "Have you forgotten the timer is set for eight people...not nine?"
Rembrandt looked at Ben. "I left him behind before, Goof. I'm not doing it again."
"Maybe you should stay here then," Ben suggested. "We'll find the others."
"No go. Who knows what you guys might encounter."
"Who knows if this guy is for real?"
Rembrandt stood up off of the couch. "Trust me."
"Well, we are just about ready!"
Ben turned to the doorway. Bufford emerged from the house. His look revealed how he felt. Even now, he stared at Rembrandt in annoyance.
"Assuming of course we are ALL sliding out," Bufford said.
Rembrandt stared at Bufford. "We ALL are."
"Then we ALL are in agreement," Nicole said as she walked outside to join the others.
Ben saw that Arturo was not far behind. He looked at Rembrandt and smiled.
"It will be like old times again, huh, Mr. Brown?" Arturo asked.
Rembrandt pulled out the timer. "Oh, yeah. Just like old times."
The timer came to life. The stairs melted away. In their place was the all familiar blue wormhole. Brown gestured at it.
"You first, Professor," Rembrandt said all smiles.
Arturo ran for the wormhole and jumped into it. A whir sounded off. Rembrandt looked at Nicole.
"Just remember to let the Professor go in first," Rembrandt said. "As soon as you fall out, aim for him. He makes a good cushion."
"I'll remember that," Nicole said.
Rembrant jumped into the wormhole.
"So do you," Nicole continued. She ran for the wormhole. A whir sounded off as she jumped in.
Ben looked at Bufford. He just shook his head.
"Nothing good can come of this," Bufford said.
"I know," Ben agreed. "Too late now."
Bufford jumped into the wormhole. It whirred as he vanished.
Ben just shook his head. He hoped there was a way to keep Remmy's friend and find his own. It was just an adjustment they would have to make.
Ben jumped into the wormhole. As he did, he wondered something.
What if it came down to his friends or Arturo?
THE-END
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