Maggie Beckett struggled with her binds. They refused to loosen. She could scream right now. Not only was her auburn hair frizzled around her dirty face, but here she was again. She was tied to a pole about to be a sacrifice.
The tribal doctor raised his hands in the air. He chimed to the sky. Meanwhile, several tribesmen danced around Maggie. They chimed, too.
She was still recovering from weeks ago and fighting that Humagg Kerus. She was sleep for a second. Next thing she knew she was here in tribal skirt and tanktop wondering what happened.
The tribal doctor reached into his belt. He pulled out a knife. Maggie watched him raise the knife above his head.
Suddenly, he flew through the air. He landed on two tribesmen. The rest shot out from Maggie, hitting the trees hard.
Her eyes fell on her savior. The black man wore a dirtied T-shirt and brown shorts. His eyes were closed as he held a hand out in front of him. She glared.
"What took you so long?" Maggie snapped.
Three years ago, my friends and I found a way to travel between worlds-
To slide to...
Worlds where you're the same person-
It's the same year...
But everything else is different-
Our Earth...
Has been overrun by the Kromaggs?-
Can we get home?...
Do we want to?
And now-
The worlds await...
SLIDERS: ALTERNATE SPIN-SEASON 4
EPISODE 9: THE BEAUTIFUL ONES
Professor Darnell Brown opened his eyes. For a second, Melissa Clark thought they were blank sockets. She blinked her eyes. They were brown again. She watched Brown gesture with his hands. The ropes around Maggie snapped apart.
Melissa saw movement from her right. She turned and saw it was Randy and Paige. He held up the timer, his eyes narrowed on it.
"We were busy," Randy Heim said. "Evil tribesmen and all."
"Yeah," Paige Kendall said, tossing her red hair. "Calm down."
Maggie glared at Paige. Randy aimed the timer.
"It's time," he announced.
Melissa flew out of the wormhole. She landed on her feet and quickly looked around. They were on a roof and out of sight of anyone. Good.
A whir came from the wormhole. A figure formed and shot out of it. The figure landed on their knees. Melissa recognized Paige. Her red hair blew across her face, making her look like a banshee. She looked up at Melissa.
"Are we safe?" Paige asked.
"So it seems!" Melissa yelled over the wormhole.
The wormhole whirred again. A new figure emerged from it. For a moment, Melissa did not recognize the breaded young man in front of her, black coat flowing with the wormhole's wind. Randy could never grow hair on his face at one point. Now he stood with Paige with a full beard.
Melissa could not stop the frown that crossed her face. Randy was with Paige. She did not think she would ever get used to that idea.
Randy looked at her. He frowned.
"What?" Randy asked.
"Nothing," Melissa said.
Paige glared at her. Melissa glared at her.
The wormhole whirred again. Professor Darnell Brown emerged from the wormhole. He stared at his surroundings, his eyes focusing on the three of them. He corked an eyebrow.
The wormhole whirred again. Maggie Beckett shot out of it. She stumbled next to Brown as the wormhole closed behind her. She stared at the scene before her.
"Did I miss something?" Maggie asked.
"No," Melissa and Paige said at the same time.
Brown glared at Paige.
"Brown," Melissa snapped.
He looked at her. "Do not worry, Miss Clark. I cannot read Miss Kendall's mind." He stared at Paige. "And I find that quite interesting."
"Well, that's nice," Maggie said. "Meanwhile you sure know how to read the rest of our minds." She looked at Melissa. "Am I the only one who finds that disturbing?"
"It was not disturbing when I was saving your life," Brown said.
Maggie put her hands on her hips. She narrowed her eyes on him. Randy walked over to Maggie and gave her his long coat.
"Here," Randy said. "How about we explore before we fight?"
Melissa watched Professor Brown and Maggie head for the roof door. Randy and Paige were right behind them. She followed.
Maggie was right. Over the past few weeks, Brown's newfound abilities continued to grow. First it was just telekinetics. Now it was telepathy. What would be next?
Were they in danger?
Paige stared at the back of Randy's head. She was so close to him. It would be easy to give him a slight push down the stairs. He could break his neck and no one would be the wiser.
She looked behind her. Melissa was behind her. If she saw anything strange, she would tell off. She was so sick of Melissa.
Brown opened a door down below her. He and Maggie hurried through. Randy was right behind them. She followed him. She recognized the lobby of the Dominion Hotel. She did not expect this.
"So this isn't your world," Maggie announced. "Not a Kromagg in sight. See anything different?"
Brown frowned. "I cannot put my finger on it, but something appears to be off."
"Thins," Paige said.
"Huh?" Maggie asked.
Paige gesture to the room. "No skinny people here. Don't you see it? Large. Small. Everyone is fat."
Brown glared. "Now that is very crude of you to say, Miss Kendall."
"But she's right," Maggie said. "Don't you see it?"
Brown looked about the room. Paige followed his glanced. There were people at the bar. There were people coming and going out of the Dominion's front door. There was Gomez Calhoun at the front desk. He was like all the people there.
Fat.
"So...where are we?" Melissa asked behind Paige
.
"A world where obese people are the norm," Randy answered.
"Or Fat World," Paige said, turning to face the two.
"Now, that's just rude," Melissa said.
"Well, it's true," Paige said. "Are you going to say differently?"
"I wouldn't be mean about it," Melissa said.
"Yes, because you're such a saint."
Melissa laughed. "Not a saint."
"Please!"
"What is with you?"
Paige glared. "Right now...you."
"Why, I--"
Randy stepped in between them. His arms blocked Paige and Melissa from each other. Paige glared at Melissa.
"I think we better depart," Brown said. "People are glaring."
"What? No staring?" Paige asked sarcastically.
"No, Miss Kendall," Brown said. "Definitely glaring."
"Great," Melissa said. "You did a cultural no-no."
"Me?" Paige shrieked.
"Come on," Randy said.
Brown and Maggie already headed for the door. Randy pulled Paige along. She turned to look at Melissa. She was behind them, her stare right on her.
Randy abruptly stopped. Paige turned around. Gomez Calhoun blocked their way. Next to him was a big dark-haired man in a suit.
"What are you doing here?" Gomez asked.
"Uh...we took a wrong turn," Randy explained.
"Yeah," Melissa added as she stood next to Randy. "But we know where we're going."
Paige frowned. How did Melissa move so quickly? She was awfully close to Randy. It was too close for Paige.
Randy started to pass Gomez. The big man blocked him.
"We know where you're going, too," Gomez said.
"Is there a problem, Mr. Calhoun?" Brown asked, appearing next to the big man.
Gomez looked at Brown. "Nothing to worry about, Sir. Just a trio of strays."
Randy frowned. "Strays?"
"What's going on?" Melissa demanded. "We just--"
"What you are doing," Gomez said, "is hurting the community's self-esteem. No one wants to see your bony little tails. Leroy here...he's taking you back to whatever clinic you escaped from."
"What?" Randy said.
"Clinic?" Melissa uttered.
"Wait one min--" Brown started.
Leroy grabbed Randy. Paige ducked past Melissa. She flattened her hand and stabbed it at Leroy's Adam apple. He gasped, spit falling out of his mouth. He fell to the floor.
Paige stared at Randy. "Are you--"
"I'm fine," Randy said. "How--"
The front doors of the Dominion shot open. Several obese men in uniforms ran in, guns at the ready. They aimed at them.
Screams ran out. Bodies dotted across the lobby. Paige saw the nearest one. She blended to his back. As he ran for the nearest exit, she spun with him. She felt like a ballerina. However, it made her think of her training by the Elders for this mission. She pushed the memory away.
The man made it out the exit door. His eyes fell on her. They widened in shock. He ran past her.
"Uh...okay," Paige said.
The exit door flew open again. Paige turned to see who it was. She glared.
"Great," Paige said sarcastically.
"I don't exactly want to be around you either," Melissa said. She looked around the sidewalk they were on. "Have you seen the others."
"No," Paige said. "Only you."
"Then I guess--"
CHEEK!
Paige had time to turn to her right. She gasped. She grabbed at her neck. Her hands wrapped around something solid. She looked down and stared in shock at the dart.
Then everything went black.
The two guards shot through the Dominion doors easily. They hit the sidewalk hard. Randy followed Maggie and Brown out. Brown stood over the unconscious guards with a smirk on his face.
"That will teach you," Brown said.
Randy frowned. He was not sure he liked the fact that Professor Brown had this ability.
Brown turned to look at him. "I am completely in control, Mr. Heim."
"You say after reading my mind," Randy said. "Look. That's just...scary."
"As much as I agree," Maggie said, "we have guards after us."
"I am sure I can take them," Brown said.
"Let's not find out," Maggie said.
Randy looked back at the door. "What about Paige and Melissa?"
"We'll find them later," Maggie said.
Randy ran down the sidewalk. Maggie was right behind him. Brown was behind them.
"How much time?" Maggie asked.
Randy reached into his pocket for the timer. He stopped. He looked into his other pocket.
"Mr. Heim, your fear--" Brown started.
"What?" Maggie asked. She looked at Randy. "What is he--"
"It's gone," Randy said, staring back at her. "The timer's gone."
Melissa opened her eyes. Pain shot through her neck, reminding her that she was only human. She also realized that she was moving. Actually she was in a van moving. There was a singular light on over head. She looked around.
There were three other women in the van...and Paige. Paige was still out on the floor. The other women were up. Two of them looked scared, as if they were going to their execution. The other one looked like she was just binding time, spinning a lock of her mousy brown hair in her hand.
Melissa stared at the other two. She crawled over to them. The women stared at her in confusion.
"Are you two okay?" Melissa asked.
The nearest one to Melissa, a woman with auburn hair, shook her head. Her friend also shook her head.
"We tried," the woman said, holding the auburn-haired woman. "They told us to gain weight. We were much, much too thin."
"Dangerously thin," the auburn-haired woman muttered.
"It's okay, Beth," the woman said. "We tried. It's not our fault."
"Yeah, we didn't ask to be born after all."
Melissa turned to look at the mousy haired woman. She stared at the three of them. It was the look of someone who thought someone was stupid.
"Now, Megan," the first woman started.
"Don't Megan me, Jo," the mousy haired woman said. "Those of us who were into science know that genetics can be responsible for this. Maybe if Dad had the head gene--"
"Does it even matter?" Beth asked, pulling away from Jo. "We're still going to the camp."
"Camp?" Melissa said.
"Have you been under a rock?" Megan asked with an edge. "We're freaks. We're not like the beautiful ones. All curves and figures. We're skin and bones. The poster children for what not to be."
"Megan--" Jo started.
"It's true, Jo," Megan started. "If it wasn't for that show back in 1990."
Beth frowned. "Please...don't mention it."
Jo also frowned. "'Real World?'"
Megan glared at Jo. "I can't believe I'm related to you."
"Megan!" Beth snapped.
"What's going on?"
Melissa turned around. Paige sat up. She stared about her in confusion.
"We got captured," Melissa said. "I’m sure the others will find us."
"I'm sure they will, too," Paige said, reaching into her pocket. She pulled out the timer. "I have this."
Melissa's eyes widened. "Randy had that. Too much was happening for you to just get it. Did you--"
"And if I did?" Paige asked.
"Okay," Megan said from behind Melissa. "What are you two talking about, and what is that?"
Paige grinned and held up the timer.
"This," Paige said, "is our way out of here."
Melissa glared. "What are you saying?"
"The truth," Paige said.
"You don't have the right."
"And you can't tell me what to do."
"Oh, I'm sorry. That should be Randy!"
Paige glared at Melissa. "What did you say?"
Melissa smirked. "The truth."
"You're just jealous. You're not the center of his universe anymore. He moved on to bigger...and better...things."
Melissa balled her hands into fist.
"Oh," Paige said. "Did I touch a nerve?" She leaned forward. "Does Saint Melissa want to wipe the floor with me? Please!"
"Don't push me, Paige," Melissa said. "You know I've had the training."
Paige's face darkened. "And you...have no idea who you're messing with."
Melissa frowned. "And you do? You're the one with amnesia...or are you?"
Paige said nothing. She leaned back against the wall. Melissa did not know what to think. Paige never seem to back down. It was a sign that Paige did have something to hide.
"Okay, you two are both crazy," Megan said. "Still...anything that helps us get out--"
Melissa looked at Megan. "She didn't mean--"
"What did she mean?" Megan snapped.
"Nothing," Paige said.
"You're lying," Megan said.
"Megan, leave them alone," Jo said. "Just accept our fate."
Megan looked at her sister. Her eyes narrowed on her, her face becoming a glare.
"Maybe you want to die," Megan said. "But I'm not giving up. Why they never cancelled Celebrity Gain Club after one season is beyond me!"
The van abruptly stopped. Melissa fell over onto the floor. The doors opened in the back, revealing a big woman with short red hair.
"Dom?"
Melissa stared at Paige. Her eyes were wide with shock.
Melissa frowned. She wondered what else Paige remembered from her past. She also wondered why she was going through such lengths to hide.
Maggie frowned. "Celebrity Fit Club?"
"Celebrity Gain Club," Brown said. "It would seem that on this world people grew concerned with the....stick figure motif...that is a part of our culture. Thanks in part to this...reality show...America started to get concern with people and their self-images.
"Not to mention the people suffering with anorexia and bulimia."
Brown nodded. "Let us say that after the show's first season, the government took a more hands-on approach. Years later, there are no...thin...people. If they are too thin, they are reported and sent to camps targeted to make them the right weight. If they do not reach it...that is when things get bad.
Randy stared at Professor brown from the motel bed.
"Well, we have to find Paige and Melissa," Randy said.
"You think?" Maggie said.
Randy glared. "Not helping."
"Do you have any ideas?" Maggie asked.
"She does," Brown said from next to the motel door.
Randy stared at Brown. He was sure that Maggie was doing the same thing. Professor Brown had read a mind again.
"I think your idea is inspired, Miss Beckett," Brown commented.
"Doesn't make you reading my mind any less creepy," Maggie said.
"Are you sure you're okay, Professor?" Randy asked. "These powers must still be new and--"
"I am fine, Mr. Heim," Brown said. He frowned. "However, I am growing weary of the constant mistrust."
"Given where your...abilities...came from," Maggie said, "are you really surprised?"
"And, Professor," Randy said, "they're growing. What if--"
"Again, you two, I am fine," Brown said. "You may choose to believe it or not if you wish. However, our associates are in jeopardy. This is a discussion for another time. Now...shall we begin?"
Maggie nodded. Randy followed suit. He was sure he would not like the idea, but they needed to find their friends.
"So," Randy said, "what's the plan?"
"What?" Paige asked as she turned around.
"You heard me," Megan said as they walked down the all. "What's the plan?"
"She doesn't know what you're talking about," Melissa said from in front of Paige.
Megan glared past Paige. "I know what she said in the pickup." She looked at Paige. "I'm sticking to you two like glue."
"Quiet back there!"
Paige turned around. The Dom she remembered was a plump woman who read romance novels and ate Star Churches. This one was bigger, short-haired and mean. The difference was shocking.
"Bring up the back!" Dom barked.
"I guess that's us," Paige said to Megan.
Paige walked faster as Dom led the group of women down the long white halls in this place. It was like they were in a hospital...but no one was around. Paige felt eerily scared.
Paige stared at Melissa. She walked in front of Paige, studying the walls. She wondered what Melissa was thinking. The last thing she needed was that little twit to start voicing her suspicions to Randy before Paige got to him.
Dom turned the corner. The other prisoners did as well. Paige made it to the corner and turned.
Cages lined the walls. Inside of them were women dressed in rags. Television hanged from the ceiling. The screen was full of people who Paige recognized as two-bit celebrities.
"Oh, God," Megan muttered. "This...is hell."
"Move on," a guard behind Megan ordered.
Paige stared into the nearest cage. There was a dark-haired woman in it. She sat cross-legged as she ate the chicken she had. Her eyes were glued on the television as she watched the show.
A poke in the back reminded Paige of where she was. She walked forward. The woman in the cell reminded oblivious.
Paige felt a mild sensation the top of her head. She scratched at it. It went away for a second. Then it came back stronger.
"What the--"
Paige stopped walking. At the same time, Melissa stopped. She scratched at her hair. She turned as she said the same thing as Paige.
"Move!" Dom barked.
Melissa mouthed some words. Quickly, Dom grabbed her. Melissa quickly walked forward. Megan was right behind her.
Paige started walking forward again. She figured out what Melissa worded.
'Did you hear him?'
The truth was Paige had not. The Elders had placed psychic blockers in their warriors' mind so Kromaggs could not easily pierce their minds. She wondered what Melissa meant.
MISS CLARK? MISS KENDALL?
Paige can't hear you, Melissa thought for...Professor Brown, Maggie, and Randy. Somehow he had linked all of their minds together. Except Paige.
INTRIGUING, Brown's voice said in Melissa's mind. I WONDER WHY THAT IS.
a thought for another time, Maggie's voice spoke.
ArE yOu OkAy, Randy's voice asked.
Yeah, Melissa thought. We're in one of their camps. Paige has the timer.
ShE dOeS? Randy asked. HoW?
good question," Maggie added.
WHERE ARE YOU, MISS CLARK? Brown asked.
I don't know the directions, Melissa thought. We were in a van.
that bites, Maggie thought.
NoW yOu ArE sOuNdInG lIkE tHaT qUiNn DoUbLe, Randy thought.
god, i hated him. i was glad we left him on that one world with the--
EXCUSE ME, Brown cut in. I AM TRYING TO PINPOINT THEIR LOCATION. A LITTLE LESS DISTRACTION WOULD BE NICE.
"Here you go."
Melissa did not realize that she had still been walking. She stood in front of a cage. Before Melissa could stop her, Dom pushed her into the cage...hard. She hit her head on the bars. As she fell to the ground, darkness greeted her. Her last thoughts was really a sense. Randy had cried out. It reminded her of when he loved her. Then...blackness.
Randy gasped. His hand reached for his heart. It beat so rapidly that he thought it was about to explode out of his chest. He calmed his breathing and looked about the motel room. Maggie breathed just as rapidly as Randy. She stared at him, her eyes wide with fright. They turned to look at Brown. He sat in a chair near the mirror, his eyes closed. His face was the picture of calm. His hands were on his knees.
"What a rush," Maggie muttered.
Randy got up off the bed. "They have the timer. We have to--"
"Done, Mr. Heim."
Randy turned to look at Brown. His eyes were open. Something was different about them.
Brown stood up. "It is only confidence, Mr. Heim."
"Okay, enough," Randy said. "You are going to have to learn better control over your powers."
"When one is an open book--" Brown started.
"I don't care," Randy said. "If you have such control, you should be able to."
Brown grinned. "Perhaps...I do not want to."
"What?" Maggie uttered.
"What I mean is," Brown said, "look at how quickly we were able to pinpoint the ladies' location with my abilities. What else can I do?"
"Exactly," Maggie said.
Brown frowned. "If you can give Uncle Rembrandt the benefit of the doubt, why not I?"
"I don't remember Remmy throwing people using the power of his mind," Maggie said. "So the question is...are you helping us or hurting us?"
"Helping, of course."
Randy shook his head. "The thing is...we don't know that."
Brown glared at Randy. "I know."
"Do you?" Randy challenged.
"Perhaps you should throw this concern on Miss Kendall," Brown said. "Her mind is a blank slate to me. I do not know why nor do I think there is a good reason for it."
"Shifting doubt, Professor?" Randy said. "I expect better."
"I expect more maturity from you as well," Brown said. "What was I thinking? Especially after last year."
Randy felt his anger rise. "What do you mean?"
"You know what I mean," Brown said. "So busy being distracted by your quest to save Mrs. Clark that everyone else was forfeit. If we had gone home sooner...if you had not kept the coordinates from me or Mr. Hall, perhaps he would be--"
"You are out of line!" Randy snapped.
"Am I?"
"Guys!" Maggie yelled, placing herself between the two of them. "We don't have time. There are ladies who need saving."
Randy stared at Brown. He stared back at him. His eyes were unreadable.
"Keeping secrets are dangerous," Brown said. "We both know this. Do not let your infatuation cloud your mind to that."
"So...you know the location," Randy said, trying to change the subject. "Any idea how to get in?"
Brown smiled. "A few...actually."
Paige turned in her cage. While the chicken was great, she was not able to sit and eat a large bowl of spaghetti, some burgers, and then ice cream. No way. No how. she kicked her feet on he bars. She wanted to get out of here.
"You're not helping."
Paige stared at the cage next to hers. Melissa stared back at her.
"And you are?" Paige asked. "I would like to get out of here."
Melissa gestured with her head. "Even if you get out of the cage, you still have tons of guards between here and freedom. Have you thought out that far?"
"Me?" Paige said. "I was hoping on dumb luck and skills. Dom has the timer and-"
Melissa frowned. "There you go again. How do you know Dom?"
"She has...had a double on the world where we all winded up on after Earth Prime," Paige explained. "We worked at a bookstore together."
"You? A bookstore?" Melissa muttered. "That doesn't seem like you."
"Well," Paige said, looking down, "some things aren't always what they seem."
"Yeah...I know. Which is why I think you should tell the truth."
Paige looked up, a frown on her face.
"What do you mean?" Paige demanded.
Melissa's eyes narrowed on her. "Randy may be blind. I'm not. Ever since our last run-in with Kerus, you've changed. You're more edgy. More guarded. More close to Randy. You have your memory back, don't you?"
Paige glared at Melissa. "I think you're just jealous of the new closeness between me and Randy."
"I couldn't care less...as long as you're being honest with him."
"You care a lot, Melissa," Paige snapped. "We all know it. If he even wanted you, you would jump."
Melissa looked away from Paige's eyes for a moment. She looked up again. Her eyes were full of fire.
"If he was the Randy I knew," Melissa said, "the answer to that would be yes. He's not. End of story." Her eyes narrowed on Paige again. "You are right. You are not whom you seem. You know it. I know it. everyone else will, too. If your past involves something that hurts Randy, I'll bring you down myself."
"Ohhh...I'm shaking," Paige said sarcastically.
"You should be," Melissa said.
Paige rolled her eyes and turned over. She hugged herself. Her eyes were on Dom who was a few cages down.
It was official. She would have to take her out, too.
"This is so not going to work," Randy said.
"Would you like the alternative?" Maggie asked. "Professor Brown mindwalk us in? Now...hold me tighter."
Randy tightened his hand on Maggie's arm. She still wore her barely-there sacrificial dress. They walked up the stairs to the camp's double wooden doors.
"I can't say I would like Brown doing that at all," Randy said. "It gives me the creeps that he reads minds."
"Yeah, it just freaks me out," Maggie said. "So let me get this straight: the 'Maggs implanted something in his head back when you encountered me, Diana, and Mallory. It laid dormant until the Foundation put deadly nanotechs in him. Then boom! The...whatahabob...cleaned the nanos out of him, but made him a sleeper agent. Then he was in a coma. After, he woke up with the power to move things with his mind. Now he can read them. Did I miss anything?"
"Don't think so," Randy said.
"He was an agent once," Maggie said. "Who's to say he won't be again?"
"And if he is?"
"I'm suppose to get you to Diana," Maggie said. "If he's in the way, he's dead."
"It won't come to that."
"We'll see."
"It won't."
"Knock."
Randy knocked on one of the wooden doors. His mind was on Maggie's words. Was it possible? Professor Brown was definitely acting different now. What if he morphed into Secret Agent Man? Maggie and he would fight and someone would die. He would have to do something.
The door flew open. Several large guards stormed out. Before Randy knew it, he and Maggie were surrounded with guns in their face.
"Look at this," one of the guards said. "Two strays."
"Stray?" Maggie muttered. She held up a finger. "Hold on one moment. I am no one--"
The guards corked their triggers on their guns. Randy stood in front of Maggie.
"I found her on the side of the road," Randy said. "I thought I could get money for her. Does she not scream skin and bones?"
The guard who spoke before lowered his gun.
"She's not alone," the guard said. "Move."
"Do I look like--" Maggie started.
The guard held up his gun again. "Move."
"Moving," Maggie said quickly.
Maggie moved forward. Randy started to follow. A figure dropped in front of them. The figure was a woman dressed in black camouflage. She had her long hair in a ponytail. Her eyes narrowed on Randy and Maggie.
"Duck," she said.
Randy ducked to the ground as the woman threw what looked like ninja stars. They got the guards in their guts. She looked down at Randy and Maggie.
"Move. Now," she said.
Randy barely had time to move as she lunged for the ground where Randy and Maggie had been. She had a sword tied to her back. She grabbed it and spun out with it, cutting everyone off at the knees. The guards screamed as they fell. Randy stood up. The woman looked at them. She glared at them.
"Why are you still standing here?" the woman demanded. "Run. Escape."
"Would love to, Ms. Kill Bill," Maggie said, "but we have friends in there. We need to get them out."
"Can you fight?" she asked.
"I can hold my own," Maggie said.
"Good," the woman said. "I'm Amy. Let's go."
Amy walked past them. Randy looked at Maggie. She shrugged her shoulders. Then she followed Amy. He was right behind her.
"Now," Amy said as she readied her sword, "you do know that plan wasn't going to work, right?"
Paige let the two guards drag her along as they headed down the long white corridor. Anything was better than sitting in that cage next to Melissa.
The guards brought her to a door. The door opened, revealing a completely white office. Paige frowned. This was too much like a hospital.
Dom sat behind a desk across the door. A giant window was right behind her. She stared at Paige with icy determination. The timer laid on the desk in front of her.
The guards threw Paige in a large chair in front of the desk. The guards headed out of the room. Paige watched them leave. Finally, a chance for her to escape.
"You will not make it."
Paige turned around to face the double of her friend. "Excuse me?"
"Don't even try to think of escaping," Dom said. "Trust me. You won't make it to the gate alive."
"Well, nothing gets past you," Paige said. "What do we do now?"
"We," Dom announced, "talk."
"About?"
"Your sarcasm will only get you so far," Dom said. "Do not push me." She pointed at the timer. "It's counting down from fifteen minutes. What happens then? Is it a bomb?"
"Maybe."
"Not what I want to hear."
"Too bad."
Dom stood up from her chair. She slowly moved around the desk.
"You must think you're something," Dom said. "Showing your bones like you're one of us. Confident. Beautiful." Dom made it to Paige's chair. She leaned in. "The truth? You're ugly and I can't stand the sight of you."
Paige's eyes widened. The Dom she knew would never be mean like this.
"And because you're skin ugly," Dom said, grabbing Paige by the throat, "no one will miss you tormenting us and getting in the way of our self-esteem."
Paige struggled with the double's hands. Dom's hands only tightened around Paige's neck.
"You want to live?" Dom asked. "You want to live, Skinny? What's it counting down to?"
Paige gasped for breath. That seem to make Dom's hands tighten even more. Paige grabbed at Dom's arms, but they were too large. She could not get a grip. Suddenly, Dom lifted her out of the chair and threw Paige into a bookshelf against the wall.
Paige fell to the floor. books fell about her the raindrops. She fought back the pain coursing through her back. She looked up to see Dom approaching her. She also saw something else. Her eyes widened in shock.
Brown was outside the window. She knew they were not on the first floor anymore. That meant that the Prof...was floating. She knew his powers were growing, but...wow.
Then she heard it. It was a grinding. It sounded like someone squeezing metal. Then it was followed by another sound like someone throwing rocks against glass. Dom frowned, revealing she herd it, too. She turned in time to see cracks appear across the glass in the window. Suddenly, it shattered.
The door flew open. The guards stormed into the room. They only had a moment to aim their guns at Brown. He threw up a hand. Shards of glass shot up from the floor, firing through the air like missiles. They shot through the guards like they were made of paper. Blood splashed through the air as the guards gasped and fell to the floor dead.
"What in the--" Dom started.
Shards flew at her. One got her in the throat, cutting through skin. Dom threw her hand up to cover her neck as blood pour out of the wound. She fell to the floor unconscious.
Paige grabbed on to the bookshelf. She pulled herself up. She turned just in time to see Brown land in the room. She grinned.
"Talk about dramatic entrances, Prof," Paige said. "Where are--"
"You have blocks," Brown cut her off.
Paige frowned. "What?"
"In your mind," Brown said. "Blocks that keep me out. Why is that?"
"Heck if I know," Paige said. "How--"
"You are not what you seem," Brown said, holding up a hand. "Now..."
Pain shot through Paige's hand. She fell to the floor, holding her head. Her eyes were on Brown who had a calm look on his face.
"...we will see why," Brown finished.
"So what now?"
Melissa turned in her cage. Megan was in a cage next to hers. She studied Melissa as if she was some expert.
"I don't know," Melissa said.
"You don't know?" Megan said. "I guess your friend was the one with the brains."
Melissa laughed. "That would be the first I'd heard Paige and brains used together."
"Then come on," Megan said, sitting up. "Let's think of some ideas. There's only so much reality TV I can take."
"Trust me," Melissa said. "Help is on the way."
"Until then?" Megan asked.
"Hey!" a guard barked. "Eat."
"Bite me," Megan snapped.
The guard stormed over to the cage. He threw open the cage door. He kneeled and grabbed Megan by the throat. She gasped. He reached over for her plate, grabbed a large amount of noodles.
"Looks like someone needs a force feeding," the guard said. Then he stuffed the noodles in Megan's mouth.
Melissa kicked her cage door. "You can't do that! Let her go!"
"Shut up!" the guard barked. "Or you're next!"
A nearby guard headed for Melissa's cage. He smirked.
"Why wait?" the new guard said as he kneeled. "Looks like she needs another stuffing of mashed potatoes."
The cage door opened. The guard reached in for Melissa. She lunged forward, biting his hand. The guard screamed and pulled back a little. It was enough. Melissa kicked him in the crotch. The guard kneeled over allowing Melissa to punch him in the jaw.
The first guard dropped Megan. He ran for Melissa. She shot up and kicked him in the stomach. He fell over, holding his stomach.
Melissa looked around. All the guards ran for her.
"Oh, great," Melissa muttered.
Suddenly, a figure appeared next to Melissa. She turned and saw it was Maggie.
"Hey!" Maggie said. "Miss me?"
Before Melissa could reply, a figure dashed past her. It was a -haired woman in black. She had a sword in hand and did not hesitate to stab people in their massive guts. There were screams.
"I think she's a little too good," Maggie said.
"Amy?"
Melissa ran over to Megan. She stared at the woman. Amy took out the last guard. She turned to stare at Megan, a glare on her face.
"Do you know how hard it was to get you three fatsuits, Meg?" Amy asked. "What's the point of using the black market if you get caught?"
"They hurt," Megan said. She stood up. "Besides, I hold my own."
Amy wiped noodle off Megan's cheek. She smirked.
"I see," Amy said.
"Why, you little--" Megan started.
"Now, who's the oldest?"
"Amy?"
Amy headed for Beth and Jo's cages. Melissa felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned to see it was Randy.
"Where's Paige?" Randy asked.
Melissa was taken aback. That...was different.
"They...they took her away," Melissa managed.
"Well," Maggie said, "we better find her before--"
"Incoming!" Amy yelled.
Melissa looked at the end of the room. Guards stormed toward them, guns ready.
"Oh, great," Maggie said. "I don't suppose anyone has a gun?"
Paige screamed. It was like someone tearing the skin right off of her. She got flashes. Faces from her past. Sydney. Her father. The Elders. Her mother.
"Ah!"
Suddenly, Paige was on the floor again. She held herself up. Across from her was Brown. He looked like he was having a seizure as he shook on the floor.
"That...was not...nice," Paige said as she stood up. She approached Brown. His eyes rolled back into his head.
Paige kneeled down next to Brown. There was a long shard of glass by his leg. She picked it up.
"My people planned for things like Kromagg telepathy," Paige said. "Sorry you can't break through. Die now."
Paige raised the shard. She aimed at his neck and stabbed down.
Some invisible force tightened around her arm, causing her arm to pause in midair. Before Paige could react, she flew across the room. She hit the bookshelf again. She fell on her butt.
Paige moved quickly. She shot up, ready to fight. She paused. Brown was out.
She put her hands on her hips. it would seem the Kromaggs put failsafes in the Prof's mind as well.
"So," Paige said, "it's a stalemate...for now."
Melissa opened the door. She gestured to the prisoners.
"Come on!" she barked.
They ran quickly past her. Melissa stared back into the room. Maggie elbowed a guard in the face. Meanwhile, Amy sliced off the legs of two guards. Randy fired on another set.
Melissa turned and ran. She had to make sure the prisoners made it out. She hoped the others would be okay until then.
Melissa turned the corner. She saw the prisoners running. She also could make out a figure holding up another figure. She ran for them.
"Paige!" Melissa barked.
Paige turned around. Melissa gasped.
"Professor Brown!" Melissa exclaimed.
"I'm okay, thank you," Paige said.
"What happened?" Melissa asked.
"He saved me," Paige answered. "It took a lot out of him. I could use a hand."
Melissa grabbed Brown under his left shoulder. They moved down the hall.
"Where's Randy?" Paige asked.
"Saving our skins," Melissa snapped.
"I'm sorry," Paige said. "I was being d so forgive me: did I miss something?"
"No," Melissa said.
Melissa saw a grin spread on Paige's face.
"He asked about me, huh?" Paige asked.
Melissa rolled her eyes. Paige laughed.
"Classic," Paige commented. "You really can't handle this."
Melissa said nothing. They turned the corner. The doorway was ahead of them, spotlighting the gates outside.
"You get Professor Brown to the gate," Melissa said. "I--"
"How about you do that?" Paige said, moving backwards. "I got to be sure Randy's okay. He is my boyfriend after all."
Melissa paused. Before she could say anything to her, Paige was gone.
Boyfriend. Paige had called him that. Once that would have been her. Now...
Melissa shook her head. It was time to say enough. Randy had moved on. She had to do the same.
Professor Brown moaned. Melissa looked at him. He was still out.
Then it hit her. Flashes of images. It was full of faces she never seen before. Then she was outside again, holding up Professor Brown.
Melissa frowned. Professor Brown even in his condition still had very active powers. She did not recognize any of the faces that flashed through her mind. However, one image stood out.
It was Paige. She kneeled over him, a shard of glass in her hand. Her face was a dark mask.
'My people planned for things like Kromagg telepathy,' Paige said.
Melissa fell her jaw drop. Questions ran through her head. Who were Paige's people? What did they know about the Kromaggs?
Most importantly...what was she about to do with that shard of glass?
THE-END
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