SLIDERS: ALTERNATE SPIN
EPISODE 8-CHAOSBRINGER
(second part)


 He looked into the night. He looked up at the skies, looked at the stars, and smiled. He didn't feel cold. Chad Owens just felt free.
 He pushed the branches in front of him away. Three figures were heading near his hiding spot.
 He sank down a little, but looked out. One of the trio caught Chad's eyes.
 "Dr. Heim!" Chad yelled out. Even with blonde hair, Chad could recognize Dr. Heim. He had been the kindest of the three guys over him. He had treated Chad like he was still human.
 "Dr. Heim, you're alive!" Chad said as he ran toward the trio.

 "What the--" Randy said as the blonde guy ran toward them.
 "God, your cover's gone again," Ben said.
 "Maybe not," Melissa said. "He looks like a friend of Randy's."
 "Randy never--" Ben started.
 "Shhh!" Randy said. The guy stood before them.
 "You're...you're not Dr. Heim," the guy said. "Your eyes...are different."
 "Maybe we should just go," Ben suggested. "Places to go; friends to find."
 "I'm going with you," the guy said matter of factually.
 "Maybe--" Melissa started.
 "He can come with us," Randy said quickly.

 By the time they made it to the Dominion, Chad had learned the trio's name was Randy, Melissa, and Ben. Randy and Melissa were from out of town. Chad also learned Randy wasn't Dr. Heim. He didn't understand how, but he wasn't.
 "I'll check the desk," Melissa said to Randy.
 "So you're Chad, huh?" Ben said. "What's your deal?"
 "I..." Chad started.
 "They're in the bar," Melissa said as she walked back over.
 Chad started to follow the others. His head was starting to buzz.
 "Chad, are you okay?" Melissa asked.
 Chad looked at Melissa. He could sense her worry. There was something else there though. For  Chad, it was the difference between walking through a door and not. He chose to walk through it.
 DON'T DIE.
 Chad blinked as he looked at Melissa. He could hear her thoughts.
 MAN, I BET THIS IS SOME TRICK TO GET THE CHICK.
 Chad glared and looked at Ben. He turned to Randy.
 "Chad?" Randy said.
 "I'm fine," Chad said. "I'm not going to die or anything. Let's find your friends."

 "Well, look what the cat dragged in!" Richard said.
 "Oh, shut up," Melissa said.
 "Where's the Professor?" Randy asked. "There's a lot--"
 "Whoa," Richard cut him off. "What happened to the goatee?"
 "Where's Brown?" Melissa asked. "There's a lot going on and--"
 "We can deal with it in the morning," Richard said. "Proper needed some fun time. Looks like you two could use it, too."
 Richard looked at the newcomers.
 "I don't know the blonde guy, and I think there are too many doubles of Ben running around. Does this one have an obsession on Melissa, too?"
 "No, he doesn't," Melissa answered.
 "Wait a sec," Ben said. "There's more of you and me out there? You never said that."
 "Yeah," Richard said. "Most of the time you two are a couple."
 Melissa growled. "That's not true."
 "It is, too. You know it is."
 "Whatever."
 Randy knew an argument was coming. He turned to Chad.
 "Do you want something to eat?" he asked Chad.
 "Sure," Chad answered.

 Thirty minutes later, Chad had wolfed down a whole meal. Randy watched him with some interest. Chad was listening to Randy's thoughts in the meantime.
 I WONDER WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM.
 "Lab rat," Chad finally answered.
 Randy was confused. "What?"
 "You've been wondering where I came from so I told you," Chad explained. "I don't know for sure what it was for. Dr. Heim was in charge of it...before he died..."
 BEFORE HE FAKED HIS DEATH.
 "He's alive?" Chad asked in surprise.
 "How did you--" Randy started. Then he stopped. "You can read minds, can't you?"
 Chad tried to fight the grin. He failed. "Yeah. New powers keep popping up. I wish I knew how they did it."
 "I know how they did it," Randy replied.
 "How?" Chad asked.
 "Hmm...how about we talk about this in the morning?"

 "Well, somebody had a good time," Richard said the next morning.
 "Hold your tongue, Mr. Hall," Professor Brown said. "We have more important things."
 "I don't know, Brown," Melissa said as she sat on the couch. "What did happen?"
 "I agree with the Professor," Randy said as he entered the hotel room. "I just got finished talking to Ben."
 "And?" Melissa asked.
 "My double had a death wish," Randy said. "He was called the chaosbringer because everyone saw him as a Dr. Frankenstein for his experiments. Mixing DNA. Sliding in doubles. No wonder he had to fake his death."
 "Like I say...you're nothing, but trouble," Richard commented.
 "And you're not?" Randy countered.
 "Guys!" Melissa cut in.
 STOP IT!
 Everyone's hands shot to their heads. The words had stabbed thorough their minds. Melissa looked at the others. Professor Brown and Richard looked okay. Randy looked over at the room where Chad was sleeping.
 Chad stood in the door. He held onto the door with one hand. His other hand held his head. He looked at Randy with pain on her face.
 "We have a problem," Chad announced.

 "What?" Melissa said as they had brunch in the Dominion.
 "Incredible," Brown muttered.
 "So when were you going to tell us?" Richard asked Randy. "Were you going to tell us at all?"
 "Of course I was," Randy said.
 "Well, I don't' know, Egghead," Richard said. "You don't have a good record of telling the truth."
 "And you do? You still won't tell us why you tried to steal my sliding machine?"
 "Maybe it's none of your business."
 "You know it is! Tell me!"
 "I think we should concentrate on Mr. Owens," Brown said. "His...new ability is consuming him now. We need equipment to stabilize him."
 Randy sighed sadly. "And the only way we can get equipment is to go to Bufford."
 "No!" Chad cried. "I can't go back there. He'll punish me."
 "Not if I go with you," Randy said.
 Brown gasped. "Are you well, Mr. Heim? Your double had to fake his death. If you resurrect...yourself, what if someone decides to kill you?"
 "He has a point, Randy," Melissa said. "Charlie tried to choke you when we got here."
 Randy looked at Chad. His forehead started to sweat. Randy was sure all the thoughts from other minds was getting to him.
 "If Chad's going to put himself in danger, so can I," Randy said. "Besides, we have another in. The Professor here."
 Brown looked at Randy. "What?"

 He could sense it. When he had escaped from the lab, he was too disorientated from the terrans' experiments to notice it. Now that he was well after all the killings, he could sense it.
 Now he would return home.

 Bufford grinned. Everything was going his way. Professor Brown and his associates had somehow found Owens. Owens's abilities were increasing as well. now if he could get rid of Randall...
 Bufford glared at Randy. He thought he had died. In fact, he had been there...
 "Mr. Bufford," Professor Brown said. "It seems like Owens is stabilizing."
 "He is," Dr. Smith said. "I just don't know how long he'll stay this way. Perhaps Phase Two is--"
 "I disagree," Bufford said. "Owens is ready for Phase two. the government now will drill him."
 "For what?" Melissa said.
 Brown gave Melissa a look. Then he looked at Bufford.
 "You have to excuse my...assistant," Brown said. "Her conscience tends to make her forget her place."
 "This Phase Two thing...whatever it is...is wrong," Melissa continued. "Look at him! He may be stabilized, but he looks burned out already."
 "I agree," Richard said.
 Bufford glared at him. "Has the government decided not to use Owens as a supersoldier against other countries?"
 "Of course not," Brown replied. "My assistants are just being cautious. What do you think, Mr. Heim?"
 "I think we should hold off on starting Phase Two," Randy said.
 "How dare you!" Bufford snapped. "I'm in charge."
 "You were in charge," Randy said. "I'm back now."
 "The monitors!" Smith cut in. "They're going off the scale!"
 Everyone turned to look at Chad. He looked around wildly. It was like he wasn't aware at all of where he was.
 MAKE IT STOP! The words cut thorough all their minds. MAKE ALL OF IT STOP!
 "Smith, get Owens a sedative...NOW!" Bufford barked.
 Smith ran into the testing room. He headed for Chad. However, a chair fell at him and hit him in the face.
 Chad tore away from the monitor strings and headed for the door. Randy banged on the window looking in the testing room. Chad did not turn around.
 "Where is he going?" Richard asked.
 "I don't know," Randy said. "I'm going after him."
 "No!" Melissa said. "Didn't you see what Chad just did to Dr. Smith? He lost it."
 "Maybe I can calm him down. I want you guys to check on Dr. Smith."
 Before Melissa could protest anymore, Randy had run out of the room. She turned to Professor Brown.
 "Has he lost it, too?" Melissa asked.
 "I think he just sees his hand in this," Brown answered. "Well, he sees his double's. Let us check on Dr. Smith."
 Professor Brown and Melissa headed out of the room. Richard started to follow when he felt a firm grip on his arm. He knocked the hand away and turned to face Bufford.
 "Back off!" Richard said.
 "I'm not going anywhere," Bufford said. "You told me that there was no way Heim survive that explosion after we left. Why is he here?"
 "Excuse me?"
 "Don't play stupid with me. I have your life in my hands."
 "Hey! I don't have to do anything except help my friends...well...yeah, my friends."
 Richard started to head for the door. He couldn't wait to tell about this interesting bombshell.
 "Have you forgotten about Laura?" Bufford asked.
 Richard stopped. His pulse felt like it stopped. How could he know?
 "How..." Richard started to say as he turned around.
 "I was there when it happened," Bufford replied. "Now you're going to help me get the subject and make sure 'Randy' has an accident."
 Bufford stormed out of the room. Richard followed, but his mind wasn't into it.
 How could a double of Bufford know about how...well, what Bufford back home got on him? It must have happened here, too.
 Richard felt twice damned.

 Chad felt the thoughts of every person in the building. He couldn't turn it off like before. It was less like walking thorough A door now. It was more like someone punching holes in his head.
 Chad looked at his feet and felt nothing. He was floating now. floating toward...what?
 There was another presence in the building. His mind was alien to Chad. however, Chad could sense knowledge. Maybe he was the key to stopping the voices.
 "Chad!"
 Chad just waved a hand. The chair fell from the wall and hit something...someone behind chad.  Chad floated on.

 "Damn!"
 Randy picked up the chair and threw it off of him. He looked at Chad. Chad just ignored him and floated on.

 The door wouldn't open to Chad. He waved a hand and the doors flew apart. He floated in and saw it.
 It was black. Chad realized it was a ship. A real spaceship was in front of Chad. It was shaped like a giant manta. Awe crossed Chad's face.
 The figure came out of nowhere. Chad saw him out of the corner of his eye. He moved out of the way of the knife and waved a hand. The figure flew into a wall. He jumped up quickly and faced Chad.
 "Back off, Terran!" the figure said. "That ship belongs to what's left of the Kromagg dynasty."
 "I don't care about this ship," Chad said. "Just make the voices stop. You have the ability to stop them...teach me control."
 The figure looked at Chad. The figure wore black and looked mostly human. The only problem was his forehead which had markings. He walked toward Chad slowly.
 "Very well, Terran," the figure said. "You help me get out of here with that ship and I will teach you control."
 "Deal," Chad said. "And the name's Chad. So...you're a Kro...magg?"
 "They are...were my masters," the figure continued. "I am a Humagg...breeded to serve the dynasty. You may call me Kryoptus."
 "Okay...Kryoptus," Chad said. "Let's go."
 "Chad!" Randy said as he ran in. He stopped and saw the Humagg. "What the--"
 Kryoptus lunged at Randy. He knocked him into a wall. Randy fell to the ground unconscious.
 "Good-bye, Terran," Kryoptus said. "May you join the others."
 "No!" Chad said. "He helped me. Let's just go."
 Kryoptus looked down at Randy. He put his knife away. "You are lucky, Terran. Remember that."
 "Chad!"
 Richard ran into the room. He looked around in awe. "Whoa."
 "What's going on here?" Bufford asked as he charged into the room. "You have no--"
 "You!" Kryoptus yelled. "This is your fault! You and that experimenting!"
 "Back off, Ugly," Richard said. "Just walk away."
 Richard stared down the inhuman being. He backed off and ran for the ship with Chad.
 "Is he dead?" Bufford asked Richard, gesturing to Randy's body on the floor.
 "I don't know," Richard said. "I--"
 The humming started low. Then it continued to grow. The ground shook as the manta ship rose from the ground. Richard grabbed Randy and headed for the door.
 "What are you doing?" Bufford demanded. "Leave him to die."
 "No way! Richard said. "I may hate Egghead, but I won't leave--"
 "You don't have a choice!" Bufford barked. "I'll call the police and--"
 A loud whir popped in the air. A wall started to dissolve to form a large red circle of light. The wind caught at Bufford's lab coat and he went flying.
 "NOOO!" Bufford yelled.
 He flew into the vortex. Richard and Randy started to fly away, but someone grabbed them.
 "God, you...two..." Brown said as he pulled Richard thorough the door. "Dr. Smith?"
 "I...got...him," Dr. Smith said as he pulled Randy through the door.
 "Melissa!" Brown yelled.
 "I got the door!" Melissa said. She pushed the close button on the doors. The wind was cut off as the doors closed up.
 Melissa looked around at the others. She checked out each one. Finally, her eyes rested on Richard's face.
 "So what did we miss?" Melissa asked.

 "I can't describe it," Randy said. "I've never seen anything like it."
 "Let's hope you never have to see it again," Melissa replied as they saw in the lab. "Are you sure you're okay?"
 "Besides the fact I have blonde hair, no goatee, and two people out there affected by something a double...I did, I'm fine," Randy said.
 "You're being too hard on yourself."
 Randy looked Melissa in the eye. "Am I?"
 Professor Brown watched the two friends talk. He had to agree with Randy. His double had opened a Pandora's box on this world. Who knew what the consequences would be.
 "Mr. Hall, are you okay?" Brown asked. "You look like you have seen a ghost."
 Richard looked at Professor Brown. He smiled weakly.
 "Maybe I did, Proper," Richard said. "Maybe I did."

 EPILOGUE--4 months later

 Ben Loveland didn't have a care in the world. Things were looking up. He was set to graduate early. He was also set to start a job at a cybernetic lab in New York. Finally, he was engaged to Melissa Clark, a girl that he loved more than life.
 "Ben?"
 Ben saw her at the walkway. He grabbed her and lifted her up as he kissed her. Melissa just giggled.
 "Tiger, you can put me down," Melissa said. "I'm not going anywhere."
 "You never know," Ben said.
 He kissed her again. They were so busy being a lovely couple that they did not hear the whir that sounded thorough the sky. It headed down the sky. It sounded like an atom bomb being dropped. Finally, it hit earth.
 Light shot out from the object. It covered San Francisco.
 MAKE IT STOP!
 CHAOSBRINGER!
 NO!
 I AM...
 Several thoughts shot thorough Ben. He felt them and knew they were not his own. Yet, he could not stop the thoughts from flooding his mind.
 He could...somehow fell that Melissa felt the same way. She could feel the thoughts of the thing, too.
 IT WON'T STOP!
MAKE IT--
 They fell dead to the ground. The thoughts overtook their minds. Too much anger and pain forced on to their minds.
 Ben's last thought wasn't his own. It was this thing. The thing...Chad...wasn't Chad anymore. It was the Chaosbringer.
 Little did Ben know that the Chaosbringer's thoughtwave had taken out mostly of San Francisco and continued to expand to the rest of that world.


THE-END