The footsteps got Randy Heim's attention. He ran faster. In a few minutes, he would be back at the hatch. He would be free...
  Randy turned the corner. He came to a fast stop. His eyes widened.
  "You!" Randy yelled.

DAYS AGO...

  "We need to talk."
  Melissa Clark looked up from the couch. She leaned back on it, her eyes falling on Randy. She tossed her shoulder-length jet-black hair back dismissively.
  "Do we?" Melissa asked. "What do you have to say that would have any meaning?"
  Randy looked around the lobby of the Dominion Hotel. There was no sign of the others. He knew Ethan was in the shower. It was just Randy and Melissa.
  "Don't play games," Randy said.
  "I'm not playing games," Melissa said. "You on the other hand..."
  "Me?" Randy shrieked.
  Melissa frowned. "Been around Ethan too long, have we?"
  "Been around Richard too long, have we?" Randy shot back.
  Melissa smirked. "And this? Is why we don't have anything to talk about."
  Randy sat down on the couch. Melissa stared at him. Her look was one of curiosity.
  "You know better, Melissa," Randy said.
  "Nothing happened, Randy," Melissa said. "There's no reason to even bring it up. You love Ethan. Not me. So unless you are going to say differently--"
  "I...I don't...," Randy started.
  The Dominion doors opened. Randy looked at them. He frowned at the two men entering. It was Rembrandt Brown and Richard Hall. And they were...laughing? It was disturbing since they disliked each other. However...they appeared to have found a common interest: hating Randy Heim.
  "You were right!" Richard exclaimed. "That was a sucker bet."
  Rembrandt shrugged. "What can I say, C-Boy? I know my games."
  Richard frowned. "We don't have that game on Earth Prime."
  "Yes, we do," Rembrandt shot back. "It's just another version of Spades. I--"
  Richard threw an arm out, blocking Rembrandt's way. Rembrandt frowned. He looked forward and saw Randy. They glared at the same time.
  "So..."
  Randy looked toward the elevator door. Ethan Bradshaw headed for the group. He flinched as his eyes fell on Randy and Melissa. He managed a smile anyway.
  "...is it time?" Ethan asked.

  The whir sounded off. Randy fell out of it. His body touched air. Then it fell downward. He hit the door, frowning. That was an unusually soft landing...
  "If you don't get off me--" Richard snapped.
  "Oh. Sorry," Randy said, mock apologetic.
  "I bet," Richard said. "Off."
  Randy stood up. He headed for the all-familiar alleyway. He guessed it went too show how often these days they slid into an alleyway.
  "Hey, Genius!"
  Randy span around. Rembrandt stood by Richard, his arms over his chest. He glared at Randy.
  "Think you could tell us how much time?" Rembrandt asked.
  Randy looked at the timer. "Two days. Maybe we can keep the peace."
  "Okay if you get to--"
  "Don't start, Remmy."
  "Then get to it, Randy."
  Randy rolled his eyes. He turned around, heading for the alleyway entrance. Could this get any--
  Then he heard it.
  A slimmer. His eyes widened as a rectangular purple door opened near the alleyway entrance. A figure walked out of it, the door closing behind him.
  The months appeared to be good to Professor Darnell Brown. He wore a long dark-brown trenchcoat, his hair now cropped cut. His eyes fell on Randy. They narrowed.
  "How...you're...I killed you," Brown said.
  "It's you at last," Randy said. His eyes narrowed on him. "Good."
  Randy lunged at him.

WHAT IF YOU SLIDE TO A DIFFERENT DIMENSION? A PLACE WHERE YOU'RE THE SAME PERSON, IT'S THE SAME YEAR, BUT EVERYTHING ELSE IS DIFFERENT?

OVER SIX YEARS AGO, WE HAVE SEEN...

...A WORLD WHERE THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE NEVER TOOK PLACE...

OR

...A WORLD WHERE YOUR DREAMS OF BEING A STAR CAME TRUE...

OR

...A WORLD WITH A WAR BETWEEN TWO DIFFERENT ALIEN RACES?

BUT...WHAT IF YOU COULD NEVER GET HOME?

SLIDERS: ALTERNATE SPIN-SEASON 7
EPISODE 9: A GAME OF CHESS (PART 1)

  For Rembrandt Brown, it happened in an instant. One moment Randy Heim...the resident genius...headed out of the alleyway. And just as quickly as Genius ignored Rembrandt's picking, a rectangular wormhole appeared next to Randy. And Darnell Brown popped out.
  Darnell Brown. His nephew. His nephew who he had not seen in months. His nephew who left him in the slidecage. His nephew who killed Randy on Alexandrian World. His nephew...who was now in front of him.
  Randy lunged at Brown.
  "No!" Rembrandt yelled.
  Darnell threw a hand. Randy's body came to a complete stop. Rembrandt's eyes went wide. It had been months since he saw Darnell use the powers left him by the dead Kromaggs. Darnell looked at Rembrandt.
  "Do not worry, Uncle Rembrandt," Darnell said. "I am always prepared for the unexpected."
  "Unexpect this!"
  Rembrandt turned around. He dodged to the right, baring missing a dagger shooting through the air. Ethan glared at Darnell as he pulled out another small knife.
  Rembrandt looked at Darnell. He held a hand. The dagger stop inches from Darnell's face.
  "I think n--" Darnell started.
  "Just what was needed!" Randy snapped.
  Darnell focused back on Randy...too late. Randy's right leg shot up. it got Darnell in the face. Darnell fell into the wall. Randy snatched Ethan's dagger out of the air. He lunged at Darnell.
  "No!" Rembrandt yelled.
  Randy paused. He looked over at Rembrandt. Annoyance and surprise was on his face.
  "Why are you--" Randy started.
  A slimmer echoed through the air. Randy turned back. The ground under Darnell dissolved in his hands. He fell into a new purple door. It closed behind him.
  Gone.

  "Welcome to the Dominion Hotel!" Gomez Calhoun exclaimed. "Do you have your Triple A Obbie Card?"
  "Uh...no," Richard said. "We were...attacked. Lost them."
  Calhoun shook his head. "That's sad. It's like this town is going to the dogs now that Congress is stretched thin, crime has risen up." He managed a smile. "I hope you went ahead and ordered more. You can't do much without one."
  Richard flashed a smile. "Of course."
  Melissa Clark turned away, rolling her eyes. As usual Richard was playing the con. It suited him in this case.
  Her eyes fell on the couch. Randy sat on it. His eyes were glazed over. Melissa wondered what he was thinking of. Then again, she was sure she knew.
  Professor Brown and Randy's last encounter left Randy dead. Randy had been preparing for that fight. training. Creating new inventions like his prosthetic arm. It had been for nothing Melissa found as she and Richard had made it to Randy's double's house only to find a lifeless Randy. He...was dead. He must have felt haunted right now.
  Melissa took a step. A hand touched her shoulder. Richard grinned.
  "I got this," Richard said. "You set the room up."
  "You?" Melissa uttered, frowning.
  "Yes, me," Richard said. "No time for your star-crossed lovers crap."
  Melissa's eyes narrowed on him. "no. You're more about being Iago. I know about your little deal. If Randy can't get us home, we just leave him."
  Richard crossed his arms over his chest. "It's what he deserves."
  "And what did you deserve?" Melissa challenged. "Wasn't it jail time at one point?"
  "And I didn't pay?"
  "So has Randy."
  Richard's face darkened. "Not enough."
  "You have been after Randy since we saw Stone on Camera World," Melissa said. "Something you're not saying."
  "Why would I tell you?" Richard shot back.
  Melissa glared at Richard. He had a point. Since their breakup, Richard and she had not been on good terms. In fact, they had been at each other's throats.
  Richard tilted his head, giving a lopsided grin.
  "What is this?" Richard asked. "Is Old School Melissa coming back? No more Goth Girl?"
  "You're reading into things," Melissa protested.
  "Or I read right," Richard said. "Right down to the concern for Egghead. Which...is why you are getting the room ready. I got this."

  'What did you expect?'
  The words haunted Randy. Professor Brown's words. The words he used before...he killed Randy.
  Had it really only been months ago? For all the inventions he made to get the advantage over Brown, Randy was still no match for Brown's telepathy. Randy still died. If Ethan had not found one of his double's invention...a CPR device...Randy may not have a second chance.
  And what was he doing with his second ch--
  "Scared shitless, huh?"
  Randy looked up from the couch. Richard stood over him. He smirked.
  "You should be," Richard said. "Proper did it once. He'll do it again."
  Randy stood up. "The timer is cloaked, remember?"
  "Proper is a cyberaid now, right?" Richard challenged. "So he can come back to any world he hit up before, remember?"
  Randy narrowed his eyes at Richard. Richard tilted his head. He gave a lopsided grin.
  "Run scared, Egghead," Richard said. "Death is e--"
  "God!" Randy exclaimed. "Shut up!"
  "Why? Hit a nerve?"
  "No. You're just annoying."
  "Me? Am I the one stringing people along?"
  "You're out of line."
  "Am I?" Richard challenged. "Melissa was actually going to walk over here and give you a shoulder to cry on. Why's that, Egghead? What you do--"
  "I did nothing," Randy said. "Stop fishing."
  "And be oblivious like you are with Thuggie?" Richard continued. "I don't think so. Oblivious...gets you hurt. I would know. Never again." He looked at Randy up and down. "But you? Looks like you want to be in the dark."
  "I'm not going to let you cause trouble between Ethan and me," Randy said.
  "Why? Afraid he'll take Remmy and me's side?"
  "There are no sides."
  "Then you're blind."
  "Not to your games. Back off."
  "Make me."
  Randy's hands balled into fists. He had had enough of Richard. There was only one thing he unders--
  "Room's ready."
  Randy looked past Richard. Melissa stood behind him. She took in the scene between the two guys. She frowned.
  "What's going on?" Melissa asked.
  "Nothing," Randy said.
  "Yeah," Richard added. "Nothing. Where's that room?"

  "So how did it feel?"
  Rembrandt looked over at Ethan. "How did what feel?"
  Ethan walked beside him on the sidewalk. "Seeing your nephew again. How do you feel?"
  Rembrandt stared froward. They were on their way to the Dominion. There had been no other signs of Darnell yet. Rembrandt was not sure how he felt about that.
  "He's...alive," Rembrandt said, looking at Ethan. "That's good for now."
  "And if he slides back in?" Ethan asked.
  "Then he does," Rembrandt said. "What's up? Scared he's gonna kill your boy Genius?"
  "Are you going to let him?"
  Rembrandt frowned. Ethan threw his hands up.
  "Well, we know where you stand!" Ethan exclaimed.
  "Blood is blood," Rembrandt said. "You being in a gang I know you know that. You'll do anything for them."
  Ethan looked at Rembrandt. He frowned, but Rembrandt saw in his eyes that he understood. They went back to walking.
  "There's no easy answer," Rembrandt said after a moment.
  "Do what you have to," Ethan said. "I'll do--"
  "Aaaaah!"
  Rembrandt turned around. He saw a woman surrounded by several men. He dashed for her. The men approached her slowly. The woman held her purse tightly. Rembrandt lunged at the nearest man, punching him in the face. He turned to the woman.
  "Run while you c--" he started.
  The woman jumped forward, her leg shooting up. It got Rembrandt in the face. He fell to the ground. He looked up to see the woman over him smirking.
  "Lame," she said.

  Melissa walked out of the elevator. She headed for the Dominion Hotel entrance. Her mind was on what the day could bring.
  Her eyes fell across the lobby. She paused. Randy sat on the couch. His eyes looked up every few seconds, staring at the entrance.
  Melissa turned away. It wasn't any of her business really. Maybe Melissa the girlfriend might wonder why he was there. This Melissa shouldn't even bother. Randy had made is choice. Nuff said.
  Randy's eyes fell on her. They widened in surprise. Then he shot up quickly. Melissa stiffened her back.
  "Rembrandt and Ethan didn't come back last night," Randy said.
  "Hmm," Melissa commented.
  Randy frowned. "'Hmmm?'"
  "Well, Randy," Melissa said, "it could be anything."
  "Brown could have them," Randy said.
  "Nah," Melissa said. "He seems more interesting in you than the rest of us."
  "So you really don't care?"
  Melissa frowned. "I'm not jumping to conclusions. How many worlds have we been on? Anything could have happened? Mistaken identity. World culture misunderstanding. They could be bonding. They could still be searching. They--"
  "You really don't care, do you?" Randy asked, cutting her off.
  Melissa put her hands on her hips. "Honestly? I think I care too much still."
  Randy said nothing. Melissa rolled her eyes. She headed for the door. She paused, turning around to look at him.
  "You coming?" Melissa asked.

  Rembrandt opened his eyes. He blinked them. He had problems adjusting. He was really getting tired of being knocked unconscious.
  "Well...one of you wakes up. Good."
  Rembrandt blinked his eyes rapidly. As his eyes adjusted, Rembrandt saw a figure near him. He recognized the woman from earlier. She sat in a chair in front of him. His eyes narrowed on her.
  "So it...was a trap?" Rembrandt managed.
  "Nothing gets by you," the woman said. Her forehead wrinkled up. "Now...why are you and your friends traveling without a Triple A Obbie Card? Are you two part of a terrorist cell?"
  "Are you?" Rembrandt shot back.
  "Pure citizen," the woman replied, tossing her curly blond hair back. "A citizen who is tired of the government being so stretched thin that there are haves and have-nots. And they all have cards. So..what are you?"
  Rembrandt only stared at her. The last thing he wanted was to say the truth. Lately, it only seem to get them in trouble.
  "Human," Rembrandt uttered.
  The woman glared. "So...you are going to play it that way?"
  "Don't be coy."
  Rembrandt shrugged his shoulders, tied as he was to the chair. "I am what I am."
  The woman grinned. "Good thing my boys took your wallets." She stood up. "Maybe they will find something."
  The woman left Rembrandt tied to the chair. Rembrandt felt sweat on his forehead. If her people used his ID, they would realize there were probably two Rembrandt Browns.
  Then there would be trouble.

  Randy groaned. He threw himself onto the bench in Golden Gate Park. He felt the panic in him building.
  He had still seen no sight of Rembrandt...or Ethan. It was really worrying him. For all he knew, they were in serious trouble. What kind of leader was he that he could not find them?
  "Not an efficient one that is for sure. And you used to at least be that."
  Randy's eyes widened. He turned around quickly. Professor Brown stared at him.
  "Hello, Mr. Heim,"Brown said.
  Randy shot up quickly. His body shook, causing his mind to slow down. Randy shook his head to clear his mind.
  Brown held up a hand. Randy's whole body tensed up as if he had been pinned against a wall. His eyes widened as he realized he...was at Brown's mercy.
  "Hm," Brown said. "What has happened to you since I saw you lost. You are frightfully slow. When everything occurred in the slidecage, I only had surprise on my side. The same can be said on Alexandrian World. Even there, you proved me a simpleton." He frowned. "What happened?"
  "Dying. Internal strife. Love," Randy said. "Take your pick."
  Brown studied Randy's face. Randy resisted the urge to shiver. Once Randy had had a device that blocked Brown out of his mind. That had long since fallen away.
  "I pick...resources," Brown said.
  Randy frowned.
  "I did kill you," Brown said. "And you put up quite a defense." A smile crept onto his face. "In hindsight, I liked it. It was a challenge. Killing you now would be a kindness. Not to mention quick." The smile left his face. "And I want you to suffer as I have."
  "Suffer?" Randy uttered. "Telekintics ability. Telepathy. The ability to go home when you want. Wow. You have s--"
  "Do not patronize me," Brown said. "I lost my chance at home because of you."
  "Or you lost it because you went home alone," Randy said. His face lit up. "And that's what happened, isn't it? I bet Wade and the others were on to you. They--"
  "Shut up!" Brown snapped.
  "Or what?" Randy challenged. "You're going to kill me? Wouldn't that be too quick."
  Brown glared at Randy. Randy managed a smile. At least he could have this small victory.
  "In time," Brown said.
  A slimmer cut through the air. A purple transdimensional door emerged behind Brown. He stepped into it. The door closed behind him.
  A breath escaped Randy. He fell to the sidewalk. He sat there, taking quick breaths. Small strands of dark hair fell over his eyes.
  So close. TOO close. If Brown had not wanted him to suffer, Randy would be dead. Again.
  Randy felt movement. He turned to the left to find a blond-haired girl next to him. Her Goth clothes let him know it was Cassandra the seer.
  "So," she said, the hint of a challenge in her voice, "what are you going to do about it?"

  Melissa fell into the chair. She had been at this for hours. There were no signs of Rembrandt or Ethan. NOW...she was worried. She wondered how Randy would react to that. Especially Ethan.
  She ran her hands through her black hair. Maybe she should let it grow longer again. Maybe Randy would notice her again...
  Melissa shook her head. She could not think like that again. She had finally become available again and Randy...picked Ethan. She was on her own.
  "Grrr," Melissa muttered.
  It was Paige all over again.
  "Hey! What are you doing?"
  Melissa looked up from her chair. She had ducked into a coffeeshop. A girl with light brown hair and lighter yellow streaks had some applies in her hands. Meanwhile the cashier...a guy with stubble that was Melissa's height...came from behind the counter. His eyes were full of anger.
  "You have to pay for that!" the cashier said.
  "Sure thing, yo!" the girl said.
  "Card please," the cashier said.
  "How about some cash?" the girl asked.
  The cashier glared. The girl quickly threw up her hands.
  "Alright, alright, alright!" the girl exclaimed. "I'll use my card."
  The girl reached into her pocket. Melissa stood up, frowning. She wondered about this world. everyone had to have some kind of card. Nothing good came of that.
  Melissa walked past the cashier and the girl. Suddenly, the girl's hand shot out of her pocket. She pushed the cashier into Melissa.
  "Hey!" the cashier yelled.
  Melissa managed to catch the cashier. Meanwhile the girl had dashed for the door. She took off after her.
  The girl got to a block away before she turned around. Too late. Melissa was on her. The girl tried to claw at Melissa. Melissa swung her into the wall. The girl let out a short yell before Melissa penned her to the wall.
  "Police!" Melissa yelled.
  "Hey, hey, hey, hold up!" the girl yelled. "Don't bring them into this!"
  Melissa glared at her. "Give me a reason not to."
  "Fine," the girl said. "Uh...release me please."
  Melissa frowned. The girl sighed in frustration.
  "Do you want me to prove myself or what?" the girl asked.
  Melissa released her. "No tricks."
  The girl stuck out her tongue. Then she reached into her pocket. A moment later, she pulled out a black card. Melissa did not know what to say. The girl grinned.
  "See?" the girl said. "My Triple A Obbie Card. With plenty of money on it."
  Melissa frowned,. "Then why steal?"
  "Because we're not cattle!" the girl snapped. "We don't need to be process and monitored. We're human. And what they're doing? Wrong, man. In some cases...dead wrong."
  The girl walked away. Melissa stared after her. She wasn't sure what to say.

  A grunt got Rembrandt's attention. He moved his head about. being tied to a chair, he couldn't do much else.
  "Ethan?" Rembrandt uttered.
  "Yeah?"
  Rembrandt sighed in relief. "You okay?"
  "As good as can be expected," Ethan replied. "What happened?"
  "Thieves."
  "Oh. Why ain't we dead?"
  "We're a mystery to them," Rembrandt said. "Everyone on this world is suppose to have some card. We don't have it."
  "Great. You just had to help."
  Rembrandt turned his head. "Excuse me? Someone was in trouble. I went to help. It was the right thing to do."
  "And look at us now."
  "You're picking on me when your boyfriend wrote the book on interfering in worlds? Please! Besides, Richard tells me you did a bit of interfering yourself. So back off."
  There was silence. Rembrandt smiled. Maybe he should find time to ask Richard what really happened on that world with the cheating double of himself. Ethan defended Randy right and left. It must have been something major to make Ethan shut up.
  Rembrandt heard a door open. A moment later, two figures came into his sight. One was the woman from earlier. The other was an older man with a beard. He glared at Rembrandt.
  "Hm," the man said.
  "Problem, son?" Rembrandt asked.
  "Don't mind Gruff," the woman said. "He's not nice to anyone."
  "And why would I be, Kate?" Gruff asked, his eyes burning through Rembrandt. "Especially for them."
  Rembrandt frowned. "Them?"
  "Yeah...them," Kate said, approaching Rembrandt's chair. "It appears we have a problem."
  "Oh."
  "Yeah," Gruff said. "You look awfully well for someone that died five years ago."
  "Excuse me?"
  "You heard me."
  "Maybe I'm going deaf."
  "You son of--"
  "Gruff!" Kate said, looking at him. Gruff moved out of Rembrandt's sight. "When someone dies, their card is turned off. Never to be used again. So...who are you?"
  "He's no one!" Ethan yelled. "We're just passing through. Saw a lady in trouble."
  Kate looked past Rembrandt. "Maybe you should have walked on." She looked at Rembrandt. "Who are you?"
  Rembrandt stared at her. "Who are you to set traps?"
  "Who am I?" Kate asked. "A true patriot. Someone who doesn't like people who can't respect our fine government. Gruff!"
  Rembrandt heard movement. The quick sound of air. Then...a punch. Ethan screamed. Rembrandt's eyes widened on Kate.
  "Tell me who you are. What plan you are trying to do," Kate said. "Or your traitorous friend is toast."

  Randy blinked. He looked down at the equations. A smile crept onto his face, causing a stray hair to fall into his eye. He pushed it back. It was good to go into a trance again and come back with something.
  "A doodle. Meh."
  Randy rolled his eyes and turned on the couch. Richard came out of his room. He stared at Randy like he was gum on his shoe.
  "Can't you do anything productive?" Randy asked.
  "Can't you?" Richard shot back. "Don't think a doodle will stop Proper."
  "You'll be surprised what a 'doodle' can do."
  Richard laughed. "Doubt it."
  "To doubt don't you have to have a brain?"
  Richard frowned. randy grabbed his notes and stood up. He stared Richard down.
  "Didn't you say it 'was on, bitch?'" Randy challenged. "Not impressed so far."
  Richard glared. So did Randy.
  Suddenly, a wall by them dissolved into a purple transdimensional door. Brown ran out of it. He paused as he saw the two of them.
  "Good," Brown said. "There you are. I found the right motivation."
  A red vortex shot open next to Brown's portal. A tall figure emerged. Randy's eyes widened on the woman who stood before him with the purple hair. It was Isis, one of the Yuzaki. Her eyes widened on him.
  "The Heim Prime!" she exclaimed.

  Randy's eyes widened.
  Isis. The leader of the Yuzaki. She and her minions were from a future reality where the Humaggs...evolved. It was a future reality that no longer existed due to the death of the Kromaggs. Randy figured they had time displacement devices to still exist now.
  "Crap!" Richard exclaimed.
  Richard grabbed a chair nearby. He started to swing the chair at Isis. Isis stared at him. She tilted her head. Richard and the chair stopped mid-movement.
  "Did you think you could hide forever, Heim Prime?" Isis asked, her eyes fixing on Randy. "Did you think you would not pay for your crimes?"
  Randy frowned. "I would think you had bigger issues like your survival."
  "Hm," Isis replied. "Indeed. We have." She hissed. "We have not forgotten about you however."
  "I agree."
  Isis's body tensed up. Randy turned around. Brown had thrown up a hand. Isis screamed.
  "I think that is quite enough," Brown said, "for now."
  "I...will not...be denied!" Isis managed.
  Her eyes narrowed on Brown. Brown gasped, grabbing at his stomach. Isis smirked.
  Randy moved quickly. Isis focused back on Randy...too late. Randy kicked her back into her portal. It closed behind her.
  A thud got Randy's attention. He turned to see Richard and the chair on the floor. Richard glared at Randy.
  "Gee, Egghead," Richard said, "thanks."
  Randy glared at Richard. Then he looked over at Brown. His eyes went wide.
  Brown was gone.

  Melissa frowned. She had been at the computer for a while. More and more she was not liking what she saw.
  A stray hair fell into her face. She pushed it back. She remembered when she first started sliding. She was always on Richard to learn the culture before he got mixed up into it. Less chance of them being trouble. Small comfort.
  She had gotten no better these days. The group rarely went to the library now to research. Or watch the television. they were just busy staying alive...or fighting among themselves.
  Melissa sighed, tilting her head back. And she...was not helping. She was hurt and lashing out all over the place. Maybe it was...
  Something fell across her line of vision. Before Melissa could react, a rope tightened around her throat. She gasped, struggling.
  "Hello....me," the person behind her said. "What am I doing at a library computer?"
  Melissa's eyes widened.
  It...was her.

  Rembrandt heard a grunt. He turned his head to the right.
  "Ethan?" Rembrandt uttered.
  "Don't talk to me."
  "Ethan--"
  Suddenly, Rembrandt's chair was jerked back. Rembrandt moved his head left and right, not seeing anything. He guessed both of their chairs had been tied together.
  "You sold Randy out," Ethan snapped. "I have nothing to say to you."
  "And what do I owe Genius?" Rembrandt shot back. "He lost Quinn. There are times we could gotten home and haven't. I owe Randy nothing. Besides...if he's so smart...he'll find a way out of it."
  "No thanks to you."
  "With thanks to me. It's about time he touched up."
  "Yeah...then he can kill your nephew."
  Rembrandt's forehead wrinkled up. "It won't come to that."
  "You know better. it will come to that."
  "You don't know that."
  "Neither do you."
  Rembrandt wished he could glare at Ethan. Regardless of what had gone between Randy and Darnell, he was not about to let his nephew die. That was too much.
  A door opened. Rembrandt fell silent. A moment, he saw Kate in front of him. She grinned at him.
  "Well," Kate began, "I have news."
  "Hm," Rembrandt said. "It can't be good."
  "My officers have been sent out," Kate said.
  Rembrandt frowned. Officers?
  "Oh, I am sorry," Kate said. "Did you think we were a group of vigilantes."
  "With the beating of people," Ethan said, "I think the answer is yeah."
  Kate tilted her head. "To save my country, I'll do what I have to. Especially since non-Triple A Card holders tend to indulge in terrorist activities. And people from a parallel world...might decide to butt their heads in where it doesn't belong."
  Rembrandt said nothing. That had been a growing debate among the group as well. It was definitely an issue now that Edward Albright on Dark Slider World wanted him wiped out and Randy's knowledge to defend their own world from possible other sliders.
  Kate stared at Rembrandt. "At least one of you knows what I mean." She smiled. "Good work."
  Rembrandt felt like he was going to be sick.

  "You have to stop this."
  Cassandra smirked. Randy stood on the corner, thankful no one was walking by. Otherwise people would think he was crazy for talking to what amounted to thin air.
  "And you," Cassandra said, "have to stop. You can't escape fate."
  "I make my own," Randy replied. "The advantage of free will."
  "And yet," Cassandra continued, "fate stalks you again and again. Pushing you to the logical outcome."
  "Which is?"
  Cassandra leaned into Randy's ear.
  "I think you know," she whispered.
  "Egghead!"
  Randy turned quickly. Richard headed toward him. Randy looked back at where Cassandra stood. She had vanished.

  He frowned. These little visions were getting a little too much. Yet...her words whispered in his head.
  Richard stood beside him. "I think we should add Melissa to the vanished list."
  Randy frowned. Richard nodded.
  "Yeah, it's like a regular horror movie," Richard said. "What you gonna do about it?"
  Randy rolled his eyes. "You would make this into a pissing contest."
  "Well," Richard said with a shrug, "you wanted me to bring it."
  "Still not impressed," Randy shot back.
  "Maybe I'm being more subtle than you give me credit for," Richard replied. He smirked. "You ever think of that?"
  Randy narrowed his eyes on Richard. He wanted to wipe that smirk right off his face. He would have to wait until he found the others.
  "How about you keep looking?" Randy suggested. He then turned and headed away.
  "Where are you going?" Richard asked.
  "Got an idea," Randy said over his shoulder.

  Melissa sat in the black Sudan. She leaned her head on the window. She looked to her right. Her double stared right at her.
  Her double had long jet-black hair like she used to have. This double wasn't Goth dressed in dark blue jeans and a green turtleneck. Her glance on Melissa was full of suspicion.
  "What are you looking at?" Melissa asked.
  "You," her double replied. "Wondering what made you go...uh...Goth."
  Melissa looked away from her double. She watched the people walking by the car they were in. They went about their business. They were so normal.
  "You wouldn't understand," Melissa said.
  "You'll be surprised," her double commented.
  Melissa swung back in her double's direction. She glared at her.
  "You really haven't seen the things I have,"Melissa said.
  "So I hear," the double said, looking out of her window. "All parallel worlds and all that."
  Melissa's jaw dropped. "How do you--"
  "I believe my supervisor has some friends of yours," the double said. "And my orders...are to get the rest of you."
  "And me?" Melissa demanded.
  Her double looked her up and down. "Just in case your free friends want to resist. I'm sure they won't put you in danger."
  Melissa laughed bitterly. "Trust me. You're better off not using me."
  The double arched an eyebrow. "Oh?"
  Melissa looked away again. She bit her lower lip. She was not giving her double anything.
  "You know," her double said, "when I was in college...one of my friends fixed me up with her roommate. The date did not even last a good five minutes. There was this...one of my exes...wrecked the date." She smiled weakly. "At the time I was upset. But...I realized that what I wanted...had been right in front of me. And I realized...too late. He met some artist." Her forehead wrinkled up for a moment. She giggled bitterly. "Didn't even know he went THAT way."
  Melissa looked at her double. She knew all too well what she felt. It wasn't too long enough that she had realized that Randy and Ethan were together. And that date? it had been Richard interrupting her date with Ben...years ago.
  Melissa's double looked out her window. Her back stiffened. She turned to look at Melissa and smirked.
  "Well...I see some things don't change," her double said.
  Melissa frowned. She looked out of her double's window. Her eyes widened.
  Randy. He was heading back into the Dominion.
  "Driver," her double said.

  Rembrandt pulled at his binds. He pulled with all of his might. He sighed in frustration.
  "Maybe you are just too old," Ethan said behind him.
  Rembrandt turned to the right. "And yet I keep ticking. Too many years of sliding."
  "Find that funny. Since you're not loyal."
  "Who are you calling disloyal?" Rembrandt snapped.
  "I think I know a thing about loyalty," Ethan said. "I had my gang. And now I have this group. Unlike you, I have stuck by everyone."
  "Yes, you have."
  Rembrandt frowned. He felt Ethan's chair move sharply, a sign he also recognized the voice. A figure moved into Rembrandt's sight. Richard stood over him, smirking.
  "Richard!" Rembrandt uttered. "How did you--"
  "--find you?"
  Rembrandt frowned again. Kate came into his line of vision, a gun in hand. Gruff was right behind him.
  "Well...he did not exactly," Kate said. She looked at Richard. "Too many people fall for the damsel in distress."
  "Guess I have to work on that," Richard said.
  Rembrandt looked down. He felt it again. The hopelessness. The idea that they were not getting out of here. He shook it away. There was still Randy and...
  "Oh," Kate said, cutting into Rembrandt's thoughts. "Don't think your Egghead will come to say you. Our officers are closing in as we speak."
  Rembrandt's eyes watered. The feeling was there again.

  Randy blinked. He took a moment to breathed in and out. Then he looked down at the coffee table.
  He had gotten a few things...hard to do without a card. Still he did it. He looked at what he did. The last one he had he used to create that slider storm on Alexandrian World. And with this one, it was just a prototype prosthetic was still connected wires.
  Randy slowly placed it on his arm. He strapped it on. He smiled. It was a step in the right di--
  A banging came from the door. Randy turned to look at it. A moment later, the banging sounded again louder. It definitely wasn't a good ting. It was probably the people who had the others.
  Randy looked at his prototype prosthetic. If it was them, there was only one thing he could do. He started pushing the pad that was the center of the prosthetic.
  "Open up!"
  Randy's eyes widened as he recognized the voice. It was Melissa. Or worse her double on this world. He stood up, his fingers still pushing buttons on the prosthetic.
  Suddenly, the door shot open. Before Randy could react, several officers rushed into the living room. Tailing them was Melissa's double. Randy's back stiffened as he saw the double dragged Melissa with her. The double glared at him.
  "Stop right where you are!" she barked.
  "Or what?" Randy challenged.
  The officers had him surrounded. Their guns were trained on him. His fingers were still on his prosthetic. Melissa's eyes fell on it, widening in fear as she knew what it was.
  Melissa's double pulled out a pistol. She aimed it at Melissa's temple. Melissa gasped.
  "She may be my double," the double said, "But I'll do whatever it takes to protect my country from invasioners."
  "We're not invasioners," Randy said.
  "According to whom?" the double challenged. "Now...put your hands in the air."
  Randy stared at Melissa. Her eyes watered as he looked at her. If this worked...
  "No," Randy replied.
  Then he turned the prosthetic on. A whir sounded through the air. Before anyone could react, Randy vanished.

  Randy blinked. He moved around quickly. His eyes were being too slow to ad--
  "Oh, no, Heim Prime."
  Randy's chest tightened up. He gasped as he shot through the air. His back hit a wall, causing pain to run all through his body. Randy screamed, his eyes adjusting quickly to his surrounding.
  He was in a dark room. His back was against a rectangular shape against the wall. He recognized the room from Quinn's journal entries on Outpost World. He was in a Kromagg manta ship.
  Someone moved in the shadows. The figure came into the light. It was Isis.
  "This time," Isis said, "you will not be escaping."

  Rembrandt stretched. An hour ago, Kate and Gruff had untied Ethan and him. Then they put Ethan, Richard, and him in a cell. Something was obviously wrong. He hoped that meant Randy had put his brain to good use.
  "I wonder what's up."
  Rembrandt looked over at Richard. He leaned against the wall. His eyes looked around, studying their prison.
  "What makes you think something's wrong?"
  Rembrandt looked over at the bars. Ethan were by them, his arms folded over his chest. His face was bruised, a result of Gruff's torture. His eyes narrowed on Richard. Richard frowned.
  "You're not tied to a chair, are you?" Richard replied.
  "That could mean anything," Ethan replied.
  "Are you only an optimist for Egghead?" Richard challenged. "Weak."
  "Even weaker...you pining over Melissa," Ethan shot back.
  "You got me mixed up with your lover," Richard fired back.
  "Guys!" Rembrandt snapped.
  Richard glared. "Whom side you on, Remmy?"
  "Definitely not mine," Ethan replied.
  Rembrandt glared at Ethan. "You're right. Not you. We...Richard, Melissa, and I...actually want to slide to love. Be my guest. But he's getting us home first. Understand?"
  "You tell him, Remmy!" Richard exclaimed.
  "Shut up, Richard!" Ethan snapped.
  "Ooohhh. Is Thuggie's feelings hurt?" Richard said.
  Ethan glared at him. "I should have never..."
  Ethan stopped. Rembrandt frowned. What was Ethan going to say? His big secret?
  "Should have never what?" Richard taunted.
  Ethan turned away from both of them. Rembrandt looked over at Richard. He watched Ethan with a smirk. He took a look at Rembrandt. Then he looked away.
  Rembrandt's forehead wrinkled up. He really wondered what Richard had up his sleeves. Then again if it hurt Randy, did he really care?
  Rembrandt heard it. It was footsteps. It was footsteps heading their way.
  Shadows fell along the walls outside the cell. Kate came into Rembrandt's line of vision. Gruff was right behind her.
  "Hmm...that really doesn't look like happiness to see us," Richard said.
  Kate looked at Rembrandt. "Is your friend always like this?"
  "Yep," Rembrandt said.
  "Unfortuately," Ethan added.
  "Don't hate, Thuggie" Richard replied.
  "You won't have to worry too long," Kate said.
  Rembrandt frowned. "Oh?"
  "Your friend escaped," Kate said through the bars. "Literally vanished into thin air according to our associate. Our orders were clear on this from our bosses."
  Gruff held up a gun. He aimed through the bars. He smirked.
  "Yep," Gruff said.
  "Say wha?" Richard asked.
  "You think we are going to let some invasiors take over over work?" Kate asked, aiming her gun into the cell and causing Ethan to jump. "Guess again."
  Rembrandt's eyes widened. So many thoughts ran through his head. And in none of the thoughts did he think he would die in a cell by gun. While running...yes. In a cell...no.
  He was also going to die with one thought higher than the others. He had not really felt it since he was in a Kromagg prison camp for three months. It was anger and hatred.
  He hated Randy Heim.

  The elevator doors opened. Melissa had little time to react as her double dragged her out of the elevator. The other officers walked on both sides of them.
  "So what do we do with this one?" one of the officers asked.
  Melissa's double made it out of the Dominion. She headed for her car. Melissa was dragged along with her.
  "We have our orders," Melissa's double said. "She's a warning in case more of these...offworlders show up." She looked at the officer. She pushed Melissa into her arms. "Take her somewhere. Make it quick."
  "Excuse me?" Melissa managed.
  "You have to disappear," her double said.
  "So...you can do this?" Melissa challenged. "You can kill...yourself."
  Her double looked away. Melissa glared at her. How could she be so cold?
  "Yo! Think fast!"
  Everyone looked to the left. Melissa saw them in the air. She ducked out of the way.
  Balloons. They shot through the air. They hit Melissa's double and the officers. One balloon barely missed Melissa, getting one of her pant legs.
  Suddenly, two figures ran past her. They bumped into her double and the officers. Melissa turned in time to see her double and one of the officers fall to the sidewalk. Melissa smiled as she saw it was the girl from earlier. She was with a boy her age with braided hair on one side of his head and bald on the other. The girl glared at her.
  "Don't just stand there!" the girl yelled. "Run!"
  Melissa saw her double look at her. She tried to stand. Melissa did not wait for much more. She dashed down the street.

  Randy's eyes narrowed on Isis.
  "I think you underestimate me," Randy said.
  "Not at all, Terran," Isis said. "Since our inital encounter, you have continued to amuse as you manage to avoid your fate." Her inhuman eyes stared through him. "Did you truly think you could terminate the Kromagg Dynasty and go on unpunished."
  "No," Randy said, dead-pan. "Not really."
  "Hm," Isis said, a snarl on her face. "I will never truly become accustomed to your kind's...humor."
  "And it is a shame you will never be able to get it," Randy said.
  Isis frowned. Good. Randy felt a sensation in the back of his head. It was about time he tested his theory.
  "I mean," Randy continued, "look at you. The Kromagg Dynasty...both of them have been erased from existence. No Humaggs around to evolve into...you. And you are from a timelime that shold narrowed his eyes on Isis. "That is some fascinating technology you have in the future to be able to anchor yourself outside of time."
  Isis smirked. "Clever."
  "So I have been told."
  Isis's eyes widened. She turned around, but she was too late. Professor Brown was behind her. He waved a hand, his power sending her flying ito a wall. She fell to the floor unconscious.
  A gasp escaped Randy's lips. Then he could move. He headed for Brown. Brown stared at Randy, His head tilted.
  Randy paused. Brown wasn't staring at him. Brown stared at Randy's arm with the prosthetic on it.
  "So," Brown said, "you have begun again."
  Randy stared at his prosthetic. The first one he made was made for one purpose: to give him an edge on Professor Brown. And when they first met...it did just that. Until...Professor Brown killed him.
  "Well," Randy said, staring Brown in the eyes, "you wanted me to focus." He looked over at Isis's unconscious body. "And something tells me you wanted me here." He turned back to Brown. "What game are you playing?"
  "You should be more concerned, Mr. Heim," Brown said, "with what game the Yuzaki are playing."
  Randy frowned. "So...I am a pawn."
  Brown arched an eyebrow. "Aren't you always, Mr. Heim?"
  Randy glared at Brown. Brown smirked. Then he turned around and walked away.
  "Come along, chess piece," Brown said.

  "Halt!"
  Melissa kept running. She did turn a bit. It was her double. She had stood up.
  Melissa ran faster.

  "Mr. Heim."
  Randy blinked. He looked about him. Then he looked down. As the two of them had walked down the hall in the manta ship. Randy had started tinkering with his proshetic, Isis's words in his ear. He guessed he went into a trance.
  Randy looked forward. His eyes widened.
  "Oh my God," Randy uttered.
  He recognized it on sight. There had only been two times he had been this close. The first was when he had gone up against Logan St. Clair. The other time he had seen it on a bigger scale when he went up against the Foundation. He thought he had destroyed all the equations of Obergon Geiger.
  "I thought it would ring a bell," Brown said.
  "How is this even possible?" Randy asked. "All of Geiger's notes were destroyed."
  "Perhaps you were slousy," Brown said.
  "You know--" Randy started.
  "Am I wrong?" Brown cut him off. "Perhaps if you had truly stepped up to the responsiblities of the Pandora's Box you opened, they would have already been taken care of. Now they endangers the worlds again."
  Randy glared at him. "Why even show me this? Oh, wait. You want me to suffer."
  Brown smirked. "Now you are--"
  Brown flew through the air. He hit a wall by the Geiger device. Randy ran over to Brown. He checked Brown's pulse. He was alive.
  "Well..."
  Randy looked at the doorway. Isis stood in the doorway. She was not alone. The other Yuzaki...Horus and Cyrus was with her. She snarled.
  "...we do not want you to suffer, Heim Prime," Isis said.
  "Much," Horus said.

  "Hold up!" Richard exclaimed.
  "God, shut up!" Ethan yelled.
  "Maybe you are ready to die, Thuggie," Richard yelled. "I'm not!"
  "You stupid--"
  "Who are you call--"
  Ethan and Richard lunged at each other. They fell into the cell bars, knocking Kate's gun hand.
  "What the--" Kate yelled.
  Then her gun went off.

  The Yuzaki approached Randy. He looked down at Brown. He was still out.
  "I'll show you chess piece," Randy muttered.
  "At last," Cyrus said.
  "Or not," Randy shot back.
  Then he lunged at the Geiger device.

  "I said--" Melissa's double yelled.
  Gunshots rang out.

  Randy's prosthetic came on. An electric current shot through it.
  "What is he..." Horus started.
  "The device!" Isis yelled. "No!"
  Randy hit the Geiger device. It sparked, reacting to the electric current. It exploded.

  Randy blinked. His head throbbed. He rubbed it. He figured it was from another explosion. There had been too many since...
  Then he heard it. Footsteps. It could only meet one thing. He broke off into a run.
  Randy frowned. Something about this was...off? Yes, off. Wasn't he doing something e--
  The footsteps caught his attention again. He ran faster. If he could only get to the hatch. Then he would be free...
  Randy ran around the corner of the devastated building. He came to a fast stop. His eyes widened at the figure in front of him. He had not seen her since...
  No, he's always known her.
  "You!" Randy yelled, confusion on his face.
  "Yeah," Paige Kendall said, "me. Miss me?"

TO BE CONTINUED...


 

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