Ethan Bradshaw's arm swung around. He pulled the nuzzle. His eyes narrowed on the target.
  Randy Heim stood a few feet away. He ignored the unconscious body at Ethan's feet. He kept his focus on Ethan's eyes. There was so much hatred in them.   Randy threw up his right arm, his prosthetic morphing out of its cloaked from. He aimed at Ethan.
  "Don't," Randy said.

A WEEK AGO...

  Rembrandt Brown screamed. The figure in front of him had been the first person the sliders had seen on this world. Rembrandt walked over to him to a man in rags, eyes red. Drool came from the corners of his mouth as he stared at Rembrandt. Then he lunged...
  ...only to go flying backwards down the stairs. Professor Darnell Brown headed for his uncle. He was sure the others' eyes were on him, a result of using his telekinetic ability. He did not care.
  "Uncle," Brown uttered, "are you--"
  "I'm fine," Rembrandt said, turning away from the scene.
  He moved away from Brown. Darnell watched him head back to the others. His forehead wrinkled up. He had not been the one on that Gamble Prohibition World that killed a double of Rembrandt's son. That had been Randy.
  "Okay. Zombies about!" Richard Hall exclaimed. He looked at Randy. "Tell me our time here is short."
  Randy Heim looked down at the timer. He looked back at Richard.
  "Another minute," Randy replied.
  Darnell's eyes narrowed on him.

  A whir sounded through the wormhole. Richard Hall tore out of it. He rounded across the ground, his back hitting a tree. He cursed. He really hated that wormhole.
  Richard made it to his feet. As he dusted himself off, he saw they were in Golden Gate Park. He saw the others were getting to their feet as well...except for Melissa. She was already on her feet...staring.
  Richard came up behind her, causing her to jump. He frowned, wondering what she saw in the Bay that would make jump at all. He looked out, his eyes widening.
  Airplanes. Airplanes as far as the eye could see. They followed on the surface of the water. It looked like they had been there for a while. The air around them was still.
  Like a tomb.

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 12: DARKENED TECHNOLOGY

  "Are you all right?"
  Melissa turned on the couch. She pushed back her jet-black hair as she stared at Professor Brown. Her eyes still looked lost. However, they instantly narrowed on him.
  "I'm fine," Melissa said.
  "Are you sure, Miss Clark?" Brown continued. "You generally looked--"
  "--shocked?" Melissa finished. "All those planes downed in the water. All the deserted buildings. No electricity that I can see. What happened to this world?"
  "Good question."
  Brown turned around. Rembrandt walked past him. In his hands were a lot of candles. He dropped then on the coffee table.
  "It's like all we ever see on these slides are death," Rembrandt said, looking at Brown. "And I, for one, am sick of it."
  "Remmy!" Melissa cried.
  "You're just as tired as me," Rembrandt said. "We all are. We just want to go home."
  "And we will."
  "Will we?" Rembrandt challenged. "Really, Melissa? When? Tomorrow? This evening? Next week? How about you give me a time frame for when we--"
  "Uncle!" Brown snapped.
  Rembrandt glared at him. Then he stormed out of the Dominion. Brown watched him go. He knew Rembrandt was taking the death of his son hard. This lashing out however might not be productive for...
  "I think I'm going to nap," Melissa said, standing up off the couch.
  "And I...will wait for the others to return," Brown announced.
  "You do that."
  "Miss Clark, I suspect there is a double meaning to that."
  Melissa paused in her step. "Never mind."
  "I know the sight of the downed planes affected you. As your friend--"
  "Friend?" Melissa laughed bitterly. "Professor...I...am trying to hold it together for everyone. We're tired. We fight all the time. We want to go home. We were almost there until a friend...AKA you...stabbed us in the back. You may be back. Randy may even trust you. I'll back that for the group's own good. But you are not my friends."
  Melissa headed for the Dominion stairs without another word. Brown stared after her. He knew it would not be easy being back given what he had done. Still...it would be a work in very long progress.

  Richard glared at them.
  Randy Heim and Ethan Bradshaw. The Egghead and Thuggie. The happy little couple.
  They had made it to the library easily enough. Not of the electricity worked so there was no way for a history lesson by way of the internet. So they combed through newspapers.
  And the whole time the two of them acted as one. It made him want to hurl. However, Richard had already aimed Melissa at the two for them. It was only a matter of time. Egghead never could resist the siren call of Melissa. Nor she him. It was what broke them up. It was time for major payback.
  "Hmmm," Randy uttered.
  "You two could get a room for that," Richard shot out.
  Randy glared at him. Ethan touched Randy's shoulder.
  "Ignore him," Ethan said. "What did you find?"
  "Not the truth," Richard said. He smirked. "Right, Thuggie?"
  Ethan frowned. So did Randy. Richard stared at them thinking one thing: ignore that.
  "Think I'll look around," Richard said, standing. "Maybe I'll run into someone."
  Richard headed for the stacks. He still smirked. It was going to be fun taking apart Egghead's world one piece at a time.

  Randy looked at Ethan. Ethan looked back at him. His gray eyes had no warmth to them. It was something Randy was not used to getting from Ethan.
  "What is Richard talking about?" Randy asked.
  "Nothing," Ethan replied.
  "And that sounded too rehearsed," Randy said.
  "It's nothing, Randy."
  "You don't know Richard. If he has something on you, he WILL USE IT. All to get back at me. So what did--"
  "Tell me about your trances," Ethan cut him off.
  It was Randy's turn to frown. His jaw set. What could he tell Ethan? That he had started seeing the seer Cassandra all over the place since he died on Alexandria World? Recently, she had even given him a vision what was to come. He needed to think.
  Ethan smirked. "I guess we both have something we don't want to talk about."
  "Or some of us aren't ready to talk about it...yet."
  "Right."
  Randy frowned. "Okay. Then tell me what Richard was talking about." Ethan glared at him. "Exactly."
  "Randy--"
  "Okay," Randy said, cutting him off, "what I noticed? The newspapers stopped."
  Ethan frowned. "Oh. When?"
  "Around December 1999."

  Brown felt it before he sat it. Among the many gifts (or curse) the Kromaggs had given him, Darnell possessed telepathy. With it, he could sense minds long before he saw the person.
  The Dominion door opened. Rembrandt walked into the darkened lobby. He paused, waiting for his eyes to adjust. As they did, Rembrandt's eyes found Darnell waiting.
  "Darnell?" Rembrandt uttered. "What are--"
  "I let Miss Clark take a nap," Darnell explained. "I said that I would wait for the others."
  Rembrandt frowned. "Is that wise?"
  "Why would it not be?" Darnell asked. "I am not the one everyone would like to seek retribution on."
  Rembrandt glared at him. "Stay out of my head."
  "I really did not have to," Darnell replied. "You. Mr. Hall. You both...think too loud."
  "Oh, really? What am I thinking right now?"
  "Uncle!"
  "It's kinda funny!" Rembrandt exclaimed. "Now that you are back, you use those powers to hurt people. Not that you used them much on your real enemies."
  "I was angry."
  "And that has gone away? Bull!"
  Darnell glared at his uncle. Rembrandt walked over to him. He put a hand on his shoulder.
  "He lost Quinn," Rembrandt said. "We still have no idea if he's alive or dead. And I doubt he's really looking. You want to make amends? Really? Maybe it's for the best...if you finish what you started."
  Darnell stepped away from Rembrandt as if he had been punched. His mind raced. Had his uncle just said he should...kill Randy Heim? Darnell could see it in his uncle's eyes. He turned away.
  "It would be justice," Rembrandt said.
  Darnell turned. "Leaving the rest of us with who?"
  "How about you?"
  "As much as I loathe to admit it, Randy Heim is the one who understands transdimensional travel."
  "See...I think you underestimate yourself." He managed a smile. "And if worse comes to worse...we could find a Randy double."
  "Wow...how Other of you."
  Rembrandt frowned. "Huh?"
  Darnell turned away. "Never mind. How about I light all of these candles? First I place..."
  Darnell stopped. He had thought it. He imagined that the candles would float to various position in the lobby. Then he would light them one by one.
  The candles were still on the coffee table.
  Darnell put his hand out in front of him. He ignored the fear building up in him. He thought about floating the candles. He focused.
  Nothing happened.
  "Oh, no," Darnell uttered.
  "What?" Rembrandt asked.
  Darnell looked over at his uncle. He was sure the fear was now all over his face. His eyes widened.
  "My telekinetics," Darnell said. "They're gone."

  "Thinking they're all that. I'll show them--"
  A noise got Richard's attention. He moved quickly through the stacks. He left Egghead and Thuggie on the first floor. Meanwhile, he bitched on the second floor. He doubted they were looking for him. They were probably busy doing gross stuff like making out and...
  He heard movement as he made it to the end of the stacks. He popped out into the aisle...just in time to see a big figure dot behind a wall. Richard moved to the wall quickly. He rounded the corner.
  CLICK!
  Richard knew the sound well. Too many worlds. It was the cock of a gun nuzzle. He could not make out the figure in the darkness, but he knew the figure had a gun treated on him.
  The figure started to move closed. Yep. It was a gun. The figure was even closer. Richard started to make out his face. His eyes widened.
  "Dad?" Richard uttered.
  "Right," Mr. Hall said. "Now...what world are you from?"

  Richard frowned. "What? What world am I from? What world are YOU from?"
  "Don't get fresh," Hall said.
  Richard rolled his eyes. "Fine. Not this one. Me and my...friends slide around a long. You?"
  Hall frowned. A moment passed.
  "I was from a world where my government watched everything our world did due to--what?"
  Richard guessed he was really wide-eyed. He didn't care. It was him. It was his Dad from Camera World. He...was alive.
  "Dad?" Richard uttered.
  Mr. Hall on that world had been part of a shadowy government group called the Council. They...he...had come across sliders crossing through their world. Not a good thing. Especially when Stone showed up...and started killing everyone in sight.
  Richard took a step closer. Hall tightened his hand on the gun. He glared at Richard.
  "Don't," Hall warned.
  "What?" Richard asked. "Didn't we do this the last go-around?"
  "Last go-around? What do you--" He stopped talking. His glare turned into a look of shock. "You?"
  "Me," Richard said. "It's good to see you made it out of there a--"
  "Watch out!"
  Richard turned quickly. However...not quick enough. The fit got him in the jaw. He fell to the floor unconscious.

  "What are you looking at?"
  Ethan blinked. He looked over at Randy. Randy stared back at him with a frown on his face. He knew it was only out of concern. Still...
  "Uh...nothing," Ethan managed. "Are you sure we should leave Richard behind."
  "We looked everywhere in the library," Randy said. "Knowing him he'll get back to us in his own way."
  "Or maybe he's in trouble."
  "When isn't he in trouble?"   "Good point."
  "Maybe we can put Brown..."
  Ethan made a sharp left turn. He looked over at a darkened building. While he did not see anything, Ethan could sense it. Someone was watching them.
  A hand on Ethan's shoulder caused him to snap around. Randy stared at him, the shock evidenced on his face.
  "You okay?" Randy asked.
  "Uh...yea," Ethan said. "Just this feeling we're being watched."
  Randy frowned. "Probably Richard playing games."
  "Maybe."
  "Let's get back to the others," Randy said. "Show them what we found."
  Ethan took one look at the buidling. He still did not see anything. Finally he let it go and followed Randy.

  Darnell looked at the candles lit all around the Dominion lobby. It was like a tomb almost. He shook the thought away. He looked at one of the lit candles on the coffee table. A moment passed. Then he gestured with his hand. Usually, an object would fall through the air, proof of his awe-inspiring powers.
  Nothing happened.
  Darnell ran his hands through his short cropped hair. So...it had begun. During the battle between the two Kromagg armies, Darnell had learned the truth. The mad scientist Kersh had revealed that--like Chad Owens years ago--Darnell's powers would grow out of control. Eventually, they would burn out, leaving Darnell dead.
  Found. Lost. Found again. Darnell had dealt with too much with his abilities over the years. He felt he had cheated death. To find that it stared him in the face with no option for cheating it again...it was too much. He had been better off at home. Before he had met the young man...Randy Heim...
  Randy Heim. Darnell felt his blood boil just uttering the name in his mind. That idiot and his agendas were responsible for ruining his life.
  "Brown."
  Darnell turned around on the couch. Melissa stood behind, her arms over her chest. Her forehead was wrinkled up.
  "I...Just talked to Rembrandt," Melissa uttered.
  "Oh?" Darnell replied. "You already know that my condition would eventually...progress. I believe the only difference this time is that I will still retain my intelligence."
  Melissa frowned. "Huh?"
  Darnell released a laugh. "I forgot. You were..."
  Melissa's face darkened. Darnell stopped talking. He knew Melissa did not want to be reminded of the fact that the foundation had her prisoner for a year. When the sliders thought they had found her (and lost Richard), it had turned out they had actually found a double with her memories. Melissa's relationship with Randy never recovered from that bombshell.
  "I apologize," Darnell said. "I did not mean--"
  "It's okay," Melissa said, holding up a hand to silence him.
  WHY DID HE HAVE TO BRING THAT UP?
  Darnell frowned. Suddenly, his hands grabbed for his head, pain shooting through it. Darnell bit down on his teeth. Try as he might, Darnell could not keep them out. Other peoples' thoughts tore into his mind, his control lost.
  wHaT iS hE dOiNg WiTh HiM?
  watch out!
  wHY IS Wor...
  Darnell shot up off the couch, his hands still on the side of the head. The voices he heard in his head would not stop. He could hear everything close by.
  PROFESSOR?
  SoOn.
  he can't find out...
  Darnell's eyes widened. He recognized that last thought. It belonged to...
  The Dominion lobby doors opened, causing Darnell to turn. Randy and Ethan had walked into the lobby. They stared at Melissa and him in surprise.
  WHAT'S GOING ON, Randy thought. He looked at Melissa. DOES HE KNOW?
  Darnell looked at Melissa.
  DOES ETHAN KNOW RANDY AND I KISS? Melissa thought.
  Darnell's eyes widened. "What?"

  Richard's eyes flickered. He opened them. He managed a groan and turned over.
  His father sat by the window. He had a gun at the ready. He looked over at Richard, his face a grimace.
  "So...you're up?" Mr. Hall said.
  "Uh...yeah," Richard said, sitting up. He rubbed the back of his head. "What hit me? How did you get here? What's going on?"
  "You'll full of questions," Hall said.
  "I got it from my Papa," Richard shot back.
  "Cute."
  "I try."
  Mr. Hall took a quick glance outside. "Things did not end well on my world. You...that man...almost slaughtered the whole building. They wanted him to pay."
  Richard remember all too well. Mr. Stone. He had slide into Camera World to track down Cassandra's group and discovered Richard and the others.
  "So," Hall continued, "they sent me after him."
  Richard frowned. "Hold up. Sent? Your crew never had sliding tech."
  "My 'crew' made a prototype," Hall replied. "We observed enough of your groups to form some ideas."
  "Grrrrreat," Richard said sarcastically.
  "What is that suppose to mean?"
  "It means another group out to get us. That damn Egghead!"
  "Sssssh!" Hall hissed.
  "Okay, Dad, you don't tell me what to do."
  "In this case, I do," Hall said. "You have no idea what world you are on."
  "Oh? And what world is that?"
  Hall's face darkened. "A world that never recovered from its apocalypse. Dog eats dog. Now there's half a day before my device sends me back home. You can come with me."
  "What?" Richard asked, his eyes widening.
  "Trust me," Mr. Hall said. "You would not like the alternative."

  Randy closed the door to the bedroom. Ethan was already asleep. Randy could not do the same. Too much was on his mind.
  "You'll up late."
  Randy looked over at the couch. Melissa stared back at him. He frowned at her.
  "You still up?" Randy asked.
  "You first," Melissa shot back.
  Randy sat down on the couch. "I just have a lot on my mind." Melissa stared at him, waiting. "Just...this world. Richard and Rembrandt causing headaches. Problems with Ethan. Brown."
  "Ah! Brown," Melissa said. "He's losing control of his powers."
  Randy sighed sadly. "Yeah. that again. Except this time...he's probably as good as dead."
  "Maybe we'll find--" Melissa started.
  "Do we even want to?" Randy asked.
  "You tell me," Melissa replied. "After all you wanted him here. To push you. You know...continue your running feud."
  Randy looked at her, frowning. "And you don't have a running feud with Ethan? Not to mention Richard."
  Melissa's face darkened. "Unlike you, Richard and I appear to be...co-existing at least."
  "And Ethan?"
  "He...trust you. But...can you trust him?"
  Randy's eyes widened. Then he pulled back from Melissa. He laughed bitterly.
  "I get it now," Randy said. "Richard got to you. You're his puppet."
  Melissa's eyes narrowed on Randy. "I'm no one's puppet."
  "Could have fooled me."
  Melissa shot up from the couch. Randy shot up after her, grabbing her arm. He pulled her to him.
  "Sorry," Randy said, leaning into her.
  Melissa looked up at him, her dark eyes aflame.
  "Let go of me," Melissa warned.
  "Or?" Randy asked.
  She was so close to him. Too close...
  "Or...you might decide to...'plant one on her'..."
  Randy turned to the Dominion door. Professor Brown stood in the door. He closed it behind him, his eyes taking in the scene.
  "...again," he finished.

  Ethan shot up. His eyes narrowed, trying to adjust to the darkness. A noise had startled him out of sleep.
  He looked beside him. That side...Randy's side...was empty. Maybe that was what he felt e...
  There was movement. Ethan had time to turn and grabbed the arm that reached for him. His eyes flickered quickly, trying to adjust.
  Another hand grabbed Ethan's neck. Ethan flipped the figure onto the bed. A fist got Ethan in the face, causing him to fell back. Before Ethan could move, the figure was on him with a gun in his face.
  "You're only alive for one reason. A question," Jared Heim said. "What are you doing with my brother?"

  "You know," Darnell said, putting his hands behind his back, "I do not know Mr. Bradshaw very well. However I know you two." He looked at Melissa. "It is surprising to see you have forgiven Mr. Heim for the death of Mr. Loveland." He turned on Randy. "And tell me, Mr. Heim. Did you and Mr. Bradshaw decide to dissolve your relationship?"
  Both of their faces darkened. Darnell did not care. On and off had the two of them did their dance.
  Randy crossed his arms over his chest. "And you are abusing your powers again."
  "No, I am losing control over my powers," Brown said.
  "Is there a difference?" Melissa asked, glaring.
  "Why, yes, Miss Clark. There is," Brown said, glaring. "It is not my fault that all three of you have something to hide. Perhaps you should be h--"
  "Wait," Melissa said.
  Randy's eyes widened. "All three of us?"
  Darnell rolled his eyes. He turned away from them. How did he...
  A fist got him in the face. As darkness consumed him, Darnell wondered how they snuck up behind him. Then everything went black.

  Randy did not know what to say. Richard...along with Rembrandt...had been trying to undermine him for months. Payback for Melissa leaving him due to her feelings for Randy. Now some of what he said made sense. It was probably time he was honest.
  Professor Brown turned around. A fist shot out. It got him in the face. Brown fell to the floor unconscious. Randy looked at the attackers. His eyes widened.
  Dru Preston and Miashuyhi Kim looked back at him. They both wore leather jackets with their hair in ponytails. They had guns trained on them.
  "Well, look at this, Dru," Kim said.
  "Yeah...the brother," Dru replied.
  "Good. You'll let me go," Randy said. He took a step to his bedroom, his mind turning to Ethan.
  The sound of a nuzzle cocked stopped him.
  "Don't think so," Dru said.
  Randy glared at her. "Fine."
  He threw his right hand up. The prosthetic formed quickly as his right arm aimed. Dru's eyes widened. An electric current shot out at her, knocking her out.
  Randy turned to Kim...to find she had a prosthetic of her aimed at him. She smirked.
  "You didn't think you were the only genius in the room, did you?" Kim asked.

  "I suggest you drop it."
  Randy's eyes narrowed on Miashuyhi Kim. On Earth Prime, she was smart...sometimes overshadowing him and his rival Bufford in class. Even her version of the prosthetic was fresh...a black glove reminiscent of that glove from the Witchblade TV show.
  "What's going--"
  Kim turned quickly at the sound of Rembrandt's voice. Randy aimed and fired, an electric current taking Kim out. She fell to the floor.
  "Thanks, Rembrandt," Randy asked.
  "What in the world!" Rembrandt exclaimed.
  "We'll explain on the way out," Melissa said. "Let's--"
  "No one is going anywhere."
  Randy looked at his bedroom door. Jared Heim stood in the door. He had a gun to Ethan's neck. He glared at Randy.
  "You have a lot to explain, Brother," Jared said.

  Richard stared down at them through the window.
  It was the people of this world. They...attacked each other on the streets. It was nothing. Richard wasn't used to. Survival of the fittest. He just wondered why they have not tried to rebuild this world.
  "Why would they?"
  Richard turned around. His fa...Mr. Hall walked into the room. Richard frowned.
  "What?" Richard asked.
  Mr. Hall headed over to the window. He looked down. His face was a grimace.
  "I wondered, too," Hall said. "Why did they just let the world stay this way? It had been a decade." His face darkened. "They didn't trust it anymore. The technology. The advancements. The government. Only...dog eat dog."
  "I bet," Richard said.
  "It's time to move out."
  "Really? After two days, why the move?"
  Mr. Hall looked at Richard. "Because he's on the move."
  Richard frowned. "He?"
  "I told you my mission," Hall said. "The Council wants your 'friend's' head on a stick. I have half a day to do so. With new ammo, we're on the hunt."
  "Wait. What do you mean 'we?'" Richard asked. "You make it sound like Stone's here."
  Hall frowned at Richard. "That's because he is."

  "You see it?"
  "Yes, Boss," Ethan said into the walkie-talkie.
  "Get ready to move."
  "Roger, Boss."
  Boss. It was his nickname for Jared. When he ran with his gang on his world, Ethan...like Dru and Kim...followed Jared without question. And now...he was back doing it. Being Randy's boyfriend appeared to have saved his life. However...He could tell Jared and the others did not like it. More reason to do...this.
  "Move!"
  Ethan stood up quickly. He walked around the corner, his hands in the pocket of his trench-coat. He stared at his target...a cart. It was being led by a horse and a driver. Ethan walked out in front of it. The driver pulled on the rails, making the horse. Stop.
  "Hey!" the driver yelled. "Out of the way!"
  "Can't!" Ethan yelled.
  "Why?" the driver asked.
  A click got the driver's attention. He turned to his left. Dru aimed a gun at him.
  "Why?" Dru asked. "Because we know what your cargo is."
  Another click got the driver's attention. He turned right. Kim stood there, her prosthetic aimed at him.
  "Surprise," Kim said.
  Ethan grinned.

  Darnell raised a hand to his head. For the last two days, the headaches had come and gone. And with it...his telepathic abilities. To feel normal was a double-edged sword. On one hand, he could go home now. On the other, the loss of powers meant he would probably die sooner rather than later.
  "I don't like this."
  Darnell turned around from the window. Melissa and Rembrandt sat on a couch. Randy's brother had been nice to bring them into his secret base. However...they were still on edge.
  "What is there to dislike, Girl?" Rembrandt asked. "A safe place to be before the slide. You don't see me complaining."
  "Do you really trust Jared?" Melissa challenged. "We haven't even found Richard yet."
  "And you care now?"
  Melissa's face darkened. Brown stepped away from the window. The last thing any of them needed was more infighting.
  "Perhaps I should attempt to see if I can find him," Darnell suggested.
  Melissa and Rembrandt's heads turned. Rembrandt looked surprised. Meanwhile Melissa stared at him, skepticism on her face.
  "Didn't you say yesterday that your powers appear to be gone?" Melissa asked.
  "They still appear to have vanish," Darnell said. "However, I still have the ability of my feet. Not to mention my intelligence."
  "Agreed," Rembrandt said, standing up. "I'll go with--"
  "I feel," Darnell said, cutting Rembrandt off, "that I would cover more ground quicker if I do this alone."
  Rembrandt frowned. "Oh?"
  Melissa shot up from the couch, throwing her arms up.
  "Here we go again!" Melissa exclaimed.
  "No, Miss Clark," Darnell snapped. "This is not."
  Melissa crossed her arms over her chest. "Then what is it?"
  "I am doing what is best for everyone involved," Darnell said.
  "Or following your own agenda," Melissa replied.
  "Right now, the only person with agendas...which by the way would attest that something is..hidden...would not be me. I have been as open about my situation as can be." His eyes narrowed on her. "Can you say the same...Miss Clark?"
  Melissa's eyes widened at that statement. Darnell headed for the door. He knew he had a lot to answer for. However he would not be anyone's whipping boy. Especially when other people had sinned as well.

  "Nice base."
  Jared Heim looked up at Randy. Jared was busy sitting on the bed, polishing a rifle. On the outside, the house appeared deserted. However, the rooms inside was kept up well. Of course, they could not use too much light at night...except in the basement area...which was pretty big.
  Jared looked away from Randy. He resumed polishing the rifle again. His face was blank.
  "Shouldn't you be in the basement?" Jared asked. "It's gonna to be dark soon."
  "I think the basement's covered," Randy said. "Kim's making electricity down there and all."
  "We did what we had to do," Jared said simply.
  "I bet."
  "You know...when it happened...this...you were in New York. Drama be damned. Even when Mom...Dad...Jenna...died. I sent Ethan to get you. Find out you were safe." Jared looked at Randy again, his eyes full of hatred. "Now I wish you were just as dead as them."
  Randy took a step back like he had been slapped.
  "Jared...I'm your brother," Randy said.
  Jared laughed bitterly. "My brother? My brother was great at Physics. My brother also played a guitar. My brother was into girls not into fa--"
  "Stop right there!" Randy snapped.
  "Do you know how long I've known Ethan?" Jared challenged. "A long fucking time! I could always counted on him to have my back. I had no idea he might have been looking at my--"
  "I'm sure he wasn't," Randy said.
  "And I should trust your word why?"
  "Because I'm your brother. Ethan's your friend. He did what you told him to do. We're still the same."
  "I don't know about--"
  "Yes, you do," Randy said. "Otherwise, I...we...wouldn't be here."
  "And we got it!"
  Randy turned around. Miashuyhi Kim paused in the door, her eyes taking in the scene. She frowned.
  "Problem?" Kim asked.
  "No," Jared said, "actually. Just...two brothers talking."
  Kim stared at Randy for a moment. Then she looked back at Jared. It made Randy wonder if they were an item on this world.
  "We got the cart," Kim said. "Ethan did as ordered." She looked at Randy. "He's still one of us."
  "'Did as ordered?'" Randy uttered.
  "Good," Jared said. "Let's look at the cargo."
  "What's the cargo? And where's Ethan?" Randy asked.
  "The cargo...is tech," Jared said. "Someone should be using it after all."   "And Ethan...went for a walk," Kim finished.

  So...Ethan had done it.
  He was part of his gang...again. As always, he got the job done. In the process it made him realize something.
  Randy was right. Richard would become a problem. He could already see the signs. And if this was back on his world, Ethan would do what needed to be done.
  He looked down at his gun.

  Brown had been careful. Without his abilities to back him up, he slowly (but surely) traveled about San Francisco in stealth. However, he wished he still has some form of his ability. He felt like he was wandering around without an arm or a...
  WHY AM I DOING THIS?
  Darnell paused. A grin crept up on his face. He recognized the speaker of the thought.
  Richard Hall.

  "Why am I doing this?" Richard asked aloud as he and his...Mr. Hall wandered down the littered street.
  "Because he knocked you out in the library?" Mr. Hall suggested.
  Richard paused. "What?"
  "And I saved you," Hall continued. "Screwup or not...you're still my son."
  Richard paused. He did not knew what to say. He had never had a close relationship with his father. He could love him or leave him. But this double...he hated to admit it, but he respected that.
  A beep resonated from Hall. He cursed, turning to Richard.
  "I'm sorry," Hall said. "It's t--"
  A sword shot through his chest. Hall screamed, falling to the ground. Richard's eyes widened.
  Stone stared back at him. He was now in a clone of Richard. He also had no hair. He gave a lopsided grin to Richard.
  "Oops," Stone said.
  "You son of--" Richard started.
  Suddenly, a blue wormhole formed near Hall and Stone. Hall's body flew into it, vanishing. Stone smirked.
  "I perhaps think I should finish what I started," Stone said. "Do not be concerned however." His face darkened. "I have not forgotten about you."
  Stone jumped into the wormhole. It closed behind him.
  "No!!!" Richard yelled.
  Then pain hit the back of Richard's head. He fell to the ground. Before he lost consciousness, Richard felt a shadow over him. He saw who it was, his eyes widening.

  Randy wasn't sure what he would say when he found Ethan. He just knew he had to find him. He had to get to him before Richard did.
  Randy turned the corner. He paused. Ethan stood over an unconscious Richard. He aimed a gun at him.
  "Ethan!" Randy yelled.
  Ethan's arm swung around. Randy heard the click of the nuzzle. Ethan's eyes narrowed on him. Randy was surprised at how much hatred was in them.
  Randy threw up his right arm. His prosthetic morphed onto his arm. He aimed at Ethan.
  "Don't," Randy said.

  Randy kept staring at Ethan. Ethan did the same. Neither one of them dropped their arms.
  "Ethan--" Randy started.
  "You want me to stop," Ethan said. "Why? You don't even like Richard. He's a threat to you. To us. He should be got out of the way."
  "And we will be," Randy said. "When I get us home. Not before."
  Ethan glared at him.
  "Yes, I hate him, too," Randy said. "But you can't kill him. It--"
  "--will make me a bad person?" Ethan finished. "Sometimes you do what you have to. Boss taught me that."
  Randy said nothing. It only reminded him how different the two of themn were. Ethan came from a bad life on a different world. Randy could only say on Earth Prime that he never knew his parents...thinking himself orphaned.
  "What does he have on you?" Randy asked. "What does he--"
  "What does he have on you?" Ethan challenged. "is there something you're not telling me?"
  "As a matter of fact," Randy said, "yes." he cleared his throat. "I--"
  Suddenly, the streetlights came on. Randy looked up and down the street. One by one what streetlights were off...flickered on.
  "What in the world?"
  Randy looked over at Ethan. Ethan looked down. Richard sat up, rubbing the back of his head.
  "Lights are on," Richard said. "Someone's starting stuff." His eyes focused on the scene in front of him. He glared. "Speaking of which...what's going on?"
  Ethan looked at Randy. Randy looked back. Neither said a word. Richard stood up, glaring.
  "Fine," Richard said. "I'll assume Thuggie knocked me out." He glared at Ethan. "Would have been useful when Stone was here."
  Randy's eyes widened. "Stone was here?"

  Darnell had to be honest. It felt good to be able to sense minds again. After living with his abilities for so long, he was resign to them. He was also getting closer to Richard.
  He paused. Richard was not alone. He was with Mr. Heim and Mr. Bradshaw. Excellent. It was to their advantage to stick to--
  The streetlights in front of him started to flicker. Then...they came to life. Darnell watched as they each one by one turned on.
  Darnell smiled. For much of his time here, Darnell had seen despair. He had observed the ruins of this dark world. Now he could take in hope for...
  He felt the mind. It came from behind him and to his right. He turned his head instantly.
  The man in rags had already lunged at him. He stopped. Darnell's eyes widened as he realized why the man...baseball bat in hand...had stopped. Darnell mentally had the man in place.
  His telekinetic powers were back.
  "Hm," Darnell uttered.
  The ragged man flew through the air. He hit a boarded-up window, shooting through it. Darnell stared, his thoughts full of possibilities. Could it be? Was it possible...
  Darnell waved a hand in front of him. He hoped that he could also created transdimensional portals again. He could get the others home.
  Nothing happened.
  Darnell stared at the spot. His hopes. His atonement. It had slipped between his fingers.
  For now.

  "No way!"
  Randy looked at Jared. Jared stared back, his eyes full of anger. They had made it back to the base a little while ago. Now Jared looked like he was about to punch him.
  "I just got you back," Jared said. "And you saw what Kim did. Getting electricity going again. Natives aren't going to like it...at first. I could use the manpower."
  "There are other things I have to do," Randy said. "I wish I could stay, but this is too important."
  "Is this about you and Ethan?"
  "No!"
  "Because...I...am really trying hard...to deal with you...two."
  Randy tried not to laugh. "It's...not that."
  Jared crossed his arms over his chest. "Then you are not going."
  Randy crossed his arms over his chest. A moment later, Jared's eyes rolled into the back of his head. He fell to the floor unconscious. Randy looked down. Then he looked over at the door. Professor Brown stood there.
  "You don't have a choice," Randy said, looking at his out brother. He looked back at Brown. "You get the others?"
  "Yes. Ms. Preston and Ms. Kim are also soundly asleep," Brown said.
  "Then let's go," Randy said, walking past the Professor.

  Richard leaned against the wall. His arms were crossed over his chest. He rocked a little bit, looking down at the floor.
  "Why do I think you're not saying something?"
  Richard looked up. Melissa stared back at him. Her dark eyes were full of concern.
  "What is there to say?" Richard asked.
  "Stone showed up and you'll still living?" Melissa continued.
  "Yep," Richard said, stopping his leaning.
  "Shame I can't say the same for my dad," Richard replied.
  Melissa frowned. "Your father?"
  "The double from Camera World," Richard explained. "After our adventures there, the Council figured out sliding. Sent Dad to take out Stone as payback. Now...he could be dead...cuz of Egghead."
  "Richard--"
  "Don't you dare defend him!" Richard snapped.
  "Are you sure he's dead?"
  "I saw what I saw."
  "Well, what did you see?"
  Richard looked past Melissa. Rembrandt and Ethan had walked off onto the porch. Rembrandt frowned. Ethan stared at the two of them, a grimace on his face. Richard's eyes narrowed on him.
  "I woke up to see you over me," Richard replied. "And why was that?"
  "It was an accident?" Richard challenged. "You really need to get your story straight. You did on that world with Nicole's double. By the way...when you're hiding a body next time...have a deeper lake."
  Richard watched the looks on Melissa and Rembrandt's face. The shocked looks on their faces were just what the doctor ordered. Then he looked past Ethan's shoulder. Randy and Proper were there, too. The looks on their faces said it all.
  Richard smirked.
  It...was only the beginning.

THE-END


 

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