Richard Hall stormed up the stairs of the building. In tow he had a long jet-black haired women. He was also oblivious to the sound of ships diving overhead or people running past him. He made it to the front doors and kicked them in.
  Richard pushed the woman in. Before she could react, Richard penned her to a wall. She gasped. He ignored it.
  "What am I?" Richard asked.
  "What are--," the woman started.
  "No more games, Rebecca!" Richard snapped. "What am I? I saved you from jail; you give me my secrets. Now...what am I?"
  "Richard Hall."
  Richard turned around. He stared at the girl that approached. She was the closest to a friend he's had lately. She was also a goth chick.
  "What else would you be?" Melissa Clark asked, standing next to him.
  Richard looked back at Rebecca Pryce. A few moments ago, he had helped his sliding friends break the conwoman out of jail. He...was suppose to be dead. She knew the secret behind his return. She said she would tell if she was freed. Now with the new image he had in his mind, hinting at more...hims...he needed to know the truth.
  "That's what I would like to know," Richard said, his eyes not leaving Rebecca. "Am I Richard or something else?"
  "Kinda...hard to talk when someone has an arm tightened on your throat," Rebecca said.
  "Fine," Richard said, releasing Rebecca. "Now how about--"
  Rebecca's knee came up and gave Richard in the stomach. Richard grabbed his stomach. Meanwhile Rebecca dashed down the hall.
  "That doublecrossing--," Richard started.
  Melissa dashed past him.
  "Come on!" Melissa yelled over her shoulder.

  Randy Heim stood suspended in air. None of his body moved. The figure in front of him held a hand up. An invisible force kept him in place as his muscle stressed.
  Her name was Isis. She was from a time where Kromagg and Humagg DNA evolved, creating a new species called the Yuzaki. They saw Randy as a danger to their existence.
  Isis glared, making the purple symbols look even more intense. "I only have limited time, human. While your existence is a danger, you possess knowledge that we feel will be very useful."
  "Get in line," Randy said.
  Isis tilted her head, her purple-tinged hair swinging slightly. "I do not comprehend your meaning."
  "Everyone wants my knowledge. You're not getting it either."
  "I disagree," Isis said.
  Isis's other hand made a wave. Professor Darnell Brown appeared out of thin air. He grabbed at his throat. Gasping sounds came from his mouth. His neck looked tensed.
  "You will give us your knowledge," Isis said, "or I will kill this one."
  Randy stared at Brown. Then he looked at Isis. His eyes narrowed.
  "Go right ahead," Randy said flatly.

WHAT IF YOU COULD LEAVE YOUR WORLD? WHAT IF YOU COULD SLIDE TO A DIFFERENT DIMENSION? PLACES WHERE YOU'RE THE SAME PERSON AND IT'S THE SAME YEAR, BUT EVERYTHING ELSE IS DIFFERENT?

A WORLD WHERE THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION IS IN FULL SWING?

OR

A WORLD WHERE EVOLUTION TOOK A DIFFERENT TURN AND EVERYONE HAS POWERS?

OR

A WORLD WHERE YOU ARE A SECRET AGENT?

FOUR YEARS AGO, MY FRIENDS AND I FOUND THE GATEWAY. NOW...ALL WE WANT IS TO GO HOME.

SLIDERS: ALTERNATE SPIN-SEASON 5
EPISODE 8: INTO THE ETHER (PART 2)

  Isis's purple eyes narrowed on Randy.
  "You cannot be serious," Isis said.
  "Dead serious," Randy said, staring Isis down from his spot in thin air. "He's been working with your ancestor's enemies to push me into giving out my knowledge. He can go boom. Go for his egostatical head first."
  Isis's face frowned. "But...he is your comrade."
  "No comrade of mine," Randy said, his eyes falling on the struggling Brown. "My comrades don't stab me in the back."
  "This is a trick," Isis said. "We Yuzaki do not fall--"
  Isis snapped in Brown's direction. Her eyes widened on him.
  "How is that--," Isis started.
  Brown's body went completely loose as his arms jerked out. Isis flew into a wall. Randy's body loosened and fell to the floor. He pushed himself up. A shadow fell over him. He looked up to see Professor Brown standing over him.
  "Oh, no, Mr. Heim," Brown said. "Do not get up."
  Then Brown punched Randy in the face.

  Richard stopped running. Melissa turned around. She glared at him.
  "Why did you stop?" she demanded.
  "She gave us the slip," Richard said. "Let's admit it. Rebecca knows this building like the back of her hand. She gave us the slip three left turns ago. I can't believe I slept with her!"
  Melissa turned away. "Nice to see where your priorities are."
  "I didn't mean it like that," Richard said. "Between her and her games, our Others and their games, and the Kromaggs, I'm frustrated." He stared at Melissa. "I want my memories. I want to know what I am."
  Melissa frowned. "Your recurring theme. Why is that?"
  "I have another...memory," Richard said. "One that shakes me to the core." He headed down the hall. A few moments later, he heard footsteps behind him.
  "Where are we going?" Melissa asked.
  "To make sure there's no way out," Richard replied.

  Randy blinked. His ears picked up movement. He saw white. His back revealed that he was against a wall. He looked to his right. Brown had his back to him, his hands feeling along a wall.
  Randy slowly slid up the wall with his back, his firs first instinct to run. He looked around the white hallway they were in. He saw no doors or windows. He looked like they were in a maze, much like the building they were in the last time they dealt with the Yuzaki.
  "Need a hand?" Randy asked.
  Brown's back stiffened. He turned to face Randy. He glared.
  "I want you dead," Brown said.
  "You cold have done that before I woke up," Randy said, standing up from the wall. "Why didn't you? Actually obeying your masters?"
  "I have no masters."
  "Bull! You're nothing, but an amplified lapdog now. Nothing like the professor I looked up to."
  "Looked up to?" Brown challenged. "Do you normally collar professors you claim to admire?"
  "Only the ones I don't trust," Randy shot back.
  "Oh, get over yourself."
  "Get over yourself!"
  "You were upset...when that double of Mr. Loveland...and Miss Clark...were shot. You killed Mr. Carter. It was the only way, Mr. Heim," Brown said, crossing his arms over his chest. "Just like working with the Cromagnon Kromaggs were the only way."
  Randy glared. "I don't think so."
  "At least now you are thinking," Brown said, approaching Randy. "At least now you are in the game...and that was the point."
  "Game?" Randy spit out. "People have died! This is no game!"
  "True as well," Brown said. "You putting your head in the proverbial sand solves nothing. You have a gift that could stop a race from exterminating us all. For God's sake, use it."
  Randy stared at Brown. The words sunk in, leaving Randy feeling annoyed. He knew why. The Professor was right.
  "Then I guess the real problem right now," Randy said, walking over to a wall, "is how do we get out of here. Isis said we were somewhen."
  "I believe she was bluffing, " Brown said. "I tried to read her mind. It was...weird, but I can detect a bluff where I feel it."
  "So we're still on Rebecca's world?" Randy asked, touching the wall with his hand.
  "Hm...no," Brown said. "This place is too quiet for that. I believe we are in some place in-between. Not on Ms. Pryce's world nor Isis's people's world. Still our time."
  "Perhaps a tesseract," Randy suggested. "Maybe one trapped in space/time. Rembrandt's group did encounter an asteroid that was like that."
  "Hmm...perhaps," Brown said from behind Randy. "Nice theory. Care to test it?"
  Randy ran his fingers along the white wall. If the took his step, Randy knew he would not be able to walk away. He turned to face Brown.
  "Yes," Randy said.
  Then he saw the walls around him as a puzzle. Pieces that were scattered. He turned to face the wall in front of him. It was an equation that needed solving. He went at it, entranced.

  "Are you sure you want to do this?"
  Richard stood over the wiring, the cutters in his hands. Melissa looked at him from below. They had found the electric room. One cut and the power to most of the generators for major machines would be cut off...including sliding machines.
  They would have no way to escape the Kromaggs if they showed up.
  Richard stared at Melissa. She looked back at him. For a moment, he thought he saw fear. He hesitated. Then he set his jaw.
  "'Two men enter, one man leaves,'" Richard said.
  Melissa frowned. "Huh?"
  "'Mad Max Beyond Thunderdrome.'"
  Then he cut the wiring. A click sounded through the electric room. Then everything went black.
  Silence reigned for a few moments. Then dim lights came on. Auxiliary power was on.
  "Let's hunt us a conwoman!" Richard exclaimed.

  Brown followed Randy. At the moment, he walked along the white wall. His fingers followed along. Every few moments he would punch a wall section lightly. He would pause, stare, then continue onward.
  Brown wanted to tell him to hurry. Who knew when Isis would arrive. Brown's returned powers were quite formidable, but Isis and her people were dangerous. In fact, the were deadlier than cyberaids. It was important they found a sliding console.
  His forehead wrinkled up. And after that, what then? He still needed to acquire Heim's knowledge for the Cromagnon Kromaggs. It was knowledge that Heim would not give willingly.
  Brown shook his head. One crisis at a time.
  Randy had paused in front of another wall. He knocked on it. Then he stepped away and pointed. His mouth opened. One word shot out.
  "Shatter."
  Brown waved a hand. A crack appeared in the center of the wall. Then it grew, lines zigzagging form the center. Crunching sounds echoed from the hall. Then the wall shattered, pieces falling to the floor like raindrops.
  Brown looked beyond. His jaw dropped.
  Two figures stood behind the destroyed wall. Both of them were men. One had fire-y red hair as well as symbols to match. The other man had blue hair with symbols etched on his face. Like Isis, they wore white suits.
  Randy turned to Brown, clearly out of his trance.
  "What happened?" Randy asked.
  Brown stepped in front of Randy. "Isis is not alone."
  The red-haired Yuzaki glared. "You will not escape."
  He flaunted a hand. Shattered shards of the wall shot up and fired at Brown and Randy.

  "Where do you think Egghead and Proper are?"
  Melissa felt her back tense up. It made her wonder how much Richard really remembered since those were his nicknames for Randy and Professor Brown. And how he said it came too easily to his lips.
  The last time they had seen Randy and Brown was in Golden Gate Park. The Kromaggs had attacked. Randy vanished. Brown was holding his own against the Kromagg soldiers. Rebecca had vanished. Richard had been in hot pursuit. She followed him.
  Melissa walked up to the room. She opened the door It was empty, the sliding console deactivated. She looked at Richard.
  "I hope they're alive," Melissa said. "Otherwise, we're stuck."
  Richard continued down the hallway. "Even Brown?"
  Melissa frowned. "Even Brown."
  "God, let us find Rebecca before the Kromaggs get here," Richard said.
  Richard turned a corner. Melissa followed. Suddenly, a red wormhole opened at the other end. Melissa grabbed Richard by the neck and dragged him back around the corner. She peeked back.
  Three figures emerged. One of them were human. Melissa frowned as she recognized John, the man who claimed to be a government attendant. He had Cromagnon Kromaggs on each side of him. Three more emerged from the wormhole before it closed.
  "Great," Melissa hissed. "How about--"
  Melissa stopped as she turned around. Richard's Other had him by the throat, a knife at his chest. Meanwhile, Melissa's Other had a gun trained on her.
  "Not a word," the Other whispered, "or he's dead."

  Brown threw his hands out, telekinetic powers shooting out at the shards. They shot away from him and Randy. They hit the walls, stabbing into them.
  The blue-haired Yuzaki arched an eyebrow.
  "Impressive," he said.
  "No human should have those abilities, Cyrus," the red-haired Yuzaki said.
  "Then he must fall like all who oppose the Yuzaki, Horus," Cyrus said.
  Cyrus threw up a hand. Brown felt pressure all over his body. It was like a ton of steel had been dropped on his shoulder. He grunted and fell to his knees.
  Horus threw a hand up, adding his power to Cyrus. It was like holding up an airplane with your hands. Brown screamed.
  "Yes...still human," Horus said.
  Brown screamed. He started to fall, but he held himself up. He turned to Randy. He stood there, taking in the scene. His face was blank.
  Entranced...again. Brown thought he picked the wrong time to do that.
  Randy headed for the two Yuzaki. He stared at them for a moment. Then he ran for them and lunged.
  Horus and Cyrus both threw up arms. However, Randy had lunged between them. They both fell into the walls, the force of their powers knocking them unconscious.
  Brown breathed a sigh of relief. He wiped the sweat from his brow. He looked at Randy.
  "Good show, Mr. Heim," Brown commented.
  Randy did not react. He was busy studying the console in front of him. It was like Brown was not there.
  Brown frowned. It was the only way to get then out of this place to put Randy in one of his trances. Was the price too great?
  "Perhaps not if he reveals his secrets in his current state."
  Brown only had time to turn around. Isis was there. Quickly she put a hand on his forehead.
  "Sleep," she said.
  Everything went black.

  Randy turned around. He blinked. Brown fell to the floor. Isis stood over him. She looked over at Randy.
  "I was surprised," Isis said. "That will not be repeated."
  "There's always a first time," Randy said.
  He swung around. On the console there was a lever. He grabbed it and pushed it up. The room immediately started to lean.
  "What?" Isis started.
  "I called your bluff," Randy said. "We are in-between dimensions right now. Stuck in space/time. I just unstuck us."
  "No!" Isis yelled.
  "Yes!" Randy said. "Going in."

  Melissa stared at the scene in front of her. Richard's Other had the knife to Richard's throat. He could kill him if she did the wrong thing. She had already lost him once. She could go through that again. Not like she did with Ben--
  Ben. Just the name conjured up images of his last moments. He laid on the floor in a pool of his own blood. His only crime was following her from his world of technological paranoia to join her in her quest to go home.
  Melissa stepped toward her Other. the Other corked her gun.
  "Make no mistake," she whispered. "I will shoot you."
  "Then shoot me," Melissa said. "My life is in shambles anyways. So maybe it's time for someone to put me out of my misery. No life. Dead boyfriend. No home. Death all around me. Maybe it's time I felt his embrace."
  Melissa stepped in front of her Other's gun. She placed it on her chest.
  "So please, 'Liz,'" Melissa said. "I'm begging you. Put me out of my misery."
  "Melissa, have you lost it?" Richard demanded.
  "Sounds like it," Richard's Other commented.
  "It's gotta be a trick," Melissa's Other said.
  "Sad thing is," Melissa said, "not a trick. However, you won't shoot."
  "Yes, I will."
  "No, you won't. You know why?"
  "Why?"
  "Then the 'Maggs would know where we were at," Melissa replied. "You don't want that."
  Suddenly, Melissa grabbed her Other.
  "However," Melissa said, "I do."
  She swung the Other out into the hall. Richard's Other ran after her. Suddenly, laserfire rang out. The Others dove into the other hall, barely missing the laserfire. Melissa's Other only had time to glare before Richard's Other dragged her down the hall. Melissa turned to Richard.
  "Let's find--," Melissa started.
  Richard grabbed Melissa's arm. "Wait a sec. What was that?"
  Melissa looked at him. "I was doing what needed to be done."
  "You're scaring me."
  "Yea," Melissa said, heading down the hall. "I'm scaring myself. Let's find your memories."

  "If I have to snatch the knowledge from your mind," Isis said, approaching Randy. "I will."
  "Really?" Randy challenged. "I'm willing to bet that you need to touch me to do that. And I think Mr. Brown will make sure you don't touch me."
  Isis smirked. "Darnell Brown is unconscious. He is no--"
  Isis flew into a wall. Brown stood up.
  "What did I say?" Brown asked. "A product of Kromagg technology. Mr. Heim, do you think you can get us back to Ms. Pryce's world?"
  "Sliding in now," Randy said. He looked over at Isis. She was standing. "You just need to keep her busy."
  Brown waved a hand. Isis blocked his power.
  "Not a problem," Brown said.
  "You will die painfully," Isis said.
  "Bring it, twit!"
  Randy saw the tunnel they were in ending. They shot out into open sky. They didn't dive, but floated. Apparently they were in a ship.
  Randy's eyes widened. Apparently they were in a ship...being targeted by two manta ships.
  "Dive!" Randy yelled.

  Richard waited until the footsteps were more distant. Then he came out of the the closet with Melissa. He headed for the door and opened it. There was no sign of Kromaggs.
  He stepped out into the hall.
  "You know I've never been this far down," Richard said.
  "Rebecca wouldn't let you into the subbasement?" Melissa asked as they walked down the hall.
  "I'm sure she would have..."
  "Riiight."
  "Anyway, I just wasn't interested," Richard continued. "I took what she said at face value. She was my savior."
  Melissa glared. "Yea, a savior with a price. Nice."
  "Yea...once."
  "Now?"
  "Now, I just want my memories ba--"
  Richard paused. He heard footsteps. He grabbed Melissa and ran for the nearest door. He closed it behind him. He stayed quiet as the footsteps passed by. He breathed a sigh of relief.
  "Uh...Richard?"
  Richard turned to look at Melissa. His mouth fell open.
  Right behind them, Mr. Stone stood. The eyes were dead in the bald cyborg's body...dormant. He looked just as creepy as if he was actually alive.
  Mr. Stone. Seeing him brought shivers to Richard's body. Images flashed within his mind of the room. He was with Rebecca. He...knew.
  Rebecca stepped from behind the body.
  "Yes," Rebecca said. "Mr. Stone. I've been working on the nanotechs keeping him dormant, but they are like a deadly virus. Find a way to get rid of them; they combat it. I guess the only people who could are the ones who invented it."
  "Rebecca," Melissa hissed.
  Rebecca pulled out a gun.
  "Don't even think it," Rebecca said. "Don't even bluff or I will shoot him."
  "Me?" Richard uttered. "We had good times."
  "Yeah," Rebecca said, "for a clone."
  Richard's mouth opened. Nothing came out.
  "That's right," Rebecca said. "A clone. Happy now?"

  Brown's back hit the wall. He set his teeth and turned. Randy had taken control of the ship, causing it to dive.
  He looked over at Isis. She had hit the wall as soon as he did. She glared at him as she tried to regain her balance.
  "You will not escape," Isis said.
  "I am afraid that you are at a disadvantage, my dear," Brown replied.
  Isis smirked. "I disagree, Darnell Brown. However, you will be."
  Isis threw up her hands. Brown felt pressure shot through his body. His muscles tightened like hands gripping a broom. He screamed.

  Randy managed to turn. Brown fell to the floor. Isis stood by him, her arms upraised. A smirk was on her face. Randy had to do something.
  He frowned. It had been a while since he had been concerned for Brown's being. He wondered if that meant he forgave Brown's betrayal.
  The ship shook from a laser blast. Randy turned back around. He would figure it out later. Right now, the manta ships were on him.
  Randy jerked the button to the left. He heard screams from behind him. He ignored it. In front of him were two buildings with some space between them. He might just make it.
  A hand grabbed Randy's shoulder. He turned. It was Cyrus. He reached for Randy's forehead.
  Randy pulled back on the lever. The ship jerked, causing Cyrus to fall back. Then the ship jumped forward. It picked up speed, closing in on the two buildings.
  "No!" Isis snapped. "You'll kill--"
  Randy pulled the lever right and held it there. Just in time, the ship glided to the right. It barely missed the buildings. As it turned around, the ship's screen showed the manta ships exploding into the buildings.
  "Get him!" Isis snapped.
  Randy turned around. Cyrus and Horus stormed toward him.
  "Don't," Randy warned. "I'm flying a ship and I'm not afraid to--"
  "Watch out!" Isis yelled.
  Randy turned around. His eyes widened on the wall. He jerked the lever. The ship tilted right to avoid the wall, but an explosion rang through the ship. Randy pushed down the lever.
  His eyes widened. The lever wasn't working. And the ship...was about to hit ground any second.

  Richard crossed his arms over his chest.
  "That's bull," he said.
  Rebecca looked at Richard, annoyed.
  "My world is falling apart around me. I have nothing to lose, and now you refuse to believe me," Rebecca said. "You are a piece of work."
  "Well, Lucy, I dink you have a lot of 'xplaining to do," Richard said.
  "How's this for explaining?" Rebecca asked. "Two years ago, Mr. Stone and I did a little experiment. We wondered if it was possible to implant memories into a person. If it was, we could do any number of things. Sleeper agents...to help the Foundation's goal of taking out sliders. Maybe even put memories in the sliders' head to make them forget about it. Sell the results to anyone. Or...put an agent among a group of sliders to capture someone for us!"
  "You!" Melissa snapped. "You're the ones who put that...my double in that base."
  "Wow! You are smart!" Rebecca said sarcastically. "Everyone just thought we brainwashed you. With memories of your past, your double did a great job fitting in. Shame she was killed by that Paige chick, but oh, well. Another rival out of the way. Good thing the memories worked. So we went to phase two."
  Richard frowned. "Phase two?"
  "If we can implant memories, was it possible to implant in a blank slate? Say...collected DNA from a tortured prisoner."
  "What?"
  "It was no secret Mr. Stone got off on torturing you because you didn't break easily. He took tissue samples. I simply took those samples and got Dr. Davis to grow them...into full human beings."
  Richard felt his body shake. "I...I remember..."
  Rebecca smirked. "And who told you?"
  "I remember, Rebecca!"
  "And who do you think put those memories there?"
  "No!" Richard snapped. "You're always a con! This is another trick! I'm Richard!"
  Rebecca shook her head. "Sorry, sweetie. Richard Hall...was killed by Mr. Stone on that aforementioned base. His body tore apart by a slide storm created by your Egghead."
  Her eyes narrowed. "You are just an experiment. Nothing more."
  Richard's mouth opened. Then it closed again. His legs gave way, causing him to lean on the door for support. Images ran through his mind. He didn't know what to believe.
  "Don't listen to her," Melissa said. She turned to Richard. "How many tricks have she pulled on us? this is just another one."
  "Dream on, Goth Princess," Rebecca said. "Do you know how many people would kill for efficient cloning?"
  Melissa glared at her. "Is that all you think about?"
  Richard slid to the floor. He grabbed at his head. Images fired in his head. Him getting attacked by Randy on that balcony. His annoyance over Randy buying Melissa a white beret. Rebecca finding him under rubber.
  None of it was real. None of it was his.
  "None of it was real," Richard muttered.
  Melissa turned. "What? You can't take her word. Your memories--"
  "Your double's memories of your life were pretty good, Liz," Rebecca said. "If you don't believe me, ask Randy some time. He could tell no difference I'm sure."
  Melissa glared at Rebecca. Richard fought the tears fighting to come to his eyes. He looked up at Rebecca.
  "You've been playing everyone since these guys showed up," Richard said. He smirked. "So you know what? Prove it."
  Rebecca frowned. "What?"
  Richard laughed. "You heard me. For all I know, I only have implanted memories of a lab so prove it. Prove I'm a clone."
  "Fine," Rebecca said. "Get up."

  Randy shot up. His left side hurt but he ignored it. He looked around to see that the main deck was in shambles. He also saw a crack in the wall, revealing light. He ran for it.
  Randy emerged onto an empty street. He made out a few deserted cars. He looked up to see more manta ships.
  He took a few steps. Melissa had the timer. He needed to find her if they were going to get out of here. She could only be at the Arturo Foundation building.
  He paused. He turned around. The ship looked like a wad of paper against the wall. He had no idea if Brown was alive.
  Randy shook his head. Hopefully he was dead. Surely the Kromaggs had a way of tuning in on him and could find out where he was. He had no time for that.
  Randy turned away from the ship. He walked away.

  "Is it any farther?" Melissa asked.
  Richard wondered the same thing. They had gone down two long halls, and now was on a spiraling staircase. He didn't even know this building had so many lower levels.
  "What's wrong?" Rebecca demanded. "Old age hitting you?"
  "You tell me?" Melissa shot back.
  Rebecca made it to the bottom of the stairs. "There. Satisfied?"
  "No," Melissa said, as she walked past.
  Richard made it to the bottom of the staircase. He started to sigh as he saw they were in another hallway full of doors. The sigh died as he saw the door at the end of the corridor.
  It had one word on it: 'Genesis.'
  "Ready?" Rebecca challenged.
  Richard gestured. "Lead the way, Conwoman."
  Rebecca headed down. Melissa stared at Richard for a moment. Then she followed.
  Richard stared at the door. It was moment of truth time.
  Could he handle it?

  Randy made it up the stairs no problem. He walked into the building. The empty halls made him think of the movie about the last man on Earth. It was scary.
  Randy turned a corner. John stared back at him. He managed a smile that brought chills to Randy's spine.
  "The Heim Prime," John said. "At last!"
  Randy managed a smile. "And as much fun as this has been, I must be--"
  Randy turned around. Kromagg soldiers sprung up. They aimed their lasers at him.
  "Or not," Randy said.
  "This is a monumental day for the Dynasty," John said.
  "I won't tell you nothing," Randy said.
  John stepped forward. "Oh...you will. It just will not be with words."
  A vortex emerged out of thin air behind him. The wind shot up in the hall. The Kromagg soldiers grabbed Randy.
  "Time to go!" John yelled.

  Richard stood in front of the door. Part of him wanted to run back up the staircase and deal with the Kromaggs. The other part wanted to call Rebecca's bluff. He breathed. Then he opened the door and walked in.
  "Richard, is it..." was all he heard from Melissa.
  Test tubes. They lined the walls in this small room. There were naked human beings floating in liquid in all of them. Wires came from the ceilings of the tubes and were jammed into the people. Every single being wore Richard's face.
  Richard's feet carried him into the room. His eyes widened on it. There were so many. Why were there so many?
  'I have so many plans for you.'
  Richard's head snatched around. Suddenly, he was back there...in a tube. Rebecca stood in front of it. Mr. Stone was next to her, staring.
  "He is fully conscious?" Mr. Stone asked.
  "There are some drugs to sedate him, but yeah," Rebecca replied.
  "And he is not like the others?" Mr. Stone asked.
  "Dr. Davis assured me he was better taken care of than the other attempts."
  "And the memories?"
  "Ready to go when we get him out. Best of all, Arturo doesn't know."
  Mr. Stone smiled. "Excellent. Shall we begin?"

  "'Other attempts?'" Richard muttered.
  "Richard?" Melissa asked.
  Richard stared at Rebecca. He glared at her.
  "I'm going to kill you," Richard said.
  "Wait in line."
  Richard turned around. Three figures emerged from behind some tubes. Richard made out Arturo, Carly, and Bufford. Arturo glared at Rebecca.
  "You never told me about this," Arturo said coldly.
  "You weren't suppose to know," Rebecca said.
  "I will do many things for a profit, but cloning...is unethical," Arturo said. "The fact that my money has gone into this...turns my stomach."
  "She's probably the one who bought these apes down on us," Carly said.
  "What's wrong, Carly?" Rebecca asked. "Not recognizing any relatives?"
  "You little--"
  "Hey!" Bufford cut in. "We're hiding, remember."
  "Maybe you are, blistering idiot," Arturo said, pulling out a gun. "I am facing dictating justice."
  "Do it, Max," Carly said.
  "Uh...I"m all for the Rebecca killing," Melissa said, "but how about you let me and Richard--"
  "Richard?"
  Richard let the name roll off his tongue. Was that his name really? Was he a 'he' or an 'it?' He looked over at Rebecca, her gun trained on everybody. He looked over at Melissa.
  "Melissa," Richard said, "we stand by Rebecca."
  "What?" Melissa and Rebecca said at once.
  "A deal is a deal," Richard said.
  "Then young man," Arturo said, aiming at him, "the first bullet is all yours."

  Randy stared at the red vortex. It would take him to a parallel world where a race would use his knowledge to enslave humanity. He could not allow that.
  "How can you do this?" Randy demanded. "You're human!"
  "My will is not to question my masters," John said. "My will is to do as they wish. And what they wish for...is you."
  The Kromaggs started to lead Randy to the vortex. He stared at it. It could not end like this. He went limp.
  The Kromaggs paused. Then he sprung to life. He punched one soldier in the face. He swung around, his arm nailing the other in the stomach. He turned and kicked the first soldier in the face. They fell to the floor unconscious.
  He turned to face John. John stepped toward the vortex.
  "We will hunt you," John said. "They will not rest until the knowledge is theirs."
  "Then they will be a tired race."
  John flew through the air. He vanished into the vortex. It whirred. He was followed by the soldiers. The vortex closed behind him.
  Randy turned around. Brown stood behind him. He swung out.
  Brown waved a hand. Randy flew through the air, hitting the wall. He slid to the floor.
  Brown frowned. "You left me?"
  "You can't be trusted," Randy said.
  "I helped you with the Yuzaki."
  "You helped yourself," Randy said. "Now...all bets are off."
  "I won't let humanity get enslaved," Randy said. "And I'm not giving your friends my knowledge."
  "They are not my--"
  "Pick a side, Professor," Randy demanded. "Us or them."
  "I pick humanity," Brown said.
  "Prove it," Randy said.
  "How?"
  "Give up your powers."
  Brown's face darkened. "I don't think so."
  Randy stood up. "Okay. I guess that means one thing."
  "I would--"
  Randy lunged at Brown.

  Randy balled his hands into fists. He was completely prepared for attacking Brown. He was not prepared for stopping in mid-air. He was face-to-face with Brown, but could not move.
  "My abilities could be an asset to--," Brown started.
  "That boat sailed," Randy said. "You went crazy and tried to take everyone out. So you have only one choice and--"
  "No."
  "Then I have to do what I have to do."
  Brown frowned. "Meaning, Mr.--"
  Randy spat in Brown's face. Brown coughed. Randy fell to the floor. Brown wiped at his face. Randy shot up. He punched Brown in the face. Before Brown could recover, Randy knocked him in the head. He continued to throw punches, throwing Brown off-balance.
  He threw another, followed by another. He did not think of it as attacking a human being. He...it...was a problem that needed to be taken care of.
  Brown fell back on the floor. His face was bloodied. Randy stood over him. He raised a foot over Brown's face.
  "Good-bye," Randy said.
  "I will have to agree."
  Randy looked over at the corner. A figure emerged from the shadows. It was an Asian woman. Her jet-black hair made him think of those Asian horror films Ben dragged him to when he got back to Earth Prime.
  "Who--," Randy started.
  "I am Mary," the woman said. "I represent the Kromagg Dynasty. And Darnell Brown...has outlived his usefulness."
  "So you are the ones who gave him his abilities back?" Randy asked, stepping back.
  "We gave him control," Mary said. "If we are to defeat the Atlantian Kromaggs, we needed your abilities...your knowledge. You could turn the tide."
  "And you could kill me," Randy said.
  "We are not so...crude, Heim Prime," Mary said. "We have been in the shadows...waiting. Waiting for the opportunity to return to our world. The world we were all vanished from by their stupidity. No, Heim Prime. We do not want you dead."
  "Yet," Randy said. "I'm just a means to an end. Once you have my knowledge, you just can't let me walk away free. I would be dangerous."
  Mary tilted her head. "Perhaps." Her eyes narrowed on Randy. "In order to defeat our enemies, we are willing to take that chance."
  "Good. I'm not. And I'm not going to be your pawn."
  Mary pulled out a gun. "I am afraid you have no choice, Heim Prime."

  Melissa stepped in front of Richard.
  "Okay, I don't want Rebecca saved by any means," Melissa said, "but do we have to shoot Richard?"
  "Why not?" Bufford demanded beside Arturo. "He was always her pet before you guys returned."
  Richard looked over her shoulder. "Jealous that I get good treatment from her while you get sucky treatment from him?"
  Bufford stepped forward. "You worm!"
  "As the expert on worm," Richard said, stepping forward, "scared?"
  Bufford stormed forward. "Not any--"
  "Mr. Bufford," Arturo said, "if you could kindly move away--"
  Richard ducked down. Then he lunged at Bufford, pushing him into Arturo. The gun went off as they fell to the floor. The gun spun away from them. Richard ran for it, but someone grabbed his leg. He fell to the floor. He had time to see Carly run for the gun and get tackled by Melissa. He turned to find Bufford in his face.
  "I've been wanting to get you for years," Bufford said.
  "Is that why you blackmailed me with that car accident?" Richard demanded.
  Bufford frowned. "Huh?"
  Richard punched him in the face. He fell over, unconscious.
  He turned away from the scene. The realization took hold of him. It wasn't his memories. It was Richard's. Richard was the one who had been drunk driving. Richard ran down the girl Laura Carmichael. Bufford saw Richard do it. Bufford blackmailed Richard, not him. He forced Richard to try to steal Randy's sliding machine. It was all about Richard. And he...was not Richard. He...was...
  More images fired into his head. Richard...he...Richard in what could best be described as a flying taxi with the others. Richard confronted in a bathroom by the victim's brother, Peter Carmichael...who was a slider. Richard pushing Melissa to break up with Randy. Richard getting attacked by an insane Brown. Richard telling Brown he would turn himself in for his crime when they made it home. Richard getting tortured by Mr. Stone and his enforcer...a double of Richard's first love. Richard finding love with Katherine Rye. Richard dying by Mr. Stone's hands.
  Richard...dying. Richard...dead.
  He felt like he was in quicksand. After a few moments, he gave into it. He fell to the floor unconscious.

  Randy heard a whir. He turned to see a red vortex open in the air. Mary approached him.
  "It is time to perform your miracles, Heim Prime," Mary said.
  Mary gestured with the gun. Randy stared at it. Then he looked at her.
  "You're just going to have to shoot me," Randy declared.
  Mary frowned. Suddenly, the gun flew out of her hand. It fell into the thin darkness of a wall. Randy looked behind her. A bloodied Brown stood behind her.
  "I do not think it will come to that, Mr. Heim," Brown said. "At least...not today."
  Mary turned to look at Brown. "He is coming with me."
  Brown glared at her. "Do you really want to test me, Mary?"
  Mary glared at Brown. Suddenly, her head snatched away from him. Randy saw her eyes go distant for a moment. Then she blinked. She moved away from them, her eyes on Brown.
  "My masters follow logic," Mary said, stepping next to the vortex. "And logic dictates...if we cannot have Randall Heim...no one can."
  In a flash, Mary jumped into the red vortex. A whir sounded from it. Then it vanished, turning the hall dark again.
  "What did she--," Brown started.
  That's when Randy heard it. An explosion. It was followed by another one. It was closer.
  "The manta ships," Randy said. "They're attacking the building." He headed down the hall.
  "Where are you going?" Brown asked.
  Randy looked around. "To find the others." He continued down the hall.
  "You are going the wrong way."
  Randy paused. He looked back. Brown smirked.
  "Yes," Brown said. "Definitely an asset."
  Another explosion went off in the hallways. Randy did not have a lot of time. He bowed for Brown.
  "Lead the way, good sir," Randy said.

  Richard blinked. He sat up. Melissa was in the corner, finishing up tying up Arturo. Carly and Bufford glared at her. She ignored them and stood up. Richard's eyes widened.
  "Black bra?" Richard uttered.
  Melissa glared. "Nice to know you're still in there. I had to tie them up with something, Richard.
"   Richard looked away. "I'm not him. I'm just a copy."
  A hand touched Richard's cheek. It turned his face to the front. Melissa looked at him.
  "That's exactly how I felt when I found out about Rebecca and the Melissa double," Melissa said.
  "I have all his memories now," Richard said. "All of them, but the emotions behind them...straight zero."
  "If you have the memories, the emotions could follow."
  Richard frowned. "Still wouldn't be him."
  "If the essence is there, are you any less him?"
  Richard said nothing.
  "Of course, Rebecca got away," Melissa said. "Who knows what she..."
  Richard wandered away from her. Who knew what she was planning? His eyes fell on an object in the corner. It was a metal pole.
  "Richard?" Melissa managed.
  Richard stormed away from her. He grabbed the long metal pole. He turned around, his eyes on her for a moment. Then he ran at her, a scream escaping his lips.
  He ran past Melissa. His eyes focused on one thing: the glass tubes in front of him. He swung the pole at the first tube. It hit the glass. The glass shattered. Sparks blew from the back. Richard ignored as he attacked the next tube.
  It went by in a blur. Glass shattered around him like busted balloons to a needle. He ignored the alike faces on the bodies, glass touching them and cutting. More explosions sound around him. It wasn't until he got to the last tube that he realized it. The explosions were coming from above.
  "What in the--," Richard started.
  "Kromaggs."
  Richard turned to the door. Brown landed with Randy in his arms.
  "How can you talk to him?" Melissa demanded.
  "Only way to find you," Randy said. "His telepathy. The Kromaggs are destroying the building."
  Melissa pulled out the timer. Randy frowned.
  "Where is your shirt?" Randy asked.
  "I used it to--"
  "Do we really have time for this?" Brown demanded.
  "Guess so. Those guys flew the coop," Richard said.
  Melissa looked at the corner. Arturo, Carly, and Bufford were gone. Randy walked past her as he messed with the timer.
  "What happened here?" Randy asked.
  "I'm a clone. Shit happens," Richard said. "Next question?"
  "Yes, does that thing work?"
  Richard looked at the door. Rebecca walked in.
  "What are you doing here?" Richard demanded.
  "Well...if the Kromaggs are destroying the building, there's only one way out," Rebecca said. She looked at Randy. "Right?"
  Randy looked at Rebecca. "We missed our sliding window...so maybe."

  The lights came on in the room. Melissa grinned at Richard. He stood up from the console. He smiled.
  "It's working," he said.
  "Never doubted you, honey," she said.
  Richard pushed a button. A green wormhole emerged out of the air. Melissa's smile grew wider. Then the room shook from an explosion.
  "Damn Kromaggs," Melissa said.
  Richard walked over to her. His arms wrapped around her from behind. She tilted her head back. Richard kissed her forehead.
  "Here we go again," he said. "The way it should be."
  They ran for the wormhole and jumped in.

  "Are you sure?" Randy asked.
  Rebecca looked at him from next to him.
  "Do you want to live?" Rebecca said. "Those are it."
  "Are you even sure this will work?" Brown asked. "Do you not remember what happened the last time you tried to jumpstart a timer? Who is to say it will not fry the timer this time?"
  "What choice do we have?" Rebecca asked.
  "None, thanks to you, you--"
  "Not now!" Randy cut the two of them off. "Here we go."
  Randy aimed at a wall. The timer lit up. Light shot from it. It was like a set of hands ripping a paper in half. A circle of light emerged barely from the wall. It was barely keeping shape. Then it became a tight circle.
  "Now!" Randy said.
  Richard watched Brown vanished into the wormhole. Given what they knew, he didn't think it was a good idea. As Rebecca ran for the wormhole, he knew that wasn't a good idea.
  Richard looked at the last test tube. He ignored the explosions. His hand tightened on his metal pipe.
  "Richard."
  Richard turned to look at Randy. A few steps closer, Melissa stared at him. An explosion sounded off, closer that time. He looked at the tube for a moment. Then he dropped the pipe.
  "Okay, Egghead," Richard said. "I'll play your game. But...those two are trouble."

  Richard ran for the vortex. Melissa was right behind him. Randy started after them. An explosion sounded. Suddenly, the roof started to give in.
  Richard vanished. So did Melissa. Another explosion went off. The roof gave way.
  Randy jumped for the vortex. A rock barely missed him. He vanished. His last thought was: would they make it? Would the timer give out? Would they make it home this time?

THE-END


 

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