Randy Heim stumbled around the black corner. He slid against the wall. He stared down at his right arm. It felt like it was broken. The taste of blood in his mouth was not helping matters.
How had this happen? Randy thought.
A shadow fell over his body. He looked up. His eyes narrowed on them.
"I should have known," Randy said. "It was always between us. You set this all up. I'm going to get you. I--"
The dagger came quickly.
TWO DAYS EARLIER...
"You filthy whore!" Melissa Clark snapped.
"Who are you calling a whore?" Paige Kendall snapped back.
Randy tightened his hands on Melissa's arms as she struggled to lunge at Paige. Meanwhile, Maggie Beckett held onto Paige. She looked at Randy.
"Any ideas?" Maggie asked.
Randy did not say anything. There was nothing to say. It was becoming clear that Melissa and Paige would not like each other. However, there had to be a way to keep them from killing each other.
Suddenly, Melissa broke free from Randy's grip. At the same time, Paige elbowed Maggie in the ribs. Her eyes narrowed on Melissa.
"You're dead," Paige said. She lunged at Melissa.
Suddenly, both women flew through the air. They hit the brick wall with a thud and fell to the alley floor. Randy turned to look at the source of the intervention: Professor Darnell Brown.
"We do not have time for this," Professor Brown said.
"I agree," Maggie said, rubbing her ribs. "Barring a miracle, I don't know what to do."
"Create a miracle," Brown said, raising his hand. "I--"
Maggie snatched up her rifle. "--can put down that hand."
"Miss Beckett, do you really think you can stop me?" Brown challenged.
"You want to try me?"
"Hey!" Randy cut in. "Do you think you two could cool it? We have enough problems."
Brown glared at Maggie. "Perhaps Miss Beckett should not think quite so loud."
"Maybe you should shut your mind to it. You're all powerful, right?"
Randy headed out of the alley. They had not even been on this world for a minute. He needed air.
Randy stepped onto the sidewalk. He looked around. There were only a few people on the sidewalks. He noticed that they all had on dark goggles with a long cord that was attached to a little pack the size of a walkman on their side.
Randy frowned. That can't be good.
A van drove down the street. It sped past Randy. Suddenly, it screeched to a stop. It backed back to him. The passenger window lowered, revealing the driver...a bald guy in a no-sleeve black shirt with an ear piercing and tattoos. Randy realized who it was too late. A laser with a red light was trained on him.
"Come with me if you wish to live," the bald guy Randy knew as Ben Loveland demanded.
Three years ago, my friends and I found a way to travel between worlds-
To slide to...
Worlds where you're the same person-
It's the same year...
But everything else is different-
Our Earth...
Has been overrun by the Kromaggs?-
Can we get home?...
Do we want to?
And now-
The worlds await...
SLIDERS: ALTERNATE SPIN-SEASON 4
EPISODE 12: HALF-LIFE
"What?"
Melissa shook her head. "Nothing."
She could feel eyes on her as she rode in the front with Ben. She didn't care. She had seen various doubles of Ben, but none like the one driving the van. He looked...cute.
"So everyone is like this?"
Melissa turned to look into the back of the van. Brown steadied himself against the wall as he looked out the back door window. Maggie looked out of the other one. Meanwhile Paige stared off into space. Randy looked straight at Melissa. She ignored it.
"Pretty much," Ben said next to Melissa. "There are a few." He looked at Brown. "They don't last long."
"Oh, but you do?" Paige said, glaring at Ben.
"You're still alive in a van, aren't you?" Ben said sarcastically. He looked at Melissa. "Is she always that charming?"
Melissa smiled. "No."
"What are they actually seeing?" Randy asked.
"Whatever they want to see," Ben replied, "except for how real life is." He looked forward. "We're here."
Randy felt his back tense up. Inside the two-story house was Bufford. This double of his college rival was not much different from most of his double except he wore a black shirt and cargo pants. His dark brown hair was in a buzzcut, but he still wore glasses.
"Newbies," Bufford said. "Sweet."
"Yeah," Ben said, ushering them into the house before closing the door. "They were wandering around like a bunch of deadends."
"Who are you calling deadends?" Maggie asked.
"It would appear to be you," Bufford replied.
"Someone's mouth is speaking too fast," Maggie shot back.
"As owner of the house, I can do that."
"Saints preserve, Robert! Must ye antagonize every new group that comes in?"
A new figure entered from the left. Randy felt his body shake. It was Katherine Rye, a double of a slider who slid with them...before she went mad. She almost killed them all. This double retained Kat's trademark hair, but they were in braids that came from under a beret. She wore a black tanktop with a black and white plaid mini-shirt. She had knee-high socks on with boots.
"Kat?" Melissa's voice said.
Kat frowned. "Aye. 'is me name. How do ye know it?"
"You are Kat Simpson, right?" Melissa said.
"Nae. Rye."
"Oh," Melissa said. "I thought you were someone else."
Good save, Randy thought. He could not escape the smile. Kat's eyes fell on him.
"And ye?" Kat said, approaching him. "Ye I would know anywhere. I canna believe it."
Before Randy could stop her, Kat wrapped her arms around his neck. She planted a kiss on him. She pulled away with a smile.
"Now I can die a happy woman," Kat said.
"Kat!"
Randy stared at Bufford. His arms were bunched up. He glared at Kat. She looked at him, a mischievous smile on her face.
"Do ye recognize him?" Kat asked. She looked at Randy. "'is nae what ye think, sir. Datin' two months and he does nae recognize my favorite singer."
"Why should I?" Bufford asked. "Flashfire hasn't released a record since...the Stone Age?"
Kat glared at Bufford. "Watch yuir tongue." She looked at Randy. "I am sorry. He knows only books. Follow me and I'll show ye to yuir rooms."
"So you can stab us?" Paige asked. "I think not."
Randy looked at Paige, his eyes in shock. Paige glared at him.
"Excuse me, Miss?" Kat asked.
"It was nothing, fair lady," Brown said behind Paige. "Our companion is quite lucid."
"Yes," Maggie added. "Nuts. How about you show us those rooms?"
"And I have some new information, Ben," Bufford said. Ben followed him away.
Kat headed for a flight of stairs. Melissa and Maggie headed for the stairs as well. Brown was behind them, but he paused.
"Are you two coming?" Brown asked.
"In a minute," Randy said.
"Why not go?" Paige asked. "I'm sure you trust her."
"She did turn out to be right about you," Brown commented.
"And Maggie was right about you," Paige said. "Guess we're even."
Brown tilted his head. He approached.
"Is that a challenge, child?" Brown asked.
"And if it was?" Paige shot back. "I got you to a stalemate last time and--"
"Professor!" Randy said. "I got this."
Brown glared at Paige for a moment. Then he headed up the stairs. Randy watched him go. He was happy that Brown could not read his mind. He turned to look at Paige. Her eyes narrowed on him.
"You have this?" Paige mocked. "You have nothing."
"Paige--" Randy started.
"I'm not staying here," Paige said.
"Why? Seeing Kat bringing back bad memories?"
"Don't go there."
Randy crossed his arms over his chest. "The Professor has a point. You went out of your way to drive Kat out because she suggested you had an agenda. Guilty conscience?"
"Screw you."
Paige turned toward the door.
"Where you going to go, Paige?" Randy asked.
"Anywhere, but here," Paige replied.
"Without one of those packs, you won't last five minutes."
Paige swung around. "I guess I'll have to talk to Ben then."
Paige stormed back past Randy. He grabbed her arm. She glared at him.
"Let go," Paige threatened.
"Or what?" Randy challenged. "You'll kill me? You're played that card."
Paige's face darkened. "The day is coming, though. And when it does, will you be ready?"
Randy released Paige's arm. For a moment, he thought back to a long time ago. He encountered a seer named Cassandra on a world where Greece ran everything. Paige's tone had the same forbearing, making him think of it for the first time in a long time: the barrel of a gun pointed at his head.
Suddenly, pain shot through Randy's body.
"What did you expect?"
Then everything went black.
Randy's eyes flickered open. He shot up. A hand pushed him back down. He pushed up again to find himself face to face with Melissa.
"Uh...think you can move back?" Melissa asked.
"What happened?" Randy asked.
"Beats me," Melissa said. "Maggie and I came back downstairs and there you were on the floor. A bruise was on your head. I guess you really ed Paige off."
Randy rubbed his head. "I guess."
Melissa frowned. "And yet you love her."
Randy looked at Melissa. She held his glance for a moment. Then she looked over at the window across from them. Orange light shined through, signaling sunset. Randy noticed the sadness in her eyes. he reached out and touched Melissa's cheek.
"Yes," Randy said, "I do." He managed a smile. "Besides...you've been making eyes at Ben."
Melissa looked at Randy. She frowned.
"Excuse me?" Melissa said.
"I saw you in the van," Randy said. "You're interested in Ben."
Melissa shot up.
"Why do you even care?" Melissa snapped.
"I was--" Randy started.
"Whatever!" Melissa snapped. She headed for the door. "This is what I get for caring. Fine!"
"Melissa, wait!" Randy barked as he got out of the book.
Melissa swung around.
"No!" Melissa snapped. "You want to be with her...you have to find her first!"
"She's gone?"
Melissa threw open the door.
"Yes," Melissa said, "good riddance."
Melissa slammed the door behind her. Randy stared after her. he wanted to go after her. She shouldn't be that mad. It's just been that crazy between them since he found out the truth about Paige.
Paige. He had to find her. He knew she did not know theist world. That last thing they needed was trouble.
"So...your friend...Melissa? She taken?"
Randy stared at Ben. Ben looked straight ahead as he drove the van.
"Uh...no," Randy said.
"No," Ben said. "I would hate to step on anyone's toes."
"Melissa's her own ," Randy said. "She can do what she wants."
"Good."
"She's a free agent."
"Right."
"She can have anyone."
"Use to date her, right?"
Randy stared out of the window. The people looked so normal...except for the little packs. He frowned, wondering if Paige was okay.
"Where do you think Paige went?" Randy asked, looking back at Ben.
There was an awkward silence. Ben nodded in understanding. His forehead wrinkled up.
"Someone like that?" Ben said. "Only one place."
Randy could not do it. His feet would not move at all.
"Hey!"
Randy stared at Ben...who had already walked through the entrance of the club. he stared at Randy like a parent waiting for a child to go to sleep. He held out a hand.
"I'm sorry," Ben said, "but it's the only way."
Randy shook his head. As he turned to look behind him, a couple popped up. They looked so original in their preppy clothes. They giggled for a moment. their eyes fell on Randy. The giggles stopped. They moved past Ben and entered the building. Ben frowned at him.
"Now you've done it," Ben said. "There's no choice. You walk off, chances are we will be reported. No one hesitates outside the the Box."
"The Box?" Randy uttered.
"Yeah," Ben said. "It's the only way people socialize now...if at all. Let me show you."
Randy sighed in defeat. He walked across the threshold. Then the breath caught in his throat.
There were tons of people. They saw in little booths with seats. There was stairs that went up to other floors where Randy could make out more people in booths. Randy looked at the nearest guy. He sat in a leather seat in a booth. His eyes were closed in the clear shades he had on. A wire connected the shades to a circular table in front of him. The guy was still connected to his pack. A smile was on his face.
"Oh my God," Randy muttered.
"Yeah," Ben said. "Anyone can come in and jack up." He headed for the stairs. "Let's go."
At first, he felt nothing.
Then...it was like the lightheadness a person would feel the second they are about to feel before a fall off a cliff. It quickly poured into a cyber hole as Randy was downloaded into the system. he was the water while the pack was the drain. He descended.
Then...his eyes opened. He felt his jaw dropped.
There was black booths all around him. Tables stood in front of them, the tops lit up with lights of various colors. The sounds of ambient trance filled Randy's head. His body vibrated to the beat as it hit it. He could make out chatter from the tables which was all packed.
Randy looked at the nearest table. The couple he had seen earlier sat there. They were dressed in black punk clothes. The even had short pink hair. He barely recognized them.
"Yeah," Ben said, "people can change their looks in here."
Randy looked at Ben. He frowned.
"You still look the same," Randy said.
"I'm confident in my looks," Ben replied. He looked at Randy. "So are you it seems. Come on."
Ben headed deeper into the room. Randy followed behind him. Randy had experienced a world with virtual reality before. Still it was strange looking at the different booths and knowing that people probably were not what they seem.
Ben paused. randy stopped as well. Ben looked around. Finally, he grinned.
"There she is," Ben exclaimed.
At first, Randy thought he meant Paige. As he followed Ben to a booth with a table with a blue light inside, Randy did not see Paige. He saw a woman chatting with two guys, each on one side of her. As Ben approached, the woman looked up. Randy paused as he found himself staring back at Nicole Harris, the ex of Richard Hall.
Richard had been in love with Nicole before he winded up sliding with Randy. She came after him, trying to find him. It led to her death. Richard followed months later, killed by Mr. Stone.
Nicole's hair was cut short with streaks of pink in it. There was a short braid over her right eye. She pushed it behind her ear, her eyes narrowing on Ben.
"Well...Benjamin," Nicole said. "It's been a while."
Ben shrugged. "You know how I am."
"Yes...I do."
"Do you have a minute?"
"Actually...for you...no."
The guys on each side of her giggled. One of them necked her ear. The other rubbed her stomach through her black shirt. Randy closed his arms over his chest.
"Please, talk to us," Randy said. "It's important."
Nicole stared at Randy. She sighed.
"Fine," Nicole said. She looked at her guys. "Boys, give me a moment."
The guys got and headed to the bar that was nearby. Randy frowned at it. He was sure it had not been there before.
"You would be correct."
Randy looked at Nicole. She looked back at him with a 'Gotcha' look on her face. She looked back at Ben as he sat beside her.
"Newbie?" Nicole asked.
"Yeah," Ben said.
"Cool," Nicole said. "Do sit...Mr...uh..."
"Randy," Randy said as he sat down.
"Mr. Randy," Nicole said. "How can I help you?"
"He's not the only newbie out and about," Ben said. "Catch my drift?"
"Totally," Nicole said. She reached under the table. "You're in great hands, Mr. Randy. Benjamin knows what he is doing...when it comes to newbies anyway."
"Hey!"
Nicole pulled up a laptop. She threw open the top and started typing.
"Nicole definitely knows her way around the Box," Ben said. "If you need to find anyone, it's her."
"This time is no different," Nicole said. she closed her laptop. "Go up the stairs behind me. she's on the dance floor."
Randy started to get up. Suddenly, he fell back down in the booth. He looked down to see that Nicole had grabbed his arm. She stared at him as if she was searching for something.
"Why the holdup, Nicole?" Ben asked on the other side of her.
Randy felt her hand tighten a little. He glared at her.
"What?" Randy asked.
Nicole blinked. Finally, she released Randy's arm. She looked down, blushing.
"Nothing," Nicole finally said. "Just...be careful."
Randy frowned. Ben led him away. He turned to look at Nicole. She had started chatting with her guys again. Randy headed up the stairs.
"Oh."
There she was...except she wasn't. Paige hopped around the floor. Her red hair was now as short as Nicole as well as brighter. She wore a leather red catsuit with a zipper in front and no sleeves. He could make out black nail polish.
"Wow," Ben said, staring at her. "Some people do adapt fast."
Randy said nothing. Paige tossed her short red hair as she danced with two boys dressed in black shirts and cargo pants. She laughed. Randy frowned. Without thinking, he stormed over to her and grabbed her arm.
Paige swung out. Randy blocked the swing. Paige stared at him, eyes wide.
"Randy?" Paige said.
"You adapt fast," Randy commented.
"You have to if you're dealing with Kromaggs."
"What are you doing?"
"What does it look like?" Paige asked, gesturing around. "I'm having fun for a change."
"They're not even real."
"So. That just means no angst later. Now...excuse me."
Paige turned away from Randy. She stared dancing with another guy. Randy stared at her. He walked over and grabbed her waist. Then he stared to dance.
"What are you doing?" Paige asked.
"Just joining the fun," Randy said into her ear. "I know I could use the release. Everyone wants to kill me."
Paige swung around. "Someone already did."
"Yeah. Daniel Carter."
Paige stopped. Her eyes narrowed on him. He reached to touch her. She ed her arm away.
"Paige--" Randy started.
"We're done here," Paige said.
"Why are you--"
"Is there a problem here?" Ben asked, appearing next to Randy.
"None," Paige said. "I'm just going to be somewhere else."
"Not without me," Randy announced.
"Back off, Randy."
"Can't do it, Paige."
"I will kill you."
"You know," Randy said, "that sounds weaker and weaker the more you say it. I don't think you can."
"Now is not the time to test me," Paige said.
"I have to agree," Ben said. "We have a switch."
Randy frowned. "A switch?"
"Look," Ben said, pointing.
Randy looked past Ben. A group of men dressed in black wandered through the dancing crowd. One of them held up a gloved hand and placed it on a dancer's forehead. The dancer jolted and vanished.
"Oh, great," Ben said. "They found one...which means they will sweep the whole Box. We need to go."
Randy turned around. "Paige, come on. We need to--"
A gloved hand touched Randy's head. He had time to gasp before he felt a jolt. His body tensed up. Then...nothing.
"Ah!"
Randy's eyes opened. His body moved of its own voluntary. he fell out of the chair. He did not even feel the pain from falling. The pain he felt was like someone had zapped him with a tazer. His arms and legs jerked and he could not control it.
A shadow fell over his body. He was able to move his head enough to see it was Ben. He kneeled quickly.
"Hold on," Ben said. "I got you."
Ben lifted Randy up. Randy jerked his head to look at him.
"Paige..." Randy managed.
"I trust that she'll live until you're up," Ben said.
Randy wanted to protest. His lips only shook. Ben stormed toward the stairs.
Randy's eyes widen as the two of them near the stairs. Sitting in the corner his body baring visible was a double of Randy. His shades were on and his pack was at his side. His eyes were closed. A grin was on his face.
Ben lunged for the first step. As Ben hit it, the double's eyes opened. They stared at Randy.
The double smirked.
Randy's eyes opened. He blinked. He raised an arm to see if it worked. Then he rubbed the brown hair off his forehead. How many times was he going to be unconscious on this world?
Randy sat up. He saw he was back in his room in Bufford's house. He also rubbed his temples. The jolt he gotten had caused a mild headache.
Images flashed through his head. The couple at the box. Nicole. Paige. His double smirking at him, award of his presence. He wondered what that meant.
A sound reached Randy's ears. It came from the door to his room. it was ajar, a fade light peeking in. Murmurs came from the other side. He could not make them out.
Randy stood up. His forehead wrinkled up. He knew that he did not like the sounds of it. It was like someone speaking in tongues. That can't be a good thing.
His hand reached for the doorknob. The murmurs increased. Randy stepped back, unsure what to make of it.
"What did he expect? Really..."
Randy grabbed the door and threw it open. His eyes widened as he saw the figure on the other side. He had no time to react as he flew through the window.
"Ah!"
Randy gasped. He shot up in his bed. His eyes narrowed.
"Okay, this is too much," Randy commented.
The door shot open. Randy only had time to blink before hands were around him. He pulled away to find himself face to face with Maggie.
"God, I was starting to think you weren't waiting up," Maggie said. "Then we were all screwed."
"Good to see you up and about, Mr. Heim," Brown commented from the end of the bed.
Randy frowned. "Is it?"
Brown responded with a frown. Maggie stared back and forth between the two. Before she could say anything, new figures came into the room. Melissa sighed as she saw Randy. Ben stood behind her, his arms over his chest and a grin on his face.
"Randy, thank God," Melissa exclaimed.
Ben held Melissa by the shoulders. "See? I told you he was okay."
Randy frowned at the two of them. Have he been out so long that now Ben was comforting Melissa?
Melissa's eyes narrowed on him. "I know that look. What?"
"Nothing," Randy said quickly. He looked at Maggie. "Any sign of Paige?"
"None," Maggie said.
"Which could mean that Miss Kendall did not make it out of the sweep," Brown said.
"A tough cookie, like that?" Ben said. "I bet she did."
"And how would you know?" Brown demanded.
"Not even here a day and she's using tech like she was born to it?" Ben replied. "Come on."
The room fell silent. Ben might not be thinking it. Randy knew the others were. Paige came from a future where the Kromaggs ruled. Ben's idea did not sound far-fetched.
"We need to find her," Randy finally said.
Randy saw the three other sliders stiffen up the suggestion. Ben meanwhile shook his head.
"I don't know, Randy," Ben said. "They are going to be on alarm. Could be hard."
"I'm sure you have ways around that," Randy said. "Do it."
"Uh...maybe he doesn't do what you say," Melissa said. "And besides...do we really want to find Paige?"
Randy stared at Melissa. She stared back at him.
"Ben," Randy said, "could you excuse yourself for a moment?"
Melissa turned to look at Ben. She put a hand on his cheek.
"Could you give us a moment?" Melissa asked.
"Sure," Ben said.
As soon as the door closed, Melissa spun around. Her eyes narrowed on randy as she put her hands on her hips.
"You can't be serious," Melissa said.
"I could say the same about you," Randy said. "I mean...come on...Ben?"
"Now, Mr. Heim--" Brown started.
"What is that suppose to mean?" Melissa demanded. "At least, he's not trying to kill me."
"Yeah," Randy said, "on this world."
Melissa glared at Randy.
"Okay, kids!" Maggie exclaimed. "Time out! This is beside the point."
"I agree with Miss Beckett," Brown said. "Given Miss Kendall's history, it would be in our best--"
"Don't you mean your best interest?" Randy challenged. "As I recall, she found you to a stalemate. Maybe she should be kept around just in cause you do Dark Phoenix again."
Brown's face darkened. "She could not stop me." He smiled. "Besides, I am under control now."
"Gee," Randy said crossing his arms, "for some reason I don't believe you."
"And I believe Randy," Maggie said. "However...this is crazy. You could get killed looking for her...most likely by her. I can't let you go."
"You can't stop me," Randy said.
"I can try."
"You'll fail." Randy sighed. "Maggie, how long have you known me? What do you think I'm going to do."
Maggie frowned, thinking about Randy's question. Finally, she sighed.
"You're right," Maggie said. "It reminds me of..." she looked down for a moment. She looked up again. "I'm coming with you. No way you're getting killed before I get you to Diana."
"Then it's already lost," Melissa said.
"No," Randy said. "That would be other things."
Melissa's eyes went from fury to ice. "Oh...I see."
"This is madness," Brown said. "I cannot believe you would help that killer."
"Everyone deserves a second chance," Randy said.
"But--"
"Give it up, Professor," Melissa said. "He's already made up his mind."
"You know I'm right," Randy said.
"You know what I think?" Melissa asked. "I think...maybe it's about time we all went our separate ways."
Randy felt his jaw drop. Melissa tilted her head.
"Why shock?" Melissa asked. "It's not like we're the same group from years ago. Richard's dead. You...don't love me. Brown can't be trusted."
"Hey!"
Melissa threw her hands on the bedrest. "Earth Prime...the world we knew...isn't the way it was. Really...what is the point of it now?"
Melissa stormed over to the door. She slammed the door behind her.
Randy looked over at Brown. He looked back, his face full of detachment.
"You know," Brown said, "Miss Clark has a point. What is the point?"
Brown headed for the door without another word. He also slammed it behind him.
Randy said nothing. All he could think of was the words that haunted him for a year had come from the lips of his former mentor. Given what Brown did on Slave World, would it be unexpected to see Brown act out again? Would Brown turn Kromagg agent again and attack Randy?
"So," Maggie said with a grin, "alone at last."
"Ye canna," Kat said as she sat in front of her keyboard.
"And why not?" Maggie demanded as she stood next to Randy at the door.
"The minute they touched ye, ye left a bit of an implant," Kat said. "That moment ye lock into the Box, bang! They have ye."
"Come on," Randy said, his eyes on both Kat and Bufford. "Between the two...three...where is Ben?"
"Out," Bufford said, typing at his own keyboard. "He and your friend Mel--"
"Say no more," Randy said.
"Randy--" Maggie started.
"I'm okay, Maggie," Randy said. "If she's staying here, at least she won't be alone."
"Do you want her to stay?" Maggie asked.
Randy stared at Maggie. He did not know what to say. Melissa was done with him after he chose Paige over her. Still, he did not want her to stay.
"Awww! Ye fancy yuir friend?"
Randy looked away from Maggie. Bufford had stopped typing. He had turned to look at Randy. Kat's eyes were also on him. They both looked at him lie a couple watching a good romantic comedy unfold in front of them.
"How about we focus on getting us back into the Box?" Randy suggested. "Between the...four of us, we can think of something."
"Aye," Kat said.
"Agreed," Bufford added. He turned to his computer screen. "Maybe...there is a way to cloak your presence from the mainframe."
"Och!" Kat shrieked. "Maybe I can create some identities."
Randy looked back at Maggie. She smiled.
"Looks like a plan is forming," she commented.
"Looks like," Randy said.
"Are you sure you want to do this?"
Randy thought about the last few months. He had been hurt by Paige's lies. Still she at least had not killed him. That meant something.
Randy looked at Maggie. "Yes."
Randy opened his eyes, letting his body get shape. He turned to look at Maggie. Her face was the same, but her red hair was not jet-black. She wore a tight black corset with a tight skirt with black and white striped leg warmers.
Maggie looked at Randy. Her eyes widened. "Wow."
"What?" Randy asked.
Maggie patted him on the chest.
"Trust me," Maggie said. "You look nothing like yourself."
"Really?"
"And by the way...I've always had a crush on Colin Farrell," Maggie said.
"Uh...let's find her," Randy said.
"Who are we looking for again?"
Randy looked among the booths. It took a moment. It was like she appeared out of nowhere: Nicole. She chatted with an Oriental . It took Randy a moment to realize it was Miashuyhi Kims. She had short black hair with blue streaks that glowed. She wore a black T-shirt and cargo pants. Nicole laughed at something she said, her short hair tossing like it was long. She wore a black corset, but she had black bands on each wrist and a choker on.
"Her," Randy said, pointing.
Nicole noticed him. A grin spreaded across her face. She whispered to Kims. Kims quickly got up and headed up a set of stairs. Nicole put her elbows on the table in front of her.
"Well," Nicole said, "this is a pleasant surprise." She leaned back in the booth. "It takes guts to come in here cloaked."
"Wait," Maggie said. "You know?"
Nicole studied her right hand. "Well, nothing escapes my notice."
Randy sat down. Maggie followed suit.
"Yeah, I figured," Randy said. "Which is why I'm sure you know where my friend Paige is."
"The ?" Nicole said. "Of course." Her eyes narrowed on Randy. "However...she does not want to be found. Why should I go against her wishes."
"Because it's important?" Maggie suggested.
Nicole shook her head. "Not good enough. She doesn't like the half-life you're given her."
"Half-life?" Randy muttered.
"You know...sliding from place to place...no place to call home...friends not trusting you," Nicole said. She shrugged her shoulders. "What did you expect? That she would really stay with you?"
Randy stared at Nicole. Nicole stared back at him, a little smirk on her face. Then a realization came to him.
"You're not real," Randy said. His eyes widened. "Neither am I. This whole day...who are you?"
"What do you--" Nicole started.
"Don't start," Randy cut Nicole off. "The little sly remarks. The face you know I'm cloaked. "Your knowledge...good, but not something attached to a Nicole Harris double. Perhaps you know my identity because cloaked people can sense each other. Or...you realized it when you met me last."
"Bingo," Nicole said. "Wow! I thought that would take forever."
"Okay, what is going on?" Maggie asked.
Randy looked at Maggie. Then he looked at 'Nicole.'
"Pale imitation," Randy said. "The Maggie I know would already have thrown you over a table. I'm only asking once: who are you and what do you want?"
Nicole's face darkened. "What I want? Revenge. Delicious chaos. To see you die from the virus I'm testing on you. As for who I am?"
Nicole's skin melted from her body like acid had hit it. It felt to the floor. All that was left was a husk. It turned various colors and grew until a man sprung out from it.
Before Randy could respond, his double lunged at him. he backhanded Randy across the table. Randy flew through the air, landing on a red table. He fell to the ground, pain shooting through his right arm. He turned to see his double jumped over the booth. He smirked at Randy.
"What did you expect, Heim?" the double said. "You knew we would run into each other eventually. Has that not always been the case with our crossings?"
Crossings? That meant...
Randy shot up. Then he ran.
A shadow fell over his body. He looked up from the wall. His eyes narrowed on Randall.
"I should have known," Randy said. "It was always between us. You set this all up. I'm going to get you. I--"
The dagger came quickly. Randall pulled it out of his pants. Then he lunged at Randy.
Randy dotted to the left. Randall hit the wall. Meanwhile, Randy ran back around the corner and down the stairs.
His mind raced. He had to get out of here. He was in a virtual reality. Virus in the system or not, there had to be a way out. A key out.
Randy made it to the bottom of the stairs, a grin on his face. An idea of what the key might be occurred to him. He stared into the room full of booths. Then he closed his eyes.
Randy opened his eyes. He was back at the bottom of the stairs at the real 'Box.' People sat in their chairs with shades on connected to their little packs. Randy ignored them until he got to the one he wanted: his own body.
Randy grabbed the cord connecting the shades to the pack. He paused. He honestly had no idea where he would be once he pulled it out. He might be at the Box. He might be where he was captured. He might still be here.
Randy shook his head. He could not think of that. Too much was at stake.
"Uh nuh."
Randy flew across the room. His back hit the wall, sending people falling to the floor. he threw his eyes open. Randall stared back at him.
"You can't leave," Randall said. "It would ruin my experiment. I worked too hard on it not to see the end result."
"What?" Randy said, sitting up in the chair. "Why is that? Planning on releasing it on the population?"
"As a matter of fact...yes."
"How can you do that?"
"How can you interfere in a world?" Randall shot back. "If it had never suited your group, you have interfered."
"The world usually was unfair."
"By whom standards?" Randall demanded. "So many people want you dead...I wonder why. Oh, yeah. You ruined their world. They even created an organization to wipe out sliding because of your group's actions."
"And your group is full of saints?"
"No, but we worked within the worlds...once. Now...we are the dark reflection in your world. You want to 'save' it. We...won't let you. Everyone suffers...because of you."
Randy shot up. "I am not taking responsibility for your actions. You unleashed a virus here, it's all on you."
Randall raise his dagger. "No...it's all on you. If the Foundation had never came after me, eve, Peter, Sarah, Eric....we wouldn't be quite so extreme. And now with Paige Kendall...we can up the game."
"Paige," Randy said, his anger raising.
"Oh, yes," Randall said, "Your friend's spiking energy has made her the center of attention. But don't worry. You won't need to worry about that!"
Randall lunged at Randy. Randy pushed himself to the left. Randall's dagger met the cushion of the chair, feathers flying out. Randy's butt hit the floor again. He ignored the recurring theme and dashed for the other wall.
"No, you don't."
A hand grabbed Randy's right shoulder. He became unbalanced and tripped over his leg. hands wrapped around him tackling him to the floor. He barely had time to turn on his back before Randall was in his face, the dagger to Randy's throat.
"You have long since outlived your usefulness," Randall said. "You should have stayed dead."
Randy frowned. He pushed harder at Randall's hands. The dagger was still at his throat.
"The weak one here," Randy said, "is you!"
Randy threw up his knee. It got Randall in the stomach. he fell back. Randy shot over and punched him in the jaw. As he ran for his body, Randy hoped his punch hurt. He made it to his body and grabbed the cord again. He paused and turned to look at Randall.
"By the way," Randy said, "you want a fight; you got one."
Then he pulled the cord. It snapped in two. Randy fell to the floor.
"Ah!"
Randy gasped. Then another gasp escaped his lips as he realized he could not see anything.
"Well, he has awaken."
"Is that good? I mean...is he contagious?"
The darkness was caused by a blind fold. Then Randy realized two things. One was that the blindfold was really a set of shades like he saw in the virtual world. Two was that the voices were familiar.
The shades were taken away. Light blinded Randy for a moment. His eyes adjusted, finding himself face to face with Maggie Beckett.
"Maggie?" Randy muttered.
Maggie frowned. "Albright, he seems to know me." She looked to her right. "What do you think?"
"I think the virus has really ruined his mind."
Randy looked at the speaker. His eyes narrowed on Eve Albright. She stood in front of him dressed in a lab coat and glasses, her black hair in a bun.
"Virus," Randy said. His eyes widened. "You set me up."
"Sir, calm down," Maggie said. "A dangerous virus was introduced into your system during login. Thankfully we caught you in time before you crashed the system. Heaven knows we don't need the whole world ending because the people don't have their fix."
"Maggie...Miss Beckett, listen to me," Randy said. "This isn't what you think. There is more going on than you know..."
"Beckett," Eve said, cutting Randy off, "perhaps you should report that Patient Zero has waken."
"Good idea, Albright," Maggie said.
Eve watched the double go. Randy struggled in the chair he sat in, but the binds were too strong. Eve turned to him, taking off the glasses.
"Did you really think Randall would let you just
walk out of that reality?" Eve asked.
"I will kill him if he harms Paige," Randy said.
"Unlikely," Eve said. "You will not be seeing the outside of this room."
Eve reached into one of her long pockets in her lab coat. Her hand came back with a syringe. She approached Randy.
"I personally can't wait to give Melissa some payback," Eve said. "She has been looking for you."
SHE IS NOT ALONE.
Randy's eyes widened. He saw that eve's eyes had done the same. then her face swung to the right as if she had been slapped. Then she fell to the floor.
The door swung open. Brown entered with Melissa behind him. He frowned at Randy.
"Thank Heaven you turned off your brain cloaker," Brown said. "All I needed was for you to wake up...instant tracking."
"Yes, Professor," Melissa said as she worked on Randy's binds, "we know your telepathy is awesome. Thanks for the reminder. Now will you help me?"
Randy stared at Melissa. His right hand got free. He quickly touched her cheek. Melissa stopped to look at him, her eyes full of surprise.
"Are you real?" Randy asked.
"Uh...yeah," Melissa replied.
"I'm sorry...about everything," Randy said. "Paige. You. Every--"
"Mr. Heim, not now!" Brown barked. "Miss Beckett has our getaway covered. Thank Goodness Bufford had floor plans of this place."
Randy frowned. "Huh?"
"Mr. Heim, we have not seen you in days," Brown said. "We last saw you arguing with Miss Kendall. Then you both vanished."
"The dark sliders are here," Randy said, his other hand getting free. "Somehow, they got me and set me up for this world's downfall."
"Downfall?" Brown said.
Randy stood up. "I'll explain when we are--"
Brown suddenly spun around. Eve's fist got him in the face. She swung her leg out, getting in the stomach.
"Peter...one to cross!" Eve yelled.
Eve punched at Randy. She flattened her palm, getting him in the chest. Pain shot all through Randy's body. She quickly aimed and threw the syringe. It got Melissa in the throat. She gasped and fell to the floor.
"Melissa!" Randy yelled.
Eve ran to the door. There was a red alarm there. She pulled it. Sirens ran out through the room as a red vortex formed near her.
"Ta for now," Eve said.
She lunged for the vortex and vanished. The vortex simmered. Then it stared to close.
"No, you don't."
Before Randy could stop him, Brown jumped into the vortex. It vanished.
"Professor!" Randy yelled to empty air.
The alarms rang out around Randy. He crawled over to Melissa. He tried to lift her up only to fall back to the ground. The alarms continued to go off around him like sprinklers.
Randy stared around the room. What was he going to do?
The vortex simmered. Brown emerged from it. He quickly took in his surroundings. A few feet away was eve. A few feet from her was Peter Carmichael. he stood at a tall console, typing away. He looked up, his dark hair not covering his eyes as they narrowed. With his goatee and long hair, he looked like the devil.
"Eve," Peter warned.
Eve turned around. Brown focused his mind and threw it out, hoping to send Eve flying.
Nothing happened.
"How?" Brown uttered in shock.
"They had help."
Brown turned around. Before he could attack, Randall shot him with darts. He fell to the floor.
Before the darkness took him, Brown looked up. His eyes narrowed on Paige. She smirked.
Then...the darkness got him.
Paige emerged from the red vortex. She took in her surroundings. She was back in the motel room. Good.
"How did it go?"
"Great," Paige said, staring at the bathroom door. "They should do it for us."
The bathroom door opened. The blond-haired man entered. He frowned at her. She looked away for a moment, memories flashing through her head.
"But have they?"
Paige looked at him. "Eve left him in a maximum security government building. He's not getting out."
The sat on the bed. "I've seen him get out of worse."
Paige sat down at the . "If they fail, I will be close enough to them to get info to kill Randy Heim myself." She grabbed his hand. "I won't let anything happen to you, Daniel."
Daniel Carter frowned. "Why do you even care?"
"Because...years from now," Paige said, "I will know you by a different name...Father."
TO BE CONTINUED...
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