Professor Darnell Brown narrowed his eyes on the figure standing next to his bedroom window. He had the face of his ex-friend Richard Hall. He knew better though.
  "Stone," Brown said coldly.
  The thing with Richard's face grinned unnaturally. "Why, Mr. Brown! It is a pleasure to see you have not forgotten me."
  "No," Brown said, "I have not."
  Brown narrowed his eyes on Stone. He thought about throwing Stone out of the window with his mind. Stone stared back, smirking.
  "Did you really think I would appear here if I thought you cold simply toss me out of your window?" Stone asked. "You know the Cromagnon Kromaggs planned for everything. Plans within plans." He smiled. "By the way...lovely ex-wife."
  Brown's back stiffened. The thought that Debra...his Debra...could be dead. His hands balled up into fists.
  "Have a care, Mr. Brown," Stone said.
  "If you have taken away the one good thing in my life...," Brown warned.
  "I have not...yet. However...you have an ability I need. And you...are going to use it."

  Wade Welles backed away from the window. Shock washed over her as she saw Professor Brown with...this guy.
  Who was it? Where was Quinn?

  Randy Heim made it through the overpass. A smile crept onto his face. For days they had been surrounded by rock and woodland. Now that they were at the overpass, Randy expected a clearing to open up, giving the sliders some idea where they were.
  "At last!"
  Randy turned around. Quinn Mallory came up the way behind him, his clothes strained with dirt. He hoped up alongside Randy.
  "Maybe we'll finally see some people," Quinn commented.
  "Maybe," Randy said.
  Quinn frowned at Randy. They were never the best of friends. He didn't think they would ever be. Still...they had a common goal: to get home.
  Randy head around the overpass. The mountains opened up...to reveal super tall redwood trees. It immediately reminded Randy of the Cromagnon Kromaggs and their home.
  "Oh my God!"
  "What--" Randy started. Then he saw what Quinn saw.
  In the edge of the mountain, they were next to...was a manta ship.

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?

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

SLIDERS: ALTERNATE SPIN-SEASON 6
EPISODE 8: THE HUNTING PARTY

  "Now wait a minute!" Rembrandt Brown exclaimed as he followed behind Randy and Quinn. "You're seriously going to go up into that nightmare?"
  Melissa Clark found herself mentally agreeing with Rembrandt. No good had ever come from their encounters with either group of Kromaggs. In fact, she was shocked to see that a manta ship remained after Randy invented a series of wormhole bombs to wipe out all things Kromagg once and for all.
  "I know it's a gamble, Remmy," Quinn said, still walking. "But we've been sliding without a PDL for weeks. It's time we used everything at our disposal to get home."
  "I second that," Randy said, also walking.
  "Good for you to work on your revenge," Rembrandt said, "right?"
  Both of the scientists paused. Melissa watched Randy turn, his face blank. It was something no one was talking about: the fact their old companion Professor Darnell Brown had tried to kill Randy. He had found out he was dying...again. Randy only cared about one thing: seeing Brown pay.
  "Time will tell," Randy said.
  "You're not killing my nephew," Rembrandt said.
  "Guys!" Melissa exclaimed. "Do you think we cannot do this now?"
  "Why not?"
  Melissa rolled her eyes. She turned around. Richard Hall stood behind her. She could make out Jared Heim and Conrad Bennish, Jr. a little bit away. Richard held her glaze however.
  "I'm in," Richard said with a smirk.
  This was how he was now. Ever since Affirmative Action World, Richard had stopped talking to her. He actually preferred being around Jared, Bennish, and Rembrandt lately, leaving Melissa feeling alone. Then there were the pop shots he took at Randy.
  "Nothing's going on," Melissa said.
  "Got that right," Richard said.
  "Listen, Rich--"
  "Whoa! No way!"
  Richard turned to look at Bennish and Jared.
  "Yeah way, man!" Richard exclaimed. "It's an actual alien ship!"
  "Actually, the Kromaggs are an offshot of--" Quinn started.
  "Like I said," Richard said, "an actual alien ship."
  Melissa sighed helplessly. She did not know what to do. She loved Richard, but Randy and she...
  She looked over at Randy. He looked back at her as well. She turned quickly, running into Richard's angry eyes.
  "So," Richard said, walking past Melissa, "what's the game plan?"

  "Well, you're a tense one."
  Richard turned around. He leaned up against a big rock, letting his thoughts wander. Jared stood over him, arms over chest.
  "Were you expecting a wuss?" Richard asked. "Screw that."
  "So screw Melissa then?" Jared asked.
  Richard turned away. He had told her that he was with her because he loved her. She...haven't given him much of a response.
  "Screw everything," Richard said. "Especially...Randy Heim."
  Richard's eyes narrowed on Randy. He should have known it was a matter of time. Rebecca Pryce was gone. Naturally the Egghead would drift over to Melissa. History and all.
  Richard shot up. "Come on!"
  "Huh? What?" Jared stuttered. "Where?"
  Richard looked at him like he lost his mind. "To have some fun. Of course."

  Randy stared at the wreckage. He had wondered about the aftereffects of what he did. He assumed that his 'slider balls' had completely decimated the Kromagg technology. For him to error when he was in trance...was a shock.
  "Pondering your wreckage?"
  Randy turned to look at Quinn. He glared at Quinn as he grew closer.
  "Would you have felt guilty if you killed Colin?" Randy challenged. "He was a clone of you sent to kill you."
  Quinn glared at him. "Don't you ever mention Colin to me again."
  "Or what?" Randy challenged, standing face-to-face with Quinn. "If this was an actual fight, you would lose."
  "Don't underestimate me," Quinn said.
  Randy looked at Quinn with indifference.
  "Don't overestimate yourself," Randy shot back. "Who wants Quinn Mallory, inventor of sliding, when they can have Randy Heim, inventor of sliding weaponry?"
  "No matter who you sell out?" Quinn asked. "No wonder Melissa isn't with you."
  "And yet she's not with Richard either."
  "At the moment."
  Randy chuckled. "Riiiiight."
  "You have no heart anymore," Quinn said. "As long as you stay that way, you'll never have her."
  Quinn smirked. Randy felt like punching him in the face. Quinn headed past him.
  "Now," Quinn said, "let's see if we can savage some tech for home."

  "Do you really think this a good idea? I mean...alien ship. 'Aliens?' 'Event Horizon?'"
  "They're dead, Bennish. Who's gonna jump out at us now?"
  "Dude! 'Event Horizon.'"
  Richard moved through the wreckage. The background noise of Jared and Bennish was not helping. He paused. Laying on the floor were clothes that Richard knew was the suit of the Cromagnon Kromaggs. He guessed Egghead's device...vaporized them.
  Jared came up beside him. He took a look. Then he turned around.
  "See, Bennish?" Jared asked. He frowned. "Where did he go?"
  "Doesn't matter," Richard said, stepping over the suit. He turned to look at Jared. "You coming?"
  Jared smirked. "Wow. You're really mad at Randy, huh?"
  "This isn't about Randy."
  "Really?"
  "I know that look."
  Jared laughed. Richard put his arms over his chest. The last few slides had been rough on their friendship. His ex-girlfriend becoming a dark slider didn't help. Or him trying to leave Richard on another world. Lately though Jared had been making an attempt.
  "Why are you doing this?" Richard asked.
  Jared frowned. "This?"
  "You're not trying to stab me in the back," Richard asked. "Why is that?"
  "Perhaps he has someone else for that."
  Richard turned around quickly. He was met by a fist to the floor. He fell on the Kromagg suit...unconscious.

  "No sign of him."
  Melissa frowned at Rembrandt. He only shrugged his shoulders.
  "Hey," Rembrandt said. "Don't shoot the messenger."
  "What is he thinking?" Melissa asked aloud, throwing up her hands.
  "Isn't it obvious, Girl?" Rembrandt asked. "He's heartbroken. He ain't thinking."
  Melissa growled. That was all she needed. Everyone already had various issues with Randy. In the mood Richard was in he was likely...to be Richard. That wasn't a good thing given his dislike of Randy.
  "Melissa."
  Melissa looked over at Rembrandt. He looked at her like a father about to walk his daughter down the aisle. It made Melissa a little nervous.
  "Who do you love?" Rembrandt asked. "Randy? Richard?"
  "I--" Melissa started. She stopped looking down. "I don't know. I...was in...bad shape last year. Upset over Ben's death. Hating Randy for choosing Paige over me. Going Goth. Getting self-destructive to the point....Richard barely pulled me back from the edge...literally.
  "Randy...died. Or we thought he was. The whole time he was gone...he was on my mind. What would I Say if I saw him again? Could I forgive him for what happened when we got back to Earth Prime? I did. Not only that, but...there have been times...when flashes of the old Randy show. The Randy I--"
  "Hey!"
  Melissa turned around. Bennish ran toward the two of them from the manta ship.
  "Where you guys get off to?" Rembrandt demanded. "Don't you think we should be sticking together?"
  Bennish threw up thumbs up. "Neat-o, Rem Man! Richard and Jared already in the ship though."
  "What?" Melissa managed.
  "Don't call me Rem Man," Rembrandt added.
  Bennish's eyes widened. "How about I call us...dead?"
  Melissa turned around. Her eyes followed behind Bennish's. People ran out of the forest. Their clothes were ragged, but there was no mistaking the Kromagg lasers they were aiming.
  "Oh, sh--" Bennish started.
  "Duck!" Rembrandt yelled.

  Quinn stepped onto the bridge. It did not look any better than the rest of the ship. He stared at the demolished front. It had taken more of the mountainside when Randy's slide bomb had gone off.
  Quinn frowned. Then he nodded. Definitely worse than the rest of the ship.
  His eyes fell on some controls. He headed that way. Hopefully it would work and he could try out his theory.
  "Hm."
  Quinn ignored Randy's comment. He had really hoped that Randy would stop up to the challenge of getting them home. Instead, he inspired conflict with everyone. So unlike the Randy he got to know when they faced Logan St. Claire year ago.
  "You're doing it again."
  Quinn blinked, not realizing that he was staring at Randy. He turned quickly. He pushed some buttons. The console lit up immediately. Quinn grinned.
  "A step in the right direction," Quinn remarked.
  "Yes," Randy said. "One more step toward finding Wade."
  Quinn glared.

  Wade looked across from Diana's bed. Professor Maximillion Arturo looked back at her.
  "Well?" Wade asked.
  Arturo's forehead wrinkled up in thought.
  "Obviously there is more to this Richard Hall than meets the eye," Arturo commented. "And given Mr. Brown's caginess and Miss Davis's condition, I think it is safe to say this isn't a coincidence."
  Wade nodded. She could not help, but agree. Her fear for Quinn's safety threatened to boil out.
  Her hand felt warm. Wade came out of her thoughts to find Arturo holding her hand. He managed a smile.
  "How long have we been on this journey, Miss Welles?" Arturo asked. He paused. "Long enough to know Mr. Mallory's ability to beat the odds. And with other...obligations...on his mind I am sure he will only slide here quicker."
  Wade looked down at her engagement ring and smiled. Arturo called it other obligation. What he meant was the fact Quinn had proposed to her before he slid out to Randy. She had said yes. He was coming back.
  "So what do we do?" Wade asked. "Can we even get back into the lab--"
  "Mr. Jensen...was our only ally," Arturo said. "And he...was moved on. Our only hope of getting back in...lies with Miss Davis awaking and being able to provide concrete reasons to continue exploring the multiverse. Especially..."
  Arturo did not finish the sentence. Wade knew. Brown had mentioned something about the Kromaggs being done.
  With no enemy to fight, why slide?

  Melissa rolled across the rough ground. She made it over to a bush. She shot up quickly...and into the line of one of the ragged-dressed men, a laser trained on her.
  Suddenly, a laser took him out. She turned to see who had saved her. A gasp escaped her lips.
  Coming out of the bushes was Ben Loveland. Not just any double. It was him. The one the sliders had just met on Sunken California World. The one who had wanted to rape Melissa.
  "Bet you weren't expecting to see me again?" Ben smirked.
  Melissa glared at him. Laserfire caused her to jump. She turned to see several men dressed in green run past her to return laserfire on the ragged men.
  "You're lucky I was scouting," Ben said. "They don't let anyone near that ship. I gotta report this."
  Ben let loose with a yell that reminded Melissa of Xena when she did her yell. The men in green started to fall back.
  "Come on!" Ben yelled.
  "I don't think so," Melissa said.
  Ben smirked. "Still sour grapes, huh?"
  "No," Melissa said. "My friends--"
  Ben laughed. "Do you ever keep up with your friends?" Ben grabbed her. "They're on borrowed time because they have tech. They'll be fine. Come on."
  "No--"
  "Do you want to live to save them?" Ben demanded. "Then come on."
  She didn't like it. What choice did she have? Melissa followed him.

  Randy felt a tingling. He looked around the bridge of the manta ship. All he saw was wreckage, a living reminder of his actions months ago.
  He turned to look at Quinn. Quinn stood over the console, staring at who knew what. He kept it wasn't Quinn making him tingle. However, it was familiar.
  "So are you going to be a living statue or help?" Quinn asked without looking at him.
  Randy turned to look at him. He walked over to the console. All he saw were numbers running across the surface. He frowned.
  "What are you looking for?" Randy asked.
  "Think about it," Quinn said. "We were the number one enemies of the Dynasty. Surely they have logs of us...or at least coordinates."
  "We have no way of knowing if this ship was the Atlantians or the Cromagnons."
  Quinn looked down at the nearest suit.
  "Definitely Cromagnon," Quinn said. "Just wish I could decrypt this much..."
  His words became jumbles. Randy's eyes fell on the numbers. They became simple, like an equation. One...Randy knew he could crack. He moved toward the console, the tingling forgotten.

  Jared watched the ragged men run down the corridor. He had already watch some of them take Richard away. It felt weird the feeling he felt as he watched. From liking Richard to hating him to getting satisfaction over his drama with Melissa, he had seen it all.
  "Was that a tingle of guilt over your face? How...unlike you."
  Jared turned his head. He stared at the speaker. It was a black woman in hr thirties. She was in all black, blending into the shadows that were in this hollow wall. There was a time she wouldn't be that way with him. They were friends after all.
  "People change, Dru," Jared said.
  Dru grinned. "Really? Is that what you're saying?"
  "Lay off, Dru."
  Jared looked at the other figure next to her. It was an Asian woman, hair tied back in a ponytail. Like Dru, she was dressed in black. Th better to blend.
  "It took forever to see where your head was at," she said, her eyes on Jared, "but we're glad to have you back."
  "Speak for yourself, Kims," Dru said.
  "If you're so smart, Dru," the figure next to Jared, "then what's next? That group will storm the bridge. How does that help us?"
  "They get rid of the competition, Ethan," Dru remarked. "Then...we move in. And head home." Her eyes fell on Jared. "Any problem with that?"
  Jared knew what Dru was doing. Once he had not been with them for months, he was still leader of the gang. That is the way he would be...unless he put other people above them. Then...
  "No," Jared said. "No problem at all."

  Richard's eyes flickered. It took him a moment to realize he was being carried by two people. They looked like they were going through forest.
  "Dude! We were just passing through! Can't you just...let us go?"
  Richard grinned at Bennish. Sometimes, he was just...silly.
  "I think we are going to let our leaders be the judge of that, actually," an unfamiliar voice said.
  "Perhaps he has a point," another voice said.
  "You are showing some dangerous signs of individuality, Diggs," the unfamiliar voice said. "They do frown on that."
  "And you speak for them?" Diggs continued. "You have been here for what? Two weeks?"
  "Back off, old man," a new voice said...very familiar.
  "Or what?" Diggs challenged.
  "Gentlemen," a fourth voice who Richard recognized as Melissa's said. "We only have one enemy...the unwashed. Let us not turn on each other."
  Both men fell silent. There continued to be more movement. After a few moments, the two men dropped Richard. He continued to not move.
  "Is he ever going to walk up?" one of the men asked.
  "Looks like he was hit hard," the other said. "Didn't see any unwashed on the ship. Maybe these others brought friends."
  "Probably," said the first voice. "If so, our men will bring them back."
  Their men? That meant Melissa was in danger. Then he remembered she hurt him with the Egghead. He was sure she was fine.
  "The leaders," Diggs announced.
  Richard heard movement. Then silence. He dared to look up. His eyes widened on the figures emerging from the giant tree in front of them.
  "Oh, no way!" Richard exclaimed.

  "So...what happened?"
  Ben turned to look at Melissa as they walked through the underbrush. He frowned at her with a 'is she serious?' look. Finally, he looked forward.
  "Obviously, we survived the avalanche," Ben replied. "Thanks a lot."
  "We have no control--" Melissa started.
  "Anyway," Ben cut her off," We came across same eccentric...Quincy or something...thought it wouldn't work and needed guinea pigs. Kathy didn't want to stay there. Too cold. We winded up here with the alpha group. I...don't play nice with others."
  Melissa nodded. "I remember."
  "Here I am," Ben said. "Among the unwashed. Unlike the alphas...we like it here."
  Melissa heard movement. Suddenly, four figures fell out of the trees by ropes. One of them stopped, her eyes on Melissa. She turned to Ben.
  "New one?" she asked.
  "Old friend, Maggie," Ben said. "It's all good."
  Maggie Beckett glared at him for a moment. Her eyes fell on Melissa. Melissa did not know what to make of her. Sh was used to a redhead, not a short-haired blonde.
  "Fine," Maggie finally said. "We'll see what Di says."
  Melissa frowned. Di?

  Jared watched the men leave quickly. It did not seem like they Had found Quinn or Randy. Good.
  "What?" Ethan uttered. "No prisoners?"
  "Something just have gone wrong," Kims said.
  "Yea," Dru said, her eyes on Jared. "Something."
  Jared frowned. "I don't think I like that tone."
  "And yet...Miss Preston is correct."
  A fourth figure emerged from the shadows causing Kims to gasp. Ethan bumped into Jared. Jared stared at the figure as he came into the light. It was Richard. But he had just seen Richard carried out...and this one's cold eyes looked...familiar.
  Then it hit Jared.
  "Stone," Jared said.
  Stone tilted his head.
  "Oh, sh--" Jared started.

  Randy blinked. He looked down at the console. He grinned. A few moments. Some careful calculations. Now he had an English/Kromagg translator in the system. What he saw in front of him was...
  He frowned. According to this ship's log, this ship was sliding here form Rebecca Pryce's world with something labeled 'dangerous anomalies." And this world...was the home the Cromagnon Kromaggs had created after Kromagg Prime. It was the world Randy had reached his full potential...creating weapons that destroyed the Kromagg Dynasty.
  Randy started to turn.
  "What do you think 'dangerous anomalies'--" Randy started.
  The words died in his mouth. Quinn was unconscious on the floor. Four figures stared at him.
  "You always have been the most interesting alternates, Randall," Peter Carmichael said.
  Randall Heim stared at Randy. "I cannot disagree on that fact." His eyes narrowed. "Pity for him. Eve?"
  Eve stepped away from Randall. She aimed something and fired. Randy only had time to see Isabel smirk before electricity coursed through his body, knocking him unconscious.

  Randy's eyes flickered. As he started to become more aware, his memories came back. He sat up quickly...his eyes fell on Miles Collier.
  "Well...you're awake," Miles said. "At last. After all the trouble...I...got...you."
  Randy smirked. "Good for you."
  "Do you think this is funny?" Miles asked. "Do you ever take responsibility for your actions? Races dead. People...dead. You're the reason. No wonder Hall...your...alternate...double...wants you dead."
  Randy said nothing. He sat back on his prison bench. He studied him.
  "I did what needed to be done,"Randy said. "What no one seem to be able to do. Do I have sleepless nights? Of course. Who wouldn't?"
  "And yet," Miles said, putting his arms behind his back, "you avoided us for months. Avoiding punishment."
  "As I recalled," Randy said, "you got in MY way."
  "You tried to help Randall Heim and his associates."
  "I was helping myself."
  "And that makes it any less wrong?"
  Randy threw his hands up. "Then why don't you kill me? You have me where you want me. Why don't you finish me?"
  Miles's face darkened. Randy grinned for a moment. Then he stood up and walked to his cell door. He smirked.
  "We both know the truth, don't we?" Randy continued. "Who knows how many more groups are out there? Sliding around under your nose and affecting worlds? Or any more aliens? Aliens who have weapons your world hasn't even thought of yet?" He put on a triumphant smile. "You need what's in my head, don't you?"
  Miles frowned. Then...his face went blank.
  "Well, you know what they say," Miles said.
  "What's that?"
  Miles revealed a grin. "Pride comes before the fall."
  Miles turned and headed out of the prison ward. Randy watched him go. His mind pondered what he meant.

  Miles stepped out of the prison ward. He could not believe the arrogance of him. If he was not of use to the government...
  "Trouble?"
  Miles glared at Randall and Eve. Given the levels of security here, they obviously slid in. It was also obvious by the fact that no alarms were going off that they were cloaked.
  Eve wrapped her arms around Randall's waist. She grinned.
  "Yes,"she said, "he's brilliant."
  "And yet," Miles said, "I have someone else in the cage."
  Randall smirked. "And who got him there?"
  Miles crossed his arms over his chest.
  "So can you make him talk?" Miles challenged.
  "Of course, he can," Eve said, kissing Randall's ear.
  "It's just the matter of finding the right stimulus," Randall said. "And I happen to know who that is."

  Melissa sat down. She turned to the door. Ben shut it behind him. She looked forward...staring face to face with a Diana Davis. She stared back at Melissa, her hair braided and eyes full of fire.
  "So," Di said, "you're the one who's going to get us out of this."
  Melissa frowned. "Me?"
  "Did I strutter?"
  "No, but you're more of a scientist than I am."
  Di laughed. "Nice to know my doubles are just as intelligent." She frowned. I wonder if they are just as foolish." She stood up. "I came here weeks ago. I was on a world where I restored lost functions to people. On it, I discovered a...double of a person I knew. I was told to leave it alone. But you know we scientists...always got to settle our curiosity. So...I created a prototype portable dimensional laboratory to..."
  Di paused. Melissa must have been looking at her funny because Di rolled her eyes.
  "My PDL," Di said.
  Melissa nodded. "Oh."
  "Anyway, I used to travel. It broke down...here." She looked over at Melissa. "But you...have your own device."
  Melissa did not know what to say. For some time now there had been a growing argument among the others. To reveal sliding or not to reveal. Once the genie is out of the bottle, who knew what the consequences were. She needed a way to get to the others however.
  "I'm not the one you're looking for," Melissa said, plan forming. "That...would be Randy."
  Di's eyes widened. "Randy? Randy Heim?"

  Stone stepped off the platform. For a moment, he paused. Something was off, but what?
  He stared over at Grant at the console. Grant looked back at him, his contempt not even hidden. He did not care for it.
  "Where is Collier?" Stone asked.
  "Unavailable," Grant said shortly.
  "I see."
  Stone headed out of the room. Grant could be as short with him as he liked. It was about time he revealed how much of a hand he had in this.
  It was also time...to find Richard Hall.

  The light landed on Richard's face, causing him to look up. His eyes squeaked. Then they narrowed on his visitor.
  "Kathy,"Richard said.
  "Yeah," the double said. "Didn't think I would survive the avalanche, did you?"
  "Well, I was hoping--" Richard started.
  Kathy was on him quickly. She slapped him across the face. Pain shot through Richard's cheek.
  "Be careful," Kathy warned. "I run things here now. Don't want to see me cross."
  Richard rubbed his cheek. "Ain't that the truth? So...where's my friends?"
  "Benny and Remmy?" Kathy asked. "Out of reach for the moment. You want to help them? Then you better help me."
  "Okay. Shoot," Richard said. "What do you want?"
  Kathy studied Richard. Her look wondered whether she should trust him or not. Finally, she narrowed her eyes on him.
  "What I want," Kathy said, "is power. What I want is the ability to go where I please. What I want...is your timer."

  Quinn opened his eyes. He moved quickly, realizing he was in a cell. He had only been there briefly, but he recognized the cells from the Dark Slider World. He was back.
  Where was the timer? Where was Randy?
  "Well...aren't you just locked away?"
  Quinn looked at his cell door. Two figures stood there. There was Stone standing with hands behind his back. Then there was the man Stone stood behind. He looked in his large forties with his salted hair and beard. He studied Quinn like he was some insect under a microscope.
  "I knew the Quinn Mallory of this world briefly," the man said. "He was at one of my wife's dinner party, talking about the theories of transdimensional capabilities. She ate it up." The man grinned for a moment, his dark eyes glazed over at some memory. Then he blinked, coming back to the present with eyes full of bitterness. "She lives. He...died. His curiosity was the death of him. I refuse to let more of my countrymen fall to that fate. A law was passed in 2005, barring sliding from this world. You have broken that law. Your options are limited. You will assist Hall in bringing in the missing fugitives. Or...Hall will snap your neck here and now."
  Quinn's jaw dropped. His mind raced over what to do. All he wanted to do was see Wade.
  "Well, Mr. Mallory?" the man asked.

  Wade sat next to Diana's bed. There still have not been any change. Still...it was better for her to be there. It kept Wade out of trouble. It kept her from thinking...was Brown a traitor?
  "Diana," Wade said. "What happened? How did you get into that condition? Were you as worried about Mallory as I was about Quinn? Did you push yourself too far? Were you pushed?"
  Wade touched Diana's hand. She held it in hers. Just thinking of Quinn made Wade's eyes water. She stared at Diana, wishing she knew what happened.
  A rush of air hit Wade, causing her to gasp. Suddenly, she found herself...in a dark room. Her eyes adjusted quickly.
  It was the lab. She frowned since she had not turned off the light. She snapped the light on...to find Professor Darnell Brown standing over her desk.
  Wade frowned. Not her desk. DIANA'S desk. She...was seeing what Diana saw.
  "What in the--," they both started.
  Brown held up a hand. Lightheadedness filled her, knocking her out.
  "Ah!"
  Wade snapped back from the bed, gasping quickly. Her eyes widened as she saw she was not alone. Diana...gasped, too.
  "Diana?" Wade uttered.
  Diana nodded. "Where...is he?"

  "Is this the right thing to do?" Ben asked from the other side of Di.
  Melissa looked over at Di next to her. Di stared at him like he's lost his mind.
  "It's Randy Heim," Di replied. "No doubt."
  "Well, the only one I know was a psycho with a love for knives," Ben said. "No brains there."
  "Well, if you're so worried, honey," Maggie said next to Melissa, holding up her Uzi, "you got me and my guerrillas to back you up. Any questions?"
  "Yeah," Ben replied. "Are you high?"
  "Do you have a death wish?" Maggie shot back.
  "We do not need to worry," Diana said. "Randy Heim will get us out of this."
  Melissa watched a few of the other men in green. They smiled, hope obvious on their face. She wasn't sure she liked the fact of them putting Randy on a pedestal, like he was a god. It could be dangerous if he failed.
  The clearing hit the mountains again. Melissa could make out the manta ship. She just hoped Randy was still in it.

  "Everyone's playing their little games..."
  Randy ignored it. He should have known. It was after all a matter of time.
  "...so what are you..."
  Randy sat up, looking at his cell door. Cassandra stared back at him, in all of her goth glory. She kneeled down, smirking.
  "...player or pawn?" she finished.
  Randy stared at his prosthetic. It was months ago that Stone had hurt hurt his arm. He was sure the others thought his arm was still healing. the truth was it had healed long enough. He had another use for this prosthetic. He touched pinky finger to the finger next to it and it came alive. He grinned at the vision.
  "Player," Randy replied.

  "Hello!" Jared yelled.
  Jared stumbled down the hallway, a result of tripping trying to get away from Stone.
  Jared paused, using one arm to hold himself. His mind remembering Stone going after him and his gang like they were candy in a bag for him to chew up. He could only hope they were okay.
  Suddenly, pitter-patter sounds echoed through the hallway. He knew what it was. He quickly stumbled down a corner. He leaned into the shadows.
  The footsteps grew closer. Jared squeezed into the shadows more. He sure hoped it wasn't Stone. If it was, he was as good as...
  Jared fell back. The wall gave way. Then he realized it wasn't a wall. He leaned against doors.
  He turned around, his mind on finding a hiding place. His jaw dropped.
  Behind him were three test tubes. The figures...one female, the other two male...floated in them. Jared stepped closer, wondering. As he grew closer, he saw that the woman had purple hair and pale skin.
  Who was she?
  A hand touched Jared's shoulder. He screamed.

  Miles entered the prison wing again. He felt confident that soon Randy Heim would be giving his world all of his knowledge. He hated he had to relieve on Randall and his bunch, but it was a small price to pay...
  Miles turned the corner. His eyes widened on the jail cell.
  Randy...was gone.
  "Problem, Collier?"
  Miles turned around. Stone stood behind him. Next to him was a collared Quinn Mallory. Miles glared at him.
  "What do you think you are doing?" Miles demanded.
  "Apparently I will be tracking a known terrorist with Mr. Mallory's assistance," Stone replied.
  "Under whom authority?"
  "The one whom authority matters...mine."
  Miles looked past them, his eyes still widened. A new figure came into focus. Miles could barely contain his surprise.
  "Edward?" Miles uttered. "Whatever brings you..."
  "Your sloppiness, Collier," Edward said. "That...and my wife. Where is she? Where's Eve?"

  Jared narrowed his eyes on him. "Are you trying to scare me?"
  Randy looked back at him. "Sorry." He looked past Jared. His eyes widened. "Oh my God!"
  "Yeah," Jared said. "I wonder who she...they are."
  "The Yuzaki."
  "Huh?"
  "They're from the future," Randy said. "A timeline where the Kromaggs took over. A time where gene splicing changed the Humaggs." He studied the tubes. "I thought they vanished when the Kromaggs and Humaggs ceased to exist."
  "No such luck."
  Randy turned around. A black woman stood in the door Next to her was a woman who Randy knew as Miashuyhi Kims. There was also a man who...
  Randy frowned. "Ethan?"
  "Yeah," Ethan said, stepping forward. "Do I know you?"
  "Not exactly," Randy said. "I just know your doubles. Are you gay, too?"
  "While this is nice," the black woman interrupted, "why the hell was the man trying to kill us?"
  Randy looked at Jared. "Man?"
  "Stone's here,' Jared said.
  "What?" Randy said. "Where's everybody? We gotta get out--"
  "No one's going anywhere," the black woman said.
  Randy stared at her.
  "Dru," Jared said, stepping forward. "Trust him. He knows what he's doing."
  Dru crossed her arms over her chest. "Not from what I can see. Who is he to you anyway?"
  "On most worlds," Randy said, "I'm his brother."
  "Oh," Kims gasped.
  "Hey, little bro," Ethan added. "How about a--"
  Dru glared at both of them. They shut up quickly. Randy frowned.
  "Jared, how do you know--" Randy started.
  "We're from the same world, Egghead," Dru said. "He left us for you. Now...he gets to choose. So Jared...him or us?"

  Richard ducked. He looked beside himself to find Bennis and Rembrandt.
  "Oh, God," Bennish said. "Not again."
  Richard looked over at Kathy.
  "I thought you said you ran this turf?" Richard asked. "Why are we ducking?"
  "Obviously, their guerrillas are here," Kathy said. She smirked. "But I have my own." She turned. "A Squad, go! Sandy, stay with me! Bruno, Mike, back up A Squad!"
  Then Kathy stood up. She looked down at Richard.
  "You coming?" she asked.

  Maggie sat down quickly. "Dammit! Who's shooting over there? One of my doubles?"
  Di peeked out from a tree. "It doesn't matter. Can you give us covering fire?"
  "Me and my guerrillas? No doubt, Di. You're getting in."
  "You ready for this?"
  Melissa turned to look at Ben. She frowned.
  "Is that concern?" Melissa asked. "From you?"
  "Well, I would hate for something to happen to you and your boyfriend refuses to help."
  "Randy isn't my boyfriend."
  "Who's fault is that?"
  "Ready!"
  Melissa narrowed her eyes on Ben. She so hated him.
  Maggie shot up quickly. She opened fire.
  "Go!" Di yelled.

  "Well, Jared?" Dru asked.
  Jared did not know what to say. He had no allegiance to anyone, but his gang. On his world, he was an only child. This was a non-brainer.
  "You have to ask, Dru?" Jard counted. "Let's get out--"
  "First...kill him," Dru said.
  "He hasn't done anything to me."
  "He brought Kromaggots down on our head."
  "I also killed them," Randy spoke up.
  "Make a choice, Jared," Dru said, ignoring Randy. "Him or--"
  A whir shot through the room. A wall dissolved into a green vortex. Figures emerged, distracting Dru.
  Jared did not even think, but to think of a distraction. He ran to a console and pushed a button.

  Randy saw the figures. It was Stone...along with Quinn and Miles. Another figure also emerged that Randy did not recognize.
  SSSSSSSSSSSSSHHH!!!
  Randy turned away from the vortex. The tubes...were opening. He looked at the console, his eyes widening.
  "Jared, no!" Randy yelled.
  "Come on!" Jared yelled. He shot for the door.
  Randy frowned. He looked at the tubes. The water keeping Isis and her men in suspended animation was emptying out. He did not want to be here when she got out.
  Randy ran for the doors. He paused. Richard, Bennish, and Rembrandt were there. Gunmen were behind them, keeping them in place. Beyond them was Kathy...and...
  Randy's eyes widened at the same time as the blond woman's eyes widened. She put on a triumphant smile. He narrowed his eyes on her.
  "Cassandra," Randy said.
  Cassandra tilted her head. "Randy."

  Quinn saw his chance and snatched the key to the collar around his neck. Then he ran for the door.
  He turned to look at the tubes. There were three figures in them. The water had emptied and the machines aired them out. They wore white suits. He could make out symbols on their faces...and ridges on their foreheads.
  Not human.
  Quinn ran faster.

  "You won't escape this time," Cassandra said.
  "We'll see," Randy replied.
  Cassandra whipped out a laser. "Try me."
  "Do you want to take the chance?" Randy challenged. "We already know how this ends. You don't kill me." Randy stepped closer. "Someone else does."
  Suddenly, a figure shot up beside the two of them. Randy turned...and got slapped in the face by Stone. He shot out of the door...and into a wall.
  "He...is mine," Stone said, lunging at her.

  Richard saw him. He reacted instantly. He turned, snatched up a gun, and turned to fire at Stone. Stone was right there in front of him.
  "I do not think so, Mr. Hall," Stone snapped.
  He grabbed Richard by the throat.
  "What is going on?" Kathy demanded. "Stop this--"
  Stone grabbed her with his other hand. He snapped her neck. The gunmen saw...and ran for it.
  Rembrandt snatched up a laser. "Put him down, Stone."
  Stone tightened his grip on Richard's throat. He smirked.
  "Make me," Stone replied.

  Randy made it to his feet. He saw Stone choking Richard. He reached for a knife...
  "I don't think so."
  Randy turned. Randall punched him in the jaw.
  "Three to cross," Randall said.

  Melissa heard the noise and broke out in a run. Her mind raced. What was going on?
  She turned a corner. A red vortex was in the hallway. Randall held Randy in his arms. Even stood behind him.
  "No!" Melissa yelled.
  Randall and Eve turned to look at her. They smirked. Randall jumped into the wormhole. It simmered as he vanished. Eve ran for it.
  Melissa was faster. She tackled her. Before Eve could react, Melissa penned her to the floor.
  "You're not going anywhere," she announced.

  Quinn got the collar from around his neck. He saw Stone with Richard. He saw a loose pipe and grabbed it up.
  "Hey!" Quinn yelled.
  Stone turned...just in time to get a lot of pipe to the face. He dropped to the floor, Richard beside him. Quinn kneeled beside him.
  "You okay?" Quinn asked.
  "Never better," Richard croaked.
  "Good," Jared said above them. "We need to go. Randy said opening those tubes? Bad news."
  Quinn looked over at them...in time to see a figure step down. It was a female. Her purple hair was still damp, but she took in her surroundings easily.
  "Where is the Heim Prime?" she demanded.

  Brown opened his door slowly. He had just dropped Debra off at her mother's. the lat thing he wanted was another scare.
  He turned on the light. No one was in the hall of his house. Good.
  Brown started to walk past the living room.
  "Going somewhere?"
  Brown paused. He looked into the living room. Wade Welles sat on his couch. So did Maximillion Arturo and Steve Jensen. Near the window...was Diana Davis.
  "Remember me?" Diana said. "The girl you left for dead?"
  "Now, Miss Davis--" Brown started.
  Wade shot up. "What have you done to my fiance? Where's Quinn?"
  "I? Nothing."
  "We find that hard to believe, Mr. Brown," Arturo said, "given what Miss Davis has told us. We want answers and we would like them now so..."
  SLEEP.
  Brown watched as his command took shape. Arturo fell back on the couch. Jensen ell over. Diana fell to the floor. He grinned...until he realized Wade was still awake.
  "What--" Brown started.
  "You did this?" Wade uttered.
  "How are you still awake?" Brown asked.
  Wade's eyes widened. "Oh, God. What have the Kromaggs done to you?"
  "Made me a ticking time bomb actually," Brown replied. "I would have loved to have lived my days out in peace, but you just could not leave me alone, could you?" He stepped closer. "Now I have to take care of you."

TO BE CONTINUED...


 

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