Wade Welles's eyes narrowed on the guard in front of her.
  "What do you mean I'm not authorized?" Wade asked.
  "Perhaps for the same reason I am not."
  Wade turned around. She sighed in relief as she saw the familiar figure of Maximillion Arturo heading down the hall toward her. She had a frown that told her he had been busy.
  "He was given word from Washington to not let us pass," Arturo said.
  "What about Diana?" Wade asked. She tossed her head in the guard. "Where is she?"
  The guard looked down at Wade. "She...has clearance."
  Wade turned back to Professor Arturo. His face matched her. She looked at the guard again.
  What was going on?

  Miles Collier glared at the woman sitting across from him. She crossed her leather-clad legs over each other. Her sweater-clad arms held her the arms of her beige chair she was in calmly. Her face said it all as he sat in her den. Eve Albright was not afraid of him.
  "I am only going to ask you one more time," Miles said.
  Eve rolled her eyes, her braided black hair falling back. "And the answer will be the same. I have not seen Randall Heim since you imprisoned him. Perhaps your so-called 'terrorists' had something to do with his escape."
  "The same 'terrorists' breaking in for their comrades?"
  "Can you say 'distraction?'"
  "Fine," Miles said, standing up. "Choose not to talk to me. I am sure Edward would love to hear my thoughts."
  "Then by all means...tell him."
  Miles glanced at her for another minute. Then he stormed out. He hid his grin as he pulled out an earpiece.
  "Grant--" Miles started.
  "The receiver works, Sir," the voice of his lieutenant replied.
  "Good," Miles said. "Let's find us some terrorists."

  "Are you sure?"
  "I'm sure."
  "But...really sure? I mean not a peek from that room?"
  "I'm sure."
  "But--"
  "Guys," Melissa Clark said.
  Richard Hall and Rembrandt Brown quieted down. They, along with Jared Heim, sat on the couch in their room in the Dominion Hotel. All of their eyes was on one thing: the door.
  "Rembrandt...I have to...agree with...Richard," Jared Heim said.
  Melissa gasped in mock shock. Jared glared at her.
  "I agree with Melissa," Richard said, looking at Jared. "You...agree with--"
  "Don't push your luck, Hall," Jared said. "I haven't forgotten Lizzie."
  "We haven't forgotten Isabel, either," Melissa said.
  "Looks like the first step to get to her," Rembrandt said, "is going on behind that door."

  Quinn Mallory stood over the bed. Randy Heim laid on the bed, his eyes looking toward the ceiling. It didn't even seem like he noticed Quinn. Quinn knew better.
  "Well?" Quinn uttered.
  "Well what?" Randy said, his eyes still starting at the ceiling.
  "Are you going to get out of the bed?" Quinn asked.
  "He was here," Randy said. "Brown was here and knocked me out without breaking a sweat. And Rebecca..."
  "Uh," Quinn cut in. "You're the one who's been protesting how much you didn't lose her. Don't brood now." He sat down in a chair. "Wonder about the people still here. We have to get them home. Starting with Jared...your brother."
  Randy smirked. "You know on Earth Prime my brother was still-born."
  "Still..."
  Randy sat up. "Fine. Where do we start?"

  Randy Heim landed with a thud. A hand hit his face. He pushed it away. There was a struggle. Then the tumbled over.
  He saw all of the group had fallen out of the closet. He stared around in shock. He recognized this room. This house. It was the house he and Ben were sharing on Earth Prime.
  "Oh my God!"
  Randy looked up. His eyes widened. In the door was a girl. He knew who it was. It was his sister Jenna. Her eyes went wide.
  "You're...," Jenna started. "You're...walking?"
  Then she passed out.

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 5: LIMB ENVY

  "Do you think we should have left her?"
  Randy looked up from his seat in the Dominion lobby. Jared was on the couch, his eyes on Rembrandt. Rembrandt sat next to him. He took a moment and shrugged his shoulders.
  "Maybe," Rembrandt said. "If she's Randy's sister, she might freak out on both of you. Best that you two make sarced."
  "I don't get it," Randy said.
  "What is there not to get?" Rembrandt asked.
  Randy looked over at Jared. His mind debated saying what he was about to say. It was funny. This was his brother, yet he knew nothing about him. He might as well be a stranger. Finally, he sighed.
  "Quinn and I decided to set the timer for a specific sliding signature...using Jared as a model. Anything of a large quantity might be his home. Anything smaller might be...we hoped...Isabel."
  Jared's eyes widened. "You mean...Isabel's here."
  "We think," Randy said. "It was just a working theor--"
  Jared shot up. "Working theory or not, Isabel might be here."
  Jared headed for the door.
  "Jared!" Rembrandt yelled, shooting up.
  Jared whipped around. "Stay here if you want. I'm going to find her."
  Jared walked out the door. Rembrandt looked over at Randy. Randy gestures with his arm.
  "Go ahead," Randy said. "We have three days. I'll wait for the others."

  Melissa leaned on the wall. Quinn sat on the couch. He was busy, fanning Jenna in hopes it woke her up. She looked over at the front door, wondering if she should have gone with the others.
  "Earth to Liz."
  Melissa looked away from the door. Richard's dark eyes stared back at her. He managed a grin.
  "Hey," Melissa said.
  "I'm sure Genius will walk her up," Richard said.
  "And then?"
  "We do what we do best: spin a tale."
  Melissa giggled a bit. Leave it up to Richard to try to lighten the mood. Richard stepped closer and kissed her.
  "It'll be okay," Richard said. "No need to be tense."
  Melissa frowned. "Tense? I'm not--"
  "Now, now," Richard said. "I know you better than that."
  Melissa's mouth opened. Nothing came out so she closed it again. She could think of someone who knew her pretty well. She just wished--
  The door opened. Melissa turned. Randy Heim entered in a wheelchair. Unlike their Randy, this Randy had short brown hair and a shaven face. Behind him was an older couple who could only be Randy's parents. She could make out a Jared in the background. Randy's double took in the scene.
  "Who the hell are you?" the double demanded.
  "Uh..." Melissa started.
  "Randy?"
  Melissa looked away from the Heim family. Jenna sat up on the couch. Her eyes widened on Randy's double.
  "You...you're...not walking?" Jenna uttered.
  "Jenna!" Randy's mom gasped.
  "Mom," Randy's double said, "it's okay. It's been a year." He wheeled himself over to the couch. "However, I'm wondering what the hell he's doing here."
  "Uh," Quinn managed, "I...came to talk."
  Randy's Dad stepped up behind Randy. "I don't see what about, Mr. Mallory. What else could you possibly say--"
  "Dad!" Jenna snapped. "Shouldn't you at least see what--"
  "Jenna," Randy's Dad said, "go to your room."
  Jenna shot up. "I'm not a kid anymore, Dad. I was lucky to have Mr. Mallory here when I passed out." She looked down at Randy. "Still...I can't believe you're...not walking. I thought the operation was--"
  Randy's double's face darkened. "A joke. Still number 582 on the list. No operation today." He looked at Quinn. "Now why is the cause of my accident in my house?"

  Jared sat on the curve. His hands were in his pocket. He sat there, hoping.
  "Still no sign?"
  Jared looked up. Rembrandt had two cups in his hands. He handed one to Jared.
  "White chocolate mocha," Rembrandt said.
  "Thanks," Jared said, holding on to the cup. "And no."
  Rembrandt sat down on the curve. He stared over at the club across from them. A frown crossed his face.
  "Why don't you just go over?" Rembrandt asked.
  "Because on her world," Jared said, "they wouldn't let me in. Too funny. The bad ass on my world...rejected from a club. But Izzie? She got in like that."
  "Different worlds, different outcome," Rembrandt said.
  "More like different worlds, same outcome," Jared said. He looked over at Rembrandt. "Tried while you were gone."
  Rembrandt laughed. "Whatever you sat, Butt Boy. So..."
  "We...wait," Jared said.

  The vortex shimmered, allowing Eve to emerge from its depth. She looked at it for a moment, her mind pondering. She was not sure what game Peter was playing, but she was not entirely sure she liked him getting closer to Isabel.
  The vortex closed. They were alone for now. She would report her findings to...
  Eve gasped. There was someone in the den. He sat in one of her chairs, face shroud in shadows. She rolled her eyes.
  "Mr. Collier," Eve said. "Scare tactics? Is that a bit--"
  The man leaned forward. Eve paused. It wasn't Miles Collier. Richard Hall stared back at her, his eyes cold as ice.
  Eve glared. Not Richard. Just a clone.
  "Stone," Eve said flatly.
  "Why, Mrs. Albright," Stone said, "you remember--"
  "You are trespassing."
  "Am I? Stone-in-Hall said, leaning back in the chair. Then he stood up. "According to the Post-Sliding Act of 2005, it is within the government's Jurdiscation to enter any residence that might have hidden sliding technology. And we both know you and your brood are at the top of that list." He grinned, causing Eve to inch back. "And as we just saw, I was right to be here." He put his hands behind his back. "Now you are going to give me Randall Heim's whereabouts now or you will have...a...little accident."
  Eve took a step backwards. She hit her desk. She gasped, turning to look. When she turned back around, Stone was on her.

  "Oh. You can walk!"
  Randy looked up from his chair. He frowned at the man approaching. He recognized Alex. On Earth Prime, they had been friends. On this world, Alex...had one arm.
  "What--" Randy started.
  Alex frowned. "Remember? The war?"
  "Oh," Randy said, smiling. "The war."
  "Are you okay?"
  "Yea...drugs from the operation."
  "Oh. Well, hope that means I move up on the list. Good day."
  Randy watched Alex walk away. He frowned at him.
  "List?" Randy uttered.

  Maximillion Arturo's eyes widened. "What?"
  Steve Jensen looked at him. He placed the shirts in his suitcase. He gave a nod.
  "That was my reaction, too," Jensen said. "It's true. I'm...being transferred. They feel that I could be used elsewhere."
  "What about Maggie?" Wade asked from behind Arturo.
  Jensen looked past Arturo at her. His face darkened.
  "I know," Jensen said. "She's still out there...involved in who knows what? I completely do not agree with this at all."
  "Then why not protest?" Arturo asked.
  Jensen laughed. "It's the government, Professor, not a civil suit."
  "But our loved ones are out there!"
  Arturo turned around. Wade trembled behind him, her eyes watering. It was taking everything in her not to cry.
  "Mrs. Welles..." Arturo started.
  "What, Professor?" Wade demanded. "Calm down? Quinn is out there. So's Remmy. We had just gotten it together and you want me to clam down?"
  Arturo stroked his beard. "When you put it that way..."
  "Why don't you two talk to Diana?" Jensen asked.
  "We have been unable to get clearance to see her, Mr. Jensen," Arturo explained.
  Jensen smirked. "Maybe it's time you did."

  Quinn leaned against the door. He looked at Randy who laid on his bed. He frowned.
  "List?" Quinn said.
  Randy nodded. "Yes...there is a list of people who have lost limbs or the ability to use them. For lost limbs, people could simply get a prosthetic...if they can afford it. Or...and this is new....they can repair tissue in the body...give a new limb or ability to parts of the body."
  Quinn frowned even more. "How? Cloning?"
  "Don't know," Randy admitted. "It doesn't appear to be by cloning though."
  Quinn crossed his arms over his chest. "That doesn't sound good. There's gotta be a catch."
  "You can figure that out tomorrow," Randy said. "Any sign of Jared or Rembrandt?"
  "None," Quinn said. "Why?"
  "I told him about our theory."
  "What?" Quinn said. "But we aren't even sure--"
  "He is," Randy replied.
  "You shouldn't have done that."
  Randy frowned. "It gave him hope. Isn't that what you want to give everyone?"
  Quinn glared at Randy. Too many things came to mind. He couldn't believe that Randy just upped and told him.
  "We should have tried to see for ourselves first," Quinn said. "Do you have no soul now?"
  Randy stood up. "I...get the job done."
  "That reminds to be seen."
  Randy glared at Quinn. Quinn didn't care.
  "You're right," Randy finally said. "I...haven't been focused enough. Brown got the jump on me. Rebecca...gone." He studied Quinn. "I guess I should be more focused."
  "Maybe," Quinn said.
  Randy stared at Quinn for another moment. Then his eyes went blank. It took Quinn a moment to realize what was going on, but he was too late as Randy headed for a desk in his hotel room.
  Randy was in a trance.

  Jared felt his anger growing a bit. He was glad he had sent Rembrandt back to the Dominion Hotel. If Jared lost it, there wouldn't be a witness.
  He hoped. He had so hoped the brother he never knew could do it. He could find Isabel and get him home to his gang. It was enough to make him cry as he sat on the curve.
  Jared shot up, wiping at his watered eyes. If his gang saw him, they would laugh in his face, attack him, take his title of leader. His crime being that he was being weak. No way he was giving up being hard.
  Jared started to turn. Then he paused. His eyes widened. A redhead...walked out of the club.
  "Izzie?" Jared uttered.
  It...was her. She headed down the stairs that marked the entrance to the club. She was not alone. She walked between two men. The one on her right was a double of Randy. The other man...he recognized from Dark Slider World. He had asked him all kinds of questions about Richard. Right now he drew Isabel close. He kissed her.
  Jared stormed over to him. His anger saw an outlet. They had not seen him, heading down the street.
  "Well, I thought it was interesting," Randy's double said.
  "I thought so," the man, Peter Carmichael, said. "Good work, Isabel."
  Isabel grinned. "Anything for--"
  Jared grabbed Peter's arm, spinning him around. Peter only had time to look shocked before a fist got him in the jaw. Peter tumbled, but Jared grabbed him up, penning him to a wall.
  "You son of a--" Jared started.
  Then he felt pain in his neck. It snaked all the way down his back. He released Peter, falling to the ground.
  Randall and Isabel stood over him. Isabel looked at Jared, a tazer in her hand. Randall stared at her, a smirk his face.
  "Good work, Isabel," Randall said.
  Peter came back into view, smirking.
  "I guess she is one of us," Peter said.
  Jared's world went black.

  Melissa woke up. The arms pulled her closer. She smiled at the closeness. It was nice to feel so safe and warm. Lips nibbled her ear.
  "You like that," Randy whispered in her ear.

  "Ah!"
  Melissa gasped. She was sleeping next to Richard. She looked at him, not knowing what to say.
  Why had Randy kissed her? Why? She had been so happy. All last year, Richard and her had bonded. He broke her out of her Goth shell after Ben's death. She had got him out of his 'Who-Am-I' self-discovery. They had been there for each other. But Randy's kiss...
  Melissa shook her head. It was Randy's fault Ben was dead. Had she finally forgiven him when she thought Randy might be dead? It appeared so.
  What was going on?

  "What?" Rembrandt said.
  Gomez Calhoun shook his head. "He never came in."
  "Are you sure?" Rembrandt asked.
  "Doors lock at 1, Mr. Brown," Calhoun said. "And I never saw him after you left."
  "Great!" Rembrandt exclaimed.
  "And if he was put on the street," Calhoun said, "Lord help him."
  Rembrandt frowned. "What?"

  Eve let Randall hug her. He pulled back to study her. She managed a smile.
  "Better be careful, Randall," Eve said. "If Edward should show up..."
  "But he will not, will he?" Randall Heim said, touching her chin. "I cannot believe Stone got so close to you. I should--"
  "Ssssh," Eve said, putting a finger to his lips. She leaned in closer. "Not now."
  They inched closer. Before they could kiss, a whir sounded through the room. A red vortex snapped open. It shimmered as three figures emerged: Eric Price, Peter Carmichael, and Isabel. The vortex closed behind them. Peter took the sight of them in.
  "Are we interrupting?" Peter asked.
  Randall stepped away from Eve. She glared at Peter. He always was jealous of her ability to sway other man.
  "No," Randall said. "Not at all."
  "Peter told me about the attack," Eric Price said. "I do say, finding you alive...is unsettling. Mr. Stone prefers to leave bodies...dead ones at that."
  "He's playing with us," Randall said.
  "Or she is," Peter said.
  "All right, Peter. Why the hostility?" Eve demanded.
  Peter laughed. "Well, you did save Randy Heim...telling us only recently."
  "As if you do not play games," Eve shot back. "Have you forgotten your sister's killer already? Oh...wait! Why is Isabel here again?"
  "Have a care--"
  "Enough!" Eric snapped. "I like a good game as much as the rest of you, but we have a problem. Randy's group was on that world. They are there. Perhaps...they can be of use."
  "How so?" Peter asked.
  "Why?" Randall exclaimed, grinning. "To make a point...of course."

  Jared opened his eyes. His memory came back quickly.
  "Iz-" Jared started, moving up.
  He paused. The realization hit him. He was stripped to a metal chair. He didn't like it very much. He struggled, but his hands weren't coming out of the metal binds.
  "You people are so funny."
  Jared looked around at the new voice. He did not see anything, but darkness was all around him.
  "You wander around during the day," the voice continued from the darkness. "Asking people for handouts. Stinking up to high heaven. Refusing to bathe. All you had to do was one simple thing. All you had to do was...get a job. Oh, well."
  Jared struggled with his binds. All he got for his trouble was a shock of pain as his skin cut on the not-so-smooth metal. He got a giggle from the shadows."
  "At last, you can now have a purpose," the voice said. "There are people who would love...well...to regain movement in their legs, for example. And as a bum, it's not like you are using it."
  Light blinded Jared. He closed his eyes. He took a moment to blink quickly. He looked up.
  Giant fluorescent lighting hanged from the ceiling. He saw he was in a circular white room. In front of him, a few feet in front of him was a black woman who looked like she was in her early thirties. She had her hair in a red cap. She had on a red sweatshirt, a chainsaw in her hands.
  Jared's eyes widened. A chainsaw?
  The black woman shook her head. "Don't widen your ears to me. It's a little late to be wishing you weren't one of the homeless."
  Then the woman turned on the chainsaw.

  "Miss Davis."
  The black woman paused. The loud buzzing sound of the chainsaw vanished. Jared opened his eyes.
  "Yes, Kims?" Davis asked.
  "Randy Heim is here to see you," Kims said from some speaker that Jared could not see.
  "Tell him I'm busy," Davis said.
  "Diana...uh...I think you really should come up here."
  Diana Davis rolled her eyes. She sighed.
  "Fine," Diana said. She stared at Jared. "Don't think this is over."
  Diana exited the room. Jared stared after her. Suddenly, the lights turned off. Jared only had one thought as silence surrounded him.
  Kims?

  Melissa looked at Randy. He sat at his desk. Some time during the night he had left. He was...working on something. She looked over at Quinn.
  "He's been like this all night?" Melissa asked.
  Quinn nodded. "I'm still wondering how he found time to leave. When I left him, all he was doing was scribbling."
  Melissa looked at Randy. He tinkled away. On what, she did not know. It was just disturbing to see him back in one of his trances. Memories of her dead boyfriend Ben came to mind.
  "Hey," Richard said. "Maybe this is a good thing."
  Melissa continued to watch Randy. "I...don't think so."
  "He could be finding the way home as we speak," Richard commented.
  "It would be about time if he does," Quinn said.
  "Don't see you doing much better," Richard said, tilting his head in Quinn's direction.
  Quinn glared at Richard. "How's Jared again? Home, is he?"
  Melissa stood between the two of them quickly. She put a hand on Richard's chests, her eyes boring holes in him.
  "Richard, not now," Melissa said.
  Richard's glaze was on Quinn. "Why not?"
  The front door opened. Melissa turned. It was Rembrandt.
  "Jared's in trouble," Rembrandt announced.
  Melissa turned to Richard. He shrugged.
  "Okay. Good reason," Richard said.
  At the same time, Melissa realized something. Randy had stopped tinkering. He looked over at the wall on the opposite side of his hotel room, his eyes glaring.
  "Randy?" Melissa uttered.
  Quinn also looked at Randy again. He looked at where Randy looked. He frowned.
  "Why is he..." Quinn started.
  Suddenly, a whir sounded through the air. The wall dissolved before their eyes, a circle of green light taking the wall's place. A whir sounded through the air.
  A figure shot out of it. His semi-curly hair blew in the wind as he trained his gun on Melissa.
  "Nobody move!" he barked.

  Randy recognized the man from the guerrilla tactics he pulled on Dark Slider World. His name was Grant. He was the right hand man of Miles Collier. His gun...was trained on Melissa.
  "Grant to Base," Grant said. He frowned. "Base?
"   The gun was still on trained on Melissa. Randy moved quickly and quietly.
  "Base?" Grant said. "Can any--"
  "No," Randy said, snapping one of his knives.
  Grant aimed at him. The knife knocked the gun away. Grant swung at Randy, but Randy dodged. Then he knocked Grant in the jaw.
  "Sliding interferes with radio signals," Randy said. "But of course you don't know that. You're new."
  The vortex whirred rapidly. Two more figures popped out of it. Each wore black shirts and cargo pants like Grant. Grant smirked.
  "Not so new that I came alone," Grant said.

  Richard grabbed Melissa.
  "We best run," Richard said.
  "Randy--" Melissa started.
  "Randy's holding his own," Richard said. "We--"
  He heard another whir. He turned around to see another figure appear. He saw himself looking at him.
  Mr. Stone.
  "Go," Richard said, dead-serious. "Now."

  The vortex continued to whir. Quinn ignored it. He ran for a floor lamp. He grabbed it up just in time. One of the soldiers charged at him. He swung the lamp, knocking him back.
  He looked at Richard. He struggled with another soldier. He looked over at Randy.
  Randy blocked attack blows from the main soldier. He was so focused on him, he didn't see Stone. He grabbed Randy's knife arm and twisted it.

  "Ah!'
  Randy came out of his trance. He was jerked backward, turning face to face with a sinister Richard Hall. Stone smiled with glee.
  "Ah," he said. "Music to my ears." He grabbed Randy's other arm. "Let us see what else I can--"
  The floor lamp got Stone in the face. Randy grabbed his twisted arm. Then he looked at his savior.
  "You okay?" Quinn asked.
  Randy gritted his teeth. "No."
  "Let's--"
  Stone shot up. Quinn's eyes widened as the scars on Stone's face appeared to heat. Before he could react, Quinn felt a hand on his arm. Randy jerked him to the window.
  "What the--" Quinn started.
  "Fire escape," Randy said.
  Then they jumped out of the window.

  "Mr. Heim."
  Randall Heim looked up at Diana Davis. She looked at him, hoping her pity did not show on her face. Such a great mind...now in a wheelchair. She looked past him at his father Mr. Heim. He stared at her.
  "Am I interrupting?" Brian Heim asked.
  "Does it matter, Mr. Heim?" Diana asked.
  "No," Brian Heim said. "Have you found a specimen yet?"
  "I was going through preparation n-"
  "What do you mean preparations?"
  Diana looked past Brian and Randall, the contempt showing on her face. It was Randall Heim's sister. She never did like her much.
  "Jenna, what--" Brian started.
  "I'm not a kid, Dad," Jenna said. "People on campus talk about Dr. Davis's...'preparations.'"
  "I do not know what you mean," Diana said.
  "I bet you don't," Jenna said, the sarcasm evident in her voice.
  Diana gestured to Brian. "She runs your family now?"
  Jenna put her hands on her hips. "What is that--"
  "Jenna!" Brian snapped. "Out!"
  "But--"
  "Now!"
  "Sorry, Dad! She--"
  Diana's eyes widened. In the door was...Jared Heim. Her forehead wrinkled up. But...she had Jared Heim in the...
  What was going on?

  Randy started at his arm. It was...a new sensation, having it twisted. Stone was good. As good as Brown. They both had surprised him. Randy stood up. It was time for the surprises to stop.
  "What are you doing?"
  Randy looked down at Quinn. It had been hours since they found this roof. After escaping by fire escape, they thought it would be the last place Stone and his men would look. They had been right.
  "It's been hours," Randy said. "I think it's safe."
  Quinn frowned for a moment. Then he stood up.
  "I think we should see where Rembrandt and the others went to. Then we--" Quinn started. "Are you listening?"
  Randy had taken to looking at his arm again. He needed it working. He needed it healed. He stared for the roof door.
  "Randy!" Quinn snapped.
  Randy ignored him. His listening had uncentered him.
  He could not have that again.

  The nurse looked up at them.
  "I'm sorry," she said, "but no one named Jared Heim has been admitted."
  "Are you sure?" Rembrandt asked.
  "Positive," the nurse said.
  "But--" Rembrandt continued.
  "Thank you, ma'am," Melissa cut in, touching Rembrandt's shoulder. "Come on, Rem."
  Rembrandt let Melissa pull him away. He did not know what to think. Thankfully, they had lost Stone's men.
  "Is it just me," Richard said on the other side of him, "Or have we visited a lot of hospitals since we started sliding again? I think--"
  Rembrandt glared at Richard. "Don't."
  Richard frowned. Rembrandt felt a tightening on his shoulder. He turned, looking at Melissa.
  "We're worried, too, Rembrandt," Melissa said.
  Rembrandt frowned. "Are you?"
  Melissa stepped back as if he had slapped. Rembrandt let her stay that way.
  "Now, Rembrandt--" Richard started.
  Rembrandt turned on Richard. "You wanted Jared to come on. Why am I showing more compassion over this than you?"
  Richard's face darkened.
  "Rembrandt. Remmy," Melissa said. "We really do care."
  "Really, Melissa?" Rembrandt challenged. "Then prove it."
  Richard raised a hand.
  "If the Uncaring One may," Richard said, "I have an idea."

  Wade sat in the car. Professor Arturo and she had been like this for hours. She looked out on the half-moon and wondered. How soon before her eyes fell on Quinn again?
  "Does it truly take so long for the guards to switch shift?"
  Wade looked at Arturo who was in the driver seat. She managed a smile.
  "I guess so," Wade said. "A bigger question would be...does Diana ever take a break?"
  "I agree with you on that observation," Arturo said. "Would would compile her to stay in the lab and slave over..." He paused. "I apologize for my insensitivity, Miss Welles. I--"
  "It's all right," Wade said. "We have all lost somebody. I just hope..."
  Then Wade sat it. Another car was pulling up to the gate. A man stepped out of it. It was Jensen. He approached the guard. A few moments later, the guard left. Jensen walked him go. Then he gestured to the car.
  "Here we go," Wade said.

  It had been hours in the dark for Jared. They had been hours when he thought about the last few months. He had been captured by the Kromaggs and freed. He had found love and lost it. Now he was in a metal chair, waiting to be cut up for someone else. He would have cried, but he could see his old gang now.
  Jared struggled with the metal binds. He knew the truth. He was not getting free. He would vanish just like Rebecca Pryce. No...she might pop up. He...would be dead.
  He glared. No...he wouldn't. If he got free, he refused to out himself in this situation again. Tricked. Fooled. That was for other people. Never again.
  The fluorescent lights shot on, blinding him. Jared blinked. As his eyes adjusted, Jared saw that he was with the black woman again. Happily, she did not have a chainsaw. However...she had a gun. She walked over to him.
  "Who are you?" she demanded.
  "Jared," Jared said. "Jared Heim."
  "I don't think so."
  "Believe it. It's true."
  "Let's find out."
  The black woman walked around the metal chair. Jared heard a click. Then the metal binds popped up. Jared shot up. A click caused him to turn around. The gun was armed on him.
  "Move," the black woman demanded.

  Miles Collier tapped his foot. His patience was wearing thin as he stood there on the roof. He was not one for...
  It shot into existence. A circle of red light manifested out of thin air. Miles felt his jaw drop just like it had when Randall Heim introduced the idea of sliding to him.
  A whir sounded from the wormhole. A figure emerged from it. Miles's jaw set. The vortex closed behind him.
  "Randall," Miles said.
  "Miles," Randall said. "I trust the information I sent by Eve was...accurate."
  "I would not know," Miles said. "The radios do not work."
  "Oh...pity."
  "Yes...for poor Mrs. Albright."
  That took the smug look off of Randall's face. Good.
  "Do you really think your men will succeed?" Randall asked.
  "I have the utmost confidence in my men," Miles replied.
  Randall smirked. "I think they will fail...until they have help."
  Miles frowned. "What kind of help?"

  Jared watched as Diana's eyes widened. He smirked.
  "New to seeing someone in boxers?" Jared asked. "Don't worry. It's all real."
  Diana's eyes narrowed on him. "My condolences." She paused to look at the screen. "Still...oh my God! You are who you say you are. DNA test don't lie."
  "You really don't have TV, do you?"
  "No. I really don't," Diana said, approaching Jared. "I do know...no one will miss you if you're dead."
  Diana aimed the gun. "I sure hope your friends come looking for you. The smart ones, that is."
  "Dr. Davis."
  "Yes, Kims?" Diana said, gun still trained on Jared.
  "Visitor."
  "Fine."
  Before Jared could react, Diana hit him with the gun handle.

  Quinn headed toward the hospital. If the others were anywhere after Stone's attack, he felt it would be there. He turned the corner and paused.
  Down the street...and closing fast...was a black van. Something about it made Quinn step backwards. It had bad news written all over it. He turned around.
  "Well," Stone said. "Fancy meeting you here."

  Jared blinked. Then he remembered where he was. He shot up.
  Two things became obvious. He had on clothes again. And...he was no longer in the lab. He was in some alley.
  Jared stumbled to his feet. His mind wondered...how had he made it out here.

  Diana Davis's eyes widened. She looked at her assistant Kims. Kims shrugged her shoulders. Diana looked back at the black woman in the black trenchcoat.
  "I don't--" Diana started.
  "Don't be coy with me, Dr. Davis," the black woman said. "I know about your...how shall we call it...unusual specimen."
  Diana looked at Kims again.
  "No," the black woman said, as if reading her thoughts. "Not through your assistant." She wiped out a badge. "Dru Preston, agent of F.T.I. It's my job."
  "F.T.I?"
  "Federal Transdimensional Investigation," Dru answered. "Really? You don't think this is the first time this has happened, do you?"
  Diana did not know what to say.
  "Yes," Dru continued, "I know it is a lot to take in. That is why the President refuses to reveal this to the general public. That is also why you should go back to the new specimen we left in your lab to help your Randall Heim...and forget this conversation. Jared Heim...is our problem now."

  Dru watched Dr. Davis head to her lab. When Dr. Davis was out of sight, her assistant Miashuyhi Kims stood up. She walked over to Dru.
  "So," Dru said, "think she bought it?"
  "Totally," Kims said.
  "Did you get Jared out?"
  "Yes. It's him, Dru. I never thought--"
  "I know," Dru said, grinning. "Let's get E. Then we morph. I can't wait to see the look on Jared's face when he sees us."

  Quinn's eyes narrowed. In response, Stone tilted his head, a short smile etched his face.
  "You put up a fair chase," Stone said, "but it's finished."
  "Yes...it is."
  Stone only had time to turn. His face met a metallic fist. A figure jumped into Quinn's line of vision. He jumped back to see it was Randy. Before Quinn could react, Randy had lunged forward, taking out two of the soldiers with a roundhouse kick.
  "What in--" Quinn started.
  Randy tapped his metallic...glove. A light shot from it, hitting the air in front of Quinn. The air dissolved into a blue vortex.
  "Jump!" Randy yelled.
  "What?" Quinn shouted, looking past the vortex.
  "Now!" Randy yelled.
  Quinn jumped into the vortex. He only hoped he wouldn't regret it.

  Miles realized he had been tapping his toe a little too much. Still he trusted his agent Grant to get the job done.
  "Incoming, Sir."
  Miles stood a little bit taller next to the console. Meanwhile, the platform in front of him lit up with green light. Figures emerged from it. Miles narrowed as he saw none of them were Mallory, Heim, or Hall. Grant made a quick bow of his head.
  "Sorry, Sir," Grant said. "Heim took us by surprise...again."
  "Yes," Miles said, his eyes on an unusual quiet Hall, "again." He headed for the door. Perhaps I should use...other means of tracking these deviants."
  Miles left the room. He turned to the left and headed down the hall. He guessed the saying was true.
  If you want something done right...

  Richard sat in the metal chair. Darkness surround him. He wondered whom bright idea it was to let him get captured by the same people who had Jared.
  Oh, wait. It was his. God, he was stupid.
  "Another day. Another worthless one of you."
  Light shot through the room, causing Richard to blink. His eyes adjusted to the white room. Then his eyes widened at the guy in the red suit with a chainsaw.
  "Oh...my..." Richard started.
  The door threw itself open. The guy turned around. Rembrandt punched him in the face.
  "Thank God!" Richard exclaimed.
  "It's a bust," Rembrandt said.
  Richard's eyes widened. "Jared's d--"
  "Back with Melissa at the Dominion," Rembrandt said.
  "What?" Richard said. "Then get me out of this before he wakes up."

  Wade hesitated outside the door. She frowned as she did. What was she afraid of? Diana was on their side.
  "Are you all right, Miss Welles?" Arturo asked.
  Wade turned to look at him.
  "For once," Wade said, "I'm just fine."
  Wade turned back and opened the door. She took a step in. Her eyes widened in shock.
  "Oh," she muttered.
  "Miss Welles, duck!"

  Richard opened the door to Jared's bedroom. Jared looked over at the door. His eyes immediately narrowed at the sight of Richard. Richard walked in anyway.
  "I heard," Richard finally said.
  Jared laughed. Richard could hear the bitterness. "Yea. My Not-Brother the Genius found a way to find Izzie. Turns out she's just fine...and not looking for me obviously."
  "You can't know that for--"
  "Don't. Don't even try to be a friend."
  "Are I? I did get the others to take you along so you can get home."
  Jared stood up from the bed. He walked over to Richard. For a moment they looked eye to eye. Richard wondered if he was going to hit him. He braced himself.
  Jared lunged forward, giving Richard a big hug. Richard stood still, surprised. It was a little too gay for him, but if that got him on Jared's good side...
  "You're right," Jared said. He pulled back. "You are. And that's why I'm going to make you pay."

  "So no sign of Stone?" Melissa asked as Rembrandt walked into the room.
  "Nope," Rembrandt said. "Let's hope that's a good thing. How are the Geniuses?"
  "I don't think good," Melissa said. "The run-in with Stone shook Randy up." She felt her forehead wrinkle up. "He's gone back into trances again."
  "How bad can it get?"
  Melissa looked over at Rembrandt. Images of Ben sprung into her head. She shook the bloody images away.
  "Very," Melissa replied.

  Quinn frowned at Randy. Randy looked oblivious as he worked on the timer. Quinn did not like it at all.
  "You had no way of knowing if it was going to work or not," Quinn said. "We going to work or not," Quinn said. "We could have winded up sliding randomly."
  "But," Randy said, not looking up, "we didn't."
  "Are you reckless?"
  "As Placeholder, jealous?"
  Quinn took a step. Randy moved in a flash. His dagger pointed at Quinn.
  "Don't even think it," Randy warned.
  "Your empty threats will get you so far," Quinn shot back.
  Randy finally turned to face Quinn. Quinn put his arms over his chest. Enough was enough.
  "We came to find you," Quinn said. "Remember you wanted a normal life. And I have every intention of getting us home...with or without you. Help or not. However the self-indulgence? Stops now."
  Randy's eyes narrowed on Quinn. "Self-indulgence? Wanting to get people home? Where was that need when Wade was shipped to a Kromagg breeding camp?"
  "You son of--"
  "Oh, yea! You were sliding around with Remmy, Beckett, and your clone!"
  "At least I didn't leave anyone to die."
  "Maybe in hindsight, I should have left Professor Brown to die. One less nuis--"
  "Are you listening to yourself?" Quinn cut him off. "When did you become so Jared?"
  "And you haven't...Quinntar?"
  "I did...actually," Quinn said. "Being leader...can be a burden. Everyone always relying on you. Never knowing if today is the day you make a mistake and one of your friends pays the price. But you can't stay that way. People are relying on you. Think you can handle that?"
  A beep echoed from the room.
  "You getting that?" Quinn asked.

  Randy thought one thing as he watched the others begin to jump into the vortex. Quinn's words had affected him more than he would like to admit. Was revenged against Brown more important than focusing on getting the others home?
  Randy ran for the vortex. He already knew the answer. It was yes.
  From being into unbeing and back, Randy popped out of the vortex...and into extremely cold water. He tried to swim as he looked and saw more and more water. His metallic prosthetic began to sparked and dragged him under. He screamed.

THE-END


 

Back to Season 6