"Thank you for shopping with Valterms. Please come again."
"Not likely," Darnell Brown mumbled.
"Ssh!" Melissa Clark hissed.
"I like the internet as much as the next person, but to buy everything...even a hotel room...off of it?" Brown complained. "Not everyone has or wants credit cards."
"I would hate to see what at they did to someone who didn't," Melissa commented.
Richard Hall sat on the patio looking out over the streets. People were going about their normal business. It seated him fine.
"Nice view?"
Richard didn't reply. He knew it was the Egghead. He didn't feel like speaking to him.
"Thinking about Laura?"
"Are you still beating that dead horse, Egghead?" Richard asked. "I never met Laura-"
Randy Heim got in Richard's face. "Liar!"
"Back off!"
"Or what?"
Richard stared at Randy. "Try me."
"I'm going to get to the truth."
"The truth? The truth is Melissa dumped you. None of her doubles ever ends up with you. In face, one of your doubles was gay...on that Flashfire world..."
Randy stormed off. Richard continued to sit down. He grinned as he thought about how he won that argument.
He needed a way to distract Egghead from the Laura thing. He needed a way to get him to shut up about it, but how?
A light bulb went off in his head. He knew of a way of distract Randy. If he played his cards right...maybe he could get rid of the Egghead...permanently.
WHAT IF YOU DISCOVERED NEW WORLDS WITHOUT LEAVING EARTH? YOU'RE THE SAME PERSON AND IT'S THE SAME YEAR, BUT EVERYTHING ELSE IS DIFFERENT? MY FRIENDS AND I FOUND A WAY! NOW WE'RE TRYING TO FIND THE WAY HOME!
SLIDERS: ALTERNATE SPIN-SEASON 2
EPISODE 7: PARENTAGE
The vortex opened. A whir sounded from it. The figure of Darnell Brown fell out of it. Another whir sounded off. Richard Hall came out of it.
Melissa came out of the vortex quickly. She landed on both of them. Randy was right behind her. The vortex closed behind them.
"Looks like we got another alley," Randy said.
"That's great," Richard commented. "Now could you get off me!"
"I have to agree with Rich-Mr. Hall," Brown said.
Randy helped Melissa off the two sliders. Richard managed to help Brown up.
"Is everything okay, Brown?" Richard asked.
"Of course," Brown said.
"Don't tell me you're going soft on me," Richard said.
"What?" Brown said.
"You called me Mr. Hall. What happened to calling me Richard?"
"I would prefer not to discuss this now," Brown said as he headed down the alley behind Randy and Melissa.
"How long do we have here?" Melissa asked.
"A little under five hours," Randy said. "I think that's enough time."
"Enough time for what?"
Randy looked at Melissa. "You were right. I've changed since we got together. Maybe it's about time I worked on developing myself since I'm changing."
Melissa smiled. "Sounds interesting. Where are you going to start?"
"With my parents," Randy explained. "When we were on that one world with our...others, I found out their names. It's a start."
"So what are we discussing, comrades?" Brown asked as he walked up behind the two sliders.
"Families," Melissa said. Then she corked an eyebrow. "Comrades?"
Randy smiled. It had been a while since the three of them were talking together.
"It's good to see you talking to me," Randy said.
"Let us say...that I am trying to find my old self," Brown said.
"Sounds good to me," Melissa commented.
"I prefer the old one," Richard said as he joined the others. "He rocked."
"Good thing your opinion means nothing," Randy commented.
"Did you say something, Egghead?" Richard spit out.
"When did San Francisco get camels?" Melissa asked.
Randy looked where Melissa stared. Camels were all over the streets. A few people walked about. None of the people seem to be without some bag or boxes of some kind.
"Guess we're not home," Richard said.
"Definitely not home," Melissa added.
"It looks like it is back to the drawing board, Heim-I mean, Mr. Heim," Brown said.
"Yeah," Randy said. "I'm sure with our two brains, we'll figure it out."
"You're steaming."
"What?" Richard asked as he looked at Melissa.
"You don't like Brown and Randy together again," Melissa said. "You're acting like you lost your best friend."
Richard put his hands in his pocket. He shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe I am. We were MIA for three months. People tend to bond."
"You're not losing him," Melissa said. "They're pooling their resources. You do want to get home, right?"
"Right?"
"A pretty rose for a pretty woman."
Richard looked to see a blonde guy give Melissa a rose. She took it in her hands and blushed.
"Well...thank you," Melissa said. She started to walk on.
"Wait!" the guy said. "What will you give me?"
"Uh...I don't know," Melissa said.
The blonde guy's face clouded over. "No one gets anything for free. We trade."
"I don't have anything," Melissa said.
"Then you die," the guy said. He started to gesture to some brown robed men down the street. They headed for them.
"Melissa, I think you better give him something," Richard said.
"But I-"
Richard reached behind Melissa's jacket. He felt what he was looking for. He held it out to the guy.
"It looks like it's French," the guy said.
"It is!" Richard exclaimed. "It's the new beret! All the chicks love it."
The guy grinned at that comment. Melissa glared.
"Is everything well?" one of the brown robed men asked as he walked up.
"Yes," the guy said. "It was a false accusation."
"Yes," Richard agreed. "Nothing to see here."
Richard grabbed Melissa and headed down the street with her. She snatched her arm away from him. Richard turned to see Melissa glaring at him.
"Why did you do that?" Melissa snapped.
"Did you want to die?" Richard shot back. "We're here for a few hours. The last thing we need is trouble."
Melissa crossed her arms over her chest. "Gee. How Professorish of you. Did you two swap brains?" She threw her hands up. "I can't believe you did that!"
"It's not like you and Egghead are together anymore," Richard said. "Why keep it?"
"I would think you would know all about being sentimental," Melissa said. "You did love Nicole Harris, right?"
"Always will."
"That's how I feel about Randy."
"Maybe it's about time you move on pass him," Richard said.
Melissa corked an eyebrow. "To YOU?"
Richard grinned. Then he walked pass her. "Where did Egghead go?"
Randy stood outside the house. He had told Brown that he would meet him at the Dominion before the slide. After that, it was a matter of talking to the natives. He had managed to get his parents' address.
He headed down the walkway. He made it to the door and knocked.
A middle-aged woman opened the door. She looked at Randy and gasped. She adjusted her glasses and narrowed her eyes.
"Oh my God!" the woman said. "Do I know you? You look so much like Brian!"
Randy felt his face warm a little to that. "Well...I'm...I don't know. Are you Teresa Heim?"
The woman nodded.
"Teresa, who is that?"
A middle-aged man came up behind Teresa Heim. He gasped at the sight of Randy. Randy backed away from the two as well. He looked like an older version of Randy.
"Who are you, young man?" Brian Heim demanded.
"I'm...I'm Randy Heim...your son," Randy said.
Teresa's hands shot to her mouth as she gasped. Brian moved away from the door like it was fire.
"Okay...I know that this is hard for you to believe," Randy said. "It's true though."
"No," Teresa gasped.
"We never had a son!" Brian protested.
"Then I wasn't born on this world," Randy said.
"This world?" Teresa said. "What do you mean?"
"I'm from a parallel Earth," Randy said.
"Is this some kind of a joke?" Brian said angrily.
Randy shook his head. "I know it's hard to believe, but it's true. I was orphaned on my world. I had no idea who my parents were until a few weeks ago. And-"
"No more!" Brian said. He stormed away from the door.
"I'm sorry," Randy continued. "I didn't mean to cause you any pain or trouble. I just...I never met my parents and wanted to see..."
Brian was rushing back at the door. His hand rose over his head. A fire poker was in it.
"Move, Teresa!" Brian yelled.
Randy saw the poker coming, but knew not what to do. To see his father about to attack him...
He ran out of the year. He turned to look behind him at his father. Brian was on the porch waving the poker after him.
"If you come back here, I'll kill you!" Brian yelled.
Brown gave the coat to Gomez Calhoun.
"It's a lovely coat," Gomez commented. "For you to part with it must be hard."
"No," Brown said. "It's-it is just a painful reminder of the last few weeks."
"This coat?" Gomez questioned. "I'm not following you."
Brown looked at Gomez. "Don't ask."
Gomez backed away from Brown. Brown mentally kicked himself. maybe it would be harder to control the savage than he thought.
A hand grabbed his shoulder. Quickly, Brown grabbed it and tightened his grip. A woman yelled out.
"Hey, Brown!"
Brown turned around. Melissa was rubbing her sore hand. Meanwhile, Richard looked at Brown with a questioning glance.
"Okay, what's going on?" Richard asked.
"Nothing," Brown replied.
"You call this nothing," Melissa cut in. "You just tried to hurt me...for nothing."
"Yeah, you've been...off since Other World," Richard said. "How about you be straight with us?"
"Fine!" Brown said. "Do you see how I hurt Miss Clark just now? Very easily. If I want to take out someone, I could do it easily. If I did away with my morals and conscience, I would be unstoppable. That is what my other was. He hurt Debra. He was going to kill her because she knew about me. He did not care that he loved her. She was just another light to snug out."
Brown looked at Melissa and Richard. "My dislike of this situation...my hatred of Heim...was leading me dangerously close to my other's fate. I can't...I can not become like that cold killer."
"And you won't," Melissa said as she hugged Brown. "You have to believe that."
Brown smiled. "It is good to see you believe in me, Miss Clark."
"Now, Professor Brown," Melissa said, "you know that my name is Melissa."
"Everyone ready?"
Brown looked over at Randy. He entered the Dominion with a glare on his face. Melissa headed over to him, but he moved pass her. Brown looked over at Richard. He corked an eyebrow.
"Well, let's go then," Richard said.
"Off me!" Richard barked.
"Sorry," Randy mumbled as he crawled off of Richard.
Richard glared at Randy. "Melissa and Brown managed to miss me. What's your excuse?"
"We only got a few hours here, gang!" Randy announced to the others, ignoring Richard. "Let's get going."
"I doubt we're home," Richard said as he stood up. "No family reunion for you...even if you knew who your parents were."
Randy looked over at Richard. Richard felt a smile grow on his face. He had hit a nerve.
"Do you ever shut up?" Randy asked.
"Are you going to get us home?" Richard shot back. "I thought you wanted to see Mommy and Daddy...not that you know their names..."
"Brian and Teresa Heim," Randy spit out.
"Well...surprise! You do know something!" Richard exclaimed.
"What are you two arguing about now?" Melissa asked as she walked over.
Richard shrugged his shoulders. "Beats me. I think it's Egghead's time of the month."
Richard headed over to Brown. He smiled. Obviously, Randy had started some search for his parents. His picking on the Egghead should keep Egghead from looking into Richard's past.
And if Egghead got into some trouble while searching...that would be good, too.
"Now what's really going on?" Melissa asked.
"Nothing," Randy replied. "Come on."
"Find anything about your parents?"
"I don't want to talk about it," Randy said as he put on his beret. He headed off behind Brown and Richard.
Downtown San Francisco seem just like it would on their world. People were running about doing their normal stuff. There was nothing out of the ordinary.
"I recommend that we head over to the library," Brown suggested. "Just because this world resembles our home does not mean it is our home."
Randy only nodded. He headed behind Brown when some hands grabbed him. He tried to scream, but the cloth over his mouth that impossible. The cloth made him weak.
"Hey!"
Richard turned around and watched as two men dressed in black grabbed Egghead. They threw him into a black limo. As Brown and Melissa headed toward it, the limo drove off.
"Randy!" Melissa yelled.
"Taxi!" Brown shouted around.
Richard said nothing. He felt happy in fact. Someone had just kidnapped Randy. His problems were solved.
"Taxi!" Brown yelled again.
"It's no use," Richard said. "Egghead's gone."
"We have to find him," Melissa said.
"Have any ideas how?" Richard asked.
"Maybe we will find our answers at the library," Brown said. "It looks like we will have to walk."
Randy's eyes slowly opened. The light started to blind him.
"So he returns to the land of the living."
Randy sat up on the bed he found himself upon. Across from him were two men. One of them was Brown's double. The other man was Brian Heim. They were both wearing black suits and goatees.
"Welcome, Randall," Brian Heim said.
"Yes...welcome," Brown's double said. "You have give us a merry chase these last six months, but at last we have you."
"This isn't what you think," Randy protested.
"What? Did you think some bad beret would fool us?" Brown's double asked. "How dumb do you think we are?"
"Now, Darnell, go easy on him," Brian Heim said. "You were out of practice anyway."
"His and Jared's escape jeopardize all of your work, sir," Brown replied. "if they had fallen into CyberCorp's hands-"
"They haven't," Brian cut Brown off.
"We still haven't found Jared," Brown said.
"Well, go find him," Brian commanded. "I will deal with Randall."
Brown gave no reply. He headed for the double doors. A smile crawled onto Brian's face as Brown left.
"He's a good man really," Brian commented, "but he tries too hard." He looked at Randy. "And you? You...are everything that I and your...mother had hoped you would be. When I found out you and Jared escaped...well...words can not describe my happiness."
"You could just let me go," Randy said.
Brian shook his head. "It's too late. A jet will be here soon to take you and Jared to the main base. Then...we win this war."
"War?" Melissa said in surprise.
"Not officially, of course," Brown said as he looked at the information on the computer. "The American people would freak out. They are just now recovering from World War II. Another public war would be...unwise."
"So what's really going on?" Richard asked.
"From what I can guess...spy games," Brown said.
"Great!" Richard said sarcastically. He cheered up. "I guess...that's that."
"How can you say that?" Melissa asked. "We're not leaving this world without him."
"How are you going to do it, sweetheart?" Richard countered. "We're not exactly spies. How are we suppose to find him or them? That's a lot of top secret stuff."
"I don't know."
"Well then we don't find him."
"I think we do," Brown said. "You do know Heim--Mr. Heim has the timer, right?"
Melissa saw Richard's face become like an annoyed animal.
"What was that look for?" Melissa asked.
Richard's face turned to shock. "Nothing. I thought one of you guys had the timer. We definitely have to find Egghead now."
Melissa rolled her eyes. "You think?"
"Do you tow think you could stop your banter?" Brown asked. "I am trying to think."
"You won't have to think long."
Melissa looked away to see a middle-aged woman walking toward them. Her black hair was tied back in a ponytail. Her business suit looked too clean.
"Well, it's good to see you in public, Brown," the woman said. "I thought you got your lackeys to do this."
"Who are you?" Melissa asked
.
"Teresa Heim," the woman said. "And your boss Darnell Brown has something that CyberCorp wants. Where are my sons, Brown?"
"I am deeply sorry, Mrs. Heim," Brown said. "I know nothing."
There was a movement toward Melissa's left. She turned to see a man in a business suit among the shelves. He was obviously watching them. She looked at Richard and saw that he realized the same thing.
"Do not play games with me, Brown," Teresa said. "My agents saw your agents kidnap Randall this afternoon. Chances are good that you have Jared as well. CyberCorp wants them and what CyberCorp wants...it gets."
"Duck!"
Melissa felt hands grab her and push her to the floor. Several small balls passed over where she had been. Some landed near the men in business suits. Others landed near Teresa's feet. They all exploded with gas hissing out of them.
The sound of air being cut sounded through the library. Yells could be heard. Melissa kept her eyes closed.
"You think we could try to crawl out of here?" Richard whispered.
"I'm game," Melissa whispered back.
She started to crawl down the hall to the nearest doorway. She was halfway there when she heard Brown scream.
"Where is the American base?"
"I do not know," came Brown's voice.
"Don't lie to me!" came the other voice. "I heard what Mother said!"
Melissa stopped and turned around. The smoke was clearing up now. Jared Heim had Brown by the throat. A knife was close to cutting it. Teresa and her men looked unconscious.
"I am not who she thinks I am," Brown explained.
Melissa jumped up. "He's right, Jared. He's not from here!"
Jared looked at Melissa. Brown's fist flew out and nailed Jared in the stomach. Brown quickly grabbed the knife and held it to Jared's throat.
"Brown!" Melissa cautioned.
"I have it...under control...Miss Clark," Brown said.
"How did you know my name?" Jared demanded. "You don't look like the American agents."
"We're not from around here," Melissa said. "All we want is to leave with our friend Randy."
"Randall?" Jared asked. "You are...friends? But Darnell Brown-"
"-has resigned from his post," Richard finished. "His sect is corrupted so he's trying to make amends by destroying it."
"Then let's go get Randall," Jared said.
Brown put the knife away. Melissa glared at Richard.
"So any idea of how we're going to find Randy, genius?" Melissa asked.
Richard smiled. "Of course. All secret bases are in plain view which means that it's in public. Do we know of a place?"
Melissa smiled. "You're a genius."
Randy sat on the bed and stared at his father. His father stared back at him.
"So...my mother betrayed the country?" Randy asked.
Brian nodded his head. "You know...women scorned and all that. She would have preferred you two have not been involved in our world, but...that was impossible."
"So Jared and I are like...deadly intelligent fighting machines...bred from you two to destroy countries?" Randy asked. "Sounds like a comic book...or at least an episode of THE PRETENDER."
Brian frowned. "What is a pretender?"
"Long story," Randy replied. "What if I told you you have the wrong man?"
"I wouldn't believe you," Brian said firmly.
"Even if I said I was form a parallel world and I could prove it?"
Brian corked an eyebrow. "Okay...I'll play. What's this proof?"
"First let me go free.
Brian shook his head. "No."
"Okay...fine," Randy said. He reached into his pocket. "What do you make of this?"
Randy watched his father's eyes widen as his father saw the timer. He opened the cell and walked in.
"Where?" Brian started.
"I'm sorry," Randy said. He punched Brian in the jaw. As Randy watched Brian fall to the ground, he felt a weird feeling. He was glad that he and his father shared the same fascination with new technology. He was sad that he had to use it against him.
The double doors flew open. Melissa ran in with Richard.
"I can't believe you were right," Melissa said.
"Well you did say I was a genius," Richard said. "The Dominion is a public place." Richard smiled. "Who says you can't learn anything from TV?"
Randy glared at Richard.
"Randy!" Melissa cried as she hugged him. "We were worried we wouldn't find you."
"I was just here having a chat with Dad," Randy said as he looked back at his father. "Turns out that we're very alike."
Melissa said. "That's good."
"Can we go?" Richard cut in. "Brown and Jared are waiting."
Richard moved as soon as he jumped out of the wormhole. They were landing in yet another alley. He headed for the way out.
A whir came out of the wormhole. Randy came flying out. He landed right on Richard.
"I know this is a conspiracy!" Richard barked. "Get off of me!"
"My pleasure," Randy said as he stood up.
Another whir sounded off again. Melissa came flying out fo the wormhole. She flew at Richard and landed right on him.
Richard growled in annoyance. Melissa quickly moved off of him. He was really starting to find this trip annoying.
Another whir came from the wormhole. Brown landed near the wormhole. It closed behind him.
"Thank God!" Richard said as he attempted to stand again.
"Did I miss something?" Brown asked.
"Just Richard's bad luck with the wormhole," Melissa said. "How much time, Randy?"
"Three days," Randy said.
"Hopefully you'll have better luck with your parents, Egghead," Richard said.
Randy glared at him. "I've about had enough out of-"
Melissa blocked Randy's way. "Randy...let it go."
Richard smirked. Randy just stormed out of the alley.
"Randy, wait!" Melissa yelled.
Richard kept the smile on his face. He felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned to see Brown looking at him with a blank stare.
"I think that's-that is quite enough, Mr. Hall," Brown said firmly.
"What?" Richard asked innocently.
"You are purposely provoking Mr. Heim," Brown said. "I think it is about time it stopped."
"And you haven't, Brown?" Richard countered. "I seem to remember a dinner on a world of prostitution..."
"That was then!" Brown snapped. "I am a different person."
Richard laughed. "You're right about that! You're still the same old uptight professor!"
Brown grinned. "I guess I am."
"So be it then...PROPER," Richard declared. "You want to be Egghead's faithful comrade...go ahead."
"It is not like that at-"
Richard stormed away from Brown. He had to admit that he liked Brown. The last few months they had been there for each other. It felt like he had found a kindred spirit. A friend.
Randy Heim was going to pay.
"Randy, wait!" Melissa cried.
Randy stopped for a second. He turned around to look at Melissa. Her face showed deep concern.
"You can't let Richard get to you like that," Melissa said.
"He's enjoying this!" Randy shouted. "I've never known my parents until recently. So far...my parents don't even seem to want me. Or if they do, it's for some experiment! And HE'S getting a kick out of my pain!"
Randy noticed some passersbys staring at him and Melissa. He just sat on the sidewalk. Tears had started to form, but he fought the urge to cry.
"Maybe I was better off not knowing who my parents were," Randy said.
Melissa sat down beside Randy. He felt her hand on his shoulder.
"Do you really believe that?" Melissa asked.
Randy looked down at his feet. A hand reached over ot his check and turned him to her. Melissa looked back at him with deep concern.
"You wanted to know where you were from, remember?" Melissa asked. "You want to know why they gave you up."
"I wanted to find myself, too," Randy added. He smiled. "My father is also absent-minded."
"Really?"
"Yeah...I was really feeling...close to him."
"Then this trip was worth it."
Randy smiled at Melissa. "Yes, I guess it was. Listen..."
A limo screeched to a stop in front of them. Randy turned to look at it. The door shot open and his mother shot out at him.
"Randall!" Teresa Heim shrieked. "Thank God!" She threw her arms around him. "I was so worried...I know we have had our differences-"
"It's okay...Mom," Randy managed.
Teresa stopped hugging Randy. Tears formed in her eyes. "What...what did you call me?"
"Uh...Mom?" Randy said.
Teresa hugged Randy again. Randy realized it was tighter than before.
"I never thought I would hear you say that," Teresa sobbed. "Oh my God!"
Randy managed to angle himself and his mother so he could see Melissa. She just shrugged her shoulders.
"Okay, what did we miss?" Richard asked as he and Brown came out of the alley.
"Nothing much," Melissa said. "Randy is just getting a hug...from his mother."
Teresa Heim opened the door to the den. Randy looked in. The walls from the ceiling to the floor were covered with books. In fact, there was stairs that led to a second floor.
"Wow!" Randy said as he looked at the million of books.
"Your father feels the same way," Teresa said. "I thought he was mad, but as I told you...when he gets an idea in his head, he runs with it. Must be that scientist mind of his."
Randy wandered over to the shelves.
"Oh my God!"
Randy turned around to see Brown and Melissa at another shelf. He was looking at a book.
"What?" Randy asked.
"Scientific journals," Brown explained. "First printings at that."
"Yes, we can get anything," Teresa said. "One of the advantages of being rich."
"That and being able to get a giant model of a globe. I'm so impressed," Richard said as he looked at the globe.
Randy glared. Richard always had to tear everything apart. He was sick of it.
"Teresa, who do you have down there?"
Randy looked up on the second level. There was Brian Heim looking back at him. His eyes widened.
"Randy...son!" Brian exclaimed. "Give me a second! I'll be right down!"
"So it's a family of Eggheads," Richard said sarcastically. "Great!"
"Mr. Hall, I think you have said enough," Brown cautioned.
"I didn't know it was a crime to speak my mind, Proper," Richard said.
"You have a mind?" Randy asked.
Richard frowned. Hands grabbed Randy and turned him away from the sight. His father stood in front of him. They embraced.
"Oh, son!" Brian exclaimed. "I'm...so glad to see you. When you left without saying good-bye...I just didn't want us to part on such a sour note like..."
"Oh, Brian, " Teresa said as she hugged the two of them. "Don't remind him of that awful night."
"You're right, honey," Brian said.
"Mother...Father...I have great-"
Randy turned away to see Jared Heim standing in the doorway. The smile on his face fell at the sight of Randy.
"Randall..." Jared said.
"Yes, Jared," Teresa said. "We found your brother!"
"That's...but...I thought you wanted nothing to do with us," Jared said as he stormed over. "What were we? 'Spoiled little crap that at didn't give a damn about-'"
"Jared!" Brian barked. "None of that! We settled the argument. It's over."
"But..."
"How about you tell us the good news you had, Jared?" Teresa suggested.
"It's..." Jared started as he remembered the newspaper in his hand. He shook his head. "Never mind. It's nothing."
Jared stormed back out of the room. Randy felt that he should say something. His parents continued to hug him so he could not.
The moon was beautiful tonight. Randy smiled as he realized that. There was a time when he would be too busy inventing to notice that. There was a time when he would be watching the moon with someone...
Randy looked back into the house. Melissa was laughing with his mother. Brown was telling some story from his Professor days. He wished that Melissa was watching the moon with him.
"I see that you're watching her," Richard said as he came out on the patio. "Get over her. She's over you."
"Don't you have something better to do than annoy me?" Randy asked.
"Not that I can think of," Richard said. "Melissa and Proper may like you. I don't."
"The feeling's mutual. At least, I didn't kill anyone."
"And I did?"
Randy narrowed his eyes on Richard. "We both know the truth. It's just a matter of time-"
"Keep jumping at shadows," Richard cut Randy off. "Meanwhile, Melissa will be moving on to someone else."
"Doubt it."
"Have you seen her wear that ugly beret lately?"
"No."
Richard smirked. "You don't know? It's gone to the heaven for ugly."
"Now you're getting petty. Why don't you try to kill me like you did Laura?"
The smirk fell off Richard's face.
"Boys, am I going to have to separate you?"
Randy recognized his father's voice. He continued to glare at Richard. Richard gave up and headed for the patio door.
"Ask her," Richard said. Then he was gone.
"He seems like a pain," Brian said.
"He is," Randy said.
"I can have him vanish if you like."
Randy laughed at that comment. The frown on his father's face shut him up.
"I was serious," Brian said.
"No thanks," Randy said.
Brian sighed again in despair. "I'm doing it again. Your mother warned me about that."
"It's okay," Randy said.
"No, it's not. That's why you got angry at us in the first place.
"We never stopped keeping track of you, you know? Our parents thought having you so young...it would have been a scandal. Teresa's parents sent her away while mine tried to distract me with other girls. I found Teresa though."
"You still gave me away," Randy said flatly.
"We would not have survive without our money," Brian explained. "We decided to give you up for adoption. At least...you would have a chance...and we might meet again."
Brian put his hands on Randy's shoulder. A tear formed in his eyes. "I am glad to see that you have turned out to be an outstanding man. You're even following in my footsteps."
"Well...like father, like son," Randy said. He backed away from his father.
"What's wrong, son?"
"Why didn't you give Jared up then?"
Brian moved pass Randy. His hands fell on the patio. He looked up at the moon.
"Things changed," Brian finally said. "For centuries, our family has been on this land. Since the Gold Rush in fact. Money has always come easily for us. There has always been a heir to the fortune. I wanted that to be my first son."
Brian stared at Randy. "As far as my parents knew...you died in childbirth. Eventually though they wanted a grandson though...before they..."
Brian's voice broke. Randy walked over and put a hand on his shoulder for comfort.
"You don't have to say anymore," Randy said. "I understand."
"Do you?" Brian asked. "You were very angry when we first approached you. You said you couldn't live like this."
"Like you said...things change," Randy replied.
Brian smiled. "I hope so. I hope you will stay. I'll see you in the morning."
Randy watched his father go back into the dining room. He turned back to the night and its moon. He wanted to stay. For such a long time, he wanted to know who his parents were. He felt that he knew them. Should he stop sliding?
He looked down into the garden below. There was a figure moving among the trees. At first, Randy could not make out who it was. Finally, he realized that it was Jared. It looked like Jared was talking to someone under a tree.
Randy narrowed his eyes. He could not make out who it was though. Who could Jared be talking to?
Melissa sat in the garden. Over the last couple of days, she found it was her favorite place to be. It was beautiful and sweet. Also it was quiet.
"You sure do seem to like this garden."
Melissa looked away from some roses she was observing. Richard walked over and sat with her.
"Yeah, I do," Melissa said. "It allows me to collect my thoughts."
"I bet."
"What do you want, Richard?"
"I want to know when you're moving on from Egghead."
Melissa frowned. "I'm not with Randy anymore."
"Oh, really?" Richard asked. "How about you let me show you a wild time some time?"
"No thanks."
"What are you waiting for? Egghead's probably going to stay here with the parents. I would if I had been searching for mine."
"Good thing Randy isn't you then."
Richard shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe. Then again if I was him, I wouldn't have let you go."
Melissa frowned. "He didn't have a choice in that matter."
"Well, he should have."
"Do you have a point?"
"Yeah. You wanted Egghead to move on. You should do the same. Giving away the beret was a good start."
Melissa looked over at Richard. "Start of what?"
Richard grinned at her. "The start of something new...unless you want to go back to Egghead."
Melissa looked back at the roses. She loved how they seem to be blossoming. That was how she was hoping Randy would be when they separated. She did love Randy, but he had no identity beyond focusing on her. She could not live like that. She needed more substance. She needed someone who could stand on their own and not be insecure without her.
Melissa looked at Richard. "I don't. What do you suggest?"
Randy saw Melissa in the garden. He stared at her on the patio and wished he was with her. Richard was with her and it made Randy's blood boil.
"You sure are getting used to that landing."
Randy turned around. Jared walked over toward him.
"It's a very nice view," Randy commented.
"Yeah," Jared agreed. "Mother really put her heart and soul into it. She wouldn't even let the servants work on it."
"I can understand that."
"I don't think you understand anything," Jared said flatly. "If you understood, you wouldn't have come back."
Jared stood next to Randy now. Randy looked at him and saw the hatred in his eyes.
"I remember you," Jared said. "You were angry that Mother and Father showed up when your adopted parents had their accident. You thought our...KIND could be using our money to help people, not spending it on ourselves. You disowned us!"
Jared glared at Randy. "Now look at you. Hypocrite."
"People change," Randy replied.
"Change back again," Jared demanded. "You don't belong here."
Randy felt his eyes narrow. "I don't think that's your call."
"I think it is."
"I have as much right to be here as you!" Randy shot back. "I'm their-"
Jared grabbed Randy's throat.
"Don't you dare say that!" Jared yelled. "You are nothing!"
Randy struggled to breathe. His elbow shot up and found its target: Jared's stomach. The grip around Randy's neck loosened. He fell to the ground.
"I'm sorry that you feel like second best with me here, but I'm not going anywhere," Randy said.
Jared leaned against the landing. A hand rubbed his stomach. His eyes burned into Randy's.
"I think you should, " Jared said. "I didn't work on getting Father to let me run the company so I can split it between us. Not happening, Brother!"
Randy watched Jared storm off the patio. He pushed the hair that had fallen over his eyes as he got off the ground. Maybe he should leave before something bad happened.
"You're leaving again?" Teresa Heim asked.
"Yeah," Randy said. "Melissa feels the urge to go backpacking. Brown's a little nervous about it, but-"
"You really like her, don't you?" Teresa asked.
Randy felt his face warm. "Is it that obvious?"
Teresa stopped to look at a set of roses under a tree. She leaned down and plucked one of the roses up.
"Yes," Teresa finally said. "I think Melissa is a good girl."
"I messed it up though," Randy admitted. "I was jealous half of the time and getting real possessive."
"You know what?" Teresa asked. "I think you are refreshingly human." She put the rose in Randy's hands. "I really love your father, but sometimes he can be so focused that he becomes detached from people. You seem like you are full of passion. In the end, Melissa will see that passion and love and you two will get back together."
Randy felt Teresa's hands close the rose in his hand.
"Sometimes love can be like a seed," Teresa said. "It grows into something beautiful, withers only to blossom again into something beyond words."
Randy was still speechless.
"Now let's get inside," Teresa said. "I am sure Brian will want some time with you."
Melissa looked away from Mr. Heim and his conversation with Brown. She was right. Randy was looking at her.
She stared back at Randy. She hoped she had a sexy look. Finally, she just crossed her eyes and stuck out her tongue. Randy tried to keep down his laughter.
"Are you guys going to make silly faces at each other all night?" Richard whispered. "I thought you were moving pass him?"
Melissa turned to Richard. She glared for a second. Then she turned back to Randy. He stood in front of her.
"Can I talk to you for a second?" Randy asked.
"Yeah," Melissa said. She got up and followed Randy to a corner in the study. "What's up? The timer's okay, right?"
"Yeah," Randy said. "We're going to have to leave in a minute." He fell silent. His hands were in his pocket. "I just have a question."
"Yeah?"
"Do you still have the beret? The one I..."
Melissa looked over at Richard. He was busy talking to Brown. She looked back at Randy. His eyes were sad.
"Uh...no. I-" Melissa said.
The double door flew open like a car had run into it. melissa turned to see jared standing in the door. He looked insane. One hand had a bottle in it. The other had a rifle.
"I figured it out!" Jared exclaimed. "I know the perfect way to get what I want."
Jared laughed. Then he aimed the rifle and started firing.
"No!" Randy said as he pushed Melissa down. They made it to the floor. Glass shattered and fell on them.
"Are you okay?" Randy asked.
Melissa just nodded.
"Teresa? No!"
Randy sat up to see his father holding Teresa. She was bleeding form the head and somewhere else. Brian looked lost.
"Mom!" Randy cried.
Randy felt his legs move. A click stopped them from getting to his parents. He looked at Jared.
"No, you don't," Jared said as he headed over to Brian. "Wait your turn."
"Are you crazy;?" Brian yelled. "You just shot your mother! Why?"
Jared corked an eyebrow. "Crazy? Tell me, DAD. Tell me why you changed the will? You left everything...EVERYTHING...to Randy."
"What?" Randy found himself saying. He looked at Brian. "Why?"
"You deserve it," Brian answered. "You deserve to be happy and never have to worry about being without. I hoped...I hoped it would make up for giving you away."
Randy did not know what to say.
"What about me?" Jared asked.
"You are spoiled, Jared," Brian said. "I thought a work ethic would make you ito a strong man." He looked at Teresa in his arms. "I was wrong. At least, I corrected my mistake because you don't deserve to have everything."
Jared stared at his father. He took a swipe from the bottle. He aimed the rifle.
"In order to correct the mistake, there would have to be a will...and you have to be alive to protest," Jared said. "Will's burned. And I'm about to get everything."
"No!" Randy screamed.
The rifle went off twice. Randy felt something hit him. As he fell to the floor, he realized that it was blood on him. His father's blood.
Words were talking around him. He could not make out anything. His mind was on his parents. He had finally found them. He had gotten to know them a little. Now because of him, they were dead.
No, Randy thought. It is NOT my fault. He glared at Jared.
"What are you looking at?" Jared asked.
"Murderer," Randy said.
Jared aimed the rifle. "Then one...four more shouldn't matter."
A loud chuck sounded through the room. Jared turned away to look. Randy swung his legs out and tripped Jared. He grabbed the rifle and jumped up.
The curtains were on fire. Randy looked at Brown who stood around it.
"You needed a distraction," Brown said.
A beeping sounded out. Randy pulled out the timer. He aimed near Melissa and watched as the vortex formed.
"Just in time," Richard yelled happily.
"Melissa, go!" Randy yelled.
Melissa jumped into the vortex. A whir sounded off. The wind picked up, but the fire continued to spread.
Richard ran through the distance between him and the vortex. He dived right in.
Brown started after him. Randy was right behind Brown. Something moved to his left. He turned to see Jared charge him. He fell into a pile of books.
Hands grabbed his neck. Randy struggled against them. A fist in the face was Jared's response.
"No...you..don't!" Jared yelled.
"You're...going...to...kill...us!" Randy barked.
"Not us!" Jared yelled. "Just you! Then it's going to be mine! All of it! I will have every-"
A shot sounded out behind Jared. Randy felt Jared's hands loosen. Red blood across Jared's shirt. He fell off of Randy. He was dead.
Randy looked at Jared's bloody body. He looked to see Brown holding the rifle. Tears fell from his eyes, but his face was stone.
"Thanks-" started Randy.
"Go!" Brown barked.
Randy headed for the vortex and jumped in.
Brown heard the whir as Heim vanished into the vortex. He looked at Jared's dead body. It was a nice piece of work...just like his other killings.
He knew he had to do it though. Jared would have killed Heim if he had not fired. He did not want to kill.
He smiled at the tears on his lips. They, at least, reminded him that he was a man with a heart and soul. Right now, he felt like a savage.
Brown jumped into the vortex and vanished.
THE-END
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