"Hello, I'm Daniel Peckin and welcome to Peckin's Hard to Believe Tonight...four people from an alternate reality...same time, same place...better bodies...It's here tonight on Peckin's Hard to believe."
 "Not again!" Melissa Clark complained. "I thought we lost him yesterday."
 "So did I," Professor Brown said. "He is like a persistent mosquito."
 "Joel, don't forget shots of her cleavage," Peckin said to his cameraman, gesturing to Melissa.
 "What?" Melissa shrieked.
 Her right fist connected with Peckin's eye and he fell to the ground.
 "You're on!" Joel whispered.
 "Wha?" Peckin said as he jumped up off the ground. "Welcome back. We're here with Randy, Melissa, Richard, and Professor Brown...they travel--"
 "We got to go," Randy said. He aimed his timer at a nearby wall. It dissolved into a blue circle of light.
 "Quick, Joel! Get a shot!" Peckin yelled.
 Professor Brown ran for the vortex. He jumped and vanished into it.
 "Hey, Mom!" Richard yelled to the camera. he then ran for the vortex. He also vanished into it.
 "Go, Melissa!" Randy yelled.
 "Joel, get a shot of her boobs!" Peckin yelled.
 Melissa punched Peckin in the jaw as she ran pass him. she jumped into the vortex.
 "Tell that gal she got a great arm!" Joel yelled to Randy. "I wanted to do that forever!"
 "I will!" Randy yelled.
 He ran and jumped into the vortex. A whir sounded off. Then the vortex closed behind Randy.

 Randy fell to the ground. The vortex closed in the sky.
 "How is--" Randy started.
 "Oh my God! It's Randy Heim!"
 The footsteps sounded on the San Francisco streets. Hands grabbed at Randy. It felt like they were tearing off his clothes.
 "Hey! Back off!" Melissa yelled.
 Hands started to pull on Randy. He struggled against it.
 "Mr. Heim, it is us," Brown said.
 Randy stopped struggling. He finally touched the ground. He saw Melissa to his left and Brown on his right. They started to run down the street.
 "There you are!"

WHAT IF YOU DISCOVERED NEW WORLDS? WHAT IF YOU COULD FIND THESE WORLDS WITHOUT LEAVING EARTH? YOU'RE THE SAME PERSON AND IT'S THE SAME YEAR, BUT EVERYTHING AROUND YOU IS DIFFERENT? I FOUND A WAY TO TRAVEL TO PARALLEL WORLDS!!!

 SLIDERS: ALTERNATE SPIN
 EPISODE 9-PART OF THE BAND
 (first part)

 Randy stared at the man in front of him. He frowned. "Not again."
 "Oh, great," Richard growled.
 Daniel Peckin walked up to them with two bodyguards. They held back the crowd which was even now growing.
 "Does he look the same on every world?" Melissa muttered.
 "Clark, what are you doing here?" Peckin barked. "I told you...you've a coffee girl...not an assistant to Flashfire."
 "Flashfire?" Randy said.
 "Coffeegirl?!" Melissa muttered. Her hands were already forming fist.
 "What is going on?" Brown asked. "What is Flashfire?"
 "Where you been, Pops?" Peckin said. "Flashfire's the next big thing, and you're with the lead singer here."
 Richard looked at Randy. "You talking about Egghead?"
 A limo started to pull up near the sidewalk. The door opened.
 "Come on!" Peckin said as he grabbed Randy. "The rest of the band is waiting! Time is money."
 Randy looked at Melissa. He shrugged his shoulders. Then Peckin pushed him into the limo. Melissa started to follow, but a hand stopped her.
 "When we get back," Peckin said, "I expect four coffees, black." Then he slammed the limo door.
 The limo drove off, leaving three bewildered sliders near the street.
 "That son of a--" Melissa started.
 "Well, this will be an interesting world," Professor Brown commented.
 "I can't believe Egghead's famous," Richard said. "We could be living large here."
 Melissa and Professor Brown glared at Richard.
 "What?" Richard asked.

 "Mr. Heim told me about it back on that world with your sister," Brown explained as his fellow sliders sat with him in the mall. "He used to have a band."
 "Him? A band?" Richard said in disbelief. "He used to be...fun?"
 "Can't you say anything nice about Randy?" Melissa snapped.
 "Why should I?" Richard countered. "He's why I'm in this mess."
 "No, he's not," Melissa said. "You are! Stop blaming Randy for your screw up."
 "What?" Richard said angrily.
 Professor Brown coughed. The two of them looked at him.
 "May I finish, please?" Brown asked. No one answered. "Perhaps on this world, Mr. Heim focused on his band and not physics. I think it would be good for him...for all of us...to have a break from each other."
 "So do I," Melissa agreed.
 "Don't have to convince me," Richard said as he stood up. "I'm already gone. How much time?"
 "I do not know," Brown admitted. "Mr. Heim still has the timer."
 "Great!" Richard complained, raising his hands to the air. He stormed away from them. A couple observed him as he walked by. "What?"
 "Aren't you Richard Hall?" the girl asked.
 Richard frowned. "Yea."
 The girl held out her hand to her boyfriend. A smirk was on her face. "Pay up. I told you that it was Dr. Richard Hall."
 "Doctor?" Richard could fell his eyes widened. "I'm a doctor?"
 "Duh!" the girl said as she put her new money in her pocket. "Everyone knows the best doctor in Northern California. With you transferring here, I'm sure the death toll will be lesser than when Dr. Brown was here."
 "Excuse her," her boyfriend said to Richard. "She's a pre-med major. She likes to worship other famous doctors. Let's go, Brit."
 "What?" Brittany said. "I've always wanted to meet him!"
 As the argument continued, Richard's mind was on one thought.
 "I'm a doctor."

 "Hi, I'm looking for flashfire."
 "Second door on your right," the secretary said.
 Melissa headed for the door. She frowned at a poster of Flashfire. It was the tenth one she had seen in the last thirty minutes. Then there was the Flashfire shirts. The Flashfire bags. She didn't even want to start on the Flashfire dolls.
 She opened the door and walked thorough it. It was a studio. She made out Randy playing on a guitar. Then three other guys were on other instruments.
 "Clark, where have you been?"
 Melissa looked away from the mirror to find Peckin and another guy looking at her. Peckin's eyes narrowed.
 "Do you know what Tim had to go through to cover your butt?" Peckin barked. "You're fired! Get out!"
 "Hey!"
 Melissa turned to see Randy looking at the three of them. He headed over to the room.
 "What's going on?" Randy asked.
 "It's nothing, Randy," Peckin said. "Just one of the workers giving me the wrong lip."
 "Giving you lip? One of your workers?" Melissa shrieked. "I'll have you know that--"
 "--she's my new assistant," Randy cut in. "I just decided today."
 "Wait!" Tim barked. "I thought I was your assistant!"
 "Oh, shut up, Tim!" Peckin said to him. "You can be my assistant. You don't have Clark's curves, but--"
 "You son of a--" Melissa started to approach Peckin.
 She felt a hand on her arm. She turned to see Randy. He grinned at her.
 "Could you give us a second?" Randy asked Peckin.
 "Sure. You have two minutes." Peckin said. "Come on, Tim."
 Randy's smile faded. He looked at Melissa with concern.
 "Is everything okay?" Randy asked.
 "Great," Melissa answered, "If you don't count that slime who just left. Where's the timer?"
 "I got it on me," Randy said. "I got a week."
 Melissa frowned at the grin that appeared on his face. It had been a while since he had grinned this much.
 "You got a week?" Melissa repeated his words. "Don't you mean WE? I don't like this."
 "I DO," Randy said. "I like the idea that somewhere my old band took off. I miss just being able to play my guitar all the time. I used to love it like crazy. Hey...songs that I just considered writing are hits here. I love this. Alex, Bennie, Todd. We were great!"
 "You guys are like the Backstreet Boys...with instruments," Melissa said. "Besides, you said it yourself...we're here for a week. Don't get too used to it. For all you know your double will pop up and..."
 Randy wrapped his arms around her. He looked into her eyes. "I like that you're worried. I'm fine. Just let me have my fun."
 Melissa looked into Randy's eyes. She remembered the look from Con World well. She backed away from him.
 "No, Randy," Melissa said. "I know that look."
 "What?" Randy asked. "Come on. You're the one who loves to have fun on these slides. When did you get so serious?"
 Melissa looked down at her feet. That was a good question.
 The hand touched her cheek. Then it rose her cheek up. Melissa found herself looking into Randy's eyes again. He started to lean in on her.
 "Hey!" Alex Winters shouted from the next room. "Are we going to rehearse?"
 Melissa turned to the band. Then she looked back at Randy.
 "He's right," Melissa said. "Go on. Just remember...we slide in a week." She started to head for the door.
 "Wait!" Where's the Professor and Richard?" Randy asked.
 "I don't know," Melissa answered. "We all decided to just have some alone fun time. I'll meet you at the Dominion later?"
 Randy grinned again. "Yeah."
 Randy watched Melissa leave. He never thought he would have the guts to try what he just did with Melissa. After Melissa's rejection on Con World, it took forever to reestablish their friendship. He shouldn't try to wreck it again, but...
 "So are you ready?" Alex asked. On Randy's Earth, he had not been in the band, but here he was the drummer.
 "Yeah," Randy replied. "We were just having a talk."
 "Looks like you were doing more than talking to me," Todd, the keyboardist said.
 "Yeah," Bennie the other guitar player said. "It was like a love shack."
 Alex and Todd laughed at that idea. Randy could fell the heat on his face. He must looked as red as a strawberry right now.
 "Here comes Peckerhead again," Todd said. "Let's get ready."
 "I'm still surprised at you, Randy," Alex said. "We thought you had ran off."
 "No...of course not," Randy said.
 "I mean...if I had gotten the letters you did," Alex continued, "I would have ran off, too. They were straight out of a Kevin Williamson movie."
 Randy frowned and looked at Alex. "Letters? What letters?"

 "Hmmmm..." Professor Brown said aloud. He was sure that Melissa would frown on him being in a library. However, libraries were fun for him over just going out. It didn't remind him of Debra, his ex-wife.
 Brown had decided to look into the world they were in. So far, it could easily had been their Earth...except Perot was President, the United States controlled Iraq, and Ace of Base seem to be the biggest music thing since sliced toast. The exception to them being a bunch of girl pop singers and boy bands under them. Pop was the dominant force in this world.
 Brown walked by the book shelves. One of the posters had Flashfire on it, encouraging reading. Brown felt ill from the exploiting.
 He had made it to the stairs when a girl walked up.
 "Professor Brown!" she exclaimed. "Oh my God! I can't believe it!"
 "Do I know you?" Brown asked.
 "No," the girl said, "but I'm one of your biggest fan."
 Brown smiled. "Oh, really? You have read my work?"
 "What pre-med major hasn't?"
 Brown felt a frown cross his face. It seem like Randy wasn't the only person who decided not to study physics.
 "Would you like to have dinner tonight?" the girl asked. "I'm sure you're busy, but--"
 Brown smiled. "I would love to."

 "Hi, my name is Bridget and I requested Flashfire's 'To Love You' because the song's hot and so is Randy!"
 Melissa rolled her eyes. Peckin had went out of his way to annoy her. the last thing she needed was Total Request Live.
 "God, I don't need this."
 Melissa looked up from her coffee in the lounge. Tim stood and looked at the television.
 "I thought you loved Flashfire," Melissa said.
 "I do," Tim replied. "However, I don't need it 24/7."
 "Looks like Peckin wants us to be obedient workers."
 Tim grinned. "You could say that."
 "Hi! My name is Lauren and I requested..."
 "God, I wish these TVs turned off," Melissa said.
 "How about we just leave?" Tim asked. "I know about this coffeehouse down the street. Would you like to see who's playing?"
 "Sure."

 "This tastes great."
 "Well, you look great," Richard replied.
 The jazz band set the mood. The coffeehouse was full. People acted spellbound. Richard had found an alluring date. It was great not having to be around people who did not like him.
 "So what is it like in Northern California?" his date asked.
 "Same as here," Richard replied.
 "I just can't believe that you're here," his date continued. "after that whole Brown scandal..."
 "You know you have beautiful eyes," Richard said. "it's like you can see into an ocean."
 His date smiled. "I don't know what to say."
 Richard leaned in closer. "How about you don't say anything at all?"
 He kissed his date. Judging by the fact she did not pull back, he knew she was interested. It was a change from randy's accusation.
 He liked being a respected doctor.

 "Richard?" Melissa said aloud as Tim and her sat at a table.
 "You see someone you know?" Tim asked as he sat down.
 "Yeah," Melissa explained, "but...we have an...arrangement."
 "So you two are going out?"
 Melissa laughed. "No...well, we did once....it didn't work out."
 Tim sighed in relief. "Good. It's worse that I'm dealing with a star. I don't need a live guy, too."
 "Star?" Melissa said, her face, frowning.
 "Well...everyone knows how much you LOVE Randy Heim," Tim said. "Now that you're his assistant you're a step away from getting him."
 Melissa grinned. At least her double wasn't another one in love with Ben Loveland. She still could not believe she had even been Peckin's assistant.
 "You even asked Randy to come here tonight," Mark commented.
 "Listen, Tim," Melissa began. "Randy and I...are just friends. Nothing is going to happen there."
 Tim grabbed Melissa's hand and held it. Melissa felt the warmth in his hand.
 "You have warm hands," melissa commented.
 "Well...warm hands, kind heart," Tim replied.
 "I thought the saying was cold hands, warm heart."
 Tim frowned. "That's a new saying."
 Melissa just rolled her eyes. She should have known that this world would be somewhat different than her world. She looked at Tim to find he was staring intently at her.
 "I think you're moving too fast," Melissa said.
 "Life is usually short so I want to make the most of it," Tim said as he stood up. He started to lean in on Melissa. His lips inched closer and closer to Melissa's own.
 "Oh, God! It's Flashfire!"
 Melissa turned to look at the entrance of the coffeehouse. Flashfire had entered and it looked like just about every girl in there wanted a piece of them. It didn't matter to Melissa. She was too angry.
 Tim had managed to stop himself from almost kissing Melissa's ear. Now he had to jump back so his lips did not bump into Melissa's head.
 "Where are you going?" Tim asked.
 "To give a 'friend' a piece of my mind," Melissa answered.

 The girls grabbed at Randy. He always thought that if he had kept the band together, they would have hit it big. With their blend of rock and pop, it was possible. Now the girls reminded him of the letters.
 A girl grabbed at him again. He shrank back. For all he knew, one of them were the letter writer.
 "Flashfire!"
 "I love you, Alex!"
 "Take me, Randy!"
 "I'll be your love monkey, Todd!"
 "I want an autograph!"
 "Here we go," Alex whispered to Randy. Then he pulled out a pen and started to sign autographs.
 "When are the girls suppose to be here?" Bennie whispered.
 "Peckin said they would show," Todd whispered.
 "One at a time! One at a time!" Alex told the crowd. They slowed a little.
 Randy continued to sign autographs. the girls were all giggling. It made Randy nervous.
 "Oh my God! I'll never wash these hands again!" a fan said after getting Todd's autograph.
 "Hey, lover!"
 A dark-haired woman walked up to Randy and kissed him on the lips. Randy pulled away in shock. The woman leaned in on him.
 "What's wrong?" she whispered. "We always have this route...remember?
 "Oh...uh...sorry," Randy managed.
 She kissed him again.
 "You jerk!"
 Randy pulled away to find a very angry Melissa glaring at him. Tim stood behind her with a frown of his own.
 "When I asked, you said you had to work," Melissa said. "Then you pop up with band, groupies, and a tramp to boot!"
 "What?" Randy said. "This isn't--" Then he stopped. "What are you angry about? It's not like we're a couple. Besides, my plans changed and I thought this would be a great place."
 "I am not a tramp," the woman said.
 "We'll talk later," Randy said to Melissa. He gestured to the fans. "I'm kinda busy."
 "It's nice to see that you've already forgotten who your friends are," Melissa commented.
 "I think you need to stop using that loosely," Randy said as he grabbed the woman closer. He started to walk pass. "By the way, it's nice to see you jealous for a change."
 Randy knew he had hurt her, but he did not care now. She had been angry at him for no reason at all. Then he realized that it was more because of the woman he was with. Melissa needed to make up her mind.
 He looked around at the crowd grinning at him and the rest of the band. Letters aside, he liked a little attention. Maybe he would have to make up his mind as well.

 The jazz band had finished up a while ago. Now the floor was open for dancing. Guys and girls danced to the latest Ace of Base.
 Randy danced with Tina. He liked her. She was an actress who was still trying to find a good role. Until then, Peckin was paying her and other girls to act as...rent-a-girlfriends. To the public eye, they had been together for six months. They met at one of Flashfire's TV appearances to promote their first CD.
 "I was starting to worry," Tina yelled over the song.
 "Why?" Randy asked.
 "With the letters from that sicko, I...I was just worried."
 Randy looked over at Melissa dancing with Tim. "It's nice to know someone is."
 Someone bumped Randy. He looked at the couple. They just shrugged their shoulders apologetically. Then Randy bumped into someone. He turned and stopped.
 "Sorry," Randy said to Melissa.
 "Yeah," Melissa said. "I--"
 Tina grabbed Randy and danced with him to another part of the dance floor.
 "We can't have people thinking we have problems now," Tina whispered in Randy's ear.
 "How about we just leave?" Randy asked.

 "I just think you were a great date," Richard's date said as they walked back to her apartment.
 "Well, I try," Richard said, he smiled at her with a cocky smile.
 "I can't wait to work with you in surgery," his date replied. "I just hope that what happened last time doesn't happen again."
 "Oh, really? What happened?"
 Richard's date frowned at him. "You're kidding? Everyone in the medical departments all over California know the Brown Scandal." She kept walking. "Where have you been?"
 "Humor me," Richard said as he kept pace with her.
 "In a nutshell, Dr. Darnell Brown found out he was being fired. He started shooting all of his competition...along with anyone who had anything to do with medicine," Richard's date explained. "Things have cooled down, but Brown is still at large. Here we are!"
 Richard did not hear the last part. He had to find Proper. If anyone saw him and put two and two together...
 The kiss came out of nowhere. Richard came back to reality. His date pulled away and grinned at him.
 "How about...you come up and play a little Doctor, Dr. Hall?" she said seductively.
 Richard felt his jaw drop.
 Having great sex or helping someone he...kinda knew.
 How would he choose?

 "You don't have to stay...really," Randy said to Tina.
 "Oh, come on," Tina purred. "We got a fireplace. Ace of Base's 'Everytime It Rains' in the background. We're alone. Let's take advantage." She started to claw onto Randy. He shrank away.
 "Listen...Tina..." Randy said. "...I like you...but, I'm just real tired...it's not that I'm gay, but it's...what?"
 Tina folded her arms. "You told me you were."
 "I did WHAT!" Randy bellowed.
 "Why do you think half the groups need rent-a-dates anyway?"
 "Oh."
 "Yeah...'oh,'" Tina said. "Maybe I could..."
 "I think you should go," Randy said.
 "Sure. Whatever," Tina said. "If you're not going to let me change your preference..."
 "I'm not...good night, Tina," Randy replied. He shut the door behind her.
 Randy thought about what Tina said. His double was...
 He headed into the bathroom. He needed a shower. As he pulled stuff out of his pockets, a slip of paper fell out. Randy did not remember having it.
 He opened it up. Just as quickly as he opened it, he dropped it again. His hand shook. Randy felt his legs give way. He fell to the floor, looking at the note again.
 It only had one word: SOON.

TO BE CONTINUED...