"So you think you should get your memory back?"
  Richard Hall leaned his head back against the wall. He sat right next to the dressing room door. His forehead wrinkled up.
  "Yes," Richard said. "The images are getting too much. We know Rebecca isn't going to help me."
  "So you help yourself...by asking for my help?"
  "Yeah," Richard answered.
  "By a con?"
  "By a con."
  The dressing room door flew open. Melissa Clark stepped out. She wore a black wig that made her hair shoulder-length and gave her binds. She wore a no-sleeve black dress that fit her form perfectly and was held up by a collar. Richard felt his breath catch in his throat. Melissa smiled and bowed.
  "Dominique Brooks...at your service," Melissa said.
  "Great!" Richard exclaimed, throwing his arm out.
  It hit something. Richard turned in time to the store's lamp tilt over and fell. It shattered on the he green tile.
  "Oops," Richard said.
  "I hope you have money for that."
  Richard looked up at the sales associate. She glared at him through her glasses. Then she gestured to a sign over Richard's head. He looked.
  'YOU BREAK, YOU PAY...OR ELSE.'
  Richard managed a smile. "Actually..."

  "Slide! Slide!"
  Randy Heim turned around. Richard and Melissa ran toward him with a group of gun-living sales associates behind them.
  "What in the--," Randy started.
  "Slide!" Richard yelled. "Slide!"

  Richard fell out of the green wormhole. It took him a moment to realize that the wormhole was in mid-air. Then he saw the look of surprise on Randy's face. He landed right on him.
  "Sorry," Richard said, shooting up, "for both of us."
  Randy only had time to frown. A whir sounded form the wormhole. Melissa emerged from it and landed right on Randy. The wormhole closed behind her.
  Richard watched the two of them. Melissa looked surprised in a shocked way. Randy looked surprised in a happy way. Richard crossed his arms over his chest. He didn't like it at all.
  "Like old times, huh?"
  Melissa looked up at the voice. She pulled away quickly. Richard saw disappointment cross Randy's face. Richard looked over his shoulder. Rebecca Pryce stood at the console behind her. She had a smirk on his face.
  "As if you know what we were like," Melissa said.
  Rebecca moved away from the console.
  "Who doesn't know of your triangle?" Rebecca asked. "If I didn't know better I would call you Dawson, Joey, and Pacey. Who will she choose? Will she ever make up her mind?"
  "Well you remind me of the villain on a soap," Richard said. "Will you tell the truth? Can you be trusted?" He narrowed his eyes on Rebecca. "What are you hiding?"
  "Me?" Rebecca challenged. "Nothing."
  "Yeah, right."
  Richard walked out of the door. He could not believe he slept with someone who couldn't even tell him the truth. He turned the corner in the hall...and ran right into himself.
  "So," the double said, "need help filling in the blanks?"

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?

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

SLIDERS: ALTERNATE SPIN-SEASON 5
EPISODE 7: SHARDS (PART 1)

  Richard stared...at himself. His double definitely did not dress like him, standing before him in a plaid long-sleeved shirt. His hair was short and spiky. The double grinned.
  "So?" the double asked. "Interested?"
  "You're been here a week...and the only reason for that was the others didn't want to leave you and Melissa's double on that Tabloid world," Richard said.
  "Yeah. We have history."
  "Don't see how that helps me."
  Richard's double grinned. "Okay. Who is this Boy Scout with the shaggy hair and stubble in front of me. Because you sure aren't the Richard I've encountered."
  Richard frowned.
  "Yeah," the double said. "I know you, Buddy. Better yet, I know us."
  Richard glared. "You know nothing."
  "I know you feel your babe Rebecca is hiding something. You have a con in place to fish her out, right?"
  Richard's jaw dropped. The double nodded his head.
  "Yeah," the double continued. "Different lives, same wavelength. That's us. Survivor. Always an ace up our sle--"
  Hands wrapped around the double's waist. A head popped out from the double's left. It was Melissa's double. She grinned at kissed the double.
  "Did I miss anything?" she purred.
  The double kissed her. "Just...talking to myself. Finding common ground."
  Melissa's double stared at Richard. She looked him up and down. She looked back at the double.
  "I find that hard to believe, " Melissa's double said.
  "Would you like to check my penis size?" Richard challenged.
  Melissa's double glared. His double smirked. Richard heard footsteps. He turned to see Melissa walk around the corner. She paused.
  "God, I hate that woman," Melissa said. She looked at her double. "What's going on?"
  "Better question," Melissa's double said, "what's with that wig?"
  "Trying out something," Melissa replied.
  "Or you are part of Richard's con," the double said. He looked at Melissa's double. "See? We do have something in common."
  Melissa glared. "I find that hard to believe."
  Richard smirked. "Well...I see one pair of doubles have something in common."

  Randy's hands shook, causing him to pause. He looked down at the device. It was shaped like a C. The red light blinking at one end of it proved it was finally working.
  Randy grinned. Good. The last world had been unproductive in terms of finding something of profit for Rebecca and the Arturo Foundation. With more loss than gain, it was only a matter of time before the hammer fell. He was just about...
  A knock sounded from the door. Randy put the collar in his desk drawer. No need for anyone to see it...yet.
  Randy opened the door. He immediately glared. Professor Brown only grinned wider.
  "May I come in?" Brown asked.
  "No," Randy said, starting to slam the door.
  Brown caught the door. Then he walked into the bedroom.
  "What do you want, Professor?" Randy asked.
  Brown turned to face him. "Just wanted to see how you are. Except for missions, you have been holed up in your room. I was concerned."
  "I bet you were," Randy said. He gestured with the door. "I'm fine. Get out."
  Brown tilted his head. "Is that how it will be, Mr. Heim?"
  "As long as you keep things from me...yes."
  "You know what you need to know," Brown said, turning away. "The Kromaggs are out there, conquering worlds. They might have our world again. You have the knowledge to do away with them. Perhaps you should before something...unfortunate happens."
  "Don't worry," Randy said, his eyes staring through Brow. "Nothing's going to happen to me...regardless of what someone thinks."
  Brown stood in front of Randy's desk. He drew a line across the top of the desk with his finger. He looked at Randy.
  "Was that subtext?" Brown asked.
  "Depends on what you find below the surface," Randy replied.
  Brown studied Randy's face. He grabbed the desk drawer. Randy moved quickly, ignoring the open door. He slapped Brown's hand away.
  "Oh," Brown said. "What are you hiding?"
  "Nothing that concerns you," Randy said.
  "Maybe it's something Arturo will like."
  Randy and Brown looked at the door. Rebecca stood in the door, studied, the two of them. She stepped in.
  "Am I interrupting?" Rebecca asked.
  "No," Randy said. He looked at Brown. "Darnell...was just leaving."
  Brown looked at Randy like he had been slapped. He recovered quickly and headed out of the room. Rebecca looked after him before looking at Randy.
  "Wow," Rebecca said. "You two sure are sporting tension."
  "Not for long," Randy commented.

  The first thing Richard noticed was the blonde hair. It was nice and long and belonged to a nice looking girl with eyes full of fury. They were in a bar with music booming all around them. He and the girl were at the bar. He had just said something. And she...Katherine Rye...responded by slapping him. He smirked.
  She had just slapped him on a world where violence got zero tolerance. She would be executed for the slap.
  Katherine Rye. Where was she--
  Tubes emerged in front of him. Suddenly, he was in one...naked. Wires were attached to him. His eyes were shut. He threw them open and stared through the glass that represented the front of the long circular tube he was in. Rebecca stood outside, discussing something with The Bald Man.
  Richard turned. He was being wheeled away. He looked behind him. He saw a door. It was marked 'GENESIS.'
  "Richard?"

  Richard blinked. He looked to his right. Melissa walked with him up the bank's stairs, arm in arm. She wore the wig along with the black dress he had picked out. Richard was in a dark suit. Melissa stared at him in concern.
  "Another memory?" Melissa asked.
  "That...and a whole lot more," Richard said. He stared at her. "Are you sure you want to do this?"
  "For you...yes," Melissa said. "Besides...it seems my double has fallen out of the con game."
  "But you said if anyone is caught with an alias, they could be killed."
  Melissa opened the door for Richard.
  "I'm game," Melissa said. "Not like I have much to live for."
  Richard looked at Melissa. "Okay, Goth Girl. Don't get suicidal on me."
  Melissa said nothing. Richard walked behind her, giving off the appearance of being a bodyguard.
  "Still good to see your sleeping with Rebecca gave you access to some things," Melissa commented.
  "Yeah," Richard said, "I guess."
  The two of them went to the nearest teller. It was a dark-haired woman. She looked at them in surprise.
  "Ms. Brooks!" the teller exclaimed. "I am surprised."
  "I know," Melissa said. "The hair is new."
  "I like it," the teller said. "How can I help you?"
  "I just need to look in my box," Melissa said. "Number 4162."
  The teller frowned. "Again?"
  "Uh...yeah," Melissa said. "Why do you say that?"
  "Well...you were just here an hour ago," the teller said.
  "What?" Melissa said.
  "You wanted some documents or something," the teller said.
  "Oh...yeah," Melissa said. She pulled out a cell phone. "Could you excuse me for a moment?"
  Richard walked with Melissa. They made it over to a column near the bank door. Melissa looked at him.
  "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Melissa asked.
  "Yes," Richard said. "I guess great minds do think alike. When I get my hands on my double..."
  "Let's go," Melissa said. "They have an hour head start on us."
  Richard headed out the door with Melissa. His mind raced. The teller had mentioned documents. He wondered if any of them have to do with 'Genesis.'
  His double was in deep trouble.

  Randy saw the blond woman walking down the hall. She had almost managed to get rid of all of them on a world where English speakers were prosecuted. Carly Reynolds saw Randy, tossed her blond curls, and smiled. Behind her, Bufford stared at here with a frown.
  "Mr. Heim, hello," Carly said as she approached from her side of the hall. "Good to see you recovering...very nicely...from that incident on that one world."
  "No thanks to you," Randy replied.
  "Maybe you should at least use your intellect for something else within the Foundation," Bufford said. "Rebecca's department won't be open for very much longer."
  Randy crossed his arms over his chest.
  "Something you know that you're not telling, Bufford?" Randy demanded.
  Carly stepped forward. She put a hand on Randy's arm. She gave him a flash with her bedroom eyes.
  "You're the intelligent one, Randy," Carly said. "Come over to our side."
  The door they stood in front of swung open. Rebecca stepped out of it. Her eyes narrowed on Carly.
  "Carly," Rebecca said coldly.
  "Rebecca...hello," Carly said happily. "Talk to Arturo lately?"
  "No, actually," Rebecca said. "I can only assume that would be because you...and other body parts...have been keeping him busy."
  "Sorry. Not me," Carly said. She frowned. "Though it does seem like he's taking a lot of talks."
Rebecca crossed her arms over her chest. She tilted her head.
  "Please."
  "Your time is coming, 'Dominique,'" Bufford said.
  Rebecca frowned. "Who?"
  "Play dumb all you want."
  "At least I'm playing," Rebecca shot back at Bufford
.   "Why, you--"
  Carly held out an arm to block Bufford. Bufford glared at her for a moment. Then he stepped back.
  "Don't worry, Bufford," Carly said, her eyes on Rebecca. "Her time is coming."
  "You wish," Rebecca said. "Arturo knows I bring in too much profit to the company. Besides, I have controlling interest."
  "For now," Carly said. She turned to Randy. "We'll talk later."
  Randy watched Carly and Bufford head down the hallway. He thought back on the conversation he just witnessed. He looked at Rebecca.
  "Arturo has been having secret conversations?" Randy asked. "With whom?"

  Maximillion Arturo sat back in the seat. Brown stood up before his massive desk. His hands were behind his back. He hoped it gave him the look of a strategist.
  "I think, Mr. Brown," Arturo began, "that I have given that little underhanded lady adequate time to bring more profit into our organization."
  "I agree, sir," Brown said.
  "I cannot believe I let you persuade me that she would," Arturo continued, touching his forehead. "How did you..."
  Brown focused in on Arturo. "Try not to think of that now. The point is...Rebecca tried and failed."
  "Yes...failed," Arturo said. He leaned froward, putting his hands together. "And now I want her gone. You said you could."
  Brown turned away. "Yes...I could."
  "Well?" Arturo said after a moment. "Out with it! How do I get rid of this evil parasite?"
  "It is quite simple, Arturo."
  "If it was 'quite simple,' you idiot, I would have gotten rid of her before she got her hands on the controlling shares."
  "The only reason that occurred," Brown said, "was because no one caught on to her con. All one need do is prove it."
  Brown turned around. He headed to the desk, pulling papers out of his jacket. He dropped them in front of Arturo. Arturo snatched them up, his eyes growing.
  "It...can't be," Arturo said.
  Brown smirked. "But it is. Proof that the woman you know as Dominique Brooks is really a lowly con named Melissa Clark."
  "But if this is an official document," Arturo said, his eyes widened, "then the banquet...Dominique...giving up the shares..."
  Brown sat on the edge of the desk. "She cannot give up shares that are not hers to give."
  Arturo grinned. "So true. Which means only Dominique Brooks can give up the shares. The game...was a set-up. Controlling interest...is mine again."
  Brown reached into his jacket. He took a look at the picture. He handed it to Arturo.
  "This picture," Brown said, "was taken the day the shares went missing. The woman's name...is Dominique Brooks. But you will recognize her as--"
  "Rebecca!" Arturo exclaimed.
  Brown stood up. "And correct me if I am wrong, but is not the punishment for someone pretending to be someone else in order to pull a con...let me think...death?"
  A big smile crept onto Arturo's face.
  "Yes," Arturo said, "it is."
  Brown smirked.
  "Happy Early Birthday," he said.

  Richard knocked on the door. He stepped away from it and to the corner. The door opened quickly. His double popped his head out of the hotel room.
  "He--," the double started.
  Richard swung around. He punched the double in the jaw. the double stepped back. Richard stepped forward and shut the door behind him.
  "Knew you would stay in town," Richard said. "Where are the papers?"
  The double wiped his lips. He smirked.
  "Guess you don't know me...yourself well enough," the double said. "Otherwise you wouldn't have to ask."
  "Where are the papers?"
  "Get stuffed."
  Richard grabbed his double by the shirt. He swung around with him, penning him to the hotel door. The double yelled in pain. Richard ignored it and glared.
  "The only one getting stuffed is you," Richard snapped.
  "You're a kinky one, huh?" the double said. "I figure--"
  Richard knocked him against the door. "I'm not joking!"
  "At one time," Richard's double said, "you would have. Where's your edge, homey?"
  "Here's a thought: in those papers you took maybe?"
  "Maybe," the double said. "Only I know for sure...and of course, Melissa."
  The double laughed. Richard knocked him into the door again.
  "Where are the papers?" Richard demanded.
  "How dumb are you?" the double asked. "Fine. I'll spell it out: Melissa has them. You'll never find her."
  Richard smirked. "Wanta bet?"

  Melissa frowned. "What?"
  The front desk agent frowned. "You just checked out fifteen minutes ago, Mrs. Brooks."
  "Uh...yeah," Melissa said, rubbing her forehead under the black beret she had on. "It must be this bump on my forehead."
  "Yeah...must be."
  Melissa turned around. She stood face-to-face...with the other Melissa. The Goth Melissa. She stood behind her, holding a folder she recognized as the folder she was holding. She dropped her jaw.
  "How...," the Other said.
  "I was an agent once," Melissa said. "I have tricks to get items. As for finding you...Richard is smarter than you think. Now...we're leaving."

  Randy heard the click. He slowly opened the door to Brown's bedroom. He stepped in, shutting the door silently.
  Brown's bedroom was shroud in darkness. The curtains were drawn even though it was late afternoon. It gave the room an uncomfortable feel.
  Randy frowned as he walked deeper into the room. That uncomfortable feel matched Brown exactly. The more Randy had to be around Brown, the more Randy noticed the change. When he first met Professor Brown, Randy was in awe. He read all his papers on the physics of a pan-dimensional gateway therapy. He thought Brown's ideas were sound. He thought Brown would admire him for creating a device that crossed worlds.
  Randy walked over to a drawer next to Brown's bed. Ever since they started sliding, the two of them have been at odds. The teacher did not appreciate the student. The student found the teacher lacking. Now they were at odds.
  Randy opened the drawer. So at odds were they, Randy believed that brown would sell him out if given the chance.
  He stared at the device in the drawer. It had symbols on it that he did not recognize. He pushed the drawer closed again, his suspicion confirmed.
  "What is wrong, Mr. Heim? You no longer know how to knock?"
  Randy turned around. He had been so focused in thoughts, he had not heard Brown enter. He stared at Randy, his eyes alight.
  "Why would I?" Randy challenged. "Apparently I have reason to believe you can't be trusted again."
  "This coming from the pick locker?" Brown said. "Laughable."
  "Only if I was wrong," Randy said, "but I'm not, am I? You have your own agenda here. That's why you wanted me back in the mix. Needed me in. I'm playing."
  Brown crossed his arms over his chest.
  "Good," Brown said. "This isn't a game. It's a matter of life-and-death. All you have to do is choose wisely."
  "Well...that was vague," Randy said. He approached the door. "I wonder what Rebecca will think?"
  "Interesting that you mention her," Brown said. "You should have dealt with her long ago. I thought you would have the guts, but...again...I had to step in."
  Randy frowned. "I wanted a peaceful solution...for a change."
  "Rebecca was not going to give us the coordinates for Earth Prime," Brown spit out. "That...is what is important."
  "What did you do?"
  "Put Miss Pryce in a position where she had no choice, but to give us what we want."

  Richard stormed into Rebecca's office. She turned in her chair in time to see him throw the folder on her desk. Papers fell out of the folder.
  "They're all blank," Richard snapped.
  "Excuse me?" Rebecca said.
  "My double...Other...whatever snatched them out of your bank box," Richard said. "Switch them and burned the original. I don't think he did it completely out of spite. You maybe."
  "You know me," Rebecca said, shrugging her shoulders. "Always keeping my hands clean...except for when we were in bed getting all hot and--"
  "Enough, Rebecca!" Richard snapped. "Why can't you give me answers?"
  "Why should I?" Rebecca challenged.
  "Because you owe me."
  "The guy who betrayed me with Carly? That dumped me for basketcase Melissa? I don't think so."
  Richard leaned on the desk. "I do. You kept me alive for something. What is it?"
  "I did it because you're great in bed."
  "Don't flatter me."
  "Are we done?" Rebecca asked. "I have to get this ready for--"
  "What's 'Genesis?'" Richard spit out.
  Rebecca looked up at Richard, her eyes wide. Her face went pale. She shot up.
  "Where did you hear that--"
  "Wouldn't you like to know?" Richard said with a smirk.
  "Another of Mrs. Pryce's failed experiment more than likely. Or should I say Mrs. Brooks."
  Richard turned around. Maximillion Arturo stood in the door. On one side of him was Carly and Bufford. On the other side was policemen. Arturo grinned slyly at them.
  "What is going on?" Rebecca demanded.
  "What does it look like?" Bufford said.
  "Idiots on parade," Richard replied.
  "I have waited a long time for this," Arturo said. "Rebecca Pryce, you are under arrest for obtaining the shares of the Arturo Foundation through use of the alias Dominique Brooks. And the punishment...is death."

  Richard entered the prison room. Rebecca sat on her bed in an orange prison suit. She didn't look all confident for once.
  She must have sensed him because she looked up. She managed a grin.
  "Well, this is a surprise," Rebecca said, "or not."
  Richard stood in front of the cell.
  "So this is how it ends," Richard said.
  "Maybe," Rebecca said. She smiled slyly. "Or not."
  "Meaning?"
  "The only way I'm getting out of this is if I'm not here."
  "Fat chance of that happening. Are you the one who told me found cons are killed on this world?"
  "Speaking of which, where is your precious Melissa?"
  "Does it matter?"
  Rebecca stood up. "No." She approached Richard. "What does matter? Is that I have the answers...to everything."
  Richard laughed. "Oh! That's rich! You confess on your deathbed."
  "Not on my deathbed," Rebecca said. "You want the answers? Get me out of here."
  "No."
  "The papers are gone, Richard," Rebecca said. "No one else knows...how you are back...but me."
  "Give up our home coordinates, and you have a deal."
  Richard turned around. Randy was in the door. He arched an eyebrow.
  "Well?" Randy demanded.

  Brown frowned.
  "Hm," he muttered.
  He stared around his room. He saw nothing in darkness. He stood up from the Indian style he was in. He turned around. There was nothing in that darkness as well.
  He put on his robe.
  It...was something else.

  Richard frowned at himself in the mirror. He turned to look at Randy.
  "Are you sure we can pull this off?" he asked.
  Randy looked up from his desk. He put down the mini-screwdriver and little black device. He stood up.
  "Definitely," Randy said.
  Richard looked back at the mirror.
  "To paraphrase a fictional character, 'I have a bad feeling about this,'" Richard said.
  Richard watched Randy approach him.
  "What's the deal?" Randy asked, staring at Richard in the mirror. "You've done a con before."
  Richard turned and look at Randy. He gestured at the suit he had on.
  "Don't you think this is a little...elaborate?" Richard asked. "Beside...I don't remember pulling off any cons."
  Randy frowned for a moment. Then his face went blank. He put a hand on Richard's shoulder and managed a smile.
  "Do you really want your memory back?" Randy challenged. "I think deep down, you do. And you'll do anything to get it back. That's why I know you can do this."
  Richard looked at Randy. He removed Randy's hand.
  "Uh...okay," Richard said. "Love the ladies, man. Not gay."
  "I'm not--"
  "Am I interrupting?"
  Richard looked over at the door. Melissa walked in, shutting the door. She wore a smirk.
  "I would hate to interrupt your 'Brokeback Mountain' moment--" Melissa started.
  "Now, come on!" Richard exclaimed, pushing past Randy. "How many girls have I bagged since you met me?"
  Melissa's eyes rolled. "If we only had the time..."
  "I'm not--," Randy started.
  "So are you two planning to break Rebecca out?" Melissa demanded.
  "When you use that tone, no," Richard said.
  "Oh my God," Melissa said. "You are. Why?"
  "Why does everyone think--," Randy started.
  "Do you have to ask?" Richard demanded.
  "When you use that tone, yes," Melissa demanded. "You don't need Rebecca to get your memory back."
  "Maybe. But she's a big key to getting it."
  "Didn't you say you remember a door with the sign 'GENESIS' on it?" Melissa asked. "Couldn't you look around for it...or a blueprint of the building?"
  "You really hate her, huh?"
  Melissa frowned. "Not the point."
  "Isn't it?"
  Richard looked over at Randy. He stared at Melissa. Melissa glared at him. Randy's comment was definitely not lost on her.
  "Are you so spiteful now that you'll sacrifice Richard's memory?" Randy asked.
  "You...defending Richard?" Melissa challenged. "Wow...hell can freeze over."
  "I take it we really hated--," Richard started.
  "She knows our coordinates," Randy said.
  "You could torture her?" Melissa suggested.
  "You can't seriously mean that?"
  "I think--," Richard started.
  "Why not?" Melissa snapped.
  "Is this argument private or can anyone join in?"
  Richard looked over at the door. Brown stood in the door. He studied them all.
  "Mr. Hall," Brown said, approaching, "whatever are you planning with that suit?"
  Richard looked at Randy. Randy stared back, his face blank. He looked over at Brown.
  "I thought Melissa would love a different kind of date...all tuxedo and all," Richard said. He stared at Melissa. "What do you think?"
  Melissa crossed her arms over her chest. Richard continued to stare, his eyes hopeful. Melissa finally sighed.
  "I think...it's definitely...different," Melissa managed.
  Richard grinned. "Then...mission accomplished.

  Richard continued talking to Brown as they neared Randy's bedroom door. Randy backed himself toward his table. He quickly put the device in his pocket.
  "What is that in your hand?"
  Randy turned around. Brown stood in the door, a frown on his face. Randy held up his mini-screwdriver.
  "Mini-screwdriver," Randy said. He headed over to the door. "Now I have a lot of things to do tomorrow so..."
  "And what could those things be?" Brown asked.
  "Nothing to concern yourself with," Randy said.
  "Mr. Heim--"
  "Professor...Rebecca is gone," Randy said. "She was the one keeping us from...who knows...whatever the Arturo Foundation had planned. Since we know too much, I'm sure they're not just letting us sit in these luxurious rooms forever."   "So you intend to free Miss Pryce?"   Randy made it to his door. "I'm...going to do...what's best for the group."
  Brown smiled. "That...is all we want."
  "Is it?" Randy challenged.
  Brown arched an eyebrow. "Meaning?"
  Randy shut the door. He headed for the shower...glad the old device worked.

  Rebecca laid in the bed. Her face was to the wall. She could not sleep...her thoughts cloud.
  For years, she was the master of the con. There was many ways it could have ended, but she never thought she would wind up in jail. She had to find a way out.
  "Now be quiet."
  "I'm the model of quick! Look at the suit! We are quite folks! The rich!"
  Rebecca frowned. She turned around. The policeman opened the door. Then he pushed in the prisoner. The prisoner stumbled over to where Rebecca laid.
  Drunk, she thought.
  He hit the wall and slid to the floor. The policeman shut the door. Rebecca sat up on her bench bed, her eyes on the prisoner.
  Richard grinned back at her.
  "How was my act?" he asked.
  Rebecca grinned. "Needed work."
  Richard pulled off a shoe. He pulled out a small device. It was super thin and shaped like a pinky finger. He looked back at Rebecca and smirked.
  "Wait. It gets better," Richard said. "Can you say...jail-break?"

  Randy finished the backpack. He put it on his back. For a moment, he looked around his room. For the last few weeks, it was home. It was stable. If Rebecca held up her end of the bargain, Randy would be home. He wondered if it would be as stable.
  He shook his head. He was wasting time. Richard should be in the cell with Rebecca. Melissa would meet them at the appointed place. Now he had to do his part...
  "Going somewhere without me?"
  Randy swung around. Brown stood in the door with his arms crossed over his chest. Randy's back tensed. He stepped forward.
  "Only because I am sure you could find me if I did," Randy said, walking forward.
  "What is--"
  "I think the time for games," Randy said, standing face-to-face with Brown, "has passed. Don't you?"
  Brown's eyes narrowed. "Yes...I do." He put his hands behind his back. "So where do we go from here, Mr. Heim?"
  "We," Randy said, "act as scientists. Or at least...I do."
  Randy half-turned. Then he balled his fist and swung at Brown's face. At the same time, he reached into the side of his backpack. Brown grabbed Randy's fist. Randy snatched out the collar device and slapped it around Brown's neck.
  Lightning shot from it. It jumped along Brown's body, causing him to fall to the floor. He screamed.
  Randy looked down at him as he pulled out the device he was working on earlier. He kneeled beside Brown, lightning dotting his body.
  "As you can tell," Randy said, "the collar will keep you in place with electric currents targeting your little black device at the base of your skull. If I am right, you...have it on again. Which means your powers are back."
  Randy walked away. He aimed his device at a window. Light shot from it. It hit the window and dissolved it. A circle of blue light formed in the window's place.
  Randy turned around. The lightning had started to shoot away from Brown. He looked at Randy, his eyes full of rage.
  Randy did not wait. He ran for the blue vortex. Then he jumped into it.

  Randy yelled as he fell out of the blue vortex. His butt hit grass. He looked at the vortex. Thankfully, it closed behind him.
  "Where's Brown?"
  Randy looked up. Melissa stood over by the Lincoln statue. He stood up and walked to her.
  "I'm sure he's coming," Randy said. "Where's Richard and Rebecca?"
  "No--"
  A green vortex appeared next to Melissa, causing her to jump. Richard jumped out of it, causing a whir to sound. He was followed by Rebecca. The vortex closed behind them.
  "Never mind," Melissa said.
  "We don't have much time," Randy aid. "What are our coordinates?"
  Rebecca glared. "Why are you in a hurry?"
  "Yeah," Melissa added. "What about Brown?"
  "Or my information?" Richard joined in.
  "We can come back for the information," Randy said. "Right now, we need to--"
  Suddenly a red vortex appeared in the air in front of them. A whir sounded from it as a new figure fell out of it, landing on his feet. Melissa gasped. It was Brown. He held Randy's collar device...now in pieces. He dropped it to the ground.
  "Mr. Heim," Brown said, "your test was a smashing success. I do indeed have my powers back. And you are dead."

  "Wait! What? Huh?"
  Randy looked over at Richard. He looked over at Randy and shrugged his shoulders. Melissa stepped forward.
  "Wait a minute!" Melissa said. "You have powers? How?"
  "Isn't it obvious, Liz?" Rebecca said, stepping forward. "He got it from the Kromaggs."
  Brown rolled his eyes. He waved a hand. Rebecca flew into the base of the statue. She screamed and fell.
  "Hey!" Richard snapped. "Just cuz you have powers doesn't mean you can toss people."
  "Really?" Brown challenged.
  "Why?" Melissa demanded.
  "Isn't it obvious?" Randy asked. "It sucks to be second best. He needed a bargaining chip. Something that ensured he got some attention."
  "You," Richard said.
  "Me," Randy said. He frowned. "But which 'Maggs are you working for?"
  "The ones who don't want you dead," Brown said.
  Suddenly, invisible hands grabbed Randy. He lifted up into the air.
  "However...," Brown said, "...I do not want you that way anymore." He glared. "Arrogant upstart. Thinking you were better than I. Get yourself out of this."
  Suddenly, two vortexes emerged high in the air. Randy could barely move his head to see two ships emerge: two manta ships.
  "My masters are very disappointed, Darnell."
  Randy fell to the ground. He turned to see an Asian woman emerged from behind the statue.
  "Mary," Brown hissed.
  "You said you could bring the Heim Prime around to our way of seeing," Mary said. "Now...they must be more...direct."
  With that, Randy heard whirs...one after another. He counted four as four red vortexes appeared. He only had time to stand as Cromagnon Kromaggs appeared. They were dressed in black. Their grotesque hands had lasers. They aimed at Brown. They fired.
  Randy ran for it.

  Richard ducked the laserfire. He grabbed Melissa at the same time. They hit grass.
  "You okay?" Richard asked.
  "Yea," Melissa said.
  "Good. You crawl. I...am getting Rebecca."
  "What? No."
  "She holds the secret to my memory, Melissa," Richard said. "Do you not get it?"
  Melissa looked at him for a moment.
  "Fine," she said.
  Melissa crawled away. Richard headed for Rebecca. He took a peek at Brown.
  Brown waved hands right and left. The laserfire would change direction, hitting trees, rocks, grass, and/or Kromaggs. Richard smirked. It was what they deserved.
  Richard took a look at Rebecca.
  He was back in a test tube. His body was numb. His eyes stared about. Rebecca stood on the outside, a smirk on her face.
  "I have so much plans for you," Rebecca said. "You'll prove me great. Not like the other models."
  Richard gasped. Then he was back in Golden Gate Park. He looked at Rebecca with mouth open.
  Other models?

  Randy made it around the statue. He turned to look behind him. Then he looked forward and screamed.

  Randy blinked. He looked around to find himself in a room that was completely white.
  "Greetings, Randall Heim."
  Randy looked forward. A pale woman stood in front of him, causing him to jump. Her dark hair had streaks of purple. Her forehead was rugged. She wore a white gown like the Greeks. She glared at Randy. He stepped away, recognizing her.
  "Isis," he said.
  Isis smiled. "You remember the Yuzaki. Good."
  "Where am I?"
  "Not where," Isis replied, "but when."

TO BE CONTINUED...



 

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