Randy Heim stood in the doorway. His attention was the three sliders arguing on the couch in their room in the Dominion Hotel.
"She killed your double that was with Logan St. Clair?" Professor Darnell Brown said.
"She's from the future?" Maggie asked.
Randy stared at Melissa Clark. She looked beside herself as she talked about the events in No Purchase World.
Randy frowned. They all used trickery on that world. He turned to look into the room while he stood in the doorway.
Paige Kendall sat in a wooden chair. Her red hair fell over her face. Her arms, hands, and legs were tired to the chair. Randy wished he could hold her hand, but after the world where...it was best she was tied up.
"So the question becomes," Brown said, "does she come with us knowing what we know?"
"She could kill Randy," Melissa said. "I say no."
"I second it," Maggie said.
"I agree as well," Brown said. "Mr. Heim?"
Randy stared at Paige. When they were on No Purchase World, Paige had Randy where she wanted him. She could have killed him, but she didn't.
Randy turned to the others.
"She's coming with us," Randy announced.
The vortex shot open. Randy shot out of it. He landed in hay. He looked around to see he was in a barn.
A whir sounded behind him. Melissa shot of the blue vortex. Randy caught her in his arms. She blushed for a secret. Then she pushed him away.
"Are you crazy?" Melissa snapped.
The vortex whirred again. Paige shot out of it, her hands tied. She landed in the hay. She was quickly followed by Maggie. She landed on Paige.
The vortex whirred again. Professor Brown emerged from it. He floated to the ground as the vortex closed behind him.
"Why did you bring her?" Melissa demanded.
"Because," Randy said, looking at Paige, "she could have killed me, but she didn't."
"So you're going to give her another shot?" Maggie asked. She pulled Paige off the ground. "I don't think so. I say leave her here."
Paige turned her head to the left. "You can try."
"Why, Randy?" Melissa said. "She almost killed me. She killed my double...the one you actually loved."
"Hey!" Randy snapped. "I did love you."
"There was only silence. Randy looked down at the ground. Melissa's double always had a history of taking Melissa's place. The last time the double did not even remember her real identity...part of a plot to get Randy's cooperation. Randy loved her. Now...Paige killed her. If it had been Melissa...
"I did love you," Randy said again. He pulled out the timer. "Look. We're all tired and we have three days. How about--"
The barn doors flew open. A crowd of black people stormed in, torches in hand. They were led by one lone white man. His long brown hair was disheveled. Compared to the black men who were well dressed, the white man was in rags.
"Oh, no way!" Maggie exclaimed, recognizing Conrad Bennish, Jr.
Conrad Bennish, Jr. paused. His eyes widened.
"Maggie, honey," Bennish said. "What are you doing here?"
Maggie put her hands on her hips. "Honey...what are you doing here?"
One of the black men stepped forward. Randy heard Brown gasp.
"Maxim?" Brown muttered.
"Well, Darnell, this...is a surprise," Maxim brown said. He turned to the black crowd. "Take them all."
"What for?" Randy demanded.
Maxim looked at Randy in shock. He approached Randy. His shock gave way to iciness.
"Did anyone ask you to speak...slave?"
Suddenly, Maxim punched Randy in the jaw.
Three years ago, my friends and I found a way to travel between worlds-
To slide to...
Worlds where you're the same person-
It's the same year...
But everything else is different-
Our Earth...
Has been overrun by the Kromaggs?-
Can we get home?...
Do we want to?
And now-
The worlds await...
SLIDERS: ALTERNATE SPIN-SEASON 4
EPISODE 11: SHOE ON THE OTHER FOOT
"Son...what were you thinking?"
Brown looked up from his chair at the empty table. Across from him was Rembrandt Brown. He leaned over the table, the look of parental disappointment all over his face.
"I...don't know," Brown said.
Rembrandt straightened up. He ran a hand through his hair. "Still don't know how you made it back into town. You were suppose to wait until Maxim calmed down. He still hasn't gotten over you taking a white woman as your wife."
Brown frowned. "I'm married?"
Brown ignored the look of confusion on Rembrandt's face. On the worlds he had been to, Brown was usually married to just one woman. Debra King. The idea he could marry anyone else was foreign to him.
"At best, I can get you a good lawyer," Rembrandt said.
Brown looked at Rembrandt. "Lawyer?"
"Maxim's going to want you hung," Rembrandt said. "I'll be damned if I let that happen. I promised your mom on her deathbed nothing's ever happening to you as long as I'm alive."
The door opened. Brown turned to look. His eyes widened.
It was Eve...well a double of Eve. Unlike the real Eve who liked to dress in scandalous black leather, the double was dressed in a nice pink petticoat with a long-sleeved, buttoned-down shirt. She ran to Brown and hugged him.
"Oh, Husband!" Eve exclaimed. "You're back!"
Brown frowned.
Husband?
The door flew open quickly. The men shoved Melissa in. she hit the hay-covered floor hard. She turned around just in time to see the door shut.
"Oh, great."
Melissa stared into the shadows of the room. A figure emerged from them. Melissa felt her eyes narrow as she recognized Paige.
"As if I don't have enough problems..." Paige commented.
Melissa stood up. "Problems you brought on yourself by the way."
"And you're just here to point that out," Paige said.
Melissa crossed her arms over her chest. "Well, someone has to. You won't."
Paige glared. "I hate you. I so should have killed you."
"You'll find me hard to kill," Melissa said.
Paige tilted her head. "Really? Because your double was just so eas--"
"Bitch!"
Melissa lunged at Paige. Paige grabbed Melissa's arm. Before Melissa could react, Paige swung her into the wall. Melissa screamed as pain shot through her back. Paige grabbed her hands in a tight grip with her left hand and penned Melissa to the wall with her right arm.
"You want to know about me, Me-lis-sa?" Paige said. "My world is a war zone because of the Kromaggs. Humans are almost extinct! So everyone that’s able…are trained to fight. You really think you can take me?"
Melissa narrowed her eyes. "In a word..."
Melissa brought her leg up to Paige's right leg, causing her to get off-balance. Paige let go of Melissa's right arm. Melissa punched her in the jaw.
"Yes," Melissa said.
Paige backed away.
"You're not the only one with training, remember?" Melissa said. "If this is to the death, you're not the one walking."
"Bring it on," Paige challenged. "Then it'll be easy for me to off Randy."
"Randy isn't dying."
"We'll see."
The door flew open. Melissa looked past Paige's shoulder. The men threw randy in the room. Melissa ignored the door slamming and ran to him.
She held Randy up. He had a little scar across his forehead. Also...the men had shaven off his beard. His eyes were closed, making Melissa think of their college days. He even had his brown hair almost over his eyes. She brushed it back. He opened his eyes.
"Randy, are you okay?" Melissa asked.
Randy sat up. "Yeah...but...they have the timer."
"What now then?" Paige asked. "Separated. Timer-less. Odds look bad."
Melissa looked at Paige. "Gee, thanks for that stating of the obvious."
"At least I'm planning," Paige shot back.
"Yeah, because murder is so complex."
"Melissa," Randy said, reaching out and touching her arm.
Melissa looked down at the hand. She looked at Randy, her forehead frowning. She shot up.
"I can't believe you brought her," Melissa said, walking over to a separate cover.
"He couldn’t knock the view," Paige said sarcastically.
"You know," Randy said, looking at Paige, "you weren't all that."
Melissa looked at Paige. Paige looked like someone had dropped cold water on her. Melissa smiled.
Maggie walked down the sidewalk. Bennish had given some story about Maggie sleepwalking antics to the men. Apparently, her double really did that so Maggie was free to go.
Maggie frowned. Saved by Bennish. It must have been a sign of the apocalypse.
A black couple came out of the general store. The woman bumped into Maggie. She glared at Maggie.
"Watch where you're going," the woman snapped.
"How about you watch it?" Maggie shot back.
The woman looked like she had been slapped. She turned to her man.
"Did you hear her, Charles?" the woman asked.
"Yeah, Esther," the man said, approaching Maggie. "Looks like someone needs to know who her betters are."
"Or perhaps she is emancipated and she can say what she wants because...shock of shocks...she can."
Maggie turned to look behind her. A tall blond white man stood behind her. He was dressed like an Englishman and his eyes burned holes through the black couple.
"You overstep, sir," Charles said.
"Maybe because I can," the man suggested.
"Not all whites are free," Ester said. "And you assume she is."
"Perhaps some day she will be."
"When pigs fly."
"Come on, Esther," Charles said. "Let us not sully ourselves with this filth."
Maggie watched the couple leave. She crossed her arms over her chest and turned to face the stranger. She frowned.
"Thank you, kind sir," Maggie said.
"You are welcome," the man said.
"Now...who are you?" Maggie asked.
The man grinned. "I am so sorry. Let me introduce myself. I am Eric Price."
Brown stared out of the window. In the distance, he could make out workers in the fields. He had read about pre-Civil War America with its black slaves. To see white people out in the fields was disorientating. Closer to the two-story house he had was Maxim's men, rifles in hand. Apparently they were intent on keeping him in. It was a pity that he was going to have to disappoint them.
"Husband?"
Brown looked away from the window. Eve stood in the door of the den. Her face was etched with concern.
"Are you well?" Eve asked.
Brown stared at Eve. It was like staring at a stranger. Her demeanor was so unlike the Eve he knew. Even her thoughts were good. It was uncanny.
"I...am fine," Brown said. "Just pondering how I will untangle myself from this situation."
"Any ideas," Eve asked.
"A few," Brown admitted. "None I particularly like."
"I still cannot believe you came back," Eve said. "At the wedding you and Maxim got into such a big fight. I was afraid...you would not make it out of town." she smiled. "I am glad that that was not the case."
Brown smiled. "As am I. Now if I could find a way around those men."
Eve looked at Brown as if he had said he had killed her father.
"Are you mad?" Eve demanded. She approached him. "I just got you back. If you go out there, they will surely shoot you. I..."
Eve turned Brown's chest. It made him think of the other Eve. He was a different man then.
"They will not shoot me," Brown said.
"How do you know?" Eve demanded.
"Trust me," Brown said, holding Eve's hands. "Not going to happen."
Brown started to head out of the den.
"Taking the secret passages again?"
Brown paused. He turned to look at Eve. She had a sly grin on her face. That was more like the Eve he knew.
"Secret passages?" Brown said.
"So the runner returns!"
Randy stared into the crowd of workers. He could not make who said it.
A push from the back moved Randy forward. He tripped, falling to the dirt ground. He turned to look at the two black men standing over him.
"Get up," one of the black men said.
Laughter ran through the crowd. The other black man aimed his rifle. The laughs stopped.
"Did anyone tell any of you to talk?" the black man demanded.
"Get up!" the first black man barked. "Don't think you're off the hook either."
Randy stood up. The second black man gestured with his rifle to the crowd. Randy walked toward the crowd.
"Get to work!" the first black man barked. "And you better have it all by the time we get back."
Randy looked back at the black men. They were already heading away. Randy turned back to the crowd to see that it was shrinking. Finally, a lone figure remained. Randy felt a shiver run through his body. It was Daniel Carter.
Daniel Carter was a man he met when he first explored sliding. He had given him the sliding equation. Daniel's family had been killed by people trying to get it. He blamed Randy and slid through the worlds determined to kill all of Randy's friends. Months ago, he succeeded in killing Randy. Randy never knew what became of him after that. Now he stood in front of him.
Daniel smirked. "Well...it's been a while."
Randy frowned. "Not long enough."
Daniel walked toward Randy. Randy felt his hands ball into fists. Daniel frowned.
"Hey!" Daniel said. "I said you shouldn't have run."
Randy shook. He did not know what to do. Was this some kind of trick?
Daniel dotted forward. Before Randy could stop him, Daniel was on him. He wasn't attacking Randy though. He hugged him.
"God, I was worried," Daniel said.
"You were?" Randy managed.
"Not heartless, Randy," Daniel said.
"Could have fooled me," Randy said.
Daniel smiled. "You're easily fooled." Daniel hugged Randy again. "Come on. Let's get started. I don't want a death on my conscience."
Daniel headed toward the field. Randy watched Daniel's back, confused by the idea that they were friends and not mortal enemies. He was also confused by his comment.
"What do you mean death on your conscience?" Randy asked.
Daniel looked at Randy. He frowned.
"They must have really beat you up bad," Daniel said.
"Yeah, I guess," Randy said.
"We don't finish our task," Daniel said, "someone dies."
Maggie neared the door to Eric's study. He had allowed her to take a warm bath and given her a new white dress to wander around in. Now she wanted to thank him, but he was nowhere to be found.
"Why, thank you, Mr. Price. That is all I needed to know."
Maggie opened the door. Eric stood at his desk. He stood next to a woman in a black and purple petticoat with her hair up. She turned to look at Maggie. Maggie gasped. It was Wade Welles.
"Excuse you," Wade said, her tone icy.
"Excuse yourself," Maggie said, old memories of her and Wade fighting springing to mind.
Wade gasped. "Why! I never!"
"It is all right, Miss Welles," Eric said. "Miss Beckett is a recent...but very valuable...new ally of mine."
"You are much too generous to the slaves, Price," Wade said.
"We were that way once...or have you forgotten?" Eric said. "Now...message me when you get news."
Wade nodded. "As you wish."
Wade glared at Maggie. Maggie glared right back. Wade rolled her eyes and headed out of the study. Maggie stared at Eric. He smiled at her.
"You could have been nicer," Eric commented.
Maggie shrugged her shoulders. "Old memories die hard."
"I have news of your friend Darnell Brown," Eric said.
"Is he all right?"
"Yes. If you can call being under house arrest all right. He will be brought up for justice today in court by his cousin Maxim Brown. His uncle Rembrandt Brown hired his old friend Wade Welles to represent Darnell. She was talking strategy with me."
"What about my other friends?" Maggie asked.
"They...will probably be hanged if Darnell is found guilty."
Maggie's eyes widened. "Guilty? Guilty of what?"
"Why! Of helping the Underground to Free Whites from Black Oppression...of course!" Eric exclaimed. "Why else would he be in a barn with all of you?"
Brown headed back up the basement stairs. He smiled. In his hand was the timer. It was being kept at Rembrandt's. It was a simple matter to get it out of the study. However, he could not find the others.
Brown frowned. That was not true. It would be a simple matter to track them by his power. He knew it weirded his associates out, but they were not used to it...yet. He would make them used to it...one way or the other.
Brown opened the basement door. He walked through, shutting the door behind him. Maxim stood on the other side.
"Hard day at work?" Maxim asked.
Brown's eyes widened.
"And look," Maxim said, ing the timer away. "That object that you could only have gotten by leaving your house." He smiled. "You will so hang."
"Maxim, I'm your cousin," Brown said. "Does that not mean anything to you?"
"Apparently not," Maxim said. "Besides, I don't have a cousin who marries whites."
Brown felt his jaw drop. He could not believe what his cousin had just said.
"Then...I guess you don't have a cousin at all," Brown said, staring at Maxim.
"I haven't had a cousin in a long time," Maxim said. "It'll pass. Until then, someone of the Browns being part of illegal smuggling of whites...a big disgrace. I like that. Father always did like you more. How will he feel when you're hung?"
"I will not be hung," Brown said.
"I have a judge waiting who will say differently," Maxim said.
"You will not get away with this," Brown said.
"Watch me, traitor," Maxim said.
Maxim grabbed Brown by the arm. Brown's eyes narrowed on the arm. It released its hold on Brown's arm. Then Maxim flew across the room.
Brown blinked. It felt like his eyes were on fire. He stared at Maxim on the floor. Before he knew it, he was over Maxim's unconscious body. He laid on the floor, his back to Brown. Dark red started to appear from under him. Brown kneeled next to him.
A scream cut through the house. Brown looked up. Eve screamed in the hallway at the sight. Behind her were several of Maxim's men.
"This is not--" Brown started.
One of the men aimed his rifle. "Hands up! Now!"
Melissa grunted as she carried the water bucket. Pain shot all through her arms. Another grunt behind her reminded her that she was not alone. She wished she was however.
"Think you could go faster," Paige said behind her.
"Think you could shut up," Melissa said, turning to look at her.
"Think both of you could shut up," one of the women in front of them said.
"Yeah," another woman said. "Some of us want to live."
Melissa frowned. "What do you mean?"
"What Becca means is that we're expendable," the first woman said.
"You know the rules," Becca said. "We don't make it over this hill in the next five minutes. Maxim will surely pick someone to die."
"You can't be serious," Paige said.
Becca turned to look at Paige. Her red hair may have been disheveled, but Melissa saw she was not crazy. She looked dead serious.
"Are you stupid?" Becca asked. "That is the way it's always been."
"Not true, Becca," the first woman said. "I hear it's different in Europe."
"Myths and legends, Danielle," Becca said as she continued up the hill. "Everyone knows how the black people came from Africa, drove out the Indians, and then settled in. People from Europe came only to be enslaved."
"Exactly, Becca," Danielle said. "They came...from Europe. They just didn't emerged from thin air."
"Well..." Paige started.
Melissa glared at Paige. Paige shut up.
"What did you say?" Becca asked.
"Nothing," Paige said. "Continue."
The women made it over the hill with their water buckets. As they headed down the hill, Melissa saw the Brown mansion alongside the barn. Men awaited them. One of them had a watch.
"Faster, ladies," Becca said.
Melissa moved faster. The water in the buckets splashed a little. They made it to the bottom of the hill. Becca put her bucket down. She walked over to the men.
"We have the water, sir," Becca said.
The black man with the watch held it up. "You're late."
People came out of the barn. Melissa could make out Randy among the group of men. Her eyes widened as she saw him next to Daniel carter. It must have been a double. There was no other way randy would be with his would-be murderer.
"Please, let me explain..." Becca started.
Melissa stared at Becca and Danielle. They both looked like someone had told them it was Judgment Day. She looked at the men, their faces stone mask.
"There is no explanation," the man with the watch said.
"I wonder what Maxim will decide?" another man asked.
"I don't know, Eugene," the man with the watch said. His eyes focused on Becca. "But I'm sure he'll have no problem with us picking who goes."
"Please, sir..." Becca started.
"We'll do anything," Danielle said.
Eugene looked at Melissa. "And you two?"
"Of course," Melissa said.
"Goes without saying," Paige said.
Eugene looked at the man with the watch. "She doesn't see to care, Edmund."
Edmund glared at Paige. "Maybe she would care if someone died due to her apathy."
Paige narrowed her eyes on Edmund. "Wow. Big words. That must have taken a lot."
Melissa stared at Paige. Was she mad? She looked at Eugene and Edmund. They glared at Paige.
"Apologize, white," Edmund said.
Paige rolled her eyes. Edmund did not even blink. He pointed at Danielle.
"Her," Edmund said.
Eugene held up his rifle. He aimed it at Danielle. Melissa looked at Paige. She did not even blink. She looked at Randy. He was just as wide-eyed as she was.
A man ran out of the mansion. He looked like he was yelling something. Melissa could not make out his words. Then they became crystal clear.
"Maxim's dead! Maxim's dead! Darnell killed him!"
"What were you thinking?" Melissa snapped.
Paige stared at Melissa from the wall she leaned on.
"Oh, I don't know. Maybe that I didn't care?" Paige snapped back.
Randy looked at the two of them. They were all back in the room they were in earlier. Paige leaned against the wall on one side of the room. Melissa stood with her arms crossed on the other side. They stared holes through each other.
"I knew you were heartless," Melissa said.
"I'm not heartless," Paige said. She looked at Randy. "Yes, I came back to kill him...but...I can't."
"Oh, really?" Melissa said. "Why not?"
"Because," Paige said, "I love him."
Randy shot up from his position on the floor. He narrowed his eyes on her.
"How can you say that?" Randy asked.
Paige narrowed her eyes on him. "How can you ask me that?"
"I think I have good reason..."
"Then why let me come with you here?"
"I know you won't hurt me."
Paige approached Randy. She put a hand on his check.
"And why is that?" Paige asked. "We both know why."
Randy stared at Paige. It was true. They both knew why. Randy touched Paige's cheek.
"Yeah," Randy said, "We both know why. I...feel the same way."
"How can you?" Melissa demanded. "I don't believe this."
Randy looked down. Melissa was right, too. He could not let his emotions cloud his judgment.
The door flew open. Randy turned to see who it was. He recognized Edmund.
"Maxim Brown is dead," Edmund said. "Witnesses saw Darnell Brown over the body. People are waiting for Rembrandt Brown's permission, but I think it is a foregone conclusion."
"Oh, really, Sherlock?" Paige said next to Randy. "What's that?"
"What happens when any slave tries to escape," Edmund said. "Tomorrow...you hang."
Maggie frowned. "Hang?"
Eric leaned back in his chair. He shook his head.
"Sorry little affair," Eric said. "Before...the death, Ms. Welles could have gotten him off. If Rembrandt brown does not back him, he will be hanged tomorrow...with all of his friends."
"What?" Maggie said. She headed toward the door.
"Miss Beckett, wait!"
Maggie stopped in the doorway. She turned to face him.
"I'm not going to let my friends get hanged!" Maggie said. "Too much depends on them alive."
"And we can't have that."
Maggie stared at Eric. He had not said that. He looked over Maggie's shoulder.
"I was wondering when you would show up," Eric commented.
Maggie turned around to get a fist in the face.
"How could you?"
Brown looked up from his bench in the cell. He had not heard the door open. Rembrandt Brown stared at him with eyes of disappointment.
"It..." Brown tried to find the words.
"He was your cousin," Rembrandt said. "I had hopes and reams. I wanted both of you to run this place together, but..."
Brown looked at his feet. He could not take it. He did not like to disappoint Rembrandt.
"Everyone is talking," Rembrandt said. "Normally I don't mind it. Now, I have to listen." He reached into his coat pocket. He pulled out a sheet of paper. "Especially after I saw this."
Rembrandt handed the paper to Brown. It was a list of names. Brown saw that among the names all of the sliders' names were accounted for. At the bottom of the paper, Brown recognized his signature. He looked at Rembrandt.
"What is this?" Brown demanded.
"Why, it's your list," Rembrandt said.
"My list?"
"Of all the slaves you were planning on helping escape from here now that you came back. Your lawyer found this given to her. Of course, she had to bring it--"
"This is not my signature," Brown said.
"What?"
Brown saw the error. There was one L in 'Darnell' instead of the usual two. Then it hit him.
"Someone is setting me up," Brown said aloud.
"Now, son..." Rembrandt started.
"Is it you?" Brown demanded, turning his eyes on Rembrandt. "What is this? Revenge?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," Rembrandt said. "And now that Maxim is dead, I no longer care. You hang at noon." Rembrandt started to turn.
"I don't think so," Brown said.
Brown reached out with his mind. Like a clawed hand, it grabbed hold of Rembrandt's mind. Rembrandt gasped for a second. Then Brown was in his mind.
Images shot through brown. Him as a kid. Him playing with a young Maxim. Life as a potential heir. Eve giving Rembrandt the sheet...
Rembrandt gasped. Then he fell to the floor. Brown waved a hand. The cell door clicked and swung open.
Brown saw where Rembrandt had the timer. He would get it on the way. Right now, he had to find Eve.
The door to the prison swung open. Brown floated out. He frowned as he saw the large group of black men, their rifles ready.
"Oh, great," Brown muttered.
Melissa curled up into a ball against the wall. Her eyes fell on Paige. She was asleep on her side of the room. Melissa frowned at the sight. It must be so nice to be able to sleep when you are going to be hung.
"You can't sleep either."
Melissa looked over near the door. Randy was stretched out, looking at the ceiling. Melissa uncurled and sat up.
"No," Melissa said.
"You want to talk about it?" Randy asked.
"What is there to say?" Melissa asked. "Tomorrow...or in a few hours, we hang."
"We could get out of it."
"Really? Then why aren't you sleep?"
"Scared, too."
Melissa managed a smile. Randy stared at her.
"Still...when did you become the defeatist?" Randy asked.
"Maybe when my boyfriend came back from the dead...but not to me," Melissa answered.
"Melissa--" Randy started, moving to an upright position.
Melissa held up a hand. "It's okay."
Randy frowned. "Is it?"
Melissa looked down. "Does it matter?"
"Are you going to answer a question with a question?"
"Are you?"
Melissa looked up. Randy had a slight grin on his face. She smiled, too.
"Sorry," Melissa said. "You want the truth?"
Randy lost his grin. "Yes."
Melissa looked at Randy. "Okay. No...I'm not okay."
"Why?"
"You have to ask?" Melissa gestured to Paige. "You love her. She's here to kill you...and you love her."
"I seem to recall you wanting to kill me," Randy said.
Melissa glared. "That was my double."
Randy looked like he had been slapped. Melissa curled back into a ball.
"See?" Melissa said. "It's going to be her. Always her. I'm not my double. I wish I was. Too late now, I guess."
"Melissa--"
"And you love her? She killed someone you loved. Do you care at all or is there a hole where your heart is?"
"I care!" Randy protested.
"You could have fooled me," Melissa said. She turned toward the wall. "What happens when your hope die? You suffer. That's how it's been since you hooked up with her. I suffer. If we make it through this, I won't let you do this to me anymore."
Melissa felt heat around her back. She quickly turned. Randy stood over her.
"Don't touch me," Melissa said. "You don't get to comfort me. Not anymore."
Melissa turned back toward the wall. She got no reply from Randy. Good. She did not want to deal with him.
Minutes later, she was sleep.
Maggie opened her eyes. She slowly sat up, her head throbbing with pain. She looked around. It appeared that she was in the basement.
Maggie stood up. She grabbed her head. She was so going to find the person who punched her in the face. When she did, they would pay.
There were stairs that led up to the basement door. She headed up the stairs. Her hand quickly wrapped around the doorknob. It wouldn't move.
"Well, fine," Maggie said.
Maggie swung her leg up, kicking the door. It easily swung open.
"Hm," Maggie said. "Rich people. Cheap doors."
Brown did not try the knob. He threw his mind at the double doors. They splintered, shattering like shards of glass.
Brown landed on her feet. He stormed into the study. The whole time, he scanned the house. There was no sign of Eve.
Brown turned around. He got a kick in the stomach. Brown doubled over.
"Looking for me?" Eve asked.
Before Brown could reply, Eve punched him in the face. Brown fell to the floor.
"How...did you sneak up on me?" Brown asked.
Eve smiled. "You know Randall. He always has his little inventions. After our last encounter--"
"You're--" Brown started.
"Yes, Darnell," Eve said, kneeling near him. "It's me. The real deal." She touched his cheek. "And this...is good-bye."
Brown frowned. "Good-bye?"
Eve reached into Brown's pocket and ed out the timer. "When Eric and I realized you sliders were here...we ditched our plan to cause civil war. Instead, we made a paper trail that leads to you and your friends. This was our chance. This time you all die."
Eve stood up. "However...this...being your wife...it was great." She frowned. "Pity I could not meet you on my own world instead of Edward."
"You...will...not get away with this," Brown said.
Then footsteps sounded through the house. Eve grinned.
"Watch me," Eve said.
Several black men appeared in the doorway. Eric Price was with them. He hugged Eve.
"Thank Goodness!" Eric exclaimed. "I got to you in time."
Brown looked up at Eve. She smirked.
"He attacked me," Eve said.
The black men aimed their rifle.
Randy stared at the ropes hanging over the tree branch. It made him think of the last time he died.
The group had been betrayed by Brown. Manta ships emerged from red vortices in the sky. Humaggs had lasers aimed at the group. A cyberaid was ready to bring him in alive.
That all changed when a green vortex shot open. A figure emerged from it attacking all the Kromagg agents. It had been Daniel Carter...alive and well after his fatal stabbing from the cyborg Mr. Stone. His focus was on killing Randy.
He succeeded.
Randy stared at the ropes. He did not want to die then. He couldn't die now.
"Move, slave," Edmund said behind Randy.
"Shouldn't we wait for Rembrandt and Darnell?" Eugene asked.
"I'm sure Rembrandt won't miss some unworthy strays."
Randy turned around. Melissa glared at the black men.
"Unworthy strays?" Melissa snapped. "Who are you to say that?"
"The ones in charge," Eugene said. "Move."
"And if we don't?" Paige challenged.
Edmund stared at Paige. "Oh...Eugene will just shoot you now."
Paige narrowed her on the two men. "He can try."
"Are you crazy?" Melissa asked.
Paige turned and looked at Melissa. "Oh, I'm sorry. I guess you want to die."
"No, but--"
"Then shut up."
"You shut up."
"Crybaby."
"Murderer."
"Piece of--"
"Hey!" Eugene said, approaching the women. "Stop--"
Paige swung around her leg targeted at Eugene's crotch. It connected the grunted and fell over.
Paige lunged at Edmund. He grabbed her in his arms. Then he threw her to the ground. He pulled out a pistol.
"Troublesome--" Edmund started.
A shot ran out. Edmund fell to the ground. Randy turned around to see who had fired the shot that killed Edmund.
Daniel Carter stepped from behind the tree. He was followed by a rifle-toting Maggie.
"Look what I found," Maggie said.
"Well, I couldn't let Randy die," Daniel said. "I know I should have led the run myself."
Randy frowned. "Run?"
"Yeah," Maggie said. "Daniel is in charge of Underground here for getting white slaves out of here. He was betrayed..."
"But I took care of it," Daniel said. "Now...let's get you to the tunnel."
"Uh...thanks, but we have other plans," Randy said.
"Plans?" Daniel muttered. "What could be more important than your freedom?"
"Oh, it's freedom all right," Maggie said.
"We have a different means of escape," Melissa said.
"Right now, we should find Brown," Maggie said. "I got sucker-punched. He could be in worse trouble."
Maggie headed away with Melissa. Daniel was right behind them. Randy started to follow, but turned to look at Paige.
"Are you okay?" Randy asked. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
Paige blinked. She looked at Randy like she was just seeing him for the first time. She shook her head.
"It's nothing," Paige said, heading away from him.
"Paige--" Randy started.
"Randy, let it go!" Paige snapped. "It's not like I'm your friend, right? You don't love me."
Paige stormed away from him. Randy stood still. Her words resonated in his head.
Brown stared at the rifles trained on him. He only had a few moments. He waved a hand. The rifles flew out of their hands. The men stared about, wondering how the rifles flew out of their hands. Brown stood up, his eyes focusing.
"So...Randall has developed psi technology, has he?" Brown asked.
Eric held up his hands. At the same time, he and Eve slowly backed away from the door along with the black men.
"Now, now, Brown," Eric said. "Perhaps you should calm down."
"You just almost killed me," Brown said. "Would you be calm in my position? I think not."
One of the black men pulled out a pistol. Brown stared at him. The man flew through the air. He hit the staircase, tumbling down them.
"Randall, two to cross...now," Eve said into a waistband.
Brown reached out with his hand. As he closed it around air, he watched the result. Like soda cans being squeezed, Eric, Eve, and the black man tensed up.
"I...can't...move," Eric said.
"Why, Price, that would be the point," Brown said. "I am happy to see you here. Now you will allow me back to your world where I will get the coordinates to go home."
"No," Price spit out.
"Price," Brown said icily, "you speak like you have a choice. I do not need your permission to control your mind."
Suddenly, a red vortex formed at the bottom of the stairs. Brown smiled. All too...
Figures appeared in the doorway. Brown turned to see it was the others. They looked at him in shock. Maggie's eyes widened.
"No! Not again!" Maggie said.
"What?" Randy said.
Maggie aimed the rifle.
"Let go of their minds, Brown!" Maggie said. "This isn't going to be like No Purchase World."
"Maggie, what are--" Randy started.
Maggie looked at Randy. "He took over their minds, Randy! He forced the French, Indians...everyone...to sign the treaty."
"It was a necessary evil," Brown said.
"Taking away people's free will, Professor?" Melissa said. "That is not like you."
Maggie gripped the rifle tighter. "No...it's not."
"Put down the gun, Maggie," Brown said icily.
"No," Maggie said.
Brown narrowed his eyes on them. "Fine."
He reached out and grabbed hold of them. Their bodies tightened up. Maggie's hand dropped the rifle. He turned back to Eric and Eve.
"Now we--" Brown started. He paused. His eyes fell on Randy. He sensed it. His eyes widened.
"What? You, too?"
Randy knew he had a second. Brown was in shock from the fact he threw out a specific mental message to him: he had turned off a device to screen his thoughts from Brown. It took Brown by surprise enough that he released his hold on Randy.
Randy dove to the floor. He grabbed the rifle that Maggie dropped. He aimed at Brown and fired, getting him in the shoulder.
Brown screamed. He grabbed at his shoulder and fell to the floor. At the same time, the others sighed as Brown released his hold. The black man standing near Eric and Eve screamed and ran out of the house.
"Well...I think we best be away," Eric said.
Randy felt the rifle get grabbed out of his hand. He turned to see Maggie aim it at Eric.
"Oh, no you don't, liar," Maggie said. "Put those hands up."
Eve grinned. "Maybe another time."
Eve lunged for the vortex. It simmered as she vanished. Maggie aimed the rifle at where eve stood. Eric ran for the red vortex and vanished into it. It simmered and vanished.
Brown sat up. His shoulder was a red bloody mess. Randy heard a click. He turned to see Maggie aimed the rifle at Brown's head.
"Maggie--" Randy started.
"I warned you," Maggie said. "He cannot be trusted."
Randy stood up.
"Randy, move out of the way," Maggie said.
"No," Randy said.
"Randy--" Paige started.
Randy glared at Paige. "I took a chance with you." He looked at Maggie. "Now...I want you to take a chance with him."
"No way," Maggie said. "He is a danger."
"He is a danger that can be taken care of," Randy said. "You saw I won that round. I thought ahead."
"And next time?" Maggie asked.
A beeping sounded through the room. Randy looked over by the stairs. he quickly ran over and picked up the timer. He aimed it near the door to what appeared to be the study. The wall dissolved, forming a circle of blue light. Randy turned to look at the others.
"He comes with us!" Randy yelled.
"Randy!" Maggie yelled.
"I mean it!" Randy yelled. "He goes, or no one goes."
Maggie narrowed her eyes on Randy. He stood firm before her. Paige walked between them.
"You two argue," Paige said. "I hate this world."
Paige jumped into the blue vortex. A whir ran through the room. Melissa stepped between them, her eyes on Randy.
"I hope you know what you're doing!" Melissa yelled over the wind. Then she vanished into the vortex.
"Well?" Randy yelled, walking over to Brown.
Maggie walked over to the two. "Let me help you with him. You better know what you're doing."
The vortex whirred. Randy, Maggie, and Brown fell out...into muddy water. The vortex closed behind them.
Randy shot out of the water. He saw he was up to his chest in muddy water. He looked around to see that the landscape around him was full of marshy trees and small hills with moss. It was also full of muddy water.
Maggie shot up out of the water, Brown in tow. Randy splashed over to her and grabbed Brown. He heard more splashing and turned to see Melissa and Paige, both equally wet.
"How long?" Melissa asked.
Randy pulled out the timer. "Ten minutes...thankfully."
"Yeah," Maggie said. "Not like we can get in any trou--"
Suddenly, something leaped out of the water. Maggie screamed. Randy dove under water with Brown, carrying Maggie with him. The thing landed next to them. It had the body of a snake, but with leathery wings. Its red eyes stared at them. It opened its mouth, revealing three sets of long sharp teeth.
Randy's eyes widened. Could these ten minutes get any worse?
The double doors slid open. He saw her standing behind them. Her long black hair blowing in the wind. She saw him and headed for the table, oblivious to the looks she was getting for her short black dress. Finally, she sat down.
"You haven't changed, Rebecca," he said.
"And you're a hard man to find," Rebecca Pryce said.
"It's a fun world," he replied. "If you wait around five minutes, you might strike it rich. Everyone else has."
"Including you?"
He smiled. "Including me. I couldn't think of any reason to leave."
"How about Randy Heim?"
He felt his hands tighten up. He controlled it.
"Randy Heim is dead," he said.
"No, he's not," Rebecca said.
"Yes, he is!" he snapped.
"Oh," Rebecca said, leaning in to touch his cheek. "You thought you successfully off the great Randy Heim. That's sweet."
"Don't play with me, Rebecca."
Rebecca sat back in her chair.
"I'm not playing...Daniel," Rebecca said. "That twisted double of Melissa Clark brought him back. I need you to find him...and finish what you started."
Daniel Carter leaned over to her. He smiled.
"Done," Daniel said.
THE-END
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