Randy Heim appeared. He looked around. He saw he was on a loading dock. The night sky was over his head. He made a run for it.
He had seen them. Peter Carmichael and his double. They, along with others, were the dark sliders. Rebecca Pryce had knocked him out. He thought she was capturing him for another double on a world where the United States knew about sliding. Instead, he was here...back on Dark sliders World. He had to warn the others. He had to let them...
Randy turned the corner. He stopped. In front of him stood Zoe...a female double of himself.
Zoe aimed a gun at his face. She looked back at him, a look of curiosity on her face.
"And where do you think you are going?" Zoe asked.
WHAT IF YOU SLIDE TO A DIFFERENT DIMENSION? A PLACE WHERE YOU'RE THE SAME PERSON, IT'S THE SAME YEAR, BUT EVERYTHING ELSE IS DIFFERENT?
OVER SIX YEARS AGO, WE HAVE SEEN...
...A WORLD WHERE THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE NEVER TOOK PLACE...
OR
...A WORLD WHERE YOUR DREAMS OF BEING A STAR CAME TRUE...
OR
...A WORLD WITH A WAR BETWEEN TWO DIFFERENT ALIEN RACES?
BUT...WHAT IF YOU COULD NEVER GET HOME?
SLIDERS: ALTERNATE SPIN-SEASON 7
EPISODE 19: SIDES
The gun went off.
A moment passed.
Richard opened his eyes. He was surprised he could even open his eyes. the gun had been aimed at him. He looked at the shooter.
Melissa Clark stared back at him. The gun was still on him. Her dark eyes were filled with hatred. She did not notice Rembrandt Brown next to her.
"The next one won't miss," Melissa said.
"Melissa--" Rembrandt started.
"He's been working with Rebecca, Rembrandt."
Richard looked to his right. A few feet away was Ethan Bradshaw. He was Randy's...boyfriend...ex...whatever. He had just attacked him outside of the police station. Now thanks to him, his secret..was out.
"How long?" Melissa asked.
"Melissa, do we have t--" Rembrandt started.
"How long?" Melissa snapped.
Richard slowly stood up. He stared her down. A moment passed as he crossed his arms over his chest.
"Robot World," Richard replied.
Melissa's eyes widened. So did Rembrandt's.
"What?" Rembrandt uttered. "That was..."
"Months ago," Melissa finished. "Why--"
A sound cut through the air. Richard recognized it.
Police sirens.
"We can fight and get arrested," Richard said. "Or run away. Your choice."
"We need to get out of here," Rembrandt said.
Richard continued to look at Melissa. Melissa stared him down. A moment passed. Finally...Melissa dropped her gun arm.
"Fine," Melissa said. "Move."
Randy looked at Zoe. For a moment, he thought about the endless times he had a gun held on him since he had begun sliding.
"Let me answer for you," Zoe said. "You're going nowhere."
Randy frowned. "How can you be me?"
Zoe frowned. "I'm not you."
"You got proof?"
"Do you?" Zoe shot back.
Randy crossed his arms over his chest. "You didn't check?"
"Because I would really believe your ruse," Zoe said.
Randy shook his head. "And you consider yourself smart."
"I'm smarter than you."
"Really?" Randy said with a challenging tone. "Then figure it out for yourself. What do you have to lose?"
A whir sounded through the air. Suddenly, a blue vortex formed behind Zoe. She turned to look, surprised. Randy sat it and made his move. Zoe turned back in time to see Randy get her in the face. She fell over unconscious.
Randy looked at the blue vortex. A figure emerged form it. Randy had time to see the figure's face. His eyes widened as the vortex closed.
"Jules?" Randy uttered.
"We need to go," Jules said, aiming a timer at a wall. "Now."
"Remmy?"
Rembrandt had been rubbing his temple on the bed. He finally looked up at Melissa. She felt her forehead wrinkle up.
"You okay?" Melissa asked.
Rembrandt managed a grin. "Yeah. I am worried about Darnell. I..."
Rembrandt paused. He continued to rub his temples.
"Rem--"
"I have a throbbing headache," Rembrandt said. "I feel like there's something I should...know. But...it's out of reach."
Melissa looked over at the bathroom. They had managed to concocted a story to get into a motel. Richard was tied in the bathroom. With Ethan.
"Maybe we'll get some answers from Richard," Melissa said.
"I can't believe that all this time..." Rembrandt started. Then his words trailed off.
Melissa know what he was going to say though. That all this time...since the time they were on a world where humans had robot servants...Richard had allied himself with Rebecca Pryce, a conwoman form another parallel Earth. He had betrayed them.
Melissa looked at the bathroom door. She had slept with Richard. And he..was working with Rebecca.
Why?
Richard sat in the bath tub. His hands were tied. He would gladly see if he could get out of them...if Ethan was sitting on the toilet top. He sat and stared at him.
"Be careful, Thuggie," Richard said. "Someone might think you care."
"I care about what you've been doing to Randy," Ethan replied.
"That's rich," Richard shot back. "I did nothing. His wounds? All self-inflicted."
Ethan glared. That made Richard tilt his head and chuckle.
"Okay. I'll give you most," Richard said.
"How could you do this?" Ethan asked. "To Rembrandt? Me? Melissa?"
"Simple. None of it would have happened if Egghead hadn't made that machine."
"He may have made it, but your actions after it were all you."
Ethan stood up. "How about you man up?"
Richard laughed. "Man up? Aren't you the one living in a fantasy world? Egghead--"
"RANDY," Ethan corrected, "is with me. Me. Real. Not fake. Besides, you slept with Melissa."
"Hook-up. Nuff said."
"Is it? Really?"
Richard said nothing. Ethan headed to the bathroom door. He paused. He turned to look at Richard.
"Like I said," Ethan said. "Dream world."
Randy's eyes flickered quickly. He looked around quickly. Jules and he appeared to be on the roof of a building.
This world.
Randy looked over at Jules. "What's going on? This is the third slide you did. What's with--"
"No time," Jules said, aiming his timer again. "Sorry. We need to--"
"Jules," Randy said, cutting him off. "Answers. Now."
"In two more slides," Jules answered. He pushed a button on the timer. Lightning shot from it, hitting the roof door. It dissolved before Randy's eyes, forming a blue vortex. He turned to look at Randy, an awkward grin on his face.
"Please, Randy," Jules said.
Randy tumbled out of the blue vortex. He rolled across the hard floor. Then he stopped. He quickly looked up.
"He's here."
Randy saw he was in a loft of some kind. A middle-aged man with glasses and curly dark hair was at a door yelling. From what Melissa had heard from Rembrandt, the man's name was Thomas. Like Jules, they had been in the slidecage. Two years ago, the sliders had landed on Dark Slider World. While the others dealt with finding Randy alive, Jules and Thomas had decided to stay here.
A whir sounded from the blue vortex. Randy looked over at it. Jules appeared out of it. The vortex closed behind him.
Thomas looked at Jules. "You lose them?"
Jules headed for him. "Yea."
"Are--are you sure?" Thomas asked. "Because that one time..."
"Thomas," Jules said, touching his shoulder. "I lost them. Nathan's right. Their tech isn't so advanced yet to pinpoint through vortexes opened in succession. Chill?"
Thomas nodded slowly. Randy made it to his feet.
"Okay, I'm here," Randy said. "Now what--"
The door Thomas had yelled out of opened. Randy looked past them. The words caught in his throat.
It was Nathan Rye...Kat's father. Katherine Rye had been part of the group of one point...until she had sacrificed herself so the others could escape Mr. Stone during the war with the Kromaggs. He had shoulder length blond hair that was graying. He stared back at Randy, stroked his beard.
On one side of him was a double of Kat herself. This double had short blond hair with bangs. She stood with her arms crossed over her chest, defiant. Her eyes looked at him with annoyance.
On the other side of Nathan...was Eve Albright.
An ex-lover of Randy, Eve Albright was one of the dark sliders. They had slid from world to world, taking advantage of them if not causing trouble. Finally, Randy had revealed to this world the existence of sliding. The dark soldiers had been recovering ever since. As usual she wore black leather. She also had bangs, but her jet-black hair was long and curly. She managed a smile.
"Hello, Randall," Eve said.
"Hm," Kat uttered.
"So this is the person who caused all of this," Nathan said.
Rembrandt sat down on the toilet top. Richard looked back at him. A moment passed. he brought his hands together. He looked down for a moment. Then he looked at Richard again, disappointment in his eyes.
"Why?" Rembrandt asked.
"Because I could," Richard said. "Because he deserved every ounce of misery I threw his way."
"Did you not care about the rest of us?"
"So you're on his side now?"
"You sealed that."
"And you sealed Quinn's fate by doing that."
"You're a coward."
"And you have no backbone."
Rembrandt stood up. "Randy may be reckless, but you're worse. He follows his emotions. You. You're just out for yourself."
"Here's a thought," Richard said. "Maybe the time has come for that. Sides are forming. You're either on the winning side or you're a loser. And I...am not a loser."
"Could have fooled me."
"Sez the person who gave Egghead an ultimatum that he didn't have the balls to uphold," Richard said. "You want a loser? Go look at yourself in the mirror over there."
Rembrandt looked at Richard. He shook his head sadly. Then he headed for the bathroom door.
"So," Richard said, "any idea what you're going to do to me yet?"
Rembrandt walked out of the bathroom without answering.
Melissa sighed in relief. There did not seem to be any obvious sign at the moment that she was being followed. Good.
Still...there was no sign of Randy or Professor Brown. Worry started to come back. What if the police had them, too?
Melissa shook her head as she headed for the corner. Randy had escaped earlier. As for Professor Brown, it was unlikely he was captured given his Kromagg powers. Still...
Melissa turned the corner. She stopped in her tracks. It was Randy's double. He and three others stood on the sidewalk in their police suits.
Melissa's eyes narrowed. One of the other policemen was Rebecca. At the same time, Rebecca's eyes narrowed on Melissa. She smirked. Them she pointed.
"There's one!" Rebecca yelled.
"Great," Melissa muttered.
Then she broke out in a run.
Randy stood out on the roof, looking over San Francisco. The wind blew his dark brown hair into his eyes. He pushed it back. His mind was only on one thing: how did he get into this?
"So enjoying the view?"
Randy did not turn around at the sound of Eve's voice. Instead, he crossed his arms over his chest. His back stiffened. He kept his eyes forward.
"I take it the penthouse loft is yours," Randy said.
"Actually," Eve said, appearing in his line of vision, "it's Edward."
"Oh," Randy said. "And how is your husband these days?"
Randy was sure he saw a smile pop up on her face.
"He's doing what he always does now," Eve said. "Making sure your kind stay on your own world."
Randy actually frowned. "My kind?"
"Yes. People who cross and interfere in situations they don't understand."
"Even if it's wrong?" Randy asked, looking at Eve.
Eve looked at Randy. "According to whom point of view?" Her eyes narrowed on him. "What's right for your world might not be right for another. Don't you ever learn?"
"You're talking about morals?" Randy asked. "At one point...you were...how did Professor Brown put it...wanting to be our dark opposite. You wanted to disrupt worlds. So don't stand there picking on me."
"Well...things change," Eve said.
"Obviously."
"It's your fault."
"Or krama."
"Then I guess Edward and Stone coming after you is yours."
Eve stormed away. Randy turned quickly. He was by her in a second, grabbing her up. Eve's face betrayed surprise for a moment. Then she tilted her head, a flirtatious smile on her face.
"Touch a nerve?" Eve challenged.
"Why are my friends working for you?" Randy demanded. "And why are you keeping me here?"
Eve threw her arms up, causing Randy to let her go.
"Like I said," Eve said, "a lot has changed since the day you revealed crossing technology to the government. And Stone...has relentless. Your friends needed to hide. I gave it to them. After all, I have ways to hide my tracks from my dear husband.
"But...sides are being made. Thanks to the Yuzaki."
Randy's eyes widened. The Yuzaki were an alien race...an evolution of the Kromaggs from a timeline when the Kromaggs ruled the multiverse. To say they were dangerous would be an understatement.
"Do you think any government wants to be taken over by a race from an alternate dimension?" Eve asked. "Of course not. My husband wants you. Mallory. Hall. Anything to turn the tide and stop the 'sliding terrorists.'" She frowned. "All I wanted to do was explore."
"At what price?" Randy asked.
Eve crossed her arms over her chest. "Maybe you should ask yourself that. For example...your friends are back on that other world. Probably in trouble. I have the coordinates. What price are you willing to pay to get back to them?"
Randy stared at Eve. The wind blew Eve's hair. He could think about how lovely she looked. However, he knew Eve had the advantage.
"Tick, tock, Randall," Eve said.
"Eve."
Randy turned around. Nathan Rye headed for Eve. His face was full of worry.
"We got trouble," Nathan announced.
Melissa closed the door quickly. She leaned against the door, breathing quickly.
"Everything okay?"
Melissa looked over at the beds. Rembrandt was just getting up. She also saw Ethan on the other bed.
"Rebecca," Melissa said. "She was among the police. They saw me."
"What?" Ethan uttered.
"I gave them the slip," Melissa said. "Still..."
"Best to make a run for it?" Rembrandt asked.
"Definitely," Melissa said.
"Don't have to tell me twice," Rembrandt said, heading to the door.
"Remmy?"
Rembrandt looked back at Melissa. She looked at him. He saw it in her eyes. He frowned.
"Okay," Ethan piped in. "What am I missing?"
"Richard," Melissa answered.
"No," Rembrandt said.
"We can't just leave him here."
"Can't we?" Rembrandt replied. "Cuz he would easily do the same to us."
"Remmy--"
"No, Melissa," Rembrandt said, his tone leaving little room for argument. "Richard would not hesitate to leave one of us somewhere. Reap what you sow."
"I'm all for that," Ethan added.
Melissa stopped looking at Rembrandt. She turned her glance on Ethan. She narrowed her eyes.
"You would," Melissa said. She turned back to Rembrandt. "And you? So...sink to his level?"
Rembrandt looked back at her. She frowned back at him. Finally, he sighed.
"Okay," Rembrandt said. "I know you two have gotten...close..."
"Close?" Melissa uttered. "Do you think the only reason I'm defending Richard is because we slept together?"
"Aren't you?" Ethan asked.
Melissa spun back around. "Not all of us are you and Randy? Butt out!"
"Or what?" Ethan challenged.
"Why, you--" Melissa started.
"Hey!!" Rembrandt cut in. "We don't have time for this! So...let's get him."
Melissa crossed her arms over her chest. She gave Ethan a big fat smirk. Ethan glared at her, but headed to the bathroom. She looked at Rembrandt.
"Thanks," Melissa said.
"Don't thank me yet," Rembrandt said. "This...isn't over. After what Ricard did, we need to decide on this."
Melissa only nodded. She knew it was far from over. She wasn't about to leave Richard here with...
"Oh, great!"
Melissa looked over at the bathroom door. Ethan was there. A look of surprise was on his face.
"What?" Rembrandt asked.
Ethan looked over at Rembrandt as if he was just noticing him. Then he looked back at Melissa.
"Richard's gone," Ethan announced.
Richard fell back against the wall. He barely noticed the pain in his back. His eyes were on...her with a dagger to his throat.
Ivy.
She still looked as alluring as she was on that world he met her on. It was a world where the United States was going through another great Depression. Her and her best friend Beth were living life to their fullest...until Beth was killed...by Mr. Stone. Obviously, she was looking for payback.
"So," Richard began, "Thuggie was right."
Ivy tilted her head, a string of red hair falling across her face. "They usually are."
"So you hating on me?" Richard challenged. "What did I do?"
"You killed my best friend," Ivy said.
"Uh...no."
Ivy inched the dagger closer to Richard's throat. He caught the breath in his throat. He knew he couldn't do it for long though.
"You should have NEVER come to my world," Ivy said. Her eyes watered. "Why? Why!"
Ivy pulled back the knife a little. Breath quickly entered Richard's lungs. He managed to cough.
"No...control...over slides," Richard said. "You learn that quickly...I hope." He tilted his head. "I would think Rebecca told you that already. Well...that and we're in cahoots."
"What?" Ivy uttered, her eyes widening.
Richard moved quickly. He grabbed Ivy's dagger hand and squeezed tight. Ivy yelled. Then she dropped the dagger. Before Ivy could do anything, Richard had spun her around, hopping her in his arms.
"You heard me," Richard said, his lips close to her ear. "Now listen to me...Stone is insane. He goes world to world, trying to kill. Rebecca'll back me up. He killed her. Go after him. In fact...I'll join you."
"Huh?" Ivy said, her body relaxing as shock took hold.
Richard released Ivy. She turned to him.
"Yeah," Richard said. "Make no mistake. NO ONE wants him dead more than me."
"Really?"
"Really." Richard grinned. "You want to help?"
Ivy took Richard's words in. Finally, she grinned.
"Yes," Ivy replied.
"Or maybe you should..."
Randy looked back at Thomas. "I'll be fine. The rest of you...make a run for it."
"But--" Thomas started.
"Time to go," Jules said. He aimed his timer at a bookshelf. Lightning shot from it, hitting it. A blue vortex emerged out of the blue shelf. He looked at Thomas. "Let's go."
"But--" Thomas started.
"Do you want to miss FRINGE again?" Jules asked.
Thomas looked at the vortex. Then he ran for it. He vanished into it, a whir going off. Jules looked back at Randy.
"Good luck!" Jules said. Then he vanished into the vortex. It closed behind him.
Randy grinned. It was nice to see someone using sliding harmlessly. If only everyone used it for...
A slamming of the door cut into Randy's thoughts. He walked over to the door. He slowly opened it a crack and peeked out.
Eve stood by the couch. Her back was to the door. Her focus was on the goateed man that was in front of her.
Edward Albright. He was Eve's husband. He was also the official behind the government division that was after Randy and the others. He stared back at Eve, his dark eyes cold.
"You put on quite the chase," Edward said.
"Did I?" Eve challenged.
Edward slowly approached her. "How am I to protect you, my darling, if you will not stay where I can see you?"
"And you would love that, would you not?" Eve asked. "The better for you to keep on with your affairs."
"Now, now..."
"Do not be coy with me."
Edward's eyes narrowed. "And you should not do the same. An anonymous tip let me know that your...associates were...popping around."
"Really?" Eve uttered. "Did you ask Eric if he could prove it?"
"Eric?"
"Your tip?"
Edward grinned. "All anyone is doing is following the law."
"Some things do not need to be policed," Eve replied.
"However, this situation does," Edward shot back. "Have you forgotten the manta ship? The Yuzaki?"
"Have you forgotten that Mr. Stone is a killer?" Eve asked.
"He is an operative willing to work with our government on this situation," Edward replied. He stood in front of Eve. "And the time for playing both sides of the fence has passed. It is time for you to pick a side." He reached out and touched Eve's cheek. "This...is your only freebie."
Edward turned away from Eve. Randy looked at Eve as Edward left. He saw she was completely tensed up. Eve had never been one to be that way. His eyes turned to Edward, wondering what kind of person he was...
Edward paused.
Suddenly, his glance fell on the bedroom door.
Melissa found herself looking around as Ethan, Rembrandt, and she were in the taxi. It looked like a normal San Francisco day. If she did not know better, she would think about hanging in a coffeehouse. On this world, she had no idea if someone would realize she slid onto this world. After all, they slid in only to encounter a double of Randy who worked for the government...which happened to know about sliding.
"Shouldn't Randy had found us by now?" Ethan asked from the backside. "I'm starting to worry."
"The same thought about Darnell," Rembrandt said. "I don't think--aaah!!!"
Melissa turned in the front seat. Rembrandt had grabbed at his forehead. He let out another yell.
"Is he going to be okay?" the taxi driver, a husky black man, asked. "Cuz I ain't looking for trouble."
"Just a really bad hangover," Melissa said.
"Ain't that the truth," Ethan added. He touched Rembrandt's shoulder. "What I tell you about tequila?"
The taxi driver nodded in understanding. Melissa manged a sympathetic smile. She looked at Rembrandt again, a frown forming on her face.
She immediately thought about earlier. Rembrandt had been rubbing his forehead. He had popped up out of the police station. She wondered...
Rembrandt looked at Ethan. He manged a smile.
"I'm good now," Rembrandt said. "I just don't know why I'm getting these splitting headaches."
"That's tequila for you," the taxi driver commented.
"Maybe it has something to do with the station," Melissa suggested.
"Station?" the taxi driver uttered. "Like the poo-poo?"
"Do you remember where you were before you met us on the street?" Melissa asked. "Did you see Randy? Or Darnell?"
"I--" Rembrandt started.
"What the--" the taxi driver started.
Melissa looked forward as the taxi screeched to a stop. A barrage of police cars stood in their way. Several of the policemen headed for the taxi.
"What did I tell you?" the taxi driver snapped.
Randy heard the sound of the bedroom door opening. Thankfully, he was no longer peeking through it. Otherwise they would be in trouble.
"Jealous, Edward," Randy heard Eve said. "After all these years? I am fl--"
"The only person trying to flatter," Edward said, "is you." There was a pause. "I am not amused."
"And I...will not sit by very much longer while you and Eric attempt to be the only people who benefit from crossing technology."
"Benefit?" Edward's voice was a little higher. "Can't you see I'm trying to save our world? These terrorists--"
"Not everyone who crosses into this world means our world harm."
"Maybe you are willing to take that chance. I...am not. If I find you harboring any of Heim and his brood--"
"Threats now?"
"And not empty ones." Another pause. "If you are not at the mansion in an hour, I will be sending someone to fetch you."
A moment paused. A door slammed. Randy felt his breath hold in his throat.
"The coast is clear, Randall."
Randy breathed easy. He slowly crept toward the window. There was not much room on the ledge, but he made it. He hopped back into the bedroom. Eve waited, her eyes showing a hint of annoyance. Who knew?
"Wow,"Randy commented. "A lot has changed."
"Yes," Eve said. A smirk crept onto her face. "But not for much longer? So...do you want your friends' location or not?"
"I am not giving you that information," Randy said.
"Even though I just hid you?" Eve asked.
"For your own self-interest," Randy shot back.
"And this would be for everyone's interest," Eve said. "When you destroyed the Foundation's base with that slidestorm surely you knew every person in the multiverse would come after you." Her eyes narrowed on him. "And Randall now tells me that he has detected OTHER slidestorms on other worlds. Judging form the fact you do not look like a savage, that means two things. You did not created them AND someone else did, making you irrelevant. So...you can help me get a leg up on my lovely husband AND help your friends. OR I can find someone else."
Randy knew he was glaring at her. She...was right. While he knew the other person was Zoe, he knew it was a matter of time before she or even Randall might figure that out. Especially since Zoe was there.
"Fine," Randy said. "You win."
Eve smirked. "Good."
Zoe knocked on the door. As she waited, she thought about Randy's words.
"He's wrong," Zoe said aloud.
Or was he? What if Randy was right? What if he...was her? That would mean that he was also right about Rebecca.
The door opened. She was still getting used to the idea of doubles. With that in mind, she tried not to attack Randall Heim.
"Zoe?" Randall uttered.
"Randall," Zoe said. "I need your help."
"Kim."
Melissa immediately recognized the woman in front of her, Ethan, and Rembrandt. They had been brought back to the police station where Randy's double and her double had brought them here.
It was Miashuyhi Kim. On Earth Prime, she had been one of Randy's classmate. She looked at the three of them through her clear glasses. She wore a white lab coat which Melissa sat nothing, but black underneath. She stood with her hands behind her back, her hair cropped around her head in a close bun. Her eyes looked at them, betraying curiosity.
"Hm," Kim said.
Randy's double was next to Melissa. He looked back at Kim with a frown.
"All the chasing," Randy's double said. "The acrobatics. And all you have is 'hm.'"
"What can I say?" Kim replied. "Less is more. Otherwise..."
Kim gestured to her left. Melissa looked. Kim had been standing in front of a glass. On the other side of the glass were paramedics. They were busy using their jaws of life on three guy on a floor. Melissa's eyes widened as she saw that one of the men on the floor was Quinn Mallory. He looked like he was having a seizure.
"...you end up with a mess," Kim finished. She looked at them again. "It would appear that Mallory was in over his head. Pity. He was the best." Her face darkened. "Pity for you. That makes you dangerous."
"We haven't even did anything," Ethan said.
Kim gave him a smirk. "Nothing...except exist." She gestured to the glass again. "This? This proves what happens when people abuse their power. Your world may like that. Ours do not."
"What do you want done with them?" Randy's double asked.
"Detain them," Kim said. "It will take a day before the General arrives. He will be interested in them...especially Mr. Brown."
"Me?" Rembrandt uttered. "I haven't did a thing."
Kim cocked an eyebrow. "I beg to differ. You were the last person to see Mallory coherent."
"What?" Rembrandt said.
Randy heard the whir before he completely came out of the vortex. His feet hit the ground. As the vortex closed he immediately started to wonder how the others were. He turned...
...to find his double staring back at him, gun aimed at him.
"Do not even think about it," the double said.
"Trying to capture me like you did my friends?" Randy challenged.
His double glared back. "They might have given a good chase. So did you. However, we are also excellent at dealing with offworlders."
"If you say so," Randy replied.
"I do," his double said.
"One way to be sure," Randy said.
Suddenly, Randy's prosthetic formed on his arm. He had time to smirk at his double. Then he vanished.
The purple vortex shot open. Rebecca fell out of it. She quickly got to her feet. As the wormhole closed, Rebecca looked forward. Her eyes widened.
Richard smirked at her from the bed.
"Nice hotel room," Richard said. "Now...how is it that no one is here like gangbusters to arrest you for sliding?"
"I have someone for that," Rebecca said. She tilted her head. "So...what's up with you? Plan backfired?"
"Pretty much," Richard said.
"Well...good," Rebecca said. "It means we can begin with our plans."
"I don't even know what your plans are," Richard said.
"But you do know you want to be on the winning side," Rebecca replied.
"Yes, I do," Richard said smirking. "But...one thing first."
Melissa looked over at Rembrandt. He sat on the prison bench. He had his head in his hands.
"You don't remember?" Melissa asked.
Rembrandt looked at Melissa. She saw the tears in his eyes. Pangs of pain hit her heart.
"No," Rembrandt said.
"How can you not remember?"
Melissa looked over at Ethan. He was on the other side of the cell. He frowned at Rembrandt with his arms over his chest.
"Obviously, something happened," Melissa said.
"And that something," Ethan said, "is that Brown turned."
"No," Rembrandt said.
"Are you sure?" Ethan continued. "In that case, where is he?"
"I don't know," Rembrandt said. "But I don't think he did anything to me."
"Then try to remember, Remmy," Melissa said.
"I wish I could," Rembrandt said. "The last thing I remember...is meeting that redhead Ivy in the elevator."
"So maybe Rebecca had her associate...Zoe...do something," Melissa suggested.
"Are you going to defend him?" Ethan demanded.
"Don't you defend Genius?" Rembrandt asked.
"Hey!" Melissa yelled. "The point...is that Rembrandt saw something he doesn't remember. Maybe he knows where Darnell...even Randy...are." She looked at Rembrandt. "You have to remember."
"Wow, Randy. Nice haircut."
Randy found himself blushing in spite of himself. He wondered if this female officer would feel the same if she knew about the unconscious officer in an alley a few blocks away. He figured not.
"Uh...thank you," Randy said.
"Everyone is buzzing," the woman officer said.
"Oh?"
"You have brought so much attention to our precinct," the woman officer said. "You got those offworlders. That'll show them they can't just slide in and mess with things they don't understand."
Randy frowned. So was that what the objective observer thought when they encountered a slider? He wasn't sure how he felt about that.
"So what now?" Randy asked.
The female officer tossed her blond ponytail. "Good question. Especially after that one offworlder put Mallory and his men into some kind of coma." She leaned back. "We'll see how the other ones act when Stone get here."
Randy's eyes shot dagger through her.
"Did you say Stone?"
Melissa's eyes flickered open. She turned on her prison bench. She frowned, sitting up.
Ethan stared back at her. He sat across from her. He had a grimace on his face.
"Anything?" Melissa asked, her eyes looking at a still sleeping Rembrandt.
"Do you hear any screaming?" Ethan snapped.
Melissa glared. "There's no reason to snap."
Ethan ran a hand through his jet-black hair. "Sorry. Just worried."
"We'll get out of here," Melissa said.
Ethan's face darkened. "And then what? Oh, yeah. In another prison we go."
Melissa couldn't argue with that. Sometimes sliding did feel like a series of endless prison cells. They only hoped to get home.
"So are you going to be the new Richard now?" Melissa asked.
Ethan glared at her. "I know you have a thing for him--"
"I don't have a thing for Richard."
"So you give it up that easy?"
It was Melissa's turn to glare. "Look. We were caught up in the moment."
Ethan stood up, his eyes still on her. "You seem to do that a lot."
Melissa's back stiffened. She crossed her arms over her chest. She kept her eyes on Ethan.
"Then you should be glad it didn't happen with Randy then," Melissa replied.
Ethan's eyes burned holes through Melissa. She didn't care. She was already hurt by Richard's betrayal. She was not going to take popshots from Ethan.
A smirk crept onto her face. "What? No witty repartee?"
Ethan's jaw set. "You and Richard were made for each other."
"Why, I never believed I would see dissension in the ranks."
Melissa's eyes widened. She knew that voice. She looked at the cell door, a chill crawling up her spine.
She...was right. It was Richard. More like it looked like Richard. However, real Richard would have a twinkle of mischief in his eye. This Richard's eyes were sullen. Dead. And the stare he gave them was a stare she had only seen on one person.
"Stone," Melissa uttered.
Randy made it down the hall easily enough. A few people had stopped him. It was quick idle chit-chat though. Finally, he was here. The elevator that led to the police cells. He pushed the button As he did, Randy had to admit he hoped the rest of the escape went smoothly.
The elevator door opened. Randy started forward. He jerked to a stop. that didn't stop a hand from grabbing him by the throat. He was dragged forward, the elevator doors closing forward.
"You didn't think it would be easy, did you?" Richard asked.
Stone stared at Melissa. He stood straight with his hands behind his back. He tilted his head.
"What are you even doing here?" Melissa demanded.
"There was enough...interaction between this world and my current world that Mr. Albright wanted me to intvestigate," Stone replied. "It was then a simple matter...for me at least...to find placement on this world. Apparently, they do not enjoy transdimenisonal travellers appearing here." A small smile crept onto his face. "I can completely understand." The smile left his face. "Now where is Randall Heim and Richard Hall?"
"Behind you."
Stone turned...to only get punched in the face. Melissa's eyes widened as she saw Stone fly into the bars. That was a really big punch.
Richard stared at her. Words did not pop into her mouth at all. She did not know what to say.
"What are you doing here?" Ethan demanded.
"Someone had to save you, Thuggie," Richard replied. "You can't do jack."
"You have a key?" Ethan shot back.
Richard smirked. Then he walked up to the cell door. He grabbed and jerked it. It came off with a CLIK.
"What in the--"
Melissa turned. Rembrandt had woken up. His eyes were like white saucers. She looked back at Richard.
"Rebecca?" Melissa uttered.
"Yea," Richard said. "Stone wasn't the only body they experimented on back in the day."
"So Randy was right?" Rembrandt asked, a tone of contempt in his voice.
"When isn't he?" Ethan added.
"He has his moments," Melissa said.
"Hey!" Richard yelled. "Stone's here. How about you all run?"
Randy felt stupid. How could he let that...THIEF...get the drop on him? He was definitely going to have to get out of here.
And here...was a white room. He was tied to a chair. Nothing else was in the room, but Ivy.
Ivy looked at Randy. Her green eyes were full of curiosity. He looked back at her, his mind wondering what she was thinking.
"You don't look dangerous," Ivy uttered.
Randy frowned. "Oh?"
"No offense," Ivy continued. "It's just that Richard told me to watch you. Said you might attempt something. He couldn't have that. Neither could Rebecca."
"Why are you here?" Randy asked.
Ivy looked away for a moment. Her eyes watered.
"That...guy...Stone...he killed my best friend," Ivy said. "Richard says we're going to take him out."
The door next to Ivy opened. It was Zoe. She did not even acknowledge Randy. She looked at Ivy.
"I need a moment," Zoe said.
"Sure," Ivy said. "Be careful."
Zoe looked at Randy. "I always am."
Ivy left the room. Zoe watched her go. Then she headed for the chair. She stood over Randy. He looked up at her.
"Well?" Randy asked.
"I got a DNA sample from Randall," Zoe said. "I slid to a world with advanced technology."
Zoe pulled out a blade. Before Randy could say anything, Zoe was on him. However...she cut the binds.
"You were right," Zoe continued. "Let's go."
It was ridculously easy. Richard could only assume that Stone was a bad ass on this world. How else could he explain the four of them heading out of the police station with no handcuffs on Melissa, Thuggie, or Rembrandt? They made it two blocks and at a deserted busy stop before they came to a stop.
"Hm," Richard said. "Stone must be rusty. Usually, he would be..."
Hands grabbed Richard's shirt, cutting off his thoughts. Rembrandt had him. The anger was apparent.
"You son of a bitch!" Rembrandt yelled.
"Rembrandt!" Melissa yelled.
"He played us, Melissa! Remember?" Rembrandt said, looking at Melissa. Then he glared back at Richard. "He's been playing us all along."
"Gee, Rem," Richard said. "You didn't seem to feel that way when things were going your way. Now how about you face it? We ain't never getting home. Ever!"
Rembrandt seem taken aback. Good. Richard grabbed his hands quickly and squeezed. He heard a brief crack. Rembrandt released him, yelling. Richard stepped back and slapped Rembrandt. He went flying into the wall.
"Remmy!" Melissa cried.
Richard turned just in time. Ethan stopped. Richard finger waved.
"Don't do it, Thuggie," Richard said. "Won't end well." He head gestured at Rembrandt. "You best get him and run. I need a moment with the lady."
Ethan glared at Richard. A moment passed. Then he headed for Rembrandt. He grabbed him up and ran.
"What an idiot," Richard said, watching them go. He looked at Melissa. "You think--"
Melissa swung. Her fist got him in the jaw. Richard fell back.
"Why?" Melissa demanded.
Richard rubbed his jaw. "I said why. As long as we were with Egghead, we were never getting home. How long had it been now? Six? Seven years. All we see is death. I'm going with the winners on this. And...I want you to come with me."
Melissa's eyes widened. "What?"
"I want you to come with me," Richard said. "What life is this for you We should be out there having fun...like we used to. Don't tell me you didn't enjoy the other night." He stepped forward, reaching for her cheek. "How long had it been since you really smil--"
Melissa backed away. She crossed her arms over her chest. Her face looked pain. Richard frowned.
"Oh," Richard said. "Still about the Egghead."
Melissa looked at him. "Isn't it the same with you? Isn't that what this is really about?"
Suddenly, a purple vortex appeared next to them. Richard looked at it. Suddenly, a figure popped out of it. It was Randy.
"What--" Richard started.
Then Randy lunged at him.
"Randy!"
Randy ignored Melissa's cries. He had to move quick. Richard, after all, had started to have the same abilities as Stone.
He threw himself into a trance.
"Randy!" Melissa yelled again.
She saw his eyes. They were listless. It could only mean one thing. He was in a trance.
Richard moved quickly to the left. He swung an arm to knock Randy off balance. Randy leaned back out of the way.
A whir sounded out behind them. Melissa looked past them. She saw it was Zoe. She took in the scene, frowning as the purple wormhole closed.
"Enough!" Zoe yelled.
Richard paused. Randy did as well. A moment passed. Melissa saw Randy's eyes flicker. Randy looked over at Zoe, confusion on his face.
"You have no idea how dangerous he is," Randy said.
"I'm sure I can handled it," Zoe said. "In any case, he's with me."
"Why is he even free?" Richard demanded.
"Free?" Melissa uttered.
"Yes," Randy said, looking at Melissa. "I was at the station being my double. Richard knocked me out."
Melissa's head shot in Richard's direction. He averted her eyes. She narrowed them on him. He should.
"And that," Melissa said, "is why I can't go with you."
Richard looked at her, the hurt apparent in his dark eyes. He moved over to Zoe. He gave a lopsided grin.
"Let's go," Richard said.
"What?" Randy said. "You're not--"
"My choice, Egghead!" Richard snapped.
"Besides," Zoe added, "you got your freebie. You gave me information...like you did Eve. And I set you free. We're even."
"Eve?" Melissa uttered. "What does she mean? What--"
Suddenly, a red wormhole shot open by them. A figure shot out of it. It was Stone. He gave a grin as his wormhole closed.
"Ah!" he exclaimed. "There you are!"
"Not for long," Zoe replied, smirking as she pulled out a small remote. Her eyes stared through Randy. "You are about to be busy running for your lives."
Randy's eyes widened. He realized what she was about to do. He dashed for her...
...too late. The sky around them exploded with a sound like a primal scream. Randy turned around. Down the street was a giant orange vortex. It tore through the sky before it hit skyscrapers. The skyscrapers tore apart like a bomb going off.
Randy looked at Zoe. She had opened a new purple vortex. Richard ran for it and jumped in, vanishing. Meanwhile, Zoe looked at Randy, a smirk on her face.
"Why?" Randy demanded.
"Because I can," Zoe replied. Then she vanished, the vortex closed behind her.
The blue vortex emerged onto the sidewalk. A figure shot out of it quick. He found his footing quickly. He turned to glare at the vortex. It closed rapidly.
Quinn Mallory turned to look at his surroundings. His eyes widened.
He had seen it before. He had seen it on the slidecage when Randy took out both of the Kromagg armies. It was a slide storm...and it was heading for him.
"Oh...my..." Quinn started.
Then pain hit him. Everything went black.
THE-END
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