"'Yes, the AeroBed is great for 10x20 rooms, made with 100% nanotech antibacterial odor killers, but if you order one now...we throw in a lovely lade for free!'"
  "Huh?" Richard Hall said, turning back to look at the television.
  A hand grabbed his shirt and jerked. He turned to see the hand belong to Melissa Clark. She glared at him.
  "Wait!" Richard exclaimed. "I wanted to see if those were real!"
  "You do realize I will slap you," Melissa said.
  "Wow! It took you long enough!"
  Melissa stopped walking. Richard looked past her. A long-haired woman stood before them. She smirked at them. Meanwhile, there was a black man with dreadlocks packing on one side of her. On the other side there was a man Richard's age who stared at what looked like a remote control, dark hair falling into his eyes.
  "Why is she with us again?" Melissa demanded.
  "Someone had to look good, not morbid goth," the dark-haired woman replied.
  Richard grabbed Melissa's arm before she lunged at their companion. He no longer trusted Rebecca Pryce, but the last thing he needed was a catfight. He looked over at Randy Heim. Recently, he had gained some measure of control over her and he hoped it would kick in.
  "Rebecca," Randy Heim said, looking at her. She looked back. "It's time."
  "Thankfully," the black man said.
  "Professor Brown--" Randy said.
  "This world exist to exploit people's nether realms and--" Professor Darnell Brown said.
  "I like it," Rebecca said.
  "You would," Brown replied.
  "You wish."
  "Let's go," Randy said.

  "Ah!" Richard yelled. He hit the dirt, shoulder first. He turned to look at the wormhole.
  It morphed in the air like a rubber band. Its blue gave way to red and back. A figure shot from it like a missile. He hit Richard in the face. Richard threw them off. It was Randy.
  "Can you not land?" Richard demanded.
  "Not when it came to--" Randy started.
  A sound like eggs simmering in a skillet shot through the air. Then the wormhole shut closed like a door. Richard stared at Randy.
  "Where are the others?" Richard asked.

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 10: SPLIT

  "Ah!" Melissa screamed.
  She snatched her arm out of the wormhole. The rest of her body slipped out like water from a faucet. She flew through the air. Then she hit something hard. She grunted from the pain and turned. She was on the hood of a beat-up old taxi.
  A whir caught her attention. She looked up to see Rebecca shoot out of the wormhole. S he flew thought the air and landed on the sandy ground. She looked up at Melissa. She narrowed her eyes.
  "Why did you land on a car?" Rebecca demanded.
  "My landing was no smoother than yours," Melissa shot back.
  Another whir cut through the air. Professor Brown shot out of the wormhole. He shot through the air like the others. At the last moment, he paused in the air. He floated to the ground.
  "Gee," Rebecca said, standing. "Must be nice."
  Melissa moved off of the taxi. She had to agree with Rebecca. Now that Brown had powers again, everything must be so simple. However it made her wonder if he could be trusted.
  Brown looked over at Melissa. His eyes widened.
  "Miss Clark!" he exclaimed.
  Melissa's jaw dropped. "You..."
  "I did not mean to," Brown said. "I am just disorientated from--"
  "Yeah, right," Rebecca said, crossing her arms over her chest. "And you talk about control."
  Melissa found herself agreeing with Rebecca again. Hell must have frozen over. Brown glared at Rebecca.
  "I have control, Ms. Pryce," Brown said. "It is a pity you cannot say the same."
  "Why, you--"
  "Where are the others?" Melissa asked.
  Melissa looked up at the wormhole. It was still in the air, warping around like a kite in strong wind. Suddenly, it slammed shut.
  "No!" Rebecca exclaimed.
  "Now calm down," Brown said. "There is a good chance they landed on this world."
  Rebecca turned away. Her eyes searched the area. Melissa did the same. All around them were deserted cars. They were in the middle of a street. Some of the cars appeared to have been deserted willingly. Other cars like the taxi looked like a bomb had hit them.
  "What happened here?" Melissa asked.
  "Let us not stand around to find out," Brown said. He headed down the street.
  "Do you even know where you're going?" Rebecca demanded.
  "No," Brown said, turning to look at her. "However, the more I get in tune with this world, the more I will be able to sense whether the others are here."
  "Whether?"
  "My apologies. Where."
  Brown continued down the street. Melissa started to follow, but a hand touched her shoulder. It was Rebecca.
  "You don't trust him, do you?" Rebecca asked.
  "What choice do we have?" Melissa said. She snatched her shoulder away. "Besides I trust him more than you."
  "At least with me, you know what you're getting," Rebecca said. "Can you say the same with him now?"
  Rebeca stormed past Melissa. Melissa glared at her. Then she followed.

  "Hey, Egghead!"
  Randy blinked. He turned and looked down from he back of the truck he stood on. Richard glared up at him, his hands on his hips.
  "Uh...sorry," Randy said. "I zoned out."
  "Yeah, I see," Richard said.
  Randy turned to face the front again. All that he saw in front of him was a street full of deserted cars. There was no sign of life that he could see...with normal eyes at least.
  "You know," Richard said, "we might be able to find the others if we actually look."
  "Hm...maybe," Randy muttered.
  "Are you even listening to me?" Richard demanded. "or have you gone into one of your zombie trances?"
  Randy glared at Richard. "What is your problem?"
  "I'm worried about the others, and all you're doing is going zombie!"
  "Please! You don't even know the Professor. Probably could care less about Rebecca now. You're really worried about Melissa."
  "Well...yeah!" Richard exclaimed. "Can you say the same?"
  Randy hopped out of the truck. He headed down the street. Footsteps behind him told him Richard was following.
  "So...cat got your tongue?" Richard asked.
  "I don't think you want to go there," Randy replied.
  "I may not have the emotions," Richard continued, "but I have the memories. You and Melissa had something heavy."
  "That's long gone," Randy said.
  "Only because you messed around with and picked Paige over her."
  Randy swung around. "You weren't there! Your opinion means zero!"
  Richard smirked. "Not to Melissa. Bet that bugs you, huh? Since your opinion to her...below zero."
  "Shut up!" Randy said.
  "Hey! Just calling it like I see it."
  Randy turned to look at Richard. "You know...for a copy of a dead man...you are as annoying as the original."
  "Was that an insult?"
  "Take it any way you--"
  Randy heard a click. He turned around. Several black men stood in front of him. They were dressed in head-to-toe black with their guns at the ready. Randy turned to look behind them. Several more black men were behind them.
  "Look what we have here," the lead black man said, aiming his gun. "Little WHITE rabbits."

  Melissa looked over at Brown. His forehead was wrinkled up. His head extended before. He stood completely still.
  "Well, are you--"
  "Rebecca, shut up."
  Suddenly, Brown shot through the air like a rocket. Melissa stared after him in shock.
  "Still trust him now?"
  "Rebecca, shut--"
  Hands grabbed Melissa. She swung around. Then her back hit the side of a beaten-up old van. Rebecca had her by the throat.
  "You can be blind if you want," Rebecca said. "Me? I don't think so. You really think the Apeheads would restore his powers if they had no way to take advantage of it? I'm a con. I think I know a thing or two. He's a trump--"
  Melissa grabbed Rebecca's arm. She stared at Rebecca and twisted the arm. Rebecca screamed as Melissa put Rebecca's arm behind her back.
  "What have your cons gotten you?" Melissa challenged. "You don't have a world anymore. The Kromaggs took it over. You lost it all, and now you have nothing."
  Rebecca reached with her free hand. She grabbed Melissa's hair and pulled. Melissa yelped. She released Rebecca. Rebecca swung around and got Melissa in the jaw. Melissa fell back against the van again, sliding down to the street. Rebecca looked at her and laughed.
  "I'm still alive," Rebecca said. "Can't say the same about the rest of those losers." She stood over Melissa now. "And you...used to be...respected. Now you're just a was--"
  Melissa turned and swung her leg out. Rebecca tripped and fell. Melissa jumped on her, grabbed Rebecca's arms and holding them down.
  "You underesti--" Melissa started.
  Rebecca flipped Melissa off her. Melissa turned to face her. A fist met her face, sending her backwards.
  "No," Rebecca said, "I don't. I'm living. You...you just exist. Why don't you die like your honey Ben?"
  "Don't you dare--" Melissa started.
  "I dare!" Rebecca snapped. "You know why? Cuz no one's scared of Melissa Clark anymore. She's a whiny nobody who should just put herself out of her misery."
  Melissa's jaw opened. Words refused to come out. Rebecca's words stabbed into her. They felt true. Who was afraid of her. Life hadn't felt like it was worth it since she started sliding again. She might go as far as to say it wasn't the same without Ben.
  Ben. Melissa looked down. Tears fought to the surface. She wiped them away. She looked up to confront Rebecca.
  The words caught in her throat.
  Rebecca frowned. "What?"
  "Oh, she's just surprised by us."
  Rebecca turned. Asian women emerged from the front and back of the van. One Asian woman sat on the roof of the van, her eyes on Rebecca and Melissa. Melissa recognized her as Miashuyhi Kims...well, a double of her. She had long blonde hair on this world. She hopped off of the van, showing off her plaid camouflage pants and blank tanktop.
  "Don't worry," Kims said. "We come in peace. No need to pull out weapons."
  "Weapons?" Rebecca muttered.
  Melissa stood up. "Why would we have weapons?"
  Kims frowned. "Hm. Sounds like Northerners." She held out her and. "I'm Miashuyhi Kims."
  Melissa shook her hand. "Melissa. That's Rebecca."
  "Nice to meet you," Kims said. "I don't know how you snuck through the line, but my advice? Go back."
  "Why?" Melissa asked.
  "Why...because of the race war," Kims said. "Do you want to die here?"

  Richard held up his hands. "Uh...how about we all take it easy?"
  "Will you look at that, Marcus?" one of the black men next to the lead black man asked. "It speaks."
  "Uh...Egghead?" Richard said. "I think tact is your thing."
  Randy said nothing. Richard looked over at him. Randy's eyes were glazed over.
  "Great," Richard mumbled.
  "So, rabbits," Marcus said, "you feel a little dance or a little chase. Neither choice makes a difference. You're still dead."
  "Well, that's not fair!" Richard exclaimed.
  Marcus glared. "Neither was slavery." He aimed his gun at Richard's crotch. "Neither were you whites thinking you had the right to even touch our women. You make me so--"
  Suddenly, Marcus and his men shot through the air. Richard stared in shock. One of the men shattered a window in a skyscraper. The other became a dot in the sky, vanishing completely. Marcus landed on the roof of a car feets away.
  A figure landed in front of Richard. It made him think of Magneto from those X-Men movies. Except it was Brown. He swung around, the force of his turn knocked Marcus away from the three of them. They were scattered far among the ruins.
  Richard's jaw dropped. He was still adjusting to Super Proper. He maybe evil, but he sure did have a lot of power at his beck and call.
  Brown frowned. "Do any of you trust me?"
  "When you pull Jean Grey crap like that...no," Richard shot back.
  "Is it my fault you people are--"
  "Debate later," Richard cut him off. "How about you help me with Egghead before Marcus tries to kill us again?"
  "Agreed."
  Richard walked over to Randy. Brown stood in front of Randy. Randy looked oblivious to both of them. His eyes looked through them like they were glass.
  "Mr. Heim?" Brown managed. "Mr. Heim, we do not have time for one of your trances. We have killers around and--"
  "Endgame," Randy said flatly.
  "Huh?" Brown asked.
  "I don't suppose you can go into his mind and--" Richard started.
  "No," Brown replied. "He made a device to keep me out."
  "Of course, he did," Richard said. "You Eggheads...so Spy versus Spy."
  "What is Endgame, Mr. Heim?" Brown asked. "What is your highly intuned mind attempting to--"
  Brown's eyes widened. He stared around.
  "Proper!" Richard yelled.
  "That is impossible!" Brown exclaimed.
  "What?"
  "The girls...I cannot sense them," Brown explained. "Someone has cut them off from me...completely. But how? Wh--"
  A sound rang out. Brown screamed and fell to the ground. Blood darkened his shoulder. Richard looked to see Marcus storming toward them, his gun smoking.
  "Chase it is then," he declared.

  Melissa listened to the elevator chirped as it went down. It sounded so ordinary given what they had seen above them. She looked over at Kims who was next to the controls. She chattered with Rebecca.
  "Seriously?" Rebecca asked.
  "Yes," Kims answered. "All because of that OJ trial. The whites felt one way. The blacks felt another. Then that riot in LA...set all of that racial tension off. Or course, those riots in Chicago, New Your, and DC didn't help. Maybe if those hadn't happened a day before they put down the LA riot..."
  Melissa frowned. Sometimes the worlds' alternate history could be shocking. If not for the grace of God on her world, who knew what could have happened? She had been in high school when that riot kicked off. It didn't last. Here though...
  The elevator abruptly stopped. The doors shot open. Melissa's eyes widened. There were people. A couple holding hands. An Oriental kid playing tag with a black kid. Some Asian man held up watches, trying to sell them to passersbys.
  Melissa looked up. They were in a cavern held up by iron columns. She knew immediately that it was the Golden Gate Bridge. There had not been a river dividing the land.
  "As you can see," Kims said stepping out of the elevator, "we have managed to get as many people as we can down here."
  "Did you happen to find our friends?" Melissa asked. "A black guy--"
  "Maybe Cruise did," Kims said. "One way to find out."
  "And if not?"
  Kims looked back at her. Her eyes looked cold.
  "Then they might already be dead," Kims said plainly.

  Randy blinked, coming out of his trance. He moved. Then he realized that it wasn't under his own power. Richard had him in his arms, running down the street. A gunshot rang out. Richard ducked his head down. He noticed Randy was up.
  "Oh, you're up," Richard exclaimed. "Good."
  Richard stopped. He dropped Randy. Randy barely caught himself from falling on his butt. Richard looked down at him.
  "Run," Richard said. Then he dotted down the street.
  Randy turned around. Marcus and two of his men stormed toward him. Marcus aimed his gun at Randy and fired.
  Randy dotted to the right. His back hit the front of a truck. His breath came out in quick jolts.
  He hated guns. They reminded him of the fact that Daniel Carter killed him. It reminded him of Cassandra and her prediction that it would happen. A prediction he knew for a year before it happened.
  Randy looked back. Marcus and his men were almost on him. They were three men to his one. It would be impossible to beat him...if he thought of it normally. Randy closed his eyes, thinking of them as parts of an equation. At the end the answers would be revealed. Randy's eyes opened. Footsteps were moments away. He swung out, his leg getting Marcus in the crotch.
  Marcus kneeled over. Randy's hands touched Marcus's back. He jumped over him, kicking one of Marcus's men in the face. He elbowed Marcus in the head. His hands grabbed an extra gun Marcus had and fired on the other man, killing him.
  Randy blinked. He stared at his damage.
  "Wow," Randy managed.
  A fist got him in the face. Randy fell to the ground. He looked up to see Marcus aiming his gun at him.
  "You killed Eugene!" Marcus exclaimed.
  "Oops," Randy said.
  "That was my brother, Trash," Marcus said, cocking the gun. "Good-bye."
  Suddenly, Marcus's body jerked. The gun fell from his hand. His eyes rolled into the back of his head. He fell to the ground. Randy crawled over to him and felt his pulse.
  His eyes widened. Marcus...was dead.
  A shadow fell over Randy. He looked up. Brown stared at him, his eyes completely blank.
  "Professor?" Randy managed.
  Brown tilted his head. His face started to move. A smirk crossed his face.
  "Afraid that you are mistaken, Randall Heim," Brown replied. "I am not a professor. We represent the Dynasty. And you...are our only hope."

  Richard made it to the sidewalk and around the block. Then he realized it. Randy was not behind him.
  "Dumb Egghead," Richard mumbled.
  He started to turn back. Someone jerked him backwards. He tripped and fell to the ground.
  "What in--" Richard started.
  "Hush!"
  Richard looked up. There was a man standing over him with a really big gun. He was dressed in brown. His brown hair was held back by a bandanna. A little circular earplug was in his ear.
  Richard frowned. He looked very familiar to him. It was like something from a dream. He fumbled for the name. It came quickly.
  "Jared?" Richard spit out.
  The man frowned. "I don't know how you know me, but that will have to wait. I need to save your friend. Laura, every one in position?" He smiled. "Good. Kill the niggers."

  "Was that who I thought it was?" Rebecca asked. She smiled. "Before he became the King of Cons on my world, I remember that scene from 'Risky Business.' Wow. I--"
  "We need to go back to the surface," Melissa cut Rebecca off. "We need to find the others."
  Rebecca stopped walking. She crossed her arms over her chest.
  "You heard what Mia said," Rebecca said. "They do sweeps once a day. You have to wait until tomorrow."
  Melissa glared at Rebecca. "That won't matter if the others are dead."
  "Tough break," Rebecca said.
  "Have you forgotten Randy has the timer? A broken timer. He's the only one who can fix it. He can't fix it if he's dead."
  "I have complete faith that Brown will not let that happen."
  "You? Faith in Brown? Aren't you the one who said he's still working with the Kromaggs?"
  "And you think they're going to let anything happen to Randy?" Rebecca shot back. "I don't."
  Melissa frowned. Rebecca making sense? There was a concept.
  "And if you're wrong?" Melissa asked.
  Rebecca's eyes narrowed.
  "I'm not wrong," Rebecca said with complete conviction.
  "I'm not taking that chance," Melissa shot back.
  "Worried precious Randy will die? Still care?"
  Melissa's eyes narrowed on her. "No."
  "Sounds like it to--"
  "I don't care what you think it sounds like."
  Rebecca smirked. "You are one piece of work."
  "And you," Melissa said, "are a bitch. Now are you coming with me or not?"
  "Not."
  "Fine."
  Melissa stormed down the hall. Again she wondered why Randy didn't leave Rebecca on that world with the age divide. Perhaps she would ask him...if she found him.

  "Professor?" Randy mustered.
  "The Professor is just our vessel," Brown said in a voice that was not his own. "After your encounter with the Atlantians, we felt he would be perfect for convincing you we were the lesser threat."
  Randy stood up. "I find that hard to believe. Didn't I see you and the other 'Magg set get my friends in a crossfire?"
  Brown smiled. "Have we not protected you so far?"
  "At what price?"
  "All we ask is your help. Give us the knowledge to defeat our enemies. Come to our world. You will not be killed. Can you say the same if the Atlantians get their hands on you?"
  Randy gave no answer. The Cromagnons did not seem to want him dead, something he could not say about the Atlantians. After he stopped their plans months ago, Randy knew they wanted him dead.
  Brown turned to look to the left. "Hm. Our time grows limited." He stared at Randy. "We will give you time to consider our offer. Your knowledge will defeat the Atlantians and save your race. Come to us and give it willingly. Otherwise..."
  Brown's eyes rolled into the back of his head. He fell to the ground. Randy stared down at him in surprise.
  A gun shot ran through the air. Randy turned quickly. Marcus's man was behind him, blood covering his shirt. He fell to the ground dead. A man stood behind him, his giant gun still smoking. Randy's eyes widened at the man. It was a double of his brother Jared Heim.
  Jared frowned. "Uh...are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."

  Melissa made it through the crowd easily. The elevator beckoned to her in the distance. She saw no one around it. Good.
  A hand grabbed her shoulder. Melissa turned around. Kims shook her head.
  "No," Kims said simply.
  "What are you--" Melissa started.
  "Don't," Kims cut her off. "Rebecca told me. I can't let you go back up."
  "I have--"
  "Friends. Yes. I know."
  "So you know you can't stop me."
  "I disagree."
  Melissa glared. "How do you think you're going to stop me?"
  "Two ways," Kims said. "One...but does it really look like just anyone can walk up to the elevator."
  Melissa looked into the crowd. There were kids playing at throwing a ball. A couple giggle on a bench. A man leaned against the wall looking oblivious in his brown coat and...
  Melissa frowned. He was watching her and Kims. She looked at the couple and saw the girl was watching. One of the kids paused, stared, and tossed the ball. His eyes stayed on her. Melissa looked at Kims.
  "See what I mean?" Kims asked. "And, two...your moral center. Can you really go back up to the surface knowing if someone sees you coming out that you're endangering thousands of people...for one person? Could you live with yourself?"
  "You don't understand," Melissa said. "I can't have another person I know die. I just can't."
  Kims frowned. "My brother. A year ago. He went up. The blacks slaughtered him...because his skin wasn't the same color. He...wasn't alone." She glared. "You going up...could endanger another person I love. My sister. My mother. If something happened to them...I couldn't handle that. So don't say I don't understand."
  Melissa did not know what to say.
  "So...how about we head back to the base?" Kims suggested. "We can swipe war stories." She touched Melissa's shoulder. "I trust that your friends will be fine. We will look...tomorrow."
  Kims led Melissa away. She turned around, her eyes on the elevator. Would the others make it through the night?

  Brown opened his eyes. Panic immediately grabbed him. The last thing he remembered was helping Richard and Randy. Then...nothing.
  He sat up. He was on a bed. Darkness surrounded him. He had no idea how long he was out or how he got there. It reminded him of when he lost time on Earth Prime. Were the Cromagnon Kromaggs controlling him somehow? Was he a danger?
  "So you finally wake up?"
  Brown looked to the left. He could sense a figure in the shadows. His eyes could not adjust fast enough.
  "Good," the figure continued. "Perhaps you can explain why three of my men are dead while you still live. Surely you are not a race traitor."
  Brown frowned. "I would hope not. Last thing I remember...is being hunted. Ambushed."
  "Hmmm...definitely the M.O. of Jared's marauders," a new voice added.
  "You don't truly trust him, Max?" the first voice asked.
  "He's black," Mex shot back. "What else do I need to convince me he speaks the truth?"
  "More than--"
  "Silence," a third voice said.
  A figure emerged from the shadows. Brown's breath caught in his throat. It was a double of Debra, his ex-wife. Two more figures followed. He knew both. Maxim Brown was Rembrandt's son on a parallel world. Dru was...a black woman Brown came across on some worlds.
  "We apologize," Debra said. "In these hard times, you can never be too careful."
  Dru glared at Debra. "Caution has gotten us this far. It's something we should continue."
  "Agreed," Maxim said. "However, I trust the stranger."
  Dru glared at Maxim. "I trust your word, why?"
  Maxim glared back. "Cuz I'm not the shady one, Dru."
  "What you talk--"
  "Innocence? From you?" Maxim shot back. "Puh-leaze. If it wasn't for--"
  "Silence!" Debra snapped. "I trust Maxim's judgment. You two may leave. Track down the attackers."
  "But--" Dru started.
  "Dru!" Debra snapped. "Out! Be useful for a change!"
  Dru gasped. Then she stormed out of the room. Maxim nodded to Debra and headed out. Debra turned to Brown.
  "So," Debra said, "how about you tell me what happened?"

  "So are you in one of your trances again?"
  Randy turned away from the ceiling-to-floor window he was looking out of. Richard walked over to him. Randy frowned.
  "Does it look like I'm in a trance?" Randy demanded.
  "Never know with you," Richard replied. "One of these days you're going to be so entranced, someone could get killed. Then again...isn't that what happened with Melissa?"
  "You weren't there."
  "Doesn't make me wrong."
  Randy glared at Richard. "You don't know what happened so shut up about things you don't understand."
  Randy started to turn away.
  "I understand Melissa almost died over a judgment call you made. Ben did die. While you were entranced. By the way...where is Paige? You know...the one you really loved?"
  "By killing Daniel Carter, I killed Paige before she was born," Randy said. "So she never existed. What about you? Shouldn't you be heading to jail for drunk driving?"
  Richard smirked and shook his head.
  "Nice try," he said. "Yea, I have the memories, but I'm not Richard."
  Randy smirked. "Exactly. You're not. You're a thing, not a person. So stop acting like anyone care about you."
  "Melissa does. Bet that bugs you."
  "No, it doesn't."
  "It did before."
  "Yeah...before."
  "Try to hide it all you want, Egghead."
  "You know what?" Randy said. "I have a responsibility to get Professor Brown and Melissa home. I have nothing to you. Why don't you go away?"
  "Why?" Richard uttered. "Because if I go, I bet Melissa comes with me."
  Randy got in Richard's face. Richard stared back at Randy. His glance taunted Randy.
  "Try it," Richard challenged.
  "Melissa isn't going anywhere," Randy said.
  "Why not? Not like she loves you anymore. Not like you can get her home."
  "I've done it once," Randy said. "It'll happen again."
  "Riiight."
  "You're going to have to learn quickly," Randy said. "It's never a good idea to underestimate me."
  "What--" Richard started.
  "Just ask Daniel Carter. Oh, wait! He's dead."
  Richard glared at Randy. "Why you--"
  "Am I interrupting?"
  Randy looked past Richard. Jared Heim headed down the hall toward them. This double of his brother had greasy brown hair that fell into his eyes now. He studied them like ants in an experiment. Randy managed a smile.
  "No," Randy replied. He looked at Richard. "Just chatting."
  Richard narrowed his eyes on Randy.
  "Yeah," Richard said. "Chatting."
  "Good," Jared said. "We're shutting down the skyscraper for the night. Don't want the niggers to actually get brains and figure out where we are."
  Randy frowned. "Niggers? You mean blacks?"
  Jared frowned. "Wow! You actually sound like you think they are human beings."
  "Aren't they?"
  Jared laughed. "That's cut. Really. Maybe they were better off before someone suggested they had brains. Maybe that would have kept O.J. from thinking he could please one of ours."
  "O.J.?" Randy asked.
  "Orange juice?" Richard muttered.
  "Simpson," Randy said.
  "In any case, your friend will have to wait," Jared said, looking out of the window. "I hope your friend can wait that long."
  "What about Pro--" Richard started.
  Randy elbowed Richard.
  "Hey!" Richard yelled.
  "I'm sure your girlfriend will be fine," Randy said.
  Richard glared at Randy, his arms around his stomach.
  "Yea...my GIRLfriend," Richard said.

  Melissa crossed her arms over her chest. She stood behind one of the soldiers. He pushed a button. The screen in front of her split into four frames. Each frame showed a different entry way into the cavern from above. There was no sign of Professor Brown, Richard, or Randy.
  "Just won't give up, will you?"
  Melissa turned around. Kims entered the control room.
  "All the technology you got here," Melissa said. "I'm sure they could use it above."
  "Maybe," Kims said, crossing her arms over her chest, "if they weren't busy trying to slaughter each other over someone's skin color."
  "And inaction is a better alternative?"
  "Hey...keeps people alive."
  Melissa waved her arms around. "Look around you. You live in a giant cavern. You live away from the sun. You live in fear. Is that any way to live? To raise children?"
  Kims frowned. "That must be some friend for you to risk my temper."
  "Yes," Melissa said, "they are. And we couldn't care less about color."
  "Most Northerners don't," Kims replied. "Sadly...not how American works."
  "It did once," Melissa shot back.
  Kims smirked. "You know...you're way too optimistic."
  Melissa put a hand on Kims's shoulder.
  "You can be, too," Melissa said. "Just put your mind to it."

  Brown woke up to voices. He sat up and looked around. There was no one in his room. His door was closed so it was not coming from the hall.
  He heard the voices in his mind. He put his fingers to his forehead, trying to pinpoint where it was coming from.
  YOU THINK HE WAS TELLING THE TRUTH.
  Brown frowned. It was Maxim.
  yes, i do, the voice that could only be Debra. something about his eyes. i saw truth in them.
  He CoUlD bE aN uNcLe ToM, the voice that was Dru said. WoUlDn'T bE tHe FiRsT tImE.
  A burst of anger came form Debra. It quickly subsided again.
  that was long ago, Debra replied.
  NoT tO lOnG, Dru replied. YoUr ThOuGhTs, MaX?
  I THINK...THAT I DOUBT THE STORY...ONLY BECAUSE MY SPY HAS REVEALED...SOMETHING INCREDIBLE.
  ReAlLy? WhAt?
  yes...do tell.
  WHAT DO YOU TWO KNOW OF THE WORKS OF QUINN MALLORY?
  Brown's breath caught in his throat.
  WhO Dru said.
  the small-time scientist, Debra replied. believed in a bridge between parallel worlds.
  NOT JUST A BELIEF. MY SPY BELIEVES THE WHITES...ARE VERY CLOSE. HE GOT A LOCATION. WE SHOULD...
  Brown stood up. He had heard enough. He headed for the window. He needed to find Randy...now.
  "What?"
  Randy turned over in his sleeping bag. He could still feel Jared's eyes on him. He sighed.
  "Nothing," Randy said.
  Randy heard movement. A shadow moved across the side of the tent.
  "You keep looking at me like you know me," Jared said. "What's the deal?"
  Randy turned around. Jared sat up on his sleeping bag. He studied Randy's face.
  "It...it's just," Randy said, "you remind me of someone I knew."
  Jared grinned. "I understand. We all lost a lot in the war." He looked away. "I always wanted to follow in my father's footstep. He was an inventor for the government. When it...the government collapsed, it fell to the wayside...kinda."
  Randy brought his knees up to his chest. It was nice to know his father was an inventor on this world. Some parallel worlds had constants. Knowing his father and his double were similar made Randy feel proud. He was his father's son.
  "So what about you?" Jared asked. "Who did you lose?"
  "My father, too," Randy answered. "We had it rough through the years and were just now reconciling when..."
  Randy could not finish. They were getting along before Professor Brown, Rebecca, and Diana Davis dragged him back into sliding. Quinn Mallory and Maximillion Arturo getting the capacity to understanding sliding concepts would allow him to stay out of it...permanently. Now...
  Randy came out of his thoughts.
  "So what have you invented?" Randy asked.
  Jared frowned. "Hmm...a thing here and there. This thing that's like the clapper except it turned on a whole attack system...in our old base. A fly-by-wire camera that picked up images from anywhere in the city. There's this one...I'll try to figure out the kinks. If it works...it could create a temporary Einstein-Polodsky-Rosen bridge that could maybe bridge a gap between this world and--"
  "--another parallel world?" Randy exclaimed. "No way! So have I. Maybe we--"
  Suddenly, the tent went flying through the air. Randy watched it fly over the edge of the roof they were on. It would float through the air until it landed on the ground many floors below.
  Randy looked away from the edge. Brown stood in front of them.
  "There you are," Brown said. "Where is Mr. Hall? We--"
  Jared rolled over. He grabbed up his giant gun. He aimed at Brown.
  "I don't think so, nigger," Jared hissed.
  Brown glared at Jared. "What did you--"
  Randy shot up. He blocked Brown from Jared. Jared frowned.
  "Randy, what are you doing?" Jared demanded. "He's a piece of--"
  "You are really skating on some very delicate ice, Mr. Heim," Brown warned.
  Jared stood up. "How do you know my last name?"
  "It is not important. We--"
  "The hell it isn't!"
  "Jared," Randy said, "he's a friend."
  "A friend?" Jared muttered. He looked Brown up and down. "One of THEM?"
  "I am sure that regardless of the alternate history, our existence on this continent is entirely your forefathers' fault," Brown said. "Do away with that look of horror. Randy, he has a spy among his people. The other...black people are on their way here."
  "Spy?" Jared said. "Here? Impossible."
  "Yes," Brown said. "And they are after Quinn Mallory's sliding technology. Somebody is close to--"
  Randy looked at Brown. "You're a little late."
  "What do you--" Brown started. Then it clicked. He looked at Jared. "Nice to know the apple does not fall too far from the tree."
  "That's it!" Jared yelled. "Guards!"
  "Jared, wait!" Randy exclaimed. "He--"
  "I don't want to hear it," Jared snapped. "I thought I could trust you. You're with them!"
  "Enough!" Brown snapped. "I am not some animal, sir. I have feelings, thoughts, higher functions. You will stop this insulting or--"
  Gunfire erupted through the air. Randy's eyes widened. It came from below.

  "What are you doing?"
  Melissa zipped up the black vest she had on. She turned to see Rebecca entered her temporary bedroom. She glared as she put a gun in her holder.
  "What does it look like, Rebecca?" Melissa asked.
  "You won't make it," Rebecca said. "In fact, they may just kill you." She smirked. "Actually, go ahead."
  Melissa grabbed the cloak she had asked Kims for. She tossed it around and clipped it on. Then she faced Rebecca.
  "I guess that means you're not telling on me," Melissa said. "Then again...I doubt that."
  Rebecca crossed her arms over her chest.
  "You're right to doubt," Rebecca said.
  Melissa approached Rebecca. "Then let's get something straight." She stood in front of her. "If I make it through this, I'm never going to trust you. Your views on Brown are right."
  "Lesser of two evils," Rebecca said smugly.
  "You just worry about yourself," Melissa said. "No one's going to trust you. Not me. Brown. Richard. Randy."
  "Now, Randy," Rebecca said. "Give him time. I mean what does he have? A Kromagg spy. A basketcase. A clone of his rival. None of you want to talk to him. Guess who he's going to start talking to?"
  Melissa shook her head. "No."
  Rebecca smirked. "If you make it through this, Sydney Bristow...you'll see." She started to turn.
  Melissa grabbed Rebecca's arm. Rebecca turned back, glaring.
  "Yes?" Rebecca hissed.
  "You forgot something," Melissa said.
  Rebecca frowned. "What?"
  Melissa released her. Then she swung, taking Rebecca out with a fist. She smirked.
  "My right hook," Melissa replied.

  Several of Jared's soldiers ran past Richard. He followed suit. His mind raced, wondering what craziness was happening.
  His eyes widened as he saw what was ahead. The soldiers surrounded Proper. Egghead blocked Jared's way. Jared had a gun trained on them. Richard started to back away.
  MR. HALL.
  Richard paused. It was Brown's voice in his head. He was busted.
  "Dammit," Richard muttered.
  "This is not going to end well, Mr. Heim," Brown said to Randy.
  "Jared," Randy said, "he came to warn us! He's on our side!"
  "None of them are," Jared said.
  "Them...are us," Randy said. "He's human same as you."
  "Mr. Heim, we do not have time for this," Brown said.
  "Agreed," Jared said. "Kill them."
  Suddenly, gasps escaped the mouths of Jared's men. They fell to the ground. Jared stared in shock.
  "What in--" Jared started.
  "No time," Brown said. "Mr. Heim, reason with him. I will deal with the others."
  Brown walked past Richard. Richard stared after him in surprise. For one of the first times, he wondered what Proper was truly capable of. Perhaps Rebecca was right.
  COMING, MR. HALL?
  "Uh...yeah," Richard said, running after him.

  Jared narrowed his eyes on Randy.
  "Traitor," Jared uttered.
  "It is not like that," Randy said. "The world I come from...race relations are much...different."
  Jared frowned. "'The world--'? What are you?"
  "How do you think Professor Brown knows your name? Why do you think he called me Mr. Heim?"
  "I..." Jared shook his head.
  Randy grabbed Jared's shoulder. He stared at him.
  "I don't have much time," Randy said. "I'm Randy Heim...your brother from a parallel world. My timer is messed up. I need your help to get out of here. Will you help me?"

  Melissa had heard the gunshots earlier. She followed it to the skyscraper. She ignored the dead bodies and headed up the stairwell.

  Brown waved a hand. Another group of soldiers fell. It was a lot better than turning off their ignorant brains like the white soldiers.
  HMM...QUITE BAD, MR. BROWN.
  Brown paused. He looked around the hallway. All of the soldiers were passed out. He had heard that...in his mind.
  "Why did you--" Richard started.
  "Sssh!" Brown hissed.
  WELL, THEY WERE IGNORANT, a new voice said.
  "What--" Richard started.
  "Run," Brown said. "Now!"

  Melissa dashed up the stairs. She hoped that the others were not in the thick of the gunfire. She turned a corner...and ran into two black soldiers.
  She moved quickly up the stairs. One of the soldiers only had time to aim his rifle before Melissa aimed it away from her. She used her arm to flip him over her.
  She quickly turned to face the other soldier. His gun was already aimed at her. His eyes narrowed.
  A shot rang out. The soldier's eyes widened. Then he fell over on the floor, bullet in his head.
  "That flip move was pretty good."
  Melissa looked down the stairs. Kims was busy putting her gun away. Meanwhile, Rebecca headed up the stairs, a glare on her face. Melissa glared back.
  "What's going on?" Melissa demanded.
  "What can I say?" Kims said, running up the stairs. "Your words had--"
  The other soldier shot up, grabbing Kims by the leg. He threw her down the stairs. Melissa reached for the nearest rifle. She fired.

  Randy connected the back onto his timer. He smiled at Jared. Jared glared back a
t him.
  "Well?" Jared demanded.   Randy turned the timer over. It started clicking. Lights came on. Numbers flashed. Randy laughed.
  "It's on! It's on!" Randy exclaimed. He paused. "We only have a minute."
  "That's not enough time for my troops to get up here," Jared protested.
  "Jared...I don't have time to argue," Randy said. "I might be able to set the timer to come back, but--"
  "Trouble!"
  Randy looked over at the door. Richard ran in. He paused, his breath escaping quick. Brown entered the room. He shut the door behind him.
  "What's wrong?" Jared asked.
  Richard looked up at him. "Kromaggs."
  "What?" Randy said. He looked at Jared. "We need to leave...now."
  "Whoa! Wait!" Richard yelled. "What about Melissa? Rebecca?"
  "Yes," Brown added. "Are you absolutely sure we will be able to slide--"
  The timer beeped.
  "No time," Randy said.
  Randy aimed at one of the floor-to-ceiling windows. Light shot from the timer. It hit the window, distorting it. Suddenly, a circle of blue light emerged from the spot. Randy smiled.
  At the same time, a red vortex emerged near Jared. A figure shot out quickly. It was Koranus, a Humagg that was part of the Atlantian Kromaggs. He quickly stabbed Jared. Blood shot out of his mouth.
  "No!" Randy yelled.
  "No one can seem to stay alive around you, Terran," Koranus said.
  Brown shot forward at Koranus, using his telekinetic power. Another figure shot out of the vortex. He was a man in an orange suit with wires. He waved a hand. Brown shot back into the door.
  "Nice try," Koranus said. "Karlus. Kerra."
  The door shot open. Two black soldiers appeared. They quickly morphed into Humagg soldiers. Koranus snarled.
  "Good undercover work," Koranus said, pulling his knife out of Jared. "Who wants Heim Prime's eyes!"
  A new figure shot into the room. Richard dashed for Randy. Randy's eyes widened. It was Melissa.
  "Those eyes: mine," Melissa said.
  She opened fire. Rebecca appeared behind her. Brown came to, saw her, and shot up. It was like invisible hands grabbed Rebecca. They shot for Randy.
  Richard leaped into the vortex. He vanished with a whir.
  Brown and Rebecca shot past Koranus and the cyberaid. Brown flinched. The cyberaid exploded, knocking Koranus out.
  Melissa covered her face from the explosion. Then she ran for the vortex.
  Randy saw Kerra moving. Brown and Rebecca vanished into the blue vortex. He was happy, but he ran for Jared.
  Kerra shot up. Randy made it to Jared. He pulled out Jared's gun and fired. Kerra fell back.
  Melissa made it to Randy. They stared at each other for a moment. Then she ran for the vortex and vanished.
  Randy looked over at Koranus. Koranus glared at him. Randy smirked.
  "Nice try," Randy said.
  Then he ran for the vortex and vanished.

THE-END


 

Back to Season 5