"What?"
  "Just come on!" Randall barked.
  Randall grabbed him and started to run.  Richard followed as Randall
speeded up.
  Clones.  They were clones.  Richard just could not get that out of his
head.
  Richard also realized something.  They had been watching him and Melissa
like the old man said.  Melissa and the others were in danger. He had to
warn them.

  "Is this going to work?" Melissa asked.
  She, along with Professor brown, looked at Randy's invention.  It...
  "I read the books and I know the theories," Randy said.  "It should work."
  "'Should' being emphasized here," Brown muttered.
  "It...looks like a technological toaster," Melissa commented.
  "Just...trust me, Miss Clark," Randy said.
  "It's Melissa," Melissa said.
  "Since we...I do not remember you, I think it is proper to go by formal
names."
  Melissa could feel the knife twist.  She looked at Brown.  He just
shrugged his shoulder.
  "Sure.  Whatever," she mumbled.  "When are you going to start?"
  "Now," Randy answered.
  He pressed a button on the gizmo.  Orange lightning shot from it and hit
the wall.  The wall dissolved into a circle of orange light.  Melissa looked
at Brown.  His shocked expression matched hers.
  "It's...It is set for two minutes!  Be right back!" Randy yelled.  then he
jumped into the vortex.  It closed behind him.
  "Was that possible?" Melissa asked.  "He can't remember us, but he can
build a machine in a few hours what it took him weeks to make?"
  "Well," Brown said, "he has been reading different books with me for the
last few days.  He is getting smarter than I thought he was."
  "That's how he got into this mess," Melissa snapped.  "Your stupid pride!"
  "You think I do not know that!" Brown snapped back.  "I wish I have not
gotten and at him."
  "We slide tomorrow.  What are we going to do with him?"
  "Melissa...you are getting...hyper."
  "I am not hyper!"
  "You should worry about whether Mr. Heim's invention will work.  maybe we
will be able to go back to worlds we been to before."
  "Oh, the joy of it all!" Melissa said with sarcasm.
  A buzzer went off on the gizmo.  Lightning shot from it and hit the wall
where the vortex had been.  It dissolved into a circle of orange light
again.  A figure fell from it and the vortex closed.
  "Randy?" Melissa said with fear.
  The figure rose to his feet with a smile on his face.
  "I do believe I've done it," Randy said.
  Melissa hugged Randy.  "Good for you!"
  Brown managed a smile.  Part of him though felt the twist of envy again.

  Richard just stared at the man drinking beer in front of him. He was not
Randy.  Then again this guy had saved him from...what?
  "Do you mind?" Randall barked.
  Richard realized that he was still staring at Randall.  "Sorry.  It's
just...why did you save me?  Why bring me to this underground...lab?"
  Randall frowned at Richard.  "Where have you been?"
  "Not here that's for sure," Richard said.
  "Well, let me jog your memory," Randall said.  "Scientists went and toyed
around with experiments involving cloning.  We started with a sheep named
Dolly and it was successful.  President Clinton decided to create a
department to deal with cloning.  It was headed by Dr. Jarrod Juneau, but I
perfected the cloning process...to the point that mind patterns from the
template...even memories...could be transferred.  the process..."
  "Was it called deanimation?" Richard asked.
  "Yeah," Randall said.  "It started off so well.  people could clone just
about anything.  Hospitals were never short on organ donors.  Food
production was up.  Old people could even manage to clone younger versions
of themselves.  Clones were designed not to harm normals so we didn't have
to worry about being turned on."
  "Why do I get the feeling this is where everything went to hell?" Richard
asked.
  "Because it did," Randall said.  "I did the process too well.  Clones are
very observative.  they saw how we flawed and decided since we were too
prone to flaw...something had to be done about it.
  "No one saw it coming," Randall continued.  "They started subtly replacing
people.  Pretty soon...we have a world of mostly clones, most normals in
suspended animation, and normals trying to pass as a clone."
  "Must have been hell," Richard said.
  "It was," Randall said, "I got Tom to try to warn you, but they found out
and deanimated him."  He turned to Richard.  "I also found out about your
friend...the one who looks like me."
  "We're hoping his memory comes back before...we leave town," Richard said.
  "He doesn't have any memories, except for maybe me attaching the lab to
get his template free," Randall said.
  Richard looked at Randall in puzzlement.
  "Do I have to spell it out?" Randall said.  "He's a clone."

  "I still wish Brown was here," Melissa said as she walked with Randy arm
in arm.  She had woken up to find a note saying that he had gone
'researching.'
  "Well, if he would rather research than take a spin around the universe,"
Randy said, "more power to him."
  "You hang around with Richard too much," Melissa replied.  "I hope he
remembers we slide in two hours.  Will your machine--"
  "Yes, my machine is set to bring us back before we slide.  Don't worry."
  "That was a weird world.  I swear if I saw those gray-suited guys take
away another person--"
  Gray-suited guys.  Randy felt something click.  Then the images began.  A
room that screamed sci-fi.  Tubes full of people.  A dark-haired woman
screaming at a bald man who looked like him shotting up the place.
Gray-suited guys coming in.  Him awakening.  He...was...borned from another
guy who looked like him, too.  It was too much for Randy. He ran...and
ran...blocked the memory out...until now.
  "No!" Randy screamed.  He turned to the nearest window.  He swung at it.
the window collapsed into pieces.  It felt like his life.
  "Oh my God!" Melissa said.  She grabbed Randy and ran.  "Come on!"
  Randy barely realized he was running.  He felt his head.  Was his name
even Randy?
  "What's wrong with you?" Melissa asked.
  "We have to get out of here," Randy said.  "Everything's screwed up."

  "Professor Brown?"
  Brown looked at the blonde girl sitting at the desk.  He prepared himself.
  "Surprised?" Brown said with a hint of annoyance.
  "No, Sir," the girl said.  "It is just that since you were deanimated all
you focused on was the arts.  You haven't been here in months."
  "Well, I am back now," Brown said.  "And I want to see the lab."
  "I have to run it pass Dr. Franks--" the girl started.
  "Miss," Brown said.
  "It's Gillian, Sir."
  "Gillian, who was in charge here before Franks?"
  "You were, Sir, from what I know from the previous aide."
  "Is Franks American?"
  "No, Sir."
  "Then here is a thought: you can trust me.  I am not a normal after all."
  Brown smiled.  Partly because it would disarm Gillian.  Partly because he
had down his research well.  He knew the lay of the land.
  "Very well,Sir."
  Gillian walked toward the lab.  Brown followed and hoped his questions
would be answered.

  Richard entered the hotel room.  No one was there.  He ran to the drawer
and saw the notes.
  "Damn!" Richard said.
  He ran from the room.  Randall was planning another raid.  he could only
hope he could get to Randy's tube before they had to slide.
  If he had stayed longer, he would had seen the wall dissolve into an
orange circle.

  "So tell me," Brown said to Gillian, "how have things been here?"
  "Great, Sir," Gillian answered.  "Franks convinced the Department to crack
down on getting normals deanimated.  I'm a little worried since...I...I'm
not deanimated yet."
  "Do not worry.  Now, tell me...any raids lately?"
  "Yes, as a matter of fact," Gillian admitted.  "Franks is stopping them
though."
  "How many have there been?" Brown asked as he looked at a tube in front of
him with a woman in it.  She might as well as be dead from the look of it.
  "Two," Gillian replied.  "One yesterday, but only a Richard Hall escaped.
Present location is unknown."
  Brown resisted the urge to panic.  If Richard had escaped, then he would
probably lie low until the slide.  Brown continued to walk along the tubes
with Gillian.
  "And the other raid?" Brown asked.
  "That is classified information, Sir.  I'm sorry," Gillian said.
  "Gillian," Brown said with a firm tone.
  "I can't, Sir," Gillian said.
  "Do you know how much influence I have with the Department, Gillian?"
  "Yes, Sir."
  "Do you really want to be deanimated?"
  Brown looked straight into Gillian's eyes.  he saw the fear in her eyes
and found his answer.
  "No, Sir."
  "Tell me about the other raid."
  "It had to do with our creator...well, the creator of the cloning process
Randall Heim.  he had been avoiding the world for years.  he was finally
captured according to the previous aide.  In the middle of deanimation,
another man who cameras identified as Randall Heim attacked the lab with
several others.  The subject escaped in the process, but the template is
still here."
  "Very...interesting," Brown said.  "How about this other...Randall? Did he
escape, too?"
  "Yes, Sir," Gillian said.
  "And here we are," Brown said as he stood in front of Randy's body trapped
in a tube.  "The creator."
  "Yes, Darnell old boy," a voice said, "the creator."
  Brown and Gillian turned to see Dr. Franks walking toward them.  Brown saw
a gun in his hand.
  "Well, it looks like everyone's crossing the Einstein-Rosen-Podolsky
Bridge this week," Franks said.
  "Are you--" Brown started.
  "You see, Darnell," Franks said, "I know you are not the Darnell of this
world.  I...had alterations done when he was deanimated.  He would only be
interested in the arts.  Competition and all that."
  "Is that true?" Gillian asked.
  "I am afraid so, Gillian," Brown said.
  "I am afraid, too, Gillian," Franks said.  "You know too much, dear, so
you are going to have to...vanish."
  "What?"  Gillian said.  "But--"
  The sound of gunfire rang out in the hall.  Franks turned toward the
sound.  Brown saw his chance and jumped at Franks.
  "Gillian, run!" Brown yelled.
  Gillian did not give it a second thought.  She ran down the hall and
through the door.
  Brown and Franks continued to struggle over the gun.  Franks snapped it
away from Brown.  Brown jumped him and they both fell to the ground.  The
gun flew across the floor.
  Brown reached for it, but a foot stepped on his hand.  Brown screamed out.
  "Good lord, Darnell," Franks said. "Your alternate was not this violent.
Why can you not accept that we British bred are more...intelligent than you
peasants."
  "That's it!" Brown barked.  He knocked Franks' leg away.  He jumped up,
but Franks had the gun again.
  "Sorry, old boy," Franks said.  "Maybe a miracle would help now, but there
isn't one coming.  Au revoir, Darnell."
  The door swung open to both of their surprise.  Troops ran in and
surrounded them.  Two men followed with another set of troops.  Brown
recognized Richard and smiled.
  "Mr. Hall!" Brown exclaimed.
  "Proper, hey!" Richard said.  "Boy, do I have something to tell you!"
  "I know Mr. Heim is a clone," Brown said.
  "Okay, so I don't have anything to say," Richard replied.
  "So...William Franks," Randall said.
  "You have no right to be here," Franks said.  "I will have your remains
swept to the four corners of the globe."
  "I guess you should have deanimated me a long time ago," Randall said as
he aimed his lighter.  "Too late now."
  The scream shot from the lighter.  franks brought his hands to his ears.
he screamed as he fell to the floor.  His skin started to crack in places.
Finally, he died.
  "Oh, my God!" Brown exclaimed.  "How could you do--" He looked at the bald
man.  "Mr. Heim?"
  "It's Randy's double," Richard explained to Brown.  "He has a problem with
clones."
  "Release them!" Randall barked at his troops.
  The soldiers started to head over to nearby consoles.  Buttons were
pushed.  The doors to the tubes rised up as steam flew from them.  Brown
felt a sense of awe at this technology.  One figure falling down caught his
eye.
  "Mr. Heim!" Brown said.  He ran over to Randy and picked him up.  Richard
and Randall joined him.
  "Is Egghead okay?" Richard asked.
  "He'll be fine," Randall said.  He turned to his troops.  "Start taking
them out."
  Brown watched as troops carried some of the people in the tubes out.  He
looked at Randy. He was starting to wake up.
  "Where..." Randy started to say.
  "It is a long story," Brown said.
  "Do you have any clothes for him?" Richard asked Randall.
  "I'll get them," Randall said and left the room.
  "Do you think you can walk?" Brown asked Randy.
  "I think so," Randy said slowly.
  Brown put Randy down and started to watch Randy as he tried to walk.
  "I am sorry about before," Brown said.  "It's...It is just...I always
heard the theories about transdimensional travel...I tried some experiments
of my own, but...they failed.  then you came along.  A bright student who
was all I could hope for...who happened to do something I have tried for a
long time.  I...envied you."
  Randy smiled.  "Professor, you were only being human.  I would be the same
way."
  "Here are some clothes," Randall said as he walked over to Randy.
  "Thanks for--holy shit!!  You're...me!" Randy yelled.  He stared at his
double.  The last double he had seen was during his first set of slides
where he was on a world where he was a famous scientist.
  "I thought the same of you," Randall said.  "I got over it."
  "So what are you doing now?" Brown asked Randall.
  "I hope to change the world, Mr. Brown," Randall said.  "Cloning was a bad
idea."
  "Good luck," Richard said.  "Okay, who has the timer?"
  "I do."
  Melissa walked in with Randy.  "Randy found a way in and--"
  Brown saw her expression when she saw the two Randys.  Her eyes widened
out.
  "Whoa," Melissa said.
  "Randy was cloned, Melissa," Brown said before Melissa could say anything.
  "We have been taking care of a clone for days.  It is a long story that I
will explain on the next world."
  "Is this some kind of joke?" Melissa said.  "Randy, tell--"
  "They're right," the clone said as he walked over to Randy.  "I was born
from him.  I am sorry, Miss Clark."
  "But--" Melissa said.
  "It's okay," Randy said as he walked over to Melissa and hugged her.  "I
know it's confusing, too, but we'll figure it out on the next world.  How
much time?"
  Melissa pulled out the timer.  "A few seconds."
  "You should come with us," Brown said.  "You managed to find a way to find
ways back to other worlds.  With our brains, we could find our way to my
home."
  "It's time," Melissa said.
  Melissa pointed the timer in front of her.  The very air in front of her
came to life as a hole opened there.  Wind started to pull her toward the
vortex.  She jumped into it.
  "Be seeing you!" Richard yelled.  He ran for the vortex and jumped in.
All that was heard was a whir.
  "So will you come?" Randy asked the clone.  "If what the Professor said
about you is true..."
  "I--AHhh!"
  Randy stared at the knife that was stuck in the clone's chest.  blood fell
from the sides of his mouth as he fell to the floor.  Randall stood over the
clone and pulled out the knife.
  "Are you mad?" Brown yelled.
  "Professor, go!" Randy ordered.
  Brown looked at the clone's body.  There was so much intelligence there
and it had been taken out.  Brown jumped into the vortex.
  "Do you realize what you've done?" Randy yelled at Randall.
  "I killed an abomination!" Randall yelled at Randy.
  "He was a human being!"
  "Aren't you the innocent one?  Wait until you lose your friends and we're
see how innocent you are!"
  Randy stared at the cold eyes that stared back at his own.  He could not
believe that this person was him.
  "Why are you so cold?" Randy asked.
  "Situation, I guess," Randall replied.
  Randy looked at the clone's body.  He could not take it anymore.  He ran
for the vortex and jumped into it.
  The vortex closed behind him.

  THE-END

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