Melissa Clark looked at the boy whom hands she held. He stared back at her with brown eyes that looked too innocent to who he was. However, Melissa know Richard Hall did not remember who he was. And yet looking at his ever-growing shaggy brown hair it was obvious that Richard's rebellious side was still part of him. His essence. Could that be coaxed out?
A thud got their attention. Melissa looked over at the gym mat. At the moment, Professor Darnell Brown stood posed for an attack. Randy Heim was on the mat, standing up to try again.
"Think they're get over this macho stuff?" Melissa asked.
"No," Richard said instantly. "They're men. We don't do that."
Melissa glared at Richard. He shrugged his shoulders.
"What?" Richard exclaimed. "It's true." He stared at the two fighters go at it again. "Still can't believe Egghead actually asked him."
Melissa frowned. "I can't believe you used Egghead. You sure you don't have your memory?"
"Ask me something I should know."
Melissa considered it. A thud got her to look at the mat again. Randy was on his butt again.
"So Randy actually asked Professor Brown?" Melissa asked.
"That's what he told me," Richard said.
Melissa stared at Randy. He looked at the two of them. A glare etched onto his face. He turned to Brown.
"Again," he said.
Melissa frowned. What was going on? Better yet...did she even care?
The vortex closed behind them. Randy Heim stared around them. They stood on a roof.
"Well, it has been a while since we appeared on a roof," Brown commented.
"It reminds me of that world with the candy ravers," Richard said. "PLUR my--"
Randy's eyes widened. He looked at Richard to find their faces were identical twins. Richard may not remember, but his memory dumps were starting to get creepy.
"How about we get off the roof?" Melissa suggested.
"Yeah," Randy started, but Melissa was already heading off of the roof.
The elevator doors opened. Randy stepped off of it. He was met by flashing cameras. A head poked out from one of them.
"Boss?" Robert Bufford exclaimed. "What are you doing--"
Melissa stepped off of the elevator.
"Oh?" Bufford said. "Never mind."
Cameras continued to flash around them. Randy looked at Melissa. She glared at him.
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 6: WHAT'S MY STORY?
"'Famed Singer seen with two editors. Menage a trois or a new war between San Francisco's two dueling editors?'"
"Could you put that newspaper down?"
The newspaper actually in front of her lowered.
It was replaced by Richard's mischievous grin. Melissa lowered the dark shades she had on so she could glare.
"You should be happy," Richard said. "You're a star here. You can do anything."
"It wears off after the first three times," Melissa said.
Richard leaned forward. "Then, sweetheart, you're not having the right kind of fun."
"You have an idea?"
Richard flashed his lopsided grin. "A few actually."
"So you're not going to tell me anything?"
Randy looked at Bufford. he had not been able to shake him. Finally, he had to go along with him when he headed for the newspaper office. He regretted it already.
"What is there to tell?" Randy asked. "Isn't it obvious?"
"I guess you're right," Bufford said, pushing his glasses up on his nose. "You and Brownie are always dueling. And Clark is a hard person to interview I hear. Maybe--"
"Maybe you should go and get your film developed, Bufford?" Randy said.
"Good idea," Bufford exclaimed.
And just like that, Bufford turned a corner. Randy sighed in relief. It was great to be rid of him.
Randy turned a corner. He glared at the old man that stood in front of him. On every world he landed on, Randy found that Daniel Peckin was a sleaze. He could only hope he wasn't a bigwig on this world.
Randy started to walk past Peckin. Peckin threw out his left arm, blocking the way. Randy rolled his eyes. Of course, Peckin would be a bigwig.
"Hello!" Peckin bellowed. "And where do you think you're going?"
"Uh...to work on a story," Randy said. "Now if--"
"Are you suppose to be in Austria following a lead?" Peckin demanded. "Oh, I mean your running feud with Brownie?"
"I--"
"And then I turn on the news," Peckin continued, "and you know what I see? You and Brownie with the hard to interview sensation Melissa Clark...and you have NOTHING to show for it?"
"Well...uh...I...that is--"
Peckin pointed in the opposite direction. "Out. And don't' come back until you have my story."
Randy ran off without another word. He turned the corner and ran right into Bufford. He fell on his butt on the floor. Bufford looked down at him, pictures in his hands.
"Done!" Bufford exclaimed.
Randy growled in annoyance.
"You were with her? You were with THE Melissa Clark and you didn't get an interview? You're my best reporter/editor, Darnell. If you can't get it then who can? And...Darnell? Darnell, are you listening to me?"
Brown just stared at her. His jaw was slacked. His body was relaxed. She was beautiful and for once he was glad he had listened to Heim's suggestion to assume their doubles' identity.
Debra King stared back at him. He had never seen his ex-wife...or any of her doubles for that...with short black hair. She leaned over her desk in a purple business suit. It reminded of an older still-sexy Halle Berry.
"Darnell?" Debra said.
Brown shook his head. "Uh...I apologize. I got...distracted."
Debra rolled her eyes. "I bet." She walked around. "Look, Darnell. You are my ace in the sleeve. Your expose on corrupt politics maybe have been an excellent idea, but what the people want...what the people want...is to know Melissa Clark." She leaned on her desk. "You can do it, right? For me?"
She purred. Brown felt like he was going to melt right into the chair.
"Yes," Brown managed. "I can."
Richard looked across from Melissa.
"Are you ready?" Richard asked.
"I feel like...," Melissa started. She could not find the words.
"Like?" Richard asked from his seat.
"This...this isn't me," Melissa said.
"Well, duh!" Richard exclaimed. He smiled. "That's the point. You're not you. You...are frakking famous."
Melissa frowned. "Frakking?"
Richard rolled his eyes. "That's it! We definitely have to update your pop culture references."
Melissa did not know what to say. Did he just call her uncool?
Richard held out his hand. "You coming?"
Melissa looked at the hand. She did not know what to say. Her mind raced. Perhaps the last thing she should be doing is being someone else.
"Come on," Richard said. "Sliding does not have to be angst this, angst that! I'm sure you used to have a great time."
Melissa frowned again. He was right. When she first started sliding, Melissa thought it was an adventure. A smile crept onto her face. She reached for his hand and held it. Richard smirked.
"Your fans await," Richard announced.
Randy sat at the table. He sipped from the glass of wine he had. The waiter had told him that it was comments from the host. Just like then, the remark had caused him to frown.
"Wine? Turning into an alcoholic, are we?"
Randy looked up. Brown looked down at him. He sat back in his chair, giving Brown a defiant glance.
"You wish," Randy said.
Brown glared.
"Are you going to sit and enjoy this wine?" Randy asked. "It's from our 'host.'"
Brown glanced at the iced bottle. He grabbed it and sat down. He popped the conk and poured a glass.
"Our host?" Brown said. "Interesting."
"I thought so," Randy said.
"So how is the job?"
"I got Bufford and Peckin. You?"
"Debra. A gift from the gods."
Brown drank his glass. "From where I am sitting, life will be exquisite until the slide."
"Good to be you, then," Randy said.
"All I have to do is fake an article about Miss Clark's double and--"
"Wait! You are not going to do that, are you?"
Brown took a drink. "Actually...yes. I am sure you do not mind if I do that."
"Actually...I do mind."
Brown frowned. Randy took a drink from his glass.
"Peckin wants that story or I'm in trouble," Randy said. "And the last thing we need is trouble."
"Agreed," Brown said. "However, Mr. Peckin is small potatoes."
"You weren't there with me."
"You cannot seriously expect me to believe you are afraid of Daniel Peckin."
"Believe it. I'm getting that story."
"Only if I do not get to it first...and that is highly unlikely."
"Think high of yourself for someone not being chased."
Brown glared at Randy. "Do not go there."
"Why not?" Randy challenged. "What can you do to me?"
"Knock your body down to the floor," Brown shot back.
Randy stood up. "I would love to see you try it."
"Oh, give me a reason," Brown said, standing up.
"I do believe that us playing our doubles will be easier than I thought ought," Randy said.
"Indeed," Brown said.
"I'm getting that story," Randy said.
"Over my dead body."
Gasps ran through the restaurant. Randy looked up to see the waiter leading two figures to their table. Randy frowned.
The first figure was Melissa. She was dressed in a black v-necked skirt that hugged her body in all the right places. She had on a necklace with an ebony stone in the middle. She walked like she was on a runway.
Behind her, Richard blocked away photographers. He had on black shades, his brown hair in a ponytail. He wore a tailored dark seat. He could have been security for the President. The waiter stopped them at the table.
"Your host, gentlemen," the waiter said.
"Another bottle of Cabernet, please," Melissa instructed in an English accent.
The waiter bowed. Then he was gone.
"Randy!"
Randy looked among the photographers. He saw Bufford and grunted. Bufford started to approach. Richard blocked his way.
"Nothing to see," Richard said. "Move along."
The photographers headed for the bar. Melissa took off her shades and sat down. She took one look at the two of them and frowned.
"What?" Melissa asked.
"Is this your version of low profile?"
Melissa looked at Brown. He glanced at her like a schoolteacher who caught a student napping during a lecture. She smiled a little.
"Live a little, Professor," Melissa said.
"Exactly,' Richard added as he sat next to her. "Sliding is an adventure, not a . Embrace it."
Brown glared at Richard. "You're behind this?"
"Is he wrong?" Melissa challenged. "When was the last time any of us had fun? It's been so long I can't even remember. Can you?"
Brown's forehead wrinkled up. His eyes went a little distant. He leaned back in his chair, his mind lost in thought.
"That's not the point."
Melissa looked over at Randy. He sat across from her. His finger traced a line around his empty wineglass. His eyes revealed his drunkenness.
"This isn't a game," Randy said.
"Is that what you tell yourself when you go into a trance?" Melissa asked. "Because it sure looked like a game when it was you versus Daniel Carter."
Brown exploded with drunken laughter. Randy's eyes focused, causing his whole face to bunch up into a grimace. Richard only frowned.
"Good one," Brown commented. Randy glared at him. "Well if the shot fits, Mr. Heim..."
"How can you say that about me?" Randy demanded.
"Better question: Who's Daniel Carter?" Richard asked.
Melissa sighed. She forgot. She looked at Richard and took his hand.
"He's an old nemesis of ours," Melissa said. "He--"
"Why are you touching his hand?"
Melissa looked at Randy. His anger was all over his face. She looked at Richard. She frowned and pulled her hand away.
"Uh...just...comforting...," Melissa started. Then she shook her head. "Wait. I don't have to justify myself to you."
"Riiight," Randy said. "It's good to know that even though he's a blank slate, Richard still has your number. Planning on sleeping with him like Rebecca?"
"Hey!" Richard snapped. "That was wrong."
"Whatever," Randy snapped back. "You have no memory, and you're still not a saint. So how long until you regress to what you were? Thinking about running down anyone?"
A silence fell across the table. Melissa looked at Brown. His eyes were wide. Randy looked accusedly at Richard. Meanwhile, Richard glared at Randy, his body shaking. He looked ready to explode. Melissa reached for Richard, but he shot up.
"I don't know what that means," Richard said, "but I know it wasn't good."
"You would do the same with me," Randy said. "In fact, you reveled in it."
"That's not me now!"
"But it is you! You're nothing and that's all you--"
"Randy!" Melissa snapped.
"Is everything okay?"
Melissa looked up at the waiter. She flashed a smile.
"Just a friendly debate," Melissa said. "I think we need another bottle."
"That's a new one," Randy snapped.
Melissa looked at Randy. "You really want to go there with me?"
"Sounds like trouble," Brown commented.
"Go ahead, sir," Melissa said to the waiter.
The waiter hurried to the bar. Melissa looked at Richard. He still stood up, his eyes transfixed on Randy.
"Richard?" Melissa muttered.
"You may want to sit with this jerk," Richard said, "but I don't."
"Richard--"
Richard stormed away from the table. Brown giggled. Meanwhile Randy smirked at her.
"Oops," Randy said.
Melissa stood up.
"I thought you were better than this," Melissa said. "Guess not."
She walked away from the table. The photographers followed suit. Her only concern was Richard.
"Well, that was quite charming of you."
Randy turned his head to Brown. Brown made a face, a hand on his cheek.
"Oh, wait!" Brown exclaimed. "That was not charming at all. And look! Mr. Hall hates you as well."
"Coming to a point any time soon?"
"Quite the leadership qualities you have."
"As if you care."
Brown leaned over to Randy. Randy's nose wiggle up at the scene of Cabernet.
"You are correct," Brown said. "I do not care."
"You care about getting h home," Randy hissed. "Getting your little hands on your nice sweet little Debra. Throwing her over a table and--"
Brown grabbed Randy by the throat.
"My hands are not little," Brown snapped.
He pushed Randy back, almost causing Randy to fall over. Randy maintained his balance and swung himself back in Brown's direction. His arm swung out like it had a baseball bat in it. Brown tilted back in his chair, missing the blow. He tilted forward again.
"Now you are going to refrain from saying crude remarks about Debra or--" Brown started.
"Or what?" Randy demanded.
"Plans or no plans," Brown said, "you will not live to see our Earth again."
"'Plans or no plans?'" Randy said. He leaned back in his chair. "What plans do you have, Professor and what do they have to do with me?"
"You're grasping, Mr. Heim."
Randy shook his head. "No, no, no. I think you know I am not grasping. I think you have the truth in plain sight and I just don't see it...yet."
Brown stood up. "This conversation grows tedious."
"You grow transparent."
"Here is my pearl of wisdom, Mr. Heim," Brown said. "In the future avoid red wine. It brings out a terrible side to your personality."
Randy looked after Brown as he walked away. Perhaps it was a case of seeing Brown as his mentor. He needed to look at him differently.
Randy narrowed his eyes. Maybe he needed to look at all of it differently.
Brown stormed out of the restaurant. His anger was very hard to repressed. Heim saying anything about Debra...was something he could not forgive.
"It appears you do not have a choice."
Brown turned around. John stood behind dressed in a business suit. On Earth Prime, he posed as a member in the United States government. In fact he was an agent of the Kromagg Dynasty...the Cromagnon Kromaggs.
"My masters' patience wear thin," John said.
"Well, they do not have much of a choice," Brown said. "You want Mr. Heim in one piece, we do it my way."
"They sense other thoughts conflicting within you."
"They will not conflict with the plan."
John's eyes narrowed on Brown. "You see that it does not. Randall Heim is not to be killed."
"And he will not," Brown said, "if he is careful."
"I do not like your tone, Darnell Brown."
Brown stepped forward. "And yet you cannot do a thing because you are only human." He glared. "Now back off. I have work to do."
Brown turned around for a moment. When he looked again, Brown saw that John was gone.
The next day, Melissa knocked on the door to Richard's bedroom. He had convinced her yesterday to check into a luxurious hotel with an alias. So far, she had been well-hidden. After last night, she thought space was needed so she let Richard have it.
Melissa knocked again. Finally, she opened the door. Richard laid on the bed, his hands on his stomach. He stared up at the ceiling.
"Are you okay in here?" Melissa asked.
"Who am I, Melissa?" Richard asked.
"You...are you," Melissa said.
Richard sat up. He stared at Melissa. He looked at her like she was God about to reveal the secret of life.
"Am I?" Richard asked. "Am I really?"
Melissa frowned. "I don't follow you."
"What if Randy was right?" Richard said. "What if I am just some brainwashed double? Or worse...something else entirely?"
Richard's eyes had glazed over at that last moment. It was like he had seen something that was not apparent to her. Melissa sat down with Richard on the bed.
"What are you trying to say?" Melissa asked.
Richard looked over at the wall. "When...when we were on that world with the Aves, I got a memory. It was of how I died."
Melissa nodded.
"Then...I saw another place. Dark. Sterile. Full of tubes. I could tell...there were people in them. It seem...felt familiar to me. Then I saw Rebecca's face and snapped out of it. I think she's hiding something from me."
"Wouldn't surprise me at all," Melissa said. "She hid me. Replaced me with a...well...brainwashed double."
"I'm just scared of what she's keeping about me," Richard said. "What if I'm a danger?"
"You're not a danger."
Richard laughed bitterly. "Tell that to Randy."
Melissa rolled her eyes. "Ignore Randy. He's just jealous."
Richard touched Melissa's hand. She flinched. She turned away, but Richard turned her face to face him.
"Hey," Richard said. "Does he have anything to be jealous of?"
Melissa stared at him. "Does Rebecca?"
"We're not together."
"Neither are Randy and I."
"Good."
Richard planted a kiss on her She let him.
Randy heard grinding. His eyes opened. He shot up. He grabbed for his head as he felt pounding. He agreed to avoid wine in the future.
Randy turned toward his hotel window. The grinding came from it. He heard whispers from the curtain. He walked slowly toward it. Then he threw open the curtains.
Richard and Melissa stood on the fire escape. They had a set of suitcases in their hands. They stared at him in surprise. Richard recovered first.
"You!" Richard exclaimed. "God, can we ever get rid of you?"
"I guess not," Randy shot back. "What are you even--"
Randy paused. The Melissa in front of him had long jet-black hair. He was talking to doubles.
"Wait," Randy muttered. If he was talking to doubles that meant he was talking to Melissa's famous double. "Hey, can we talk?"
Melissa's double smiled. "That's cute, Sweet Pea. But we really have to go. Call us when we get back. K?"
Randy reached out and grabbed Melissa's double.
"Hey!" Melissa's double yelled.
Richard's double lunged at Randy. They fell to the floor in his room. Randy struggled, but Richard's double penned him down.
"Back off, man," Richard's double said. "We really don't have time for this."
A beep sounded from Melissa. She growled. Then she pulled in the suitcases.
"We're out of time, Rich," Melissa's double said.
"Darn!" Richard's double said.
Melissa's double pulled out a small device. Then she aimed it at the wall. Light shot out from it, hitting the wall. The wall dissolved into a circle of green light.
Randy's eyes widened. "You're sliders?"
Richard's double frowned. "Who taught you that word?"
Melissa's double ran to the green vortex and threw the suitcases into it. They vanished. A whir sounded though the room.
"No time!" Melissa's double yelled.
Melissa's double vanished into the vortex. A whir sounded from it. Richard's double shot up from the floor, dragging Randy with him.
"Guess we make time," Richard's double said.
Then he threw Randy into the vortex.
Melissa sat in the limo. Across from her was Richard. He stood perfectly still, a finger to his lip. His eyes firmly on her. She looked over at a window.
What could she say? Richard kissed her. She had been kissed. She did not hate it, but she did not know what to say.
"A penny for your thoughts?"
Melissa looked over at Richard. He had his hands on his sides. His eyes were full of concern.
"What am I thinking?" Melissa muttered. "Not sure at the moment."
"But you are thinking about that kiss?"
"Yes."
"What does it mean or if it even means anything?"
"Yes."
Richard shook his head. "Now didn't we have this discussion yesterday? No angst! It's all in fun!"
"Is it?" Melissa said. "Is it really?"
"Of course!"
"Even that kiss?"
Richard smiled. "Yea."
"Good," Melissa said, an idea coming to her. "No problem."
She must have had some kind of look on her because Richard frowned. "What?"
"Nothing," Melissa said. Then she smirked. "Yet."
Brown stood outside the door. Randy had not come when he knocked on the hotel room's entrance so he...let himself in. Now he stood outside Randy's bedroom. For the first time, he hesitated.
For the last few months, he had been working on this. There had been complications like Heim's disappearance, red tape, and Kromaggs. Still if everything was going to work, Heim had to be at the top of this game. That would only happen if he is provoked.
Brown threw open the door. His eyes studied the empty room in front of him. The bed was unmade. The window was open wind blowing the curtains. No sign of Heim at all.
Where was he?
"This is all your fault!" Richard's double yelled.
Melissa's double glared. "Are you wanting tonight?"
"Assuming we live that long."
"Hey! How was I to know we would slide into the middle of a sacrificial feast for carnivorous Taoists?"
"A little late now."
Randy had to agree. At the moment, the three of them were being backed into a corner by a room full of people dressed in only red long kilts and nothing else. The Tao symbol was painted on all of their chests. Spears were aimed at the three of them. Randy looked back over at the long feast table. Melissa and Richard's double's suitcase landed right on the sacrifice, causing the riot.
"How long?" Richard's double asked.
Melissa's double stared at the timer device in her hand. "We have three hours. We'll be dead in thirty minutes."
Randy looked at her. That was not a good thing. He needed to get...
His back hit the bricked wall behind him.
"We're backed into a corner," Randy announced.
"No one backs me into a corner," Melissa's double said.
"I hate to disagree, 'Baby,'" Richard's double said, "But it looks that way. No guns. No lasers. No electrical poles. We're screwed."
"Wait," Randy snapped. "Electrical poles? Who are you?"
Richard's double looked at him. "What you mean?"
"You're from the Foundation?" Randy demanded.
"Foundation's dead," Richard's double said, turning to face Randy. "However, I'm wondering how you know about it."
"Because I'm a slider," Randy said. "I'm the Randy that Daniel Carter wanted dead."
"What?" Melissa's double snapped, facing Randy. "No way! You're still alive?"
"Barely," Randy said, crossing his arms over his chest. "Which means you're the doubles from that Earth that was like my Earth."
"Short a member thanks to you," Richard's double said.
"It didn't help that you killed your own Randy," Randy shot back.
"Can we argue later?" Melissa's double asked. "Spearbearers ready to pounce and all?"
Randy stared at the two of them. They were alive. It made him wonder who else from the Foundation was alive.
Randy pushed the thought away. he would have to wait. The Taoists advanced.
"You're the smart one," Richard's double said to Randy. "Think of something."
Randy looked at the Taoists. He stared at Melissa's double. He stared at her hand and then her face.
"I will," Randy said. "What are you going to do for me?"
Melissa ran over to Richard. She threw her arms around him, giggling like a schoolgirl with a crush. He stared at her with a smile.
"Not that I don't like this," Richard said over the loud music, "but are you okay?"
"Paris Hilton just said hi to me!" Melissa yelled. "I feel great!"
"That's--"
Melissa swung around. Sure enough, the guy she had been eyeing was looking at her. She smiled at him. He smiled back and headed her way. She turned to look at Richard.
"So are you having fun?" Melissa yelled.
"Always!" Richard exclaimed.
"Hey!"
Melissa turned and smiled at the sandy-blond guy. He had broad shoulders, a nice chest (judging by the loose buttons in the front), and an even nicer smile.
"Hey!" Melissa exclaimed.
The sandy-blond guy leaned close to her.
"Would you like to dance?" he asked.
"I don't talk to strangers," Melissa said.
"Hi, I'm Matt," he said. "Would you like to dance?"
"I'm Melissa," Melissa said. "Love to."
Matt started to lead her to the dance floor. A hand on her other arm stopped her. She turned to look at Richard. He frowned.
"Is this cool?" Richard asked.
"What?" Melissa asked. "I'm just having a little fun."
"Who is this?" Matt asked. "Your boyfriend?"
Melissa looked at Matt. She frowned. "I don't know." She looked at Richard. "Are you?"
Richard gave her a grimace. Melissa smirked.
"Didn't think so," Melissa said. She looked at Matt. "Come on. The dance floor awaits."
"Wait!" Melissa's double demanded. "You want us to what? I don't think so."
"Honey," Richard's double said, "no time to argue. Just say yes."
"I--"
"Today would be nice," Richard's double said, balling his hands into fists.
"Fine," Melissa's double said. She handed the timer device to Randy. "Here."
Randy held onto the timer. He looked at it. His mind slowly slide into a trance as he studied how it was made. He barely registered Richard's and Melissa's double attacking the Taoists. His mind was only on the system in which this device had been created. And then...he saw it. He pulled out a mini-screwdriver and worked quickly.
Richard's double punched a Taoist in the face. "Some time now, Egghead!"
Randy aimed the timer behind him.
"Done," he said.
Richard watched Melissa dance with Matt. Couples danced around them, but none of them held a torch. Melissa turned away from Matt. She sank to the floor. Then slowly she grinded her body back up next to Matt. He grinned and moved with her.
Richard's hands balled into fists. Who did that guy think he was? Melissa could get anyone so what did she see in him? He oughta...
Suddenly, the lights became darker. It took Richard to realize he was not in the club anymore. he was in a memory.
Richard headed along the edge of a dance floor. A hand grabbed him onto it. It was Rebecca. They talked. Then the are attacked by a double of a rival of Richard's, Sean Curtis. Thankfully, Melissa saved them, dressed in a dominatrix suit and short black hair.
Light flashed, causing Richard to blink. He opened his eyes to see he was back in it again. The dark room. To the left and the right of him are tubes, everything made of metal except the glass in the front at the top of the tubes. The room was cold. Suddenly, Richard realized he was balled up on the steel floor with no clothes on. He shivered and looked up.
Rebecca stared down at him. Next to her was a bald man dressed in a business suit. His hands were behind him, his eyes empty of emotion.
"He," the man said, "looks perfect."
Richard jerked. He flew over a table, causing it to topple. Drinks went flying.
Melissa danced with Matt. He was quite fun. And it felt nice to be having fun for a change.
Matt grabbed her thighs. She responded by grinding into his crotch again. She leaned back into his shoulder as he kissed her ear.
"So does this mean you'll do that movie with me after all?" Matt asked.
Melissa turned around. She laughed.
"Hmmm...," Melissa purred. "Maybe."
Matt flashed a smile. "I can work with a maybe."
Then he planted a kiss on her. Melissa went with it. Part of her did it because he was a great kisser. Part of her went with it just to see the look on Richard's face.
Flashes caught the corner of Melissa's eye. She turned to see what it was. Cameras were on her, reminding her of her double's lifestyle. They would surely sell the pictures to a magazine or paper.
She smiled at one of the cameras. Today she didn't care. Today was not sad old Melissa whom boyfriend died. Today she was Melissa the 'It' singer. Everyone loved her.
Melissa looked over at the bar. A few photographers took pictures among a crowd of people. Melissa frowned. She grabbed Matt's hand.
"Come on," Melissa said.
As Melissa got closer, she saw the looks people gave her. It was a look of momental distraction. Then they remembered who she was and parted a path for her.
Being famous had its privileges.
Melissa made it to the edge of the crowd. She gasped. Then she moved closer to the front.
Richard was on the floor. His eyes were wide open, but they looked distant. His body was in a weird position. Every few moments, his body jerked.
Flashes got Melissa's attention. She stared at the cameras. Her eyes narrowed on the nearest photographer. She ran to him and swung, her fist to his jaw.
More cameras flashed.
"What is wrong with you people?" Melissa demanded. "Get help! He's having a seizure!"
The whir sounded through the room. Randy emerged from the vortex. He quickly dropped the timer. It sparked on the floor.
The vortex whirred twice. Two figures emerged from it. It was Richard and Melisa's double. Melissa's double's eyes widened as she saw the timer device on the floor, still sparking.
"The timer device!" she exclaimed. "What did you do?"
"There is a reason why people should never slide from a parallel world early," Randy said. "It's possible, but it fries the timer."
"You mean we're stuck here?" Richard's double shrieked.
"Yes," Randy said.
Richard's double narrowed his eyes. "I don't think so."
The double stepped closer. Randy backed away.
"Don't even think of killing me," Randy said.
Melissa's double stepped forward. "Wouldn't be the first time. While I love this world, I love sliding more. Give us your timer, Randy."
"No," Randy said.
The vortex closed behind the doubles. They ignored it and advanced on Randy.
"You don't have much of a choice, man," Richard's double said.
A figure emerged from the shadows. He stepped behind the doubles. Then he grabbed their heads and butted them together. They fell to the floor, out like lights. Brown stood over them, a smirk on his face.
"Actually," Brown said, "he does." He looked at Randy. "He can let me have this story or I'll let him suffer."
"The story is mine," Randy said, balling his hands into fist.
"We'll see," Brown said, taking a stance.
"Bring it, Prof."
Melissa glared at the television. At the moment, Ryan Seacrest was on E. Already they flashed footage of her punching the photographer. Paris, Mischa, Nicole...even Madonna...had offered their opinions and their thoughts on how it affected public preceptions of the famous.
Melissa rolled her eyes. Then she turned to see Richard looking at her from the hospital bed. He smirked.
"All of this for little old me?" Richard said. "I'm touched."
Melissa sat next to the bed. "Well...that's what friends are for."
"Yeah, friends," Richard said. "Cuz you're all hot-to-trot for Matt."
"Which I can be since I'm single," Melissa said. "Besides, can you blame me? Those eyes. That smile. That chest. Oh, God, that chest."
"Sorry. Not gay."
Melissa giggled. Richard smiled.
"Nice to see my plan worked," Richard commented.
"Plan?" Melissa managed.
"I wanted you to have fun," Richard said. "Mission accomplished."
Melissa touched his cheek. "Thank you. It was needed. Now...are you okay?"
"Fine," Richard said. "Ready to cut a roof with someone famous. Maybe Fergie? You think?"
Melissa shook her head. "No chance."
The two of them laughed. Melissa stood up.
"I guess I better go see Matt and--" Melissa started.
Richard grabbed her and jerked her toward him. Before she could stop herself, Melissa fell on the bed with him. She struggled with him, but Richard refused to let her go.
"Will you stop?" Melissa yelled.
"You're the star," Richard said. "Make me."
"I'll make you--"
Richard kissed her. Melissa stopped moving, her mind in shock. She pulled back from the bed.
"Richard--" Melissa started.
"It's okay," Richard said.
"No, it's not."
"Now, come on. Why--"
"Because I'm not looking, okay!" Melissa snapped. "The last thing I want is a dead boyfriend. Randy. Ben. Guys die. I don't want that to be you. I can't take that chance."
Richard frowned. "Can't or won't?"
"Both," Melissa replied. She headed for the door. "I...will see you tomorrow. I think someone should check on the Professor and Randy. The last thing we need is for them to kill each other."
Randy flew through the air. He hit the wall next to the window. He fell to the floor. He looked over at Brown. Brown stood a little bit away.
"Well, Mr. Heim," Brown said, "you wanted me to...'bring it?' I have brought it...and I find you lacking and unworthy of this newspaper article."
"You wish," Randy spit out.
Brown kneeled next to the unconscious doubles. "Accept it, Mr. Heim. You are dealing with your superior. It is nothing to be ashamed of." He stared to shake Richard's double. "Now Debra will like--"
Randy was almost upon Brown when Brown turned to look. Randy lunged at him. Brown punched him in the face, causing Randy to fall backwards.
Brown sighed sadly. "Now...Mr. Hall."
Randy's nose hurt. He was sure he was bleeding. Enough was enough. He had gone through too much to not get the story.
Randy looked up. Brown shook Richard's double. Richard's double grunted.
Randy studied them for a moment. He thought about distance. He thought about the situation as if it was an equation.
Then he shot up. Brown turned swinging at him. Randy reached out and grabbed the fist. It was followed by Brown's arm. He flipped Brown over. Brown grunted.
"Not so superior now, huh, Brownie?" Randy said. "Maybe it's cuz you're not getting any from Debra?"
Brown swung out his right arm, hitting Randy in the jaw. He took the momentum and flipped him up. He turned to see Brown stand.
"Give it up, Mr. Heim," Brown said. "You will not win."
"I don't think you know who you're dealing with," Randy said.
"Let me think...an immature crazy twit with no sense of style?"
"As the forerunner, scared?"
Brown lunged at Randy. Randy jumped in the air and did a roundhouse kick, getting Brown in the jaw. He recovered quickly, jumped, and returned the blow. Before Randy could recover, Brown grabbed him and head-butted him.
"Uh, did I break the genius's head?" Brown taunted. "At least I wasn't a Kromagg."
Randy stared at Brown. "But...aren't you?"
Brown frowned. Randy did a somersault. Then he punched Brown in the face. Brown fell back.
"How did you survive the cyberaid?" Randy asked. "How did you avoid the fraternity? How did we survive in that desert to be rescued? How long have you had your powers back?"
Brown breathed deeply. "I...do not...have...any powers."
"We only have your word for that," Randy said. "Why do I have the feeling that if we have you examined, I would be right."
Brown lunged at Randy. He swung and missed. Randy swung at him and missed.
"I know...you try to distract me," Brown said. He frowned and looked behind Randy. "Where did they do?"
Randy turned. He turned back in time to get a fist in the jaw. He fell to the floor like he was KO'ed.
"Stupid twit," Brown said.
Melissa stood in the lobby. She tapped her foot as she waited for the elevator. It was taking way too long.
She felt her forehead wrinkle. Maybe the two of them had resolved their issues while Richard and she did their own thing.
Randy lunged at Brown. They fell through Randy's bedroom door. Richard and Melissa's doubles also fell to the floor. Randy stood over Brown and started punching.
"It's...my...story," Randy said.
Brown flipped Randy off him. Randy turned and got a fist in the face.
"You fall for that every time," Brown said, "causing me to stick to my original comment: stupid twit."
Nah!, Melissa thought as she shook her head.
The elevator doors opened. She ran into them quickly. Hopefully, the two of them was still in one piece.
Brown stood up. He looked at the doubles.
"Now...about that interview...," Brown started.
Randy shot up. "I...don't think...so."
Brown rolled his eyes. "Good lord, Mr. Heim. Could you have the common sense to--"
Randy punched him in the face. "--to let you finish that long sentence. Sorry...no." He approached the doubles. "Now can we--"
Hands grabbed Randy. Before he knew it, he was swung. He tripped over a coffee table. Randy looked up to see Brown fly through the air.
Randy connected, his feet flipping Brown. Brown flew past him, shattering a mirror.
"Not so tough now," Randy said.
Randy went over to the window. Brown held onto the ledge. He looked up at Randy.
"Help me," Brown begged.
"Ain't it funny?" Randy asked.
"Will you help me?"
"If you tell me the truth...do you have your powers back?"
"I said no."
"Now I just do not believe you. I'll count to three."
"Heim--"
"1..."
"Randy!"
"2..."
"Randy!"
Randy's eyes widened. He turned to see Melissa in the door. Her jaw was dropped.
"What is going on here?" Melissa demanded.
"'Dueling Editors: An Interview with in Melissa Clark in Two Magazines--Literally.'" Richard said as he showed the newspaper's headline from his chair between the two beds. He smirked. "You two are evil."
Brown crossed his arms over his chest from his bed on the right. "That is quite enough, Mr. Hall. Unless you want me to start recalling key moments in you and Mr. Heim's rivalry?"
Richard shrugged his shoulders. "Go ahead. I don't remember it anyway." He looked at the newspaper. "Now...where were we? Oh, yeah. 'Never in twenty years in journalism has a feud been as volatile and downright as between editors Randall Heim and Darnell Brown. When the--"
"Mr. Hall," Brown said.
"'--opportunity to interview the never-interviewed Miss Clark, it was like the gold ring that a kid on a carousel tries to grab. Each editor--'"
"Mr. Hall!" Brown snapped.
"'--went after it,'" Richard continued, oblivious to Brown's rants. "'The resulting interview will be printed in two parts in both the San Franciscan Tribune and the SF Beat.'" He put down the paper. "Wow! Talk about buildup."
"Are you quite finished?" Brown demanded.
"Richard."
Richard looked over at the door. Melissa stood there. She tapped her toe. He turned around to face Randy and Brown.
"Yes...quite done," Richard said. "The mistress beckons."
"Must hurt, huh?"
Randy looked over at Brown in the other bed.
"I'm getting used to Richard's digs at me," Randy said. "Besides, Melissa's not mine."
"True," Brown added.
"And I'm not your pawn," Randy said.
Brown turned to face Randy. His face was blank.
"Are you not?" Brown challenged. "Did you not come to me to ask for training...thus putting you in a position that makes you what you accuse me of treating you as...a pawn?"
"Psychology, Professor," Randy said, "isn't going to save your ass."
"I was not aware my 'ass' needed saving."
"You have been off since you showed up outside my house," Randy said. "And now I see what is going on. I don't know the behind-the-scenes yet, but you are the one pulling the strings. Putting me in a more active position."
"As you should be," Brown said. "If you are going to win the war that is coming ever close--"
"And why do I feel like there is an ulterior motive behind it?" Randy asked. "What is the trick behind the curtain?"
"No trick," Brown replied.
"Really?" Randy said. "We do not gain anything by my inactivity. Or you do not. What if I didn't go home at all. What would you do?"
"Nothing."
"Trust that you could find a way to get Melissa home?"
"Perhaps."
"But how long would you take? I'm the less of two evils. It might take you years to get home and--"
Brown frowned. "Perhaps shorter."
Randy laughed. "Keep telling yourself that."
Brown glared.
"Anyway," Randy continued, "it might take a decade--"
"Give me some credit."
"Uh...did you create a sliding device? Then...no. You're better off with an active me. Guess what, Inferior Man. I quit."
Brown's face darkened. He leaned forward.
"You may not have a choice," Brown said in a low menacing voice.
Randy leaned forward. A smile crept up on his face.
"And that's how I know," Randy said, "you have an ulterior motive."
Brown smirked. "And maybe that is the point."
"Not a pawn."
Brown arched an eyebrow. "Is that what you think? Do you think that really?"
THE-END
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