He was not expecting...him...at all.
  He was worn. He was tired. He looked back down at his metallic prosthetic arm. It was damaged beyond his control at the moment. HE was responsible. Randy Heim looked at him. His eyes widened.
  The person in front of him wasn't his adversary. It was her...the girl who told him about this vision. Cassandra. She kneeled over him, her blond hair blowing in the wind.
  "Can't escape...," she hissed.

  "Ah!" Randy gasped.
  He realized several things instantly. He was clothesless, on a bed. The bed he was on...the whole room in fact...was rocking. He also knew he was not alone.
  Melissa Clark leaned forward in the chair. Her eyes showed relief at seeing Randy awake. He looked around.
  "Where..." Randy started.
  "We...are on a boat," Melissa said. "It was luck there was one out there when we slid in."
  "But why the ocean?" Randy asked. "The timer has had some crazy moments but nothing like this. How..."
  "On this world, this whole west coast sunk into the ocean," Melissa said. "The tectonic plates shifted all wrong."
  "Are the others all right?"
  Melissa stared at him.
  "I," Melissa said, "don't know."

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?

FIVE YEARS AGO, MY FRIENDS AND I FOUND THE GATEWAY. NOW...ALL WE WANT IS TO GO HOME.

SLIDERS: ALTERNATE SPIN-SEASON 6
EPISODE 6: SURVIVAL

Melissa Clark tapped her foot as she waited. The door creaked. Melissa turned and looked.
Randy Heim walked into the ship's hall. He had his long dark hair tied in a ponytail. He had managed to put on the black wool turtleneck and cargo pants. He looked at Melissa, a frown on his face.
"What do you mean you don't know where the others are?" Randy demanded.
"Well," Melissa started, "they...we...apparently landed in the middle of a battle. With the coast gone, piracy has thrived. Of course, some of that could be that on this world, Hawaii never became a part of the United States."
"Anyway," Melissa said, turning a bit, "that...thing on your arm shorted out, shocking you. You were drowning. I had to act quickly."
"You...saved me?" Randy asked.
"You would do the same for me," Melissa replied, "and have."
Randy made a grimace. "Of course." He headed down the hall.
Melissa looked after him. "Where are you going?"
Randy looked at her. "To see if the captain will turn the ship around."
"I've been trying for two days," Melissa said. "I doubt--"
"Two days?" Randy uttered, his eyes widening. "What if we missed the slide?"
"The others wouldn't leave without us," Melissa said.
"If they are alive!" Randy snapped. "What were you thinking?"
Melissa felt her back stiffened. She put her hands on her hips.
"Oh, my bad!" Melissa exclaimed. "I guess I should let you die. Next time I'll remember that."
Melissa stormed past Randy. She brushed the brown hair out of her face as she did. She only hoped Richard was okay.

"Doubles!"
"Hooooooo!" Jared Heim exclaimed, looking at everyone around him.
His eyes finally fell on Richard Hall. He produced a smirk, making Richard feel even worse. Here they were at a roulette table while Melissa could be...he didn't even want to think about...
"That," a blonde said, walking up beside Jared, "was sooo exciting." She touched his arm. "I'm Kathy. How about we..."
"How about not?" Richard cut in. He moved behind her. "Jared, let's head."
"What?" Jared said, a look of mock shock on his face. "But I thought Rembrandt and Quinn wanted us to stay put until they could charter a boat."
He smirked at Richard again. Richard frowned. This smart aleckness was starting to seriously annoy him.
"Don't think about him, baby," Kathy said, leaning into Jared. "How about we try our luck--"
"You know--" Richard said, jumping in-between Jared and Kathy, "I think I liked you better when you were a waitress."
Kathy frowned. "Huh?"
Richard turned on Jared. "Get your winnings."
"What?" Jared managed. "Do you know how rare this opportunity would come along? Vegas is the western tip of the United States. Vegas, baby!"
Richard's eyes narrowed on Jared. "Jared...now."
Jared did his smirk. "Not so happy now that I'm the one with the girl and you're...alone?"
"Fine."
Richard grabbed Jared's arm and jerked. Jared struggled, but Richard had a firm grip. He had him away from the casino table in moments. He turned to look behind him. Kathy was busy taking Jared's chips. He turned and smirked at Jared.
"Guess she doesn't love you after all, sweetheart," Richard commented. "How--"
Jared snatched his arm away. "Let go of me! Who do you think you are?"
"Richard Hall," Richard said. "Resident badass. And you are? Oh, yeah. A loser."
Jared's eyes narrowed on Richard. "You know what the others said."
"To stay out of trouble," Richard said. "Not start it."
"Really?" Jared challenged. "Then what was that, Mr. Badass?"
"That," Richard said, gesturing behind him, "was me saving your butt. You do still want to get home, right?"
Jared crossed his arms over his chest. "Yea."
"Good. Let's--"
"It still won't be the same without Izzie."
Richard frowned at the mention of Jared's ex Isabel. He reached out and touched Jared's shoulder. He made a grin.
"And let's not forget she left you to be almost cut up for someone else's workable limbs," Richard said. "She can't be that great."
"And Melissa is?"
"Of course."
"Well, she's alone with Randy. Don't they have a past?"
Richard frowned. Jared smirked.
"Bullseye," he hissed.

Quinn Mallory looked at the timer. They still had some time to get back into their sliding radius. His bigger concern was finding Randy and Melissa. He only hoped they were fine.
Quinn looked over at Rembrandt. "Are you sure he's going to do this?"
Rembrandt Brown stopped looking out on the water. He looked over at Quinn. He grinned.
"Positive," Rembrandt said. "It was good money." He looked back over at the water. "Hard to believe California isn't there."
"Yet Sin City is alive and well."
"Hey! Makes it easy to get a boat. Only a crazy person would go back into pirated waters."
"Then I guess we are two shades of crazy," Quinn said with a grin.
Rembrandt grinned. "You bet."
Quinn looked down, frowning. "Maybe we should leave him out there."
"Q-ball!"
Quinn looked at Rembrandt. "Yea...I think I got to him on that last world, but maybe he's better off here. He would have Melissa."
"You would do that to Richard?" Rembrandt asked. "Not to mention Melissa? I don't think so." He frowned. "What's up?"
"You know we are helping a murderer," Quinn said. "Brown has already popped up once. What if he does again? Randy will not stop until he kills your nephew. He has probably already planned for it."
Rembrandt's face darkened. Quinn knew it was a lot for Remmy to hear, but it had to be said. Ever since they had found Randy Heim, Randy had been focused on one thing: revenge on Professor Darnell Brown for almost killing him. He has already showed total disregard for everyone...except Melissa Clark. While Quinn could use Randy's intellect, maybe he would be better off leaving him...
"You are hard to find."
Quinn turned around. His eyes widened at the familiar hippie.
"Bennish?" Quinn uttered.

Randy stopped onto the deck. Crewmen moved about their business. He looked over the edge, blue sea for miles around. And he...did not have the timer.
"So...he awakens."
Randy turned around. His jaw stiffened. It...was Ben Loveland. On Earth Prime, he was Randy's roommate. Something told him on this world, he was the captain. Ben's brown eyes studied Randy, his hand stroking his beard.
"Hello," Ben said, "I'm Captain Ben Loveland. And you...were out in a white squall. You're very lucky to be alive."
"Well," Randy said, "I've been through worse."
Ben looked Randy up and down. "You look it. Now...what about her?"
Ben gestured behind Randy. Randy turned around. Melissa leaned over the edge a few feet away, her black hair blowing in the wind. Randy looked at Ben.
"We're been through a lot," Randy said, "and she's spoken for."
Ben's eyebrows raised. "Oh." He stared at Melissa again. "Pity."
Randy did not think so. The last thing he needed was another situation with Melissa and a Ben double. That was what torn them apart. That...and his confused feelings for Paige Kendall, a warrior from the future.
"Land ho!"
Ben looked away. Randy continued to stare at Melissa. He kept thinking.

Richard swung around. His eyes narrowed on Jared. Jared approached him, hands in his pocket and a little smirk on his face.
"Will you shut up?" Richard asked.
"Why?" Jared challenged. "Hitting close to home?"
Richard laughed. "More like being a nuisance."
Jared grabbed his chest. "Oh! My heart!"
Richard rolled his eyes. Then he turned around, his mind wondering if Quinn and Rembrandt would be at the hotel when they got there. He hoped with good news.
Richard paused. Two giants of men stood in front of him. Dressed in Armani suits, it was obvious they were bodyguards. The question was...for whom.
The bodyguards parted, revealing a new figure. Richard breathed a sigh of relief. It was a man in his late forties. His dark red suit looked silky to the touch. Sprinkles of gray splashed his dark hair. Still it wasn't a double of anyone Richard knew...for which he was grateful.
"Hall and Heim...together again," the man said. "Why am I not surprised?"
"What?" Jared uttered, walking up beside Richard.
"One of you has been a very, very naughty boy," the man continued. "And Benny and Milo here. They don't like naughty boys." The man's face darkened. "Neither do I."

Quinn looked up at the opening door. His happiness turned to disappointment. It was only Rembrandt. He frowned at Quinn.
"No sign of them?" Rembrandt asked.
"None," Quinn replied.
Rembrandt frowned. "Let's hope they are not in trouble."

Richard dashed around the corner. His breath came rapidly. He took a second to rest.
Jared shot around the corner. He paused, his hands on his knees as he breathed quickly. His eyes fell on Richard.
"It could...only be your...fault," Jared managed.
"Mine?" Richard uttered. "Who used to be a head of a gang on his world?"
"Different worlds, diff--"
"You...pick a fine time to get used to...sliding."
Richard heard it. Footsteps. They were quickly growing closer.
"Run," Richard hissed.

Melissa leaned against the tree. She watched the crew of the ship drink at the bar. She would feel more in the mood if the others were there. All she was worried about was...
"How about you have a little bit of fun?"
Melissa looked to her side. Ben stood next to her. He grinned at her. She didn't return the grin.
"I would be more happy if I knew my friends were okay," Melissa said.
"And I told you," Ben said, standing closer, "we set out to trade with Vegas every two days to avoid pirates. Two days."
"That might be too late!" Melissa snapped.
Ben frowned. "Too late? For what?"
Melissa mentally kicked herself. She guessed she was too worried about Richard. She stopped leaning, staring at Ben.
"Never mind," Melissa said.
Melissa started to walk into the jungle. She felt a hand on her wrist. She turned, her eyes narrowing on Ben.
"You wanna move that hand?" Melissa asked.
"Or what?" Ben challenged. "Okay, okay. I'll tell you what. I'll send the ship out again...if you do something for me."
Melissa arched an eyebrow. "Really?"
"Really," Ben said.
Melissa smiled Then she hugged Ben. She pulled away.
"So what do you need?" Melissa asked.
"Well, Ben said, pulling Melissa closer, "it's been a while since I'll been with a woman. How about--"
"Get your hands off me."
Ben jerked her closer. She could smell beer on his breath. She tried to pull back, but Ben had an arm around her waist. She looked into his eyes. All she saw was lust.
"If you wanna help your friends, you'll do it," Ben warned.
"Interrupting, am I?"
Ben looked behind him. Melissa took advantage. She pushed his arms away. She moved past him to the speaker. Randy studied the two of them, a blank look on his face.
"No," Melissa said, "you're not. Thanks."
Melissa started to walk away.
"Tick, tock."
Melissa snapped back to look at Ben. Ben placed a hand on the tree she leaned against earlier. He smirked.
"Just think about what I said," Ben said.
Melissa stormed away. Her skin crawled at his suggestion. Still...how badly did she want to find Richard? Could she do that?

Randy watched Melissa leave. Her body language suggested she was very upset. He turned to look at Ben.
"What did you say to her?" Randy demanded.
"None of your business," Ben said.
Ben started to walk away. Randy stepped in front of him, blocking his way. Ben cocked an eyebrow.
"Whatever offer you made with her," Randy said, "I could make a better one."
Ben stared Randy up and down. He smirked.
"Hm. I might be hard up," Ben said, "but I don't swing that way."
"And if I did," Randy said, "I could do better."
Ben frowned. "And I don't need your money."
"Not money either."
"Okay then," Ben said, crossing his arms over his chest, "what can you offer me?"
Randy grinned. "A better life."

Richard crossed the street pretty quickly. There were more showgirls, regular people, and valets to hid behind. He smiled at his good fortune.
A hand grabbed his shoulder. Richard swung around, ready to deck someone. He paused.
"Don't scare me like that," Richard snapped.
Jared threw up his hands. "My bad." He looked back to the other side of the street. "Think we lost them?"
Richard looked around the street. Now that it was night, the streets were crowded, full of people looking for thrills and actions. Nothing really stood out...
Richard's eyes narrowed. Nothing really stood out...except for the ever-increasing men in Armani suits. They spoke into earpieces, their eyes hidden by shades. It was obvious they were looking for someone.
"No," Richard said, "we didn't." He grabbed Jared. "Come on."
He ducked with him between buildings.
"This guy must be a major player," Jared commented.
"Who in Vegas isn't?" Richard said as he moved down the alley.
"Uh...us."
"Well...our doubles are. Or at least one of them."
Richard sat it, causing him to pause. Their way was blocked by a steel fence. On the other side he could make out the next street. People walked to and fro. He breathed a sigh of relief. He was sure the motel was a few blocks over once they climb the fence.
"I think someone's coming," Jared said from behind him.
"Then I guess," Richard said, turning around, "we should start climb--"
The fist got him in the jaw. Everything became vertigo as he fell to the alley floor. He saw stars as Jared stood over him. He kneeled closer.
"Good luck," Jared said.
Then Richard passed out.

Quinn frowned. He had been looking for Richard and Jared. As he turned the corner, he wondered if he would ever...
Someone bumped into Quinn. He turned to see who it is. His jaw dropped.
"Jared!" Quinn exclaimed. "Where is--"
"We got to go!" Jared exclaimed. "They're after us. We--"
Quinn grabbed him by both arms, forcing him to stay in place. Jared glared.
"Where's Richard?" Quinn demanded.
Jared swung his arms out. Quinn fell back unbalanced.
"He's...dead," Jared said. "Now we're next unless you get a move on."
Jared ran past Quinn without another word. Quinn watched him for a moment. Then...he followed.
He wondered what he would tell Melissa when he found her.

Melissa heard the knock. She just laid in the bed, not moving. She could not deal with Ben. She just...couldn't.
The door cracked open. Melissa balled her hands into fists. If it was Ben, she was not making it easy.
"Melissa?"
Melissa sighed. She shot up and turned to look at the visitor.
"Randy, you scared me," she said. "I thought you were--"
"Ben," Randy finished. "I know." He walked over to the bed and sat down. "You won't have to worry about him tonight. And he'll have the boat ready in the morning."
"What?" Melissa said. "What did you say--"
"It doesn't matter," Randy replied.
"Uh...yes, it does."
"Were you going to tell me of your deal with Ben?" Randy asked. "Or Richard?"
Melissa stood up. She walked over to the window.
"What did you promise him, Randy?" Melissa asked.
"Something just as precious as you."
Melissa turned...to find Randy next to her. She jumped.
"Eve taught you well," Melissa commented.
"Or Professor Brown did," Randy said, a hint of bitterness in his voice.
"You told Ben about sliding, didn't you?"
Randy said nothing. Melissa could see it on his face. Her eyes widened.
"Randy, no," Melissa said.
"And let him rape you?" Randy said. "I would kill him first...and we need his cooperation. It was the only way."
Melissa shook her head. She felt tears forming in her eyes. This Ben was a creep, but...he was still Ben. Just the idea that he would be sliding with them brought back memories of her Ben. The Ben that slid because he loved her. The Ben that was killed during Randy and Daniel Carter's final showdown. A sob escaped her lips.
Arms wrapped around her. Randy rocked her in his arms. She cried.
"Why? Why? Why?" Melissa said.
Randy brought her chin up. "it's not going to be like that again. I promise." He leaned closer. "I wouldn't hurt you that way. I won't let anyone hurt you that way."
Before Melissa could do anything, Randy leaned down and kissed her. His arms wrapped around her. She...did the same.

Richard blinked. His jaw hurt. He tried to raise up his hand to rub this jaw. That was when it all came back to him.
"Jared," Richard uttered.
Then he struggled. His hands were tied to the wooden chair he sat in. It was completely dark, reminding Richard of the last world. He hoped no one with a chainsaw was about to jump out of the shadows to slash and dice.
He sighed in frustration, a stray dark hair getting in his face. No question. He was going to get Jared. All that he did for Jared and Jared does this. He was going...
Footsteps echoed to Richard's right. He turned to see who it was. A door opened, revealing the older man he had run into earlier. He still had his bodyguards who he looked at.
"Good job, Benny, Milo," the man said. "Just the one I wanted."
Richard rolled his eyes. Of course, it would have been him. Was there any double of his that wasn't a troublemaker?
"Okay," Richard said, "what exactly did I do?"
"You cut me to the quick, Hall," the man said. "I guess I can understand why? How long has it been? Two years? Three? You come and go like you own this town...which by the way you do not. Did you really think you and your dim-witted companion could find a way to embezzle half a million and then return footloose and fancy free without me noticing. those were my dollar bills and no one crosses Anthony Delgado."
He walked over to a wall, his hands behind his back. Meanwhile, Benny and Milo stepped into the room. Milo shut the door while Benny started to fletch his arm muscles. Richard looked over at Delgado. Delgado still looked away, his back stiff.
"Benny, Milo," Anthony Delgado said, "if you will. Take out the trash."
"What?" Richard said, trying to move the chair. "Wait one second. It wasn't me. Really!" Benn and Milo continued to approach. "This has been some misunderstanding."
"I do not agree," Delgado said.
"However, I do."
Delgado snapped around. Richard looked over at the door. His eyes widened.
"You?" Richard said.

Quinn's eyes widened. Rembrandt just shrugged his shoulders.
"Again?" Quinn uttered.
"Again," Rembrandt echoed.
Quinn headed to the back of the boat. Even before he saw him, Quinn heard the vomiting. He turned the corner and saw Jared's back to him as Jared leaned on the edge.
"Are you sure you're going to make it?" Quinn asked.
Jared turned toward Quinn. He wiped at his mouth. His eyes pierced Quinn.
"Never better," Jared said. "Just ready for the slide."
"I bet," Quinn said, leaning on the rail. "If this is how you are I'm sure Melissa's going to be much worse."
Jared frowned. Quinn could not place there look in his eyes. Quinn frowned.
"Oh, boy!"
Quinn turned around. Bennish stood at the corner, Rembrandt behind him. Rembrandt looked worried while Bennish's jaw was dropped.
"What?" Quinn asked.
Bennish pointed. "That's...'what.'"
Quinn turned to his left. A ship was heading straight for them.
"Pirates," Bennish said. "We are so...dead."

'I won't let anyone hurt you that way.'
Melissa heard the words in her head again. She felt the kiss on her lips. She still remembered her arms wrapping around Randy's...
Melissa wrapped her arms around herself. Her black hair blew in the wind as she stood on deck. She looked around to see everyone keeping busy. Everyone...but one person...who was fast approaching.
"Looks like you had a good night," Ben commented.
Melissa crossed her arms over her chest. "And I was having a good day, too, but you just wrecked it."
"Now, now," Ben said, holding up his hands. "I come in peace."
"That's hard to believe," Melissa replied.
"So is parallel worlds, but I believe it," Ben fired back. He wrapped an arm around her. "I can't wait to be your travelling companion."
Melissa grabbed his hand, her nails digging into his flesh. Ben gritted his teeth, pulling his arm away quick. Melissa smirked.
"I'm sorry," Melissa said sarcastically, "did that hurt?"
"You--" Ben hissed.
"Good," Melissa cut him off.
Ben laughed. "Oh, I'm gonna like you."
"What's going on?"
Melissa looked past Ben. Ben looked around as well. Randy stared at Ben, a grimace on his face.
"Just," Ben said, rubbing his hand, "getting to know your girlfriend better."
"I'm not his girlfriend," Melissa snapped.
Randy frowned. Ben smirked.
"Could have fooled me, Love," Ben said.
Before Melissa could say anything, Ben walked off. Melissa watched him go, glaring at him. She turned to look at Randy. His face was full of disappointment.
"Randy--" Melissa started.
"It's okay," Randy said flatly.
Melissa reached out for Randy. Randy stepped away.
"Randy--" Melissa started.
"No," Randy cut her off, "you're right. I'm not your boyfriend. Not anymore. He's somewhere out there, probably worried about where you are." His eyes turned to ice. "Last night shouldn't had happened. Besides...I killed Ben."
Randy stormed off, leaving Melissa on the deck alone. Her black hair still blew in the wind. Her thoughts turned to Richard, hoping he was okay.

Richard walked the sidewalks of Las Vegas. It was just as alive as ever. Showgirls ran off to the next show. Travelers marveled in all the lights and flashes. Richard thought he caught a glimpse of a celebrity, but he was jerked to the left by his savior.
He snatched his hand away and stared at Kathy. She grinned, her hands on her hips.
"Just a waitress, huh?" Kathy challenged. "Looks like I got more pull than you. I mean...really, Delgado?"
"Okay," Richard said, throwing up his hands in defeat. "I surrender. So much more than a waitress. Now...I'm out."
Richard turned back on the sidewalk. He felt a hand grab his arm. Then Kathy leaned on his shoulder.
"Where do you think you're going...Hon?" Kathy asked.
"Me?" Richard uttered. "I'm going to find my friends...Hon."
"I just don't see that happening."
"Why not?"
Kathy pointed. "Because of Bruno and Mike over there."
Richard looked over his shoulder. Two big men similar to Delgado's men were a few walks away from them. He looked back at Kathy who smirked at him.
"My sugar daddy," Kathy said, "gives me fun toys." She squeezed his arm and turned him around. "Now...what should we do?"
"Look, Kathy, I really have to find my friends," Richard said.
"Give me one good reason."
Richard stared at her. At any rate, she wasn't letting him get away to stop Jared. She was only looking out for herself. What could he...
A light bulb went off in his head. He smiled at her. Kathy waited impatiently.
"How would you like to have some real fun? A trip like no other?" Richard asked.
"I've been to a lot of places--" Kathy started.
"Not like this."
Kathy smirked. "Better than Paris?"
"Way better."
"Doubt it."
"Then tell me, Kathy," Richard said, holding her in his arms and staring deep into her eyes, "ever travelled around the multiverse?"

Quinn fell to the deck of the ship. His hands were tied behind his back. His forehead itched from the cut he got from one of the pirates.
A thud on Quinn's right got his attention. He turned to see it was Rembrandt. He looked just as bruised as him.
"Remmy?" Quinn uttered.
"I'm good, Q-ball," Rembrandt said. "What about--"
A thud was to Quinn's left. It was followed by another. Quinn and Rembrandt turned to see it was Jared and Bennish. Jared looked pale. Meanwhile Bennish shook.
"I can't believe I'm gonna die," Bennish said. "Gonna die, gonna die, gonna--"
"Shut," Jared said, "up."
A leg blocked Quinn's view. He looked up. His eyes narrowed. It was the guy who cut his forehead. It had been years since he saw Ryan Styles. He looked down at Quinn with cold detachment.
"I thought Vegas learned after California sunk into the sea," Ryan said. His eyes betrayed some sadness as he pulled out a knife. "Pity. Hawaii is mine."
"Hey," Rembrandt spit out. "We're just trying to find some friends."
Ryan looked over at Rembrandt.
"Then pity for your friends," Ryan said. "You're as good as dead. Wing!"
One of Ryan's minions stepped forward. Quinn realized it was his old classmate Wing. He stepped forward, dressed in black. He nodded.
"Tell our Japanese compatriots they have some more indentured servants," Ryan commanded.
"No!"
Quinn looked over at Jared. He looked in shock at everything.
"I won't do that again!" Jared snapped. "Not after the Kromaggs!"
"Jared!" Rembrandt yelled.
Ryan frowned. "What are Kromaggs?"
"It's nothing," Quinn said. "Our friend has been very sick with his pills."
"What?" Jared said.
Quinn looked over at him. His eyes said what he wanted to say. Jared needed to shut up and trust Quinn would get them out of this. He didn't know how yet, but he would.
Jared stared back at him. His eyes narrowed on Quinn. His look said it all: screw you.
"Don't," Quinn said.
"What are you talking about?" Ryan demanded.
Jared said nothing. Neither did Quinn. He wanted to keep sliding a secret. Given the last few years, he wanted it kept among them. The last thing he wanted is another madman with the secrets of sliding...
Quinn's head jerked up. He had not noticed that Ryan had stepped behind him. He had one hand holding Quinn's hair. His other hand had the knife to his throat.
"I suggest you reveal your secrets," Ryan said, "or more of your blood will decorate my deck."

"So is the prosthetic helping your hand heal at all...or is it just for show?"
Randy did not look behind him at all. He knew who it was. He leaned on the edge of the deck, his eyes on a little speck in the distance.
"I think you know," Randy finally said, his braided hair blowing in the wind.
A moment later she joined him on the edge, her braided blond hair blowing in the wind. Cassandra still wore her Goth clothes. If she was real, he was sure she would stick out.
"Perhaps," Cassandra said. "She'll never leave him, you know."
"I seem to recall on your world Melissa and I had a Goth Bonnie and Clyde thing going on," Randy replied. He looked at Cassandra. "Can't escape fate, remember?"
Cassandra chuckled. "Perhaps." She turned to look at Randy. "However, if you are so sure...why reveal your knowledge of sliding if fate would have stepped in anyway? Has there not been enough people who know about sliding? Haven't there been enough consequences to your actions?"
"Who are you?" Randy asked. "My conscience?"
Cassandra's face darkened. "Someone has to be. You're not."
"Ben isn't coming along," Randy said.
"And how are you going to stop him?" Cassandra challenged. "Kill him? Again?"
Randy glared at her. Just remembering the death of the Ben double was almost too much. In the fight to get the Atlantian Kromaggs off Earth Prime, Ben was a causality. Melissa almost never recovered. And he? He wanted nothing to do with sliding.
"It cost you the woman you loved," Cassandra said, cutting into his thoughts.
Randy looked out over the water. The speck had gotten larger.
"No," Randy said, "I cost myself the woman I loved. I picked Paige over her. I picked Rebecca. I picked a double...thinking it was her. Confused feelings or not...it was all me." He looked at Cassandra. "Not anymore."
"Hm," Cassandra said. "Is she more important than your revenge?"
Randy's back stiffened. Cassandra smiled in triumph.
"I think you know," Randy said.
"Do I?" Cassandra taunted.
"You," Randy said, turning around, "are not going to rat--"
The figure shot up. He knew who it was. He fell over the edge...again.

"Ah!"
"You okay?"
Randy jerked back from the edge. He quickly turned around. Melissa stared back at him in surprise. He took a breath.
"Uh...yeah," Randy said. "I think I saw something..." He turned to look out again. "...a ship."
Sure enough, the speck was not a speck. It was a ship. A big one with a small boat next to it.
"Found them," Randy exclaimed.
Melissa stepped up beside him. Randy flinched a bit. He wanted to hold her so bad.
"Think you could whip up some weaponry?"
Randy turned around. So did Melissa.
"Obviously, you don't know Randy," Melissa said to Ben.
"No, he doesn't," Randy said, his voice going blank.

Richard laid in the lounge chair. Shades protected his eyes. Sunscreen protected his skin as he laid in blue and yellow swimming trunks. He couldn't believe Kathy's sugar daddy owned a whole yacht.
A shadow fell over Richard's sun. He pulled the shades down, a glare on his face. Bruno looked back at him.
"Do you mind?" Richard asked. "Kinda would like a tan before the slide."
Bruno walked away. Richard glared after him. Kathy's sugar daddy also had a small army of bodyguards.
"Having fun, I see."
Richard turned to face right. Kathy stood in front of him in a green bikini with thong. His jaw dropped.
"Well--hello-o," Richard said.
Kathy spun around. "You like?"
"Very much so," Richard said.
Kathy sat on Richard's laps. Her hands reached for his chest, lightly brushing it. Richard kept his body relaxed. He flashed a smile, hoping to wheel her in.
"Uh...wouldn't your sugar daddy be a little...mad?" Richard asked, a hint of challenge in his voice.
Kathy kept smiling. She leaned forward, wrapping her arms around Richard's neck. Richard kept smiling. In the back of his mind, his mind was focuses on one thing. To see Melissa again. To feel her. To be with her.
"Where we're going," Kathy said, leaning forward, "it doesn't matter."
Kathy leaned closer. Richard let her, his lips getting ever closer to hers. Closer...
"Miss?"
Kathy hopped out of Richard's lap like she was feet over hot coals. She looked over at Bruno. She glared.
"Yeeees?" Kathy said.
"There seems to be pirates out," Bruno said. "And two ships. A freighter...and a small boat. Lou thinks it's a sea fight."
Kathy looked down at Richard. Richard stood up.
"It could only be them," Richard said.

The knife's edge tightened near Quinn's throat. His eyes dotted to the right. Ryan stared back at him.
"Well?" Ryan demanded. "Are you going to spill your secrets...or your blood?"
"Oh, God. Oh, God. Oh, God," Bennish muttered next to Quinn.
"Shut," Jared said, "up."
"Hey, brother!" Bennish snapped. "I'm not the one talking Kromaggots!"
"Bennish," Rembrandt cut in, "just calm down. Quinn has an explanation. Right, Q-ball?"
"Right," Quinn said. Now all he had to do was think of one. He wasn't about to reveal the secret of sliding.
Quinn's head jerked up again.
"Well?" Ryan asked.
"Incoming!!"
Ryan shot up. "What?"
Quinn looked up. Something was fast approaching in the air. Ryan's eyes widened.
"What in--" Ryan uttered.
Then the projectile...cut his head off.

Ryan grinned as he fired several more of his...jet blades through the air. To think at first it was just a coffee machine with a strong spring to shot out the coffee filter holder when the grounds were grounded. Now it shot hubcaps through the air.
He looked behind him at Ben. Ben's arms were over his chest. He nodded in approval. Then he turned away.
"Prepare the boarding!" Ben yelled.
Randy watched him walking away. One of his problems was done. Now how would he deal with this new one?

The pirate came out of nowhere. Richard only had time to shriek. Then Mike was there, punching the pirate in the face.
Richard felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned quickly. It was only Kathy.
"So," she said, "where are your friends?"
Another pirate shot up. He quickly met a fist in the gut, courtesy of Bruno. Richard smirked. He could get used to bodyguards.
Richard looked over the decks. There were flying hubcaps shooting in, doing serious damage as Richard saw one take off a guy's head. Pirates scattered around everywhere. Then...Richard saw them.
His eyes narrowed. No. Him.
Jared.

Jared saw the knife close by. He quickly crawled toward it. His mind was only on one thing: getting his hands free.
A sound like a bomb about to drop caught his ear. He looked up, his eyes going wide. He dodged to the left at the last minute. He heard a thud. He turned to look, his body shook. The hubcap was stuck in the deck. If he hadn't moved, he would have been dead.
Jared sighed. Then he realized that he was next to something. He looked up into a pirate with a gun.
"Oh, sh--" Jared started.
The pirate was jerked to the left. Jared watched the big man tear into the pirate. He also saw Richard.
"Thank you, Bruno," Richard said with a smirk. Then he glared at Jared. "Hey. Remember me?"

Quinn ran around the corner. He saw the harpoon-hook. He quickly turned his back to it, using the sharpness to cut his binds. He smiled as he got free. He quickly pulled out the timer.
Not long. He would have to find...
A figure jumped out at him. Quinn gasped. Then he saw who it was.
"Let me guess?" Quinn asked. "Your invention?"
Randy managed a smile. "Yes."
A figure ran out from behind Randy. It was Melissa. She grabbed Quinn in a big hug.
"Thank God!" Melissa exclaimed. "Is everyone okay? Where's Richard? Is he--"
"He's," Quinn said. Then he stopped. How could he tell her the t--
"So...is that it in his hand? It looks pretty small."
Quinn pulled away from Melissa. The speaker was a double of Ben, Randy's roommate. Quinn glared at Randy.
"What is he talking about?" Quinn demanded.

Jared started to get up. Richard did not give him the chance. He threw a leg out, tripping him.
"Oh, no," Richard said. "Please...don't get up."
Jared glared at him. He didn't care.
"Anything you want to say down there?" Richard asked.
"I hate you," Jared hissed. "You get the girl. You have your friends. I lost Izzie. My world. It's all--"
"Nah uh," Richard said. "I didn't tell the 'Maggs to snatch you up. And sorry about Isabel, but come on! Didn't she leave you for dead? That's not love to me."
"She would have stayed if we stayed on her world."
"Maybe."
"Maybe?"
"Rich," Kathy cut in, "are you sure you want to keep him around? Bruno and Mike could--"
Richard held up a hand. "I got this, Kathy."
"Richard?"
Richard turned around. He smiled. It was Rembrandt. He rushed in, hugging him.
"Uh...are we good to go?"
Richard turned around. It was another Bennish double. Great.
"I can't believe you--"
Richard looked past Bennish. He saw Quinn, Randy, and Melissa. He forgot Jared in an instant. He ran to her and grabbed her up in his arms. He kissed her.
"So...that's the boyfriend?"
Richard stopped to look at the speaker. He glared at the Ben double. Ben shrugged his shoulders.
"What?" Ben uttered. "I thought since she kissed ole Randy here that...what?"

The whir sounded off in the air. Quinn fell out of the wormhole. He hit cold, wet snow. He heard another whir, moving in time to avoid the new figure emerging from the wormhole.
Randy hit the snow. Quinn looked over at him, his eyes narrowed.
"How could you?" Quinn yelled.
Randy frowned.
More whirs sounded off. Richard fell out. He was followed by Rembrandt. Jared shot out, falling on Rembrandt. Melissa fell out last.
"Is every--" Melissa started.
"Do you care?" Richard snapped.
The wormhole whirred again. Bennish, Ben, Kathy, and her bodyguards fell out. The wormhole closed behind them. Kathy's eyes narrowed on Richard.
"Gee, Rich," Kathy said, "if I didn't know better I would say you were trying to lose us." She stood up. "A deal's a deal."
"That goes for you, too, Randy," Ben said also standing up.
"Do you two not realize what you done?" Quinn demanded. "There's no way to get you h--"
Quinn stopped. He heard a faint rumbling. And it was getting louder.
"What--" Kathy started.
Quinn looked past her. An avalanche headed their way.
"Run!" Quinn yelled.
As Quinn ran down the snowy street, he wondered if Wade was okay. He hoped that somehow, some way he would get back to her.

Wade Welles hesitated outside the door. She frowned as she did. What was she afraid of? Diana was on their side.
"Are you all right, Miss Welles?"
Wade turned to look at Professor Maximillion Arturo. Here they were outside the lab. Their clearance had been revoked by the U.S. Government. Steven Jensen, Maggie's lover, had gotten them through to see Diana Davis. No one had seen her in weeks. If anyone knew what was going on, it would be the person with clearance..aka Diana.
"For once," Wade said, "I'm just fine."
Wade turned back and opened the door. She took a step in. Her eyes widened in shock.
Machinery. It lined the walls everywhere Wade looked. One wall had a cylinder-like object on a platform, a console next to it. Another wall was the table Wade was used to Diana slaving over for ways to find the others. It was now crowded with microscopes and monitors. And then Wade's eyes fell on Diana herself. She sat at a desk, her hands frantically sliding over what looked like metallic balls next to a microscope.
"Oh," Wade uttered.
Diana paused. She looked up, causing Wade to gasp. Diana's eyes looked void of life. She continued to stare as she stood up. She paused again...before snatching up the metallic balls and throwing them at Wade and Arturo. Little knives popped out, aimed at Wade's head.
"Miss Welles," Arturo yelled, "duck!"
Wade knew she had no time to duck. She was in too much shock, her life flashing before her eyes. Her last thoughts were of Quinn and not seeing him again.
The metallic balls stopped inches from Wade's face. Wade's eyes stare at them as they stood suspended in midair. Then...they shot back at Diana, one getting her in the neck. She coughed before falling unconscious.
"Miss Welles?" Arturo uttered. "Are you--"
Wade held up a hand, her eyes still on the unconscious Diana. "I'm fine." She looked at Arturo. "What just happened?"
"I honestly could not--" Arturo started.
Suddenly, the door bursted open behind them. Wade turned around, her eyes going wide at the new figure stumbling through the door. It was Professor Darnell Brown.
"Darnell?" Wade muttered.
"Kromaggs...others..." Brown uttered. Then he fell unconscious.


THE-END


 

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