THE ACCIDENTAL TOURIST Part 2
SLIDERS: ALTERNATE SPIN
EPISODE 7-THE ACCIDENTAL TOURIST
(second part)
"So what's your beat with the owner here?" Randy asked.
"What?" Professor Brown said.
"I know your tone when Rembrandt Brown's name comes up," Randy said.
"What's the connection?"
"I think I am going to head back to the Dominion," Brown announced. "You
are being ridiculous."
"Ha! Look at you!" Randy exclaimed. "I'm right!"
Randy got no response from Professor Brown. He left the club without
saying another word. Randy looked around the club, but there was no sign of
Richard or Melissa.
"Randy Heim?"
Randy turned to see Gomez Calhoun walking up to him.
"Yeah?" Randy asked.
"Your friend just passed out," Gomez said. "I don't know what to do with
him."
Randy started to follow Gomez into the back. He might not be Richard's
friend, but if this fake Melissa hurt him...
Gomez went through a door. Randy followed him to find himself in an
alley. The door shut behind him. Randy turned quickly, but he wasn't quick
enough. The fist connected and he fell to the ground.
"There he is," Gomez's voice was barely noticed. "You know what to do. I
wish all citizens were like Miss Clark."
Richard felt the arms wrap around his waist. He felt the lips kissing his
ear. He turned to see who this fine woman was.
"Melissa?" Richard muttered.
"Surprised?" Melissa asked.
"Actually...yeah," Richard admitted. "I was starting to think you and
Egghead--"
Melissa's lips cut off Richard's words.
"Do you see the Egghead around at all?" Melissa asked.
"No," Richard answered.
"Then what are you waiting for?"
Richard couldn't believe his ears. Melissa was in his arms wanting him to
kiss her. He had wanted their since they started sliding. Of course, Randy
hated that and that made him want her more.
Richard pulled Melissa closer and kissed her in front of the crowd.
"I call to the stand," Diana said in court the next day, "Quinn Mallory."
Melissa looked at the cute, tall guy who entered the courtroom. He looked
like a nice guy in his early 30s. He gave a smile to Diana and sat down.
"I don't suppose you know the defendant?" Diana asked Quinn.
"I've never seen her before," Quinn answered.
"Good," Diana said. "A few years ago didn't the Mallory Institute try to
create a device that would...in essence...create a link between two worlds."
"Yes, we tried...but we failed," Quinn answered. "It took an equation
that Mike and I--"
"How close were you though?" Diana calmly cut Quinn off.
"We only had notes and theories," Quinn answered. "Just no solid proof."
"Yet you think it's possible?" Diana asked.
"Yes, highly," Quinn answered.
"Thanks, Mallory," Diana said. "Your witness, Maggie."
"Well, Mallory," Maggie said as she stood up. "It's all nice and good
that you want to find this dimensional holy grail, but I have one question.
Weren't the findings of your project just release a few days ago?"
"Well...yeah," Quinn said.
"Melissa Clark isn't someone you know and she was witnessed attacking
mailboxes after," Maggie said. "Don't you think she could have picked up a
newspaper, read it, and created a story?"
"She doesn't look like-"
"Answer the question, Mr. Mallory."
"Yes, she could, but--"
Maggie grinned at Judge Harris. "I rest my case, Judge."
"You can step down, Mr. Mallory," Judge Harris said.
Quinn stepped down from the stand. As he walked by Diana and Melissa, he
looked at Melissa with sympathy in his eyes. She grinned weakly.
"I would like to call Michael Mallory, Jr. to the stand," Diana said.
Maggie was quick as a whip. "I object! Mallory and Davis are an item!"
Diana crossed her arms. "You're kidding, right? Mike and Quinn both were
involve with--"
"We just had Mallory's testimony," Maggie countered. "Do we need another?
Besides, he would be bias."
"I agree," Judge Harris replied. "Do you have any other witnesses, Miss
Davis?"
"Not at this moment," Diana answered.
"Then this is over," Judge Harris said, "and I'll reveal the verdict in a
few days."
Melissa looked at Diana. "Well, how did we do?"
"You don't have a chance," Maggie said.
"Nobody asked you," Diana said as she glared at Maggie.
"It looks like you're going to lose again," Maggie said.
"Back off, Beckett!"
Melissa turned to see Michael and Quinn. Michael stepped in front of
Maggie.
"I think you should leave," Michael said. "Trial's over."
"Yeah...for her," Maggie said as she pointed at Melissa. "Maybe your
girlfriend should find another line of work."
"I heard you got the last spot at the strip joint."
"Why, you little--"
"Hey!" Quinn cut in. "I think we should all go." He looked at Melissa.
"I convinced the bailiff to let you stay with us."
Melissa smiled. "Thank you."
"Smile now," Maggie said. "It's about to be over."
Maggie stormed out of the courtroom. Melissa looked around at Diana.
"Now what?" Melissa asked.
The phone rang for the second time. Professor Brown growled as he headed
for it. He liked his sleep and hated it interrupted.
"Hello?" Brown asked.
"Melissa Clark?" the voice said. Brown realized it was a woman.
"This is her...roommate," Brown said. "How can I help you?"
"This is Dr. Wade Mallory," the voice continued. "I'm Melissa's therapist
and she missed her appointment."
"Oh?"
"I was just concerned since she mentioned...well she has an unique
situation."
Melissa listened in on the phone as Wade talked. She wanted to say
something, but Brown would know she was listening. She stayed silent.
"I will tell her that you called," Brown said. "Have a good day."
"You, too."
"Who is it?"
Melissa hanged up the phone and turned to Richard. He was only in a towel
grinning at her.
"Well...are you going to tell me?" Richard asked.
"It was a wrong number, " Melissa lied. "How about you give me a kiss?"
"With pleasure."
Professor Brown came back to the motel room thirty minutes. He could not
find Randy anywhere. He was not in his room. Neither was Richard.
Melissa's door opened. Brown turned to ask Melissa if she had anything to
do with where Randy or Richard was at. Instead he looked in shock as
Richard came out of the room in boxers.
"Oh...hi," Richard said.
"Mr. Hall?" Brown said.
"Don't worry, Proper," Richard said. "She's a double."
"How do you--" Brown started.
"I just know," Richard said. "Melissa and I dated for six months.
I
think I would know her."
"Well after the call from her therapist, I have considered the possibility
as well," Brown admitted. "We even...had a chat this morning when I looked
for Mr. Heim."
"And?"
"I think we better find Mr. Heim...now," Brown said.
Water splashed Randy's face. His eyes opened to a light in his face. His
last memory was of realizing Melissa was a double.
"Rise and shine, sympathizer!"
Randy blinked and looked at the figure in front of him. The figure came
into the light. It was Gomez.
"Gomez, it's not what you think," Randy started.
"Shut up, sympathizer!" Gomez barked. "We know just what to do with you
and teach other sympathizers a lesson."
All around Randy he heard clicks. he recognized them and started to
struggle. Someone was about to shoot him.
"Hey!" a voice yelled. "Gomez, hold up!"
Another figure came into the light. Randy saw that it was Rembrandt
Brown.
"That's been a mistake," Rembrandt said. "This guy isn't a sympathizer.
Look."
Randy felt his forehead sweat as Rembrandt passed Gomez a .45 caliber.
Gomez looked it over for a few moment. Then he looked at Randy and smiled.
"I'm so sorry," Gomez said and started to untie Randy. "It's just that
when Miss Clark said you had no ID...well, how can you refuse a beautiful
woman?"
"I understand," Randy said. "It happens."
"I'll walk you out," Rembrandt said.
"So...why did you help me?" Randy asked Rembrandt when they were outside
the Spinning Top. "Are you a sympathizer?"
"Me?" Rembrandt smiled. "I'm just a guy who wish we all could get along.
Live and let live. There's been enough killing around here. Angie and I
help out when we can...sympathizer or not. You better run on before Gomez
decides on something else."
"Thanks, Mr. Brown," Randy said.
"Call me Remmy."
Professor Brown and Richard headed down the stairs.
"So you have the timer?" Richard asked.
"Of course," Brown answered.
"And where do you think you're going?"
Brown and Richard stopped in the lobby. Melissa frowned at them with her
arms folded in front of her. Behind her were policemen. The Punisher came
to mind Richard thought as he saw them.
"Nowhere, Miss Clark," Brown said.
"What are you doing with THEM?" Richard asked.
"You're under arrest," one of the officers said.
"What?" Richard said.
"This has got to be a mistake, sir," Brown said.
"Come on, Melissa!" Richard yelled as he took her in his arms. "How can
you forget last night? How can you forget THIS!"
Richard grabbed Melissa on both sides of her face and kissed her. brown
just rolled his eyes. Then he realized how much it seem unproper.
"Professor!"
Brown smiled. He turned to see Randy run into the lobby. The policemen
aimed their guns at Randy. He pulled out his gun.
"I have my ID!" Randy said.
Brown pulled out his. "As do I."
Richard grinned. "I'm good. Maybe you should be checking the lady here."
"I have my--" Melissa started to say. She paused. "My gun!" She glared
at Richard. "You--"
"You heard her, boys!" Richard said. "She doesn't have gunplay ID."
Melissa started to run, but the policemen were quick. They grabbed her.
"You can't do this!" Melissa yelled. "I've risked too much!"
Randy looked over at Brown. "You found out?"
"Yes, Mr. Heim," Brown said. "Quite an interesting story. However, it
will have to wait. We have to find Melissa."
"How, Proper?" Richard asked. "Egghead's thing can't go back to the world
we left. Even if it could, we don't leave before Sunday."
"There might be a way," Randy said. "My clone found it. So can I. It's
going to be risky forcing the vortex to open early, but...we're going to
save Melissa. Professor, you're going to have to tell me w hat you and my
clone did. Richard, go get Melissa's double."
"What?"
"So...are you going to be okay?" Quinn asked Melissa.
Melissa managed a smile. "I'm a little scared."
"Don't let Beckett get to you. She's like that to everyone."
"No wonder she has nobody," Michael added. "Right, Di?"
Diana kissed Michael on the cheek. "Mallory, hush."
"I just wish our project had worked," Quinn said. "Then we could prove
your innocence."
"So do I," Melissa said. "Now I'll never get back to my Earth. I'll
never get to do everything that I wanted to do."
"I'm sorry for thinking that you were crazy," Diana said.
"Thanks," Melissa said.
"Here comes the judge," Michael said. He smiled at Diana. "Knock her
dead."
"Good luck," Quinn said to Melissa.
"One question...how can you two be twins and not look alike?" Melissa
asked.
"Fraternal," Diana whispered. "Now...hush."
"I've come to a decision on this case," Judge Harris announced. "Judging
by the testimonies given and the arguments, I decided that the defendant,
Melissa Clark, is guilty of the accused crime. I sentence her to death
row."
&nb sp;"Your honor!" Diana protested.
Melissa felt her knees go weak. She felt the tears forming in her eyes.
The fight was leaving her.
Then she heard the familiar sound. It was the whir. She smiled as a wall
dissolved into a blue circle. The wind sent the papers on Maggie and
Diana's tables going all over the place. Melissa looked at Diana. She was
in shock.
Richard fell out of the vortex. He got up quickly and moved. He saw
Judge Harris and paused.
"Nicole?" Richard said.
"Richard?" Judge Harris said. "But--"
Professor Brown fell out of the vortex. He got up and saw Melissa.
"Miss Clark?" Professor Brown said.
"Brown!" Melissa said. She couldn't resist. She ran over and hugged him.
"It's Melissa, not Miss Clark!"
Two more figures fell through the vortex. It closed.
"Melissa?"
Melissa looked and saw it was Randy. She smiled in spite of herself. It
was good to see him.
Then Melissa turned and saw her double.
"You!" Melissa said. She looked at Randy. "How much time?"
"A minute and change," Randy said.
"Good," Melissa said. "This doesn't mean that we're talking. And you--"
Melissa swung at her double and hit her in the jaw. She fell to the
ground unconscious.
"Bitch," Melissa said. She turned to Diana, Michael, and Quinn. "Thanks
for helping."
"We got to go," Randy said. He turned the timer on. The circle of blue
light reappeared in a wall.
To Melissa, it was her salvation. She took one look at her new friends
with sadness. Then she jumped into the vortex.
Professor Brown looked at Melissa's double. She was still knocked out on
the ground. He wondered about her fate now. He jumped into the vortex.
Randy followed behind Brown. Richard continued to look at Judge Harris.
His memories of Nicole started to come back. he pushed them away and jumped
into the vortex. It closed behind him.
"Wow," Diana and Maggie said in unison.
Melissa fell out of the vortex in the middle of downtown San Francisco.
she smiled just to be free of the last world.
Professor Brown fell out next.
"Pear trees...in the middle of downtown San Francisco?" Brown bellowed.
"What injustice is this?"
Melissa just rolled her eyes. It was just nice to be with her friends
again. Even if they still weren't home.
Randy fell from the vortex next. He got up and ran over to her. He
grabbed her in a hug.
"I don't care if we aren't talking," Randy whispered. "I'm just glad to
have you back."
Melissa just let him hug her. Meanwhile, Richard fell out of the vortex
next. The vortex closed behind him.
"Ahhh!" Randy screamed. He looked at the timer. Sparks started flying
from it. Then it caught on fire.
"No!" Randy yelled.
"Oh my God!" Brown mumbled.
Randy ran into the next store and grabbed a cloth to stop the fire.
Melissa looked at the timer. It was fried.
She sighed in frustration. She was back at square one.
"No tricks now," the guard told Melissa Clark as he put on her handcuffs.
"Come on."
The guard let Melissa out of her cell. She was on her way to Death Row.
Her mind was on one thing: getting her double. She would pay for what she
did.
"Oh my God! Help!" the prisoner in the next cell screamed.
The guard ran over to the cell to see what was wrong. The fist caught him
in the face. He was out in seconds.
"Why did you do that?" Melissa asked.
"Because you're going to get me out," the prisoner answered.
Melissa frowned as she got the keys to her handcuffs. "No dice."
"You get me out, and I can lead you to your double."
Melissa paused. "What?"
"Think about it a little," the prisoner continued. "I've been here for
years trying to escape and failing. Always talking about parallel worlds."
"And the only way you would know is if you travelled...like I did,"
Melissa said.
"You get me out and I can track their vortex. Is it a deal?"
Melissa opened the cell. "It's a deal...whoever you are."
The woman came into the light. Her brown hair covered one eye, but she
grinned anyway. Melissa saw something in that face. She stepped back.
"The name's Logan St. Clair," the woman said, "and soon you'll get your
revenge on your double and I'll get my revenge on mine."
THE-END