Melissa Clark could barely get the words out of her mouth as she ran down the street with the others. "How...much...time?"
"Seconds!" Randy Heim managed to get out as he ran.
"Good," Professor Brown puffed out.
Melissa turned and looked at Richard Hall who was right behind them. He was puffing with the rest of them. She didn't care.
"You idiot!" Melissa yelled. She stopped running and looked at him. "How stupid are you? How many times have I said...GET TO KNOW THE CULTURE!!"
"How was I to know that it was a crime to insult Celine Dion?" Richard Hall said.
"Well...let's see...there was the billboard...the fact that the Titanic song seem to be on every second block...the fact men walk behind women and get slapped for insulting ANY woman...Aretha Franklin being President...geez, Richard, I just don't know why a large group of diva fanatics are chasing us over your Celine Dion crack."
"There's that jerk! Get him, girls!"
The sliders turned around to see a large group of women dressed like Celine Dion running toward them.
"What is it anyway?" Richard asked. "Celine Dion through the ages?"
"We're going to kick your ass!" one of the fanatics yelled.
"Here we go!" Randy shouted. He aimed the timer and watched as a circle opened in front of them.
"I'm first!" Richard yelled.
"Oh, no you don't!" Brown said. "I am not going to be rip to shreds for something you did."
"You two argue," Melissa said. "I'm gone."
Melissa ran for the vortex and jumped into it. A loud whir sounded off.
"That little sneak," Brown said.
"Well, here's another," Richard said, starting for the wormhole.
Brown punched Richard in the jaw. "I think not!" Then he jumped into the wormhole.
"No on to blame, but yourself," Randy said. Then he also jumped into the vortex.
Richard jumped into the vortex rubbing his jaw. He hated that Egghead for his...Eggheadness.

Richard fell out of the vortex onto a cold floor. His face turned into a glare. He looked around.
"Now what was up with all that hostil--" Richard started. He stopped.
A lot of caliburs were aimed right at him by men in Armani suits.
"Oh," Richard said.

WHAT IF YOU DISCOVERED NEW WORLDS? WHAT IF YOU COULD FIND THESE WORLDS WITHOUT LEAVING EARTH? YOU'RE THE SAME PERSON AND IT'S THE SAME YEAR, BUT EVERYTHING AROUND YOU IS DIFFERENT? I FOUND A WAY TO TRAVEL TO PARALLEL WORLDS!!!

SLIDERS: ALTERNATE SPIN
EPISODE 12-CONFLICTED VIEWS
(first part)

"I can't believe you did that," Melissa said to Randy as the sliders walked down the police station stairs.
"I didn't do anything," Randy said.
"Now, now, Mr.. Heim," Professor Brown said. "Explaining the concept of sliding to strangers is a little above modest."
"As well as stupid," Richard said. "We might have been taken to Gatehaven or something."
"Did you have a better idea?" Randy asked. "I didn't exactly see you saying anything."
"Well, maybe if you had shut up," Egghead, I could have thought of something," Richard countered.
Melissa looked over at Professor Brown. He just looked at her and shrugged his shoulders. Ever since their encounter with Sarah Weisschester Carroll, the fights between Randy and Richard have only gotten worse.
"Hey, Randy!" Melissa said as she grabbed him. "How about we check all of us into the Dominion?"
"Excellent idea, Melissa," Brown agreed. "Mr.. Hall, you can come along with me and we can find out more about this world."
Across the street, a black limo watched the group go their separate way. Ben Loveland frowned. He knew not to question his boss. Still what was he doing with not only FBI Agent Brown and one of Bufford's people.
"Follow him, Al," Ben instructed the driver. He was going to get to the bottom of this.

"So how long on this world?" Melissa asked as she and Randy walked into their same old room in the Dominion.
"Fifty hours," Randy replied.
"That doesn't seem like long," Melissa commented. "Think you and Richard can go two days without killing each other?"
"Was that a serious question?"
"Yes, it was. You two keep getting worse with each world."
"You argue with him, too," Randy countered as he sat down on the couch.
"Well, I was right," Melissa defended herself. "It was his fault we were chased by the Celine Dion Fan Club."
"It's his fault we're in--" Randy started.
"Oh, get over it," Melissa said as she sat beside Randy. "It happened. We're here TOGETHER. I wouldn't take the fun over the last few months back for anything."
Randy grinned at Melissa. "Oh, really? What about that world where we got you mixed up with your double? Or the world where the Indians almost got us? Or the world where we ran into Peck--"
"Okay!" Melissa yelled. "I would take some of them back. I'm glad that my best friend is with me thought."
Randy held Melissa's hands in his own. He smiled at her. "Ditto."
"What now?" Melissa asked.
"How about we..." Randy started.
"What?" Melissa asked.
Randy and Melissa barely noticed that hey had inched closer to each other. Now they were side by side. They leaned in closer...
Then there was a knock on the door. They paused for a second. the knocked sounded on the door again.
Melissa looked down. "I think you better get that."
Randy stood up and headed for the door. It seems like every time he and Melissa got close there was always an interruption.
He opened the door. Then he backed away. There was Ben Loveland standing at the door.
"Uh...hi...Ben," Randy said.

"This is ridiculous!" Brown bellowed.
"I'll say," Richard agreed, looking over Brown's shoulder. "Just cuz the mafia says it, it has to be true. I hope no umpires are related."
"Can you not focus for a few minutes, Mr.. Hall?" Brown said as he continued to look through newspapers. "I swear if you would focus like you do on Mr...Heim--"
"The Egghead has been provoking me since we crossed Sarah and I'm fed up!"
"Shhh!" a librarian snapped.
"Up yours, Miss!" Richard yelled.
The librarian calmly reached under the counter and pulled out a rifle. She aimed it at Richard.
"What was that, MISTER?" the librarian asked.
"Uh...nothing. We're shhing, ma'am," Richard said quickly.
"If you had kept reading, Mr.. Hall, you would know that the Library Law gave librarians the right to go what they felt was just since most are related to one of the many mafia families," Brown said.
"Oh," Richard said.
"Now anything else?" Brown asked.
"How does it feel to see that your student is upstaging you?"
Brown frowned. "Excuse me."
"Think about it," Richard said. "He has the smarts. He got a girl. What do you have? A boring job and an ex-wife."
"What is your point, Mr.. Hall?" Brown asked annoyed.
"Aren't you sick of him getting his way?" Richard asked. "Especially since it's his fault we're here."
"It is not going to work, Mr.. Hall so forget it," Brown cut him off. "I am sick of this ongoing feud between you and Mr...Heim. Deal with it and move on."
"Move on?" Richard said. "He's taking months off of my life while I'm here doing Mr.. Toad's Wild Ride!"
"Shhh!" the librarian snapped, gesturing with her rifle.
"Sorry," Richard whispered. He turned to Brown. "I want my life back."
"It could not have been much if you were stealing," Brown commented. "So who were you working for anyway?"
"What's going on here?"
Richard turned to see what was going on. Bufford was heading right for him with two big men in black business suits. They could have passed for lawyers.
"Agent Brown, it's a surprise," Bufford said to Brown. "My sources said you weren't arriving 'til next week. Still, you're already trying to grill my men."
"Your man?!" Richard yelled.
"Shhh!" the librarian hissed.
Bufford pulled out a caliber. He aimed at her and fired. She fell to the ground.
"I always hated librarians. Too...gun happy," Bufford commented. He turned to one of the men. "NOTE: Get great lawyer to find a clause in Library Law." He turned toward Brown. "I think it would be a great idea if you went back to DC. Accidents are so frequent around here you know. Hall, you're with me...NOW!"
Bufford started to head out with his men.
"I'll call later," Richard whispered. Then he ran after Bufford. He caught up to him.
"So did you tell him anything?" Bufford asked.
"Of course not," Richard said.
"Good," Bufford said. "I would hate to think you grew balls after not having them when it counted for that Carmichael girl."
Richard found his face tense up at that remark. Ever since his encounter with Peter Carmichael, the brother of a girl he had driven over while drunk and killed, the memories had been fighting with him again.
"And you know if you double cross me, that info will reach the right people," Bufford continued.
"Of course," Richard said. It figured that he would still be blackmailed.
"Get in the limo," Bufford instructed as a limo pulled up outside the library.
Richard did as he was told. He didn't want to cause any trouble.
"The meeting with Heim goes down tonight," Bufford kept talking. "He wants an alliance, but I have an assassin set to attack...us both. That way it can be traced to a third party."
Richard just agreed with Bufford. He also wondered what he had gotten himself into.

Melissa looked up at the door. Randy and Ben were whispering about things. She saw surprise and awe both cross Randy's face. For all she knew, Ben's presence was wrecking their budding relationship like it always did.
Melissa looked Ben up and down. He definitely seem like a smooth guy with that suit on. He actually looked cute...
"So that's it," Randy said. "Get everyone together and we'll meet here in an hour."
"Yes, Boss," Ben said. "Now what does my wife have to do with any of this?"
Melissa's eyes felt like they had fallen out. She barely noticed as Ben approached her. Why did it seem like every time she felt like she was about to make a big decision...like dating...Ben entered the mix? She wondered of it was fate working somehow.
"She's advising me," Randy said as he quickly blocked ben. "Don't worry. I won't let anything happen to her. Go on."
Melissa saw Ben give her a nice smile. Then he was gone.
"Are you okay?" Randy asked.
Melissa looked Randy in the eyes. His arms held her with so much warmth. She smiled.
"Yeah...it's just...here we are again on a world where Ben and I are together," Melissa said. "I feel like my life has already been planned out."
"It's not," Randy said.
"Really?" Melissa challenged. She headed for a window. This was just too much now. "So what was you and Ben talking about?"
"Well...it looks like I run things on this world," Randy said. "I'm like the Godfather...I've been at war with various groups for years now and we dine tonight to try to find a solution."
Melissa rolled her eyes. "And of course, we're being mistaken for our doubles. This was funnier when we're won't getting shot at every other world."
"Well...feel like pretending for a little fun?" Randy said, a sly grin on his face.
"Now you're acting like Richard."
"You wound me with your words."
Melissa hit Randy in his shoulder jokingly. "You're crazy."
Still she couldn't help, but laugh. It had been a while since Randy had joked about their situation. She hoped he kept it up until they made it home.
"We are going to make it home," Randy said as if he read her thoughts.
Melissa smiled. "I know."

"No, I will not," Brown protested. "In fact, I think we should not interfere at all. These are dangerous people."
"You can't come, Professor," Randy said. "You already know your double is an agent. That's not going to help us."
"Let us just get a cab then," Brown suggested. "We can make it to the city limits in a few hours."
"No," Randy said.
"If you are so willing to get yourself shot, then that is your choice," Brown said as he got up from the couch and grabbed the timer. "However, you have a responsibility to the rest of us who are on this journey."
"You're sounding like Richard," Randy said.
"And you are sounding pretentious," Brown replied coldly.
"What's going on?" Melissa asked as she came out of her room.
"Nothing, Melissa," Brown replied. "Nothing at all." He stormed out of the room without another word.
Randy looked Melissa over. "Well, you look beautiful in that dress."
Melissa smiled and spun around in the black dress. "Thanks. I think you should talk to Brown though."
"I will," Randy promised. "Just not now. Ready?"
"Of course."

"Of course," Richard said into his cell phone in the limo. "Bufford has already walked in. Is the assassin in place?...Good. I'm gone."
He hanged up the cell phone. He wouldn't admit it aloud, but he was actually enjoying the power. It reminded him of that one world where his double was a doctor. His double framed people, but he had power.
Richard got out of the limo and headed into the Dominion. According to plan, he was arriving late. Now no one would blame him if Egghead gets hurt. He smiled at that idea. Sure it was the wrong Egghead they were gunning for, but it would get him out of the way. No more accusations about his stupid machine. Also Melissa would need comforting...
Yeah, Richard liked the idea a lot.

Randy stood face to face with Bufford. Like his double on Con World, this Bufford didn't wear glasses. He also came across as mildly intimidating.
"So where's Hall at?" Ben asked on Randy's right side. "Remember....everyone has to be here."
"HALL is right here," Richard said as he walked into the Dominion lobby. "HE just had important things to do."
Randy looked at Richard. He always had to be a stupid showoff. And if it wasn't that, it was his attention on Melissa.
"Well, let's dine," Randy said. "This should be a great evening."

Two hours later, all of the people in their various factions were full in the Dominion bar. Randy felt relief. Bufford appeared willing to have a truce in their war. Randy also felt annoyed at Richard. He seem to be purposefully trying to pick a fight. Bufford would whisper to him. Then he would stop joking. Meanwhile, Randy kept finding himself staring at Melissa who was laughing at something Ben said. He wished that they didn't have to keep running into his double.
"Dessert anyone?" Kathy the waitress asked.
"Yes, I will take some chocolate cake," Bufford replied. "How about you, Heim?"
"So will--" Randy started.
Suddenly, a window busted open. Glasses with flying everywhere. Chairs were overturned. A figure in black clothes jumped through the shattered window. His guns were aimed directly at the table. Then the figure let loose a lot of gunfire.
"Melissa!" Ben yelled. He pushed her out of the way of one of the bullets.
Randy jumped for one of the tables. He landed with a thust. He was definitely no James Bond.
Bullets claimed one of Bufford's bodyguards. Richard made it under the table before a bullet got him.
The assassin saw Randy on the floor. He aimed his guns at him. Randy saw him. He looked around frantically and grabbed a plate that was on the floor.
"Yiyiyiyiyiyi!" Randy cried out in his best Xena imitation.
The plate sailed through the air like a knife through skin. It hit the assassin in the forehead. He fell back.
Bodyguards grabbed the assassin quickly. His weapons were knocked away from him. One of the bodyguards pulled off the assassin's mask.
Randy recognized the dark-haired woman who glared at him. On another world, she was the best conwoman of that world. Her name was Rebecca Pryce.
"Well, aren't you cute?" Bufford said as he limped over to her. Randy realized he had been shot in the arm. "So who hired you? Was it Heim here?"
"No," Randy replied. "I don't know anything about this."
"How can you say that, Heim?" Rebecca replied. "We been in conference for weeks. You gave me the money."
"What?" Ben mumbled.
"Oh my God!" Melissa said as she looked at Ben. He had been shot and was bleeding all over the floor. "Someone, call an ambulance!"
Kathy headed for the nearest phone.
Randy looked at Bufford. Bufford's eyes were full of rage.
"You call this a meeting?" Bufford demanded. "I go through the trouble of trying a truce and this is what I get? Hall, call the police. There are witnesses. I want Heim arrested...now."
Randy stuttered. "But..."
Bufford turned toward Rebecca. "You're under arrest. In fact, I want everyone arrested."
Randy looked at Melissa next to Ben. She looked at him with fear that matched his own.

"Thanks, Brown," Melissa said. He was the first person she called. Thankfully, he was back in the hotel room.
"Yes, it is good that I can use my double's reputation to help," Brown said with a grin.
"I can't believe that happened," Melissa said.
"Compared to what? Past interfering resulted almost in a woman being burned at a stake, a double of you being run down almost, us being shot at by a conwoman, us--"
"Brown!" Melissa said. "It's been a rough night. Now is not the time for a debate."
"I am sorry, Melissa," Brown said. "It is a fresh wound."
"We can discuss it back at the Dominion," Melissa replied. "Where's Randy?"
Brown frowned. "Well...there is a problem."
"Problem? What kind of problem?" Melissa asked.
"Well, Miss Pryce claimed Mr.. Heim paid her and said it in a room full of people. Until there is proof that she is wrong, Mr.. Heim has to stay in jail."
"What?"

Richard was in the limo with Bufford. They had just been released from the hospital. Now, Bufford was grinning with champagne in his hand.
"It couldn't have worked any better," Bufford said. "I still wish Heim was dead, but this is more fun. He can hear about his empire crumbling."
"Yeah," Richard said.
"Just 'yeah?'" Bufford said. "Come on. Loosen up. Or better yet...die." Bufford punched Richard in the jaw.
Richard got up quickly, but Bufford already had his caliber aimed at Richard.
"Hey! What's going on?" Richard asked.
"It's nothing personal," Bufford said. "You just happen to know too much."
"Wow, how lucky of me," Richard said sarcastically. "However, I have to be GOING!"
The limo door flew open and Richard fell out of it.
"No!" Bufford yelled.
Richard fell on the hard street. He checked himself to see if he was okay. Then he noticed that the limo had stopped and was heading back.
"Darn!" Richard said to himself.
He jumped up and ran for it.

TO BE CONTINUED