Randy Heim looked at the statue. Golden Gate Park contained a statue of Abraham Lincoln. It looked over the runners, the homeless, and the couples. However, it wasn't in the park. The statue in front of Randy wasn't Abe. It was a statue of George Bush.
"We slid to the wrong world," Randy Heim muttered.
"No...we didn't."
Randy turned around. The raven-haired woman stood before him with her arms over her chest. A smile crept onto her face, a sure sign Randy had been had. Rebecca Pryce was quite the con.
"You didn't think I was going to let my hot commodity slip through my fingers, did you?" Rebecca Pryce asked. Her eyes narrowed. "I don't think so."
"You bitch!"
Before Randy could stop her, Melissa Clark lunged at Rebecca. Rebecca grabbed Melissa's arms easily. She pushed her away.
"Wow!" Rebecca exclaimed. "Someone's rusty."
Melissa glared at Rebecca. Melissa glaring was something Randy was getting used to. She had changed in the three months since he saw her last. She had gone from normal girl to Goth chick, a result of a death.
"Don't worry," Melissa said. "I can improve."
"You're going to have to," Rebecca said. "We're not going anywhere."
"Yes, we are," Randy said. "You wanted me to create those chips to restore Quinn and Arturo’s mind. Now they need them."
"And they'll get them," Rebecca replied. "For a price."
Randy laughed bitterly. "Of course. It's always about the profit for you."
"What else is there?"
"What are you people doing here?! It's past curfew!"
Randy looked past Rebecca and Melissa. A couple of policemen stood behind them. Their suits were gray. One of them shined a flashlight at them. The other one aimed a gun at them.
"IDs!" he barked. "Now!"
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?
FOUR YEARS AGO, MY FRIENDS AND I DID IT. NOW WE'RE HOME. NOW WHAT?
SLIDERS: ALTERNATE SPIN-SEASON 5
EPISODE 2: ...WHAT NOW(PART 2)
The thing that scared Melissa the most was that it came so easily. She lunged for the ground. Her hands connected, resulting in a series of summersaults. Gunfire exploded behind her. Luckily it did not hit her.
Her body realized she was behind a bush. She landed on her feet. She turned around. The policeman with the flashlight headed her way. She broke off into a run.
She swung around a tree. Her foot slipped and she fell down a steep ditch. Her body was hit with pain as she rolled down it. She made it to the bottom, cursing the fact that this world had a different path along this way than hers.
Melissa looked back up. Her eyes widened. The policeman had seen her. In fact, he was starting to slide down the ditch to her.
"Melissa?"
Melissa turned around. A figure ran toward her. She made out a sweater that looked too big for the wearer. She made out messed-up dark hair. The figure came into the light. She gasped at the guy.
"Melissa, it is you. Breaking curfew...not an idle threat."
"Thorn?" Melissa muttered.
Before Randy could react, Melissa jumped at the ground. She flipped away from the scene. The policeman with the gun aimed at her. Randy ran at him quickly, his arm swung out and throwing the policeman's gun arm off. Then Randy knocked the policeman in the jaw.
A figure dotted past him. Randy looked. It was Rebecca. She ran down the pathway. He ran after her. He made it to her quickly and grabbed her.
"And where do you think you're going?" Randy demanded.
"Getting myself out of harm's way," Rebecca replied. "I know you're a genius so naturally you would follow suit." She pulled out the timer. "Now we lay low for a day and leave."
"What about Melissa?"
"What about her? You really think I'm going to go look for her?"
Randy crossed his arms over his chest. Rebecca rolled her eyes and walked away.
"I'm not looking for the Goth Princess," Rebecca said. "She's expendable."
"Well...I'm not."
Rebecca stopped walking. She turned around. Her eyes narrowed on Randy.
"What does that mean?" Rebecca asked.
"It means," Randy said, "you need me. I'm not leaving without Melissa."
"You might not leave at all."
"That's a risk I'm willing to take. Besides...I owe Melissa that much."
"Whatever."
"Come on," Randy said. "We have a lot to do."
"Darnell, are you okay?"
Professor Darnell Brown looked over the table at her. Debra King stared back at him. She looked heavenly in her green tail dress. Her hair was done up in French curls. She was usually such a lovely distraction. Tonight at this French restaurant Brown found his mind on other things. He had hoped it would not show. He was wrong.
"Darnell?" Debra said again.
Brown managed a smile. "Sorry, Debra. Just...work related."
Debra shook her head. "Same old Darnell." She reached for his hand. "When you found me three months ago, you said you realized how this...obsessing...affected our marriage. You said this time would be different."
"And it is," Brown said.
"Really?" Debra challenged. "This...was how it started. With obsessing. You were worried about the Dean. You were worried about Franks. You had to be better. The best. Nothing else mattered." She looked down. "Even your wife."
Brown squeezed her hand. "This...is different. I saw the light...as it was. You will not be neglected again. It is just national security is riding on the location of one man...and I fear that he is in the one place I would prefer him not to be."
"Which is?"
Brown stared over at Debra. "Not on this world."
Debra nodded.
"It took me four years to get back to you," Brown said. "I will not do it again."
"Are you going to have to?" Debra asked.
Brown stood up. "Let us not think of that." He held out his hand.
Debra stood up and took his hand. "Darnell, where are we going?"
"That should be obvious, Ms. King," Darnell said, grinning. He pulled her toward the dance floor.
"And here I thought I would have to wrestle you to the floor in order to dance," Debra said, a smirk on her face.
Brown made it to the floor. He spun her around and then held her close. He smiled.
"Just one of my improvements after four years of transdimensional travel," Brown said.
"Ooohh...smart talk," Debra said. She kissed him. "I love that."
Debra put her hand on his chest. Brown held her closer. The warm of her body next to his made him feel so calm. So safe.
He looked across the room. An Asian woman stared at him from the lobby. He stiffened instantly.
"Darnell?" Debra uttered.
Brown looked down at her. He managed a smile.
"What can I say, Lady?" Brown asked. "You give me the shivers."
Before Debra could protest, Brown leaned down and kissed her. Debra's eyes closed, giving into Brown's lips. Brown loved her lips, but his eyes looked past her.
Mary was nowhere in sight.
Melissa looked out of the window. The sun was starting to peer out of the clouds. A few cars drove by as she sat on the ledge. It made her think of home.
Home. The word caused Melissa to frown. She wasn't home...again. After all of her months hiding she was lost...again. Why did Randy have to look for her?
A squeal caught Melissa's attention. She turned around. Thorn entered the room.
"Good news," Thorn said. "There's no morning report so we weren't followed." He sat next to her on the ledge. "Still...what were you thinking?"
"I...wasn't," Melissa said.
Thorn smirked. "Apparently." He hugged Melissa. "Still...I'm glad you're back."
Thorn jumped up. He headed for the door. Melissa stood after him. She was no longer used to encountering doubles of people she knew. It was like seeing a twin who was the opposite of their brother.
Thorn turned around. "You coming?"
Melissa frowned. "Coming?"
"Yeah," Thorn said. "To school. Wait until the others see you."
"How do I look?"
Randy looked up from the computer he sat in front of at the cybercafe. Rebecca spun around for show. She had on a black top with skirt and a suede jacket. Her black boots were to her knees.
"Is everyone going Goth?" Randy asked.
"Not you," Rebecca replied. She walked over to Randy and touched his chin. "You got all scrappy-looking bearded man."
Randy looked away from her. "Thanks."
"Find Melissa?"
"No," Randy said. "Learned a lot about this world though."
"Such as?"
"Is George Bush President on your world?"
Rebecca frowned. "What's a President?"
"O-k," Randy said. "Point taken. On my world it was discovered that he and some government officials were illegally monitoring people's phone calls and things. People were okay and it died down. On this world, people were outraged enough to do something."
"And that something is?"
"Committee government. Until there is some kind of resolution...Congress is running things. They started a nationwide curfew. They debate war effects. They run things."
"Doesn't seem much better," Rebecca commented.
"I...don't think it is," Randy said. "From what I remember from Civics class, our government is a series of check and balances. One part of the government keeps the others in check and vice versa. One part missing, who knows the consequences."
"Especially if everything is done by committee," Rebecca said. "Glad I don't have to worry about that."
"Ah!"
Randy looked behind him. Some teenager seem to be having seizures. His friends stared at him in shock. Suddenly, they ran for the door.
"Uh...weird," Rebecca said.
Security guards stormed into the place. They headed for the teenager. He was motionless now. One of the guards kneeled down next to him, looking at his arm. Randy noticed a white bracelet on it. So did a few of the other customers. Some looked scared. The security guard looked up at his partner.
"Anti-patriot," he said. He looked around the cafe. "IDs out now!"
Randy looked over at Rebecca.
"Are you getting a strong sense of deja vu?" Rebecca asked.
Brown walked through the door scanner. He headed for the lab. While Diana Davis's PDL figured out where Heim was, she was trying to figure out how to help Quinn and Arturo with their memory loss.
He frowned. It always seem to come back to Heim. He would be glad when he was found so he could reveal his knowledge so he could go back to his mundane life.
Brown walked into the lab. His eyes widened.
Quinn, Arturo, and Diana were unconscious on the floor. It looked like it was sudden. Brown ran over to Diana. He grabbed her up and slapped her face gently.
"Miss Davis?" Brown said. No answer was coming. "Miss Davis? Diana!"
"Wade!"
Brown turned around. Quinn was sitting up. He stared around, his eyes betraying panic.
"Mr. Mallory, what happened?" Brown asked.
Quinn shook his head. "I...Wade was here. She brought us coffee. Di had some interesting ideas from Randy's notes. Next thing I know...you're yelling at Diana. And Wade...she must have been taken. But who?"
"It could only be the Kromaggs," Brown said.
"Given their attack on Randy, I don't think so," Quinn said. "There would be burn marks in here."
"Then who else, Mr. Mallory?" Brown asked. "It is not like anyone can just walk into this institute."
Quinn's eyes narrowed. "Not anyone alien. But how about a human?"
Brown frowned. "I am not following you."
Quinn shot up. He stumbled to the door.
"Mr. Mallory!" Brown barked.
"I...got...to find her," Quinn managed.
"What you need," Brown said, "is a hospital. All of you."
Mallory walked through the door. "I got--" His eyes widened on the sight of an unconscious Diana. "Di!" He looked at Quinn. "What happened?"
Quinn gestured to Brown. "Ask the army recruit."
"What is that suppose to mean?" Brown demanded.
"It means," Quinn said, "you can't be trusted."
"What?" Mallory said, anger popping into his voice. He stormed over to Brown and Diana. "You had something to do with--"
"I had nothing to do with this," Brown said. "I don't know why--"
Then it hit him. The only people who had access to this part of the institute were humans...like General Bennard.
"Oh, dear," Brown uttered.
Maggie Beckett stepped out of the taxi. She stared at the club. There was yellow police tape all over the front. That was not a good sign.
A door shut behind her. She turned around. For a moment, she had forgotten that she was not alone. Her husband was with her.
She shook her head. Steven wasn't her husband. He was a double of her husband.
"There's that look again," Steven said. "What's wrong?"
"It's...nothing," Maggie lied. "I'm just worry about Randy. And that yellow tape...not helping."
"We'll find him," Steven said.
"But in what condition?" Maggie asked.
Randy turned the corner. Rebecca leaned against the wall. She huffed and puffed as she glared at him.
"You know...I don't remember...this much running with Randall's group," Rebecca said.
Randy heard footsteps. He looked around the alley. He ran for the trash can and hid behind it. Rebecca followed suit. A few moments later, the security ran past the alley.
"I can't wait to leave this world," Rebecca said.
"Is that all you think about?" Randy demanded.
"This isn't what I ask for," Rebecca said. "I like the odds to be more stacked in my favor."
"Sorry. It doesn't work that way."
"Why not?" Rebecca challenged. "It's not like you care about Melissa anymore anyway. Why don't we leave?"
Randy stood, his eyes on Rebecca. "How can you say that?"
"Simply," Rebecca said back, standing up. "I don't care about Melissa."
"I see," Randy said. "It's all about the profit for you."
"Let's be honest," Rebecca said. "When the Kromaggs return…and they will return...your world is at a disadvantage. They'll do anything not to be. Enter: me."
Randy glared at her. "You make me sick."
Rebecca laughed. "Don't get holier than thou with me. You didn't always like Richard and did everything to keep him away from Melissa."
Randy flinched. The mention of his ex-teammate, dead for over a year, was still a sore spot. Especially since Randy hated Richard Hall at first. He was always trying to get into Melissa's pants. It didn't help that he tried to steal Randy’s sliding machine. Eventually...after a lot of fighting...they became friends. Then he died...murdered.
Randy thought about the double of Ben. He had been killed as well. Was history repeating itself?
"Well, are we going to find Melissa or not?" Rebecca asked. "Time is running out."
Randy shook his head. "Then...I guess we are going to have to get smarter."
Maggie touched the wall. It was severely black where she touched. She knew the sign well.
Laser marks.
"Kromaggs?"
Maggie looked behind her. Steven stared at her with such concern. It pained her.
"Yes," Maggie said. "This could be the point where Randy vanished. The Kromaggs might have him now." Her eyes watered. "Our greatest hope to stopping them...gone." She sank to the floor. "All of this was for nothing."
Steven kneeled down beside her. "Aren't you in the Marines? I can't believe you're just going to give up."
Maggie glared at him. "Do you know how long I've been fighting 'Maggs? More years than I care to count. Sometimes I used to hope...someday they would finally be put down so I could have a life."
"Any ideas on what that life would be like?" Steven asked.
"It's been so long since I thought about it," Maggie admitted, "that I don't even remember." It’s been that long. When I encountered Randy again a year ago...for once...I had it again."
"It?"
"Hope," Maggie said. "Now...I don't have anything."
Tears fought to the surface, spilling out onto Maggie's cheeks. She tried to turn away from Steven. He held her in his arms.
"Maggie...," Steven started.
"I'm sorry," Maggie sobbed. "Didn't mean to ball on you."
"It's okay," Steven said. He managed a grin. "It's always nice to have a lady cry on your shoulder."
Maggie managed a laugh. "And you're a pure gentleman."
"Sometimes."
They both laughed. Maggie wiped her tears away as she laughed. She stared at this double in front of her. For the first time in a while, she felt safe. She leaned in and kissed him.
A beep sounded through the deserted club. Maggie looked at her pocket. She pulled out the cell phone.
"Hello?" Maggie said.
"Oh my God! Melissa Clark!"
The red-haired girl ran up to Melissa and hugged her. She didn't know what to say.
"That's like what I said, Autumn," Thorn said behind her. "You won't believe where I found her."
"Could it be because your ability to tell the truth is sorely lacking?"
Melissa turned around. Thorn did the same. A girl with her dark hair in a ponytail glared at them. She was dressed like a sorority sister.
"Well, if isn't Alison Daniels!" Thorn said. "They let you out of the zoo this semester? Wow! Miracles still do happen."
Alison tilted her head. "Yes, miracles do. How else could I explain to my friends why you're even on campus?"
Thorn's eyes widened. "You actually talk about me?"
Alison's eyes narrowed. "You wish." She glared at Melissa. "Can't believe you came back. Would think this was the last place you'll like to be. Especially after last semester."
Melissa frowned. "Last semester?"
"Okay, like total podperson," Alison said.
"Alison, don't you have better things to do?" Autumn asked.
"Autumn, you are so right!" Alison exclaimed. "After all...I have a life. Later!"
Alison pushed past Thorn. She headed for the Student Union door She paused at the last moment. She turned to look at Melissa, her eyes full of sadness.
"For what it's worth," Alison said, "I'm sorry about last semester. I'm sorry about Ben."
Alison headed into the Student Union. She never saw Melissa's jaw drop.
"That C-U-Next-Tuesday," Thorn said.
"Yea," Autumn said. "Why did you even date her?"
"We were different," Thorn said. "She hadn't joined the sorority. I had Justin Timberlake moves. We were a good couple."
"Melissa?"
Melissa looked over at Autumn.
"Are you okay?" Autumn asked.
What could Melissa say? Another aspect of sliding was the possibility of having to pretend to be the Melissa of this world. Sometimes it was okay. Most of the time it was trouble. She couldn't just tell them the truth though. That also led to trouble.
"Uh...yeah," Melissa uttered.
"Good," Autumn said. "Especially since I got class. Student Union in an hour?"
"Great!" Thorn exclaimed.
"Uh...yeah," Melissa uttered.
"Good," Autumn said. "Later!"
Melissa watched Autumn leave. Then she looked at Thorn. He looked back, a frown creeping onto his face.
"Okay. What?" Thorn asked.
"I need a favor," Melissa said.
"Shoot."
"Humor me: how did Ben die?"
Brown walked through the Dominion's doors. Maggie was right behind him with Steven and Rembrandt. Brown saw an elevator open. General Bennard and his attendant John stepped out of it. Out of nowhere, Quinn lunged at Bennard.
"Where is she?" Quinn demanded as he held Bennard by the shoulder.
"What do you mean?" Bennard asked.
"You know very well what I mean!" Quinn yelled.
"You need to calm down, Quinn Mallory," John said. "you also need to release the General."
Quinn glared at Bennard. "I'm going to ask one more time: where is she?"
Bennard stared at Quinn. "I know of no she. I know of an 'it.'"
Bennard elbowed Quinn in the stomach. Quinn released him, his hands immediately grabbing for his stomach. Brown and Maggie ran for him.
"Quinn, are you--" Maggie started.
"I'm fine," Quinn said, cutting her off.
"What is the meaning of this, General Bennard?" Brown demanded. "Are you responsible for Miss Welles's disappearance?"
"As a matter of face, Mr. Brown," Bennard said, "I am."
"You don't have the right--" Quinn started.
"The right?" Bennard said. "I have every right. You speak as if that thing is real."
Quinn's eyes widened. "You son of--"
"Q-ball," Rembrandt snapped, grabbing Quinn's arm.
"Remmy!" Quinn yelled. "He took Wade."
"That thing is not Wade Welles," Bennard said.
"I don't know about that," Rembrandt said. "It talks like her. Has memories like her. Looks like her to me."
"You're blind," Bennard said.
"I'll show you blind, you--"
"Remmy," Maggie warned.
"Time is running out, people," Bennard said. "You yourself reported the Kromaggs have pulled up roots. With Randy Heim missing, we do not have a lot of options. This cybernetic replica is now our only link to the Kromagg technology. Perhaps we can study her...clone her...created a series of fighters with her abilities."
"Wade has no abilities anymore," Quinn said. "She's just a normal human being."
"Wade Welles is no such thing," Bennard said. "Our scientists will figure this out."
"This is a breach of protocol," Brown said.
Bennard frowned. "How can you say that? You suggested it to me a few nights ago."
"What?" Quinn and Brown said at the same time.
"I can't believe she's here," Randy said as he and Rebecca stood in the elevator.
"Why are you surprised?" Rebecca asked.
Randy had to agree. He shouldn't had been surprised. When he or the others ever got separated, they always tried to regroup at the Dominion.
Randy frowned as the elevator doors opened. He was doing again. He was acting like a slider again.
He did not like it.
"Here's the room," Rebecca announced. She pulled out the timer. "And oh, look. Four hours to spare. Whatever will we do?"
"I'm sure you're thinking of something," Randy said, knocking on the door. "Or better yet...you could take us home."
Rebecca glared at him. Randy ignored her and knocked on the door again. He looked at her again.
"You got me into this," Randy said. "Get me out of it."
The door flew open. A hand reached out from the shadows, grabbed Randy by the shirt, and jerked him in. He hit the wall hard. A light hit his attacker. It was Melissa. She glared at him.
"What are you doing here?" she demanded.
"He's the one that wanted to find you," Rebecca said in the doorway.
"Are you okay?" Randy asked.
"I was," Melissa said. She stepped into the hallway. She looked left and right. "Now...I'm not so sure." She looked at Randy. "Who did you talk to?"
"Just the front desk clerk," Randy said.
"Were you followed?"
"Someone's gone paranoid," Rebecca commented.
"Randall, you could use a better girlfriend," Melissa said.
"Randall? No, I'm--"
Randy stopped. It hit him. This wasn't Melissa. It was her double.
Melissa dotted back into the hotel room. Rebecca looked at Randy.
"You two have a caper going on?" Rebecca asked.
"It's not Melissa," Randy said.
"So we're back at square one. Great."
Melissa's double came out of the hotel room. She had a long purse around her neck. She headed down the hall.
"We need to move," Melissa said.
"What's going on, Melissa?" Randy asked.
"We weren't suppose to meet here," Melissa said. "We do the exchange at the airport. You knew this. I don't see why you're here unless..."
The elevator doors opened at the end of the hall. Several men in dark business suits and shades stepped out of it. One of them pointed at them.
"Oh, snap!" Melissa said. "You were followed."
"And this is bad?" Rebecca asked.
The men in black started walking down the hall. Melissa headed in the other direction. Randy followed.
"Oh, God," Melissa uttered. "We're going to end up like Ben."
"Ben?" Randy muttered.
"Yes, Ben," Melissa said annoyed. "My boyfriend. The one you got into this in the first place. The one the government killed and made it look like a suicide."
Randy turned around. The government men walked friskily. Fear started to grip Randy. He turned back to the double.
"Melissa?" Randy said.
"What?" Melissa barked.
"Run!"
Melissa crossed the street, leaving the college behind. Thorn's words were still in her head. She thought she hid her feelings pretty well while she was with Thorn and Autumn. Now they attacked her.
The Ben of this world had killed himself. To the outside world, he was an enviable journalist with awards won for the university. He looked set to move to New York. His suicide caught everyone by surprise. The person most hit by his death was his girlfriend...Melissa's double.
A smile crept onto Melissa's face as she passed other walkers. It was funny really. When she first stated sliding, it always seem like she was always winding up with a double of Ben Loveland, Randy’s college roommate. Now that she was back into it, history was repeating itself.
Melissa walked past an alley. A figure emerged, causing Melissa to jump. It was a dark-haired woman in a trenchcoat. Melissa gasped.
"Sorry," the woman said.
"It's all right," Melissa said. She started to walk away.
"Miss Clark."
Melissa turned to look at the woman.
"How do you know my name?" Melissa asked.
The woman reached into her trenchcoat. She pulled out a wallet. She threw it open, showing a badge.
"Detective Daelin Richards," the woman said. "There are quite a few people looking for you."
"Let them look," Melissa said. "Now if you'll excuse me..."
"Not surprised really," Daelin said. "Got to make your rendezvous, right?"
Melissa frowned. "Rendezvous? What are you talking about?"
"You led a good chase, Miss Clark," Daelin said. "However, I have smarts. You were scheduled to check out of the Dominion Hotel this evening. That's where you been holding up at since May, following your boyfriend's 'suicide.' Using your mother's maiden name was genius. Who would think to look for you? One of your comrades would have met you at the airport. A 'chance meeting.' Really though it was an exchange."
"What do you mean exchange?"
"Don't play dumb."
"Not playing."
"Next thing, you know you'll be saying that Ben's death was an actual suicide."
Melissa's eyes narrowed. "It wasn't."
"You know it wasn't," Daelin said. "We would go to any lengths to make sure the tapes in your possession do not make it out of the country."
"Oh, really?" Melissa said, crossing her arms over her chest. "And what tapes do I supposedly have?"
"Why...the tapes proving that members of our legislative branch set up the President so they could systematically do away with the checks and balances system established by our constitution. Your boyfriend was too smart for his own good and now...you pay the price."
"I don't think so," Melissa said.
"Pity," Daelin said. "I do. Rem."
Melissa realized a shadow was behind her. She turned around. A handkerchief was stuffed in her face. Before Melissa could struggle, she was out.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Maggie asked.
Brown sat on the stool. the staff of the Goth club still had not made repairs yet so the place was still demolished. Brown watched as Rembrandt and Maggie stared at each other.
"He's my nephew, Maggie," Rembrandt said. "He's my blood. I trust him."
"He doesn't even remember being manipulated into giving Wade over to General Bennard. How do we know he won't turn on us?"
Brown stood up. "You don't." He walked over to them. "However...if anything goes wrong, I'm sure one of you will put a bullet in me."
Maggie held up her rifle. "No question."
Rembrandt frowned.
"Hey!" Maggie said. "You weren't around when Brown was Mr. Telekinetic Bad-Ass."
"Only as a last resort," Rembrandt said firmly.
"Fine."
"Maggie!"
Brown looked at the entrance. Steven and John walked over. John had a skeptic look on his face. Meanwhile Steven looked glad to see Maggie. he started to hug her, but Maggie held a hand up.
"Don't," Maggie said.
"I knew nothing about it," Steven said. "I swear."
"I have to agree with him," John said. "In any case, why am I here?"
"More firepower," Rembrandt said. He patted John on the shoulder. "Besides, didn't you guys want first-hand experience with sliding?"
"Then let's go," Steven said.
Maggie looked at Steven. "You're not going. You're here with Mallory."
"What?"
Brown looked over at Mallory. He was next to Diana. She was scanning a wall with her PDL. Mallory frowned at Maggie.
"Why do I stay?" Mallory asked.
"Quinn and Arturo are stalling the General," Rembrandt said. "If they fail, you know they'll get Wade out the hard way. They could use the help until we get Randy back."
"Besides," Maggie said, "who better to help you, but...well...you?"
Mallory glared. "Ha. Ha."
"I'm going," Steven said.
Maggie looked at him. She touched his cheek.
"You want to win my trust back?" Maggie asked. "Help my friends here."
Steven studied her face. Suddenly, he kissed her. When he pulled back, her face was red with shock.
"Fine," Steven said.
"I'm ready," Diana announced.
Randy's eyes narrowed as the door to the warehouse opened. Of all the people it could have been why, why, WHY did it have to be Bufford? Like the other government men, Bufford was dressed in a black business suit. Unlike the others, he had a white earplug in his right ear.
"Oh, great," Rebecca said sarcastically.
"Looks like we almost have all of the conspiracists," Bufford said as he looked over the tied-up Randy, Rebecca, and Melissa double. He stared at Randy. "You should have used a better alias, Heim. Everyone in Washington knows that your father's dead."
Melissa's double glared at Randy. "What are you? Some newbie?"
"Well, actually--" Randy started.
"You know you're not going to get away with this, right?" Rebecca cut Randy off.
"Yeah," Melissa's double said. "How long do you think you can silence the truth?"
"Uh...excuse me? Have you forgotten where you live?" Bufford asked. "How long did Nixon get away with Watergate? How about Clinton? The Roswell Incident? Our government might not keep it hidden forever, but it can keep it secret long enough to establish Congress as the de facto ruling body. Sadly, none of you will be alive to see it."
"Oh, really?" Rebecca challenged. "Then why are we alive now?"
The door flew open. Bufford grinned without looking.
"Because we were looking for your last partner," Bufford said as he turned toward the door. "Now, you are--"
The words died in Bufford's mouth. His eyes widened, matching the dark-haired woman's own eyes. She was staring at the double on the floor with randy and Rebecca. Then she looked at her captor: Melissa. Bufford turned and stared at the double again.
"Oh," Bufford muttered.
"This must be deeper than we think," the dark-haired woman said. "Damn! The President is slick."
Suddenly, a wall to the right of the prisoners dissolved. It took on the familiar look of a blue vortex. A series of whirs sounded through the room as figures emerged from it. Randy smiled as he recognized Diana Davis who aimed her PDL at him. Meanwhile Maggie aimed her rifle at Bufford's double. The government agents started to aim their guns, but Rembrandt and Brown already had pistols aimed at them.
"Don't even think about it," Rembrandt warned. "I will shoot you."
John emerged from the vortex. His jaw was dropped as the vortex closed. His eyes were like a kid in a candy store.
"Wow!" John exclaimed.
"Rebecca Pryce!" Brown said. "I should have known."
"Wait, wait, wait!" the dark-haired woman exclaimed. "What is going on here?"
Rembrandt frowned. "Daelin?"
Daelin frowned. "How do you--"
Suddenly, a red vortex formed where the blue vortex had been. A figure emerged from it. Randy immediately tensed up. It was the Kromaggs' cyberaid. She was followed by Humaggs Koranus, Kerra, and Karlus.
At the same time, another vortex...dark orange...formed on the opposite end of that vortex. Several figures emerged. Randy frowned. They looked like deformed apes. Apes...with little cellphones in their hands. They aimed.
"Uh...I think we're surrounded," Rebecca said.
"Uh..." Maggie managed.
"Right there with you, Girl," Rembrandt added.
Diana frowned. "Two sets of Kromaggs? How--"
"I hate to interrupted, but...THEY'RE EVERYWHERE!" John yelled.
John aimed at one of the Humaggs and fired.
Melissa ducked behind a crate as the cyberaid held up a hand, causing the bullet from John's gun to stop. It shot toward her. When she looked out again, Melissa's eyes widened. Daelin was dead on the floor, a gun wound in her chest.
The ape-looking Kromaggs held up what looked like cell phones. Lines of red shot from the tips. Kerra and Karlus also opened fire.
Maggie, Rembrandt, Brown, John, and Diana were in the crossfire.
Brown knocked Maggie and Beckett to the floor. A laser got him in the shoulder, causing him to scream. he fell to the floor. He looked to see that Diana had gotten to the floor and crawled toward some crates. He looked over at John. He had kneeled to the floor, military training kicking in.
Brown frowned. Or had it?
"Oh! No way!" Bufford snapped, his eyes on the dead Daelin. "No one gets out alive."
Bufford aimed at Randy. Before he could fire, a laser cut him down. Randy saw that it had come from the ape-like Kromaggs. Their eyes were on him like he was the first place winner in a science fair.
Who were they?
The government agents opened fire on them.
Randy crawled toward the corner. He noticed a door earlier. Now with everyone in a gunfight, he could slip out.
He noticed the Melissa double had already vanished. he hoped that was a good thing.
Melissa slid out of the door. She ignored the sound of lasers and bullets behind her. She looked right and left. Her eyes fell on her double...while her double's eyes fell on her. She paused and approached her.
"Who...are you?" her double managed.
Melissa said nothing. They looked so much alive. They both dealt with the same pain.
"I..." Melissa started.
It had always been an issue with the sliders whether the inhabitants of a world should be told the truth. Usually their lives were better off not knowing. Other times, it was good they knew.
Melissa shook her head. Screw it.
"I'm you," Melissa said. "I'm you from a parallel Earth."
"You sound as crazy as Ben," her double said. "He believe in all that science stuff." She smiled weakly. "However...I trusted him so...I trust you."
"You...should run," Melissa said. "Do what you can for your world."
"But...I have so many...questions."
Melissa looked down. Suddenly, the door flew open. She turned to see it was Diana.
"Melissa--s. Good," Diana said. "We need to get out of--"
The door flew open. Randy shot out of the door. Diana smiled.
"There you are!" Diana exclaimed. "We have to--"
"Here," Randy said, handing her the microchips he made on Rebecca's world.
"What is--"
"It's for Quinn and Arturo," Randy said. "It should help with our little...problem. If something happens to me..."
"Nothing's happening to you," Diana said. "I can slide us out and set the PDL to come back for the others. We--"
Suddenly, Diana's eyes rolled into the back of her head. She passed out.
"What--" Randy started.
"Randy," Melissa said. "Behind you."
Randy turned around. John stood behind him, a gun trained on him.
"What did you do to Diana?" Randy demanded.
"I did nothing," John said. "My masters, however....that's another story."
Randy frowned. "Your masters."
"Yes," John replied. "The true Dynasty is awaiting their golden boy...you. You can finish what Rembrandt Brown started...destroy the Atlantians."
The air behind John dissolved, forming a circle of dark orange light. He gestured with the gun.
"It's time," John announced.
"I don't think so," Randy said.
"Pity," John said, aiming the gun. "I do."
"Excuse me!"
John turned, meeting a fist in the face. He fell to the floor. Brown stood over him, a grin on his face.
"What! No grey pompon?" Brown said.
"Nice to see you get your rocks off," Rebecca said, joining him. She held up the timer. It had seconds. "Everyone good to go?"
"What?" Melissa snapped. "You expect us to trust you?"
"I am not leaving my uncle here to suffer," Brown said.
"Not a problem."
Randy looked past Brown and Rebecca. The cyberaid had emerged. She held up a hand.
"You are de--" the cyberaid started.
Rebecca's timer beeped. She held it up quickly. Light shot from it, knocking the cyberaid to the floor. A green vortex shot into existence where she stood.
"No!" the cyberaid hissed.
Rebecca smirked. "Yes!"
Then she pushed Randy into the vortex.
Melissa stared in surprise. Rebecca had just pushed Randy into the green wormhole.
"Your friend!" Melissa's double yelled.
Melissa looked at her. She looked surprised.
"I'll take care of him!" Melissa yelled. "Run!"
Then she ran for the wormhole. Rebecca jumped into it, a whir sounding off. Melissa followed suit.
Brown stared down at the cyberaid.
"Poor aid," Brown said. "You're no good to anyone."
She glared. "We will find him."
Brown's eyes narrowed. He opened his right hand out in front of him.
"What makes you think," Brown said, "You'll be alive to find him?"
Melissa knocked on the door frantically. Thankfully, Thorn opened the door. He smiled.
"Hey!" Thorn said. "What's--"
Melissa held up a disk. "Do you think you form a file for this? Broadcast it over the net?"
"Uh...yeah," Thorn said. "What--"
"I'll explain later," Melissa said, her mind on Ben and everything that happened. "It's a whopper of a story."
Maggie walked into the lab with Rembrandt and Diana. General Bennard stood with Steven, Wade, and some soldiers on one side. Quinn, Arturo, and Mallory stood on the other side of the table.
"Di!" Mallory exclaimed. He ran to her and hugged her.
"Where is Randall Heim and John?" Bennard demanded.
"There were complications," Maggie said.
"Yeah," Rembrandt said. "Another set of Kromaggs. They look like how the Kromaggs were when we first encountered them, Q-ball. They don't even have the virus."
"What?" Arturo said. "Given the fatality of it, I find that difficult to comprehend."
"Well, you need to, Professor," Rembrandt said.
"Yeah," Quinn agreed. "Maybe it's a different species of them. Or maybe they have an adaptation like the Humaggs and..."
"This is all interesting," Bennard said, "but I have a country to protect. I guess I will be taking the subject."
"No!" Wade yelled.
"Wade!" Quinn yelled, heading for her.
The soldiers held up their guns.
"I don't think you're Superman, Mr. Mallory," Bennard said.
Diana walked to the table. She placed two microchips on the table. She looked at Bennard.
"He may not be Superman, General," Diana said, "but in a few days he'll be the smartest man in the world. The way he was."
"What?" Quinn said.
Diana looked at Quinn. "Before his disappearance, Randy finished the nanotech chips. You'll remember the concept of sliding again." She looked at the soldiers. "So you can let Wade go."
The soldiers released Wade. She ran to Quinn and kissed him. Meanwhile Steven walked over to Maggie. Before Maggie could react, Steven kissed her.
"Well, Bennard said, "I believe this new development tilts things in our favor."
"I should hope so, General," Arturo said.
"We will discuss this in a few days," Bennard said. Then he left with the soldiers.
Arturo glared. "Blistering idiot."
Maggie looked over at Diana. "Diana, what's wrong?"
"We don't know where Randy and the others are," Diana said.
"At least we know the 'Maggs don't," Rembrandt said. "Did you see what was left of the cyberaid?"
"Yeah," Diana said. "And that begs the question: who has the power to do that?"
"Brown."
Brown turned around. Melissa approached him.
"Are you okay?" Melissa asked.
"I'm peachy keen," Brown said. "I'm away from home, two sets of Kromaggs are after us, and a conwoman holds the key to salvation. Yes, Miss Clark, I feel great."
"Excuse me then," Melissa snapped. "It's not like I wanted to get dragged into this, but...we're here. Get used to it."
Brown stared at her. "Did you go les--"
Melissa glared. "Don't go there."
"I won't," Brown said. "However, I will beat the truth out of Ms. Pryce."
"You will die trying."
Brown turned toward the end of the hall. Randy approached him.
"Wow," Brown said. "The last person I want to see."
"Hey!" Randy said. "You dragged me into this."
"A decision I will regret for the rest of my days."
"I hacked into her files," Randy continued. "Our coordinates aren't in them. That can only mean one thing."
"She has them in her head," Brown said.
"She has them in her head," Randy said. "Just what I would expect from a conwoman."
"Smart woman," Melissa commented. She looked at Brown. "You need help with beating her up?"
Brown stormed away.
"Professor."
He ignored Randy. He refused to do this again. He had finally gotten things straight with Debra. There was no way he would lose her now. Not for some young wannabe genius.
"One way or another...Rebecca will give up those coordinates."
"Professor!"
Brown stood outside Rebecca's office. He kicked in the doors. They fell away, revealing a stung Rebecca. She was talking to a man. He turned to face them.
The anger flew out of Brown. It was replaced with a lightheaded feeling. His feet started to buckle. He fought it.
"Oh my God!" Melissa gasped.
"It can't be," Randy managed.
Brown said nothing. His mouth was open, but no words came out. Rebecca walked over to him and smirked.
"I believe," Rebecca said, "you all know Richard Hall?"
THE-END
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