YEARS AGO...
Maggie Beckett stared at the spot in disbelief. just a few moments ago, Rembrandt Brown had jumped through an unstable wormhole, his blood full of a virus that could kill the Kromaggs. The Seer had said leaving his world would result in death. Maggie could only hope that Diana was right and Remmy sliding alone would change that fate.
"Now what do we do?" Mallory asked right next to her.
"Ah!"
Rembrandt Brown landed...softly. He looked down to see sand...everywhere. He frowned. Was this his Earth?
He looked up at the sky. It was clear. However there was two suns in the sky.
Rembrandt stood up. Definitely not his Earth. What now?
"Hey, you!"
Rembrandt turned. He frowned.
"You!" he spit out.
NOW...
Randy Heim made it to the corner. At the same time, he heard the beeping. He pulled out the timer and aimed. Light shot from the timer, hitting the wall. The wall dissolved into a blue vortex.
His companions jumped into it. Richard Hall, Melissa Clark, and Rebecca Pryce jumped in one after the other. Randy ran for the vortex, pausing for a moment to look back.
Two Cromagnon Kromaggs ran around the corner. They aimed their lasers. Randy didn't wait for them to fire. He jumped into the vortex.
Randy landed...hard. He looked down to see street. There were a few abandoned cars near by. Richard was a few feet away, helping Melissa up. Rebecca stared at Randy, her face blank. She been like that for days so randy ignored it and stood up. The vortex closed.
"Is everyone okay?" Randy asked.
"Well...this is a surprise."
Randy turned. He frowned.
"You!" Randy spit out.
WHAT IF YOU COULD LEAVE YOUR WORLD? WHAT IF YOU COULD SLIDE TO A DIFFERENT DIMENSION? PLACES WHERE YOU'RE THE SAME PERSON AND IT'S THE SAME YEAR, BUT EVERYTHING ELSE IS DIFFERENT?
A WORLD WHERE THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION IS IN FULL SWING?
OR
A WORLD WHERE EVOLUTION TOOK A DIFFERENT TURN AND EVERYONE HAS POWERS?
OR
A WORLD WHERE YOU ARE A SECRET AGENT?
FOUR YEARS AGO, MY FRIENDS AND I FOUND THE GATEWAY. NOW...ALL WE WANT IS TO GO HOME.
SLIDERS: ALTERNATE SPIN-SEASON 5
EPISODE 14: WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE (PART 1)
"Me."
Randy approached the girl staring at him. Her blond hair was in Indian braids. Her blue eyes stared at Randy with hatred. After all of this time Katherine Rye still looked at Randy with hatred like she did when they met.
"Kat--" Randy started.
Kat held up a gun. "Not another step, Randall."
Randy held up his hands. "Not Randall. Never was. Rebecca here used me in an experiment. Well...trump card. It's me. Randy."
"What?" Kat muttered, gun still aimed. "Do you think I'm daft? What--"
"It's true, Miss Rye," Rebecca said stepping forward. "After the Foundation was destroyed and the Kromaggs attacked, I needed a trump card. randy was it. Only way I could keep him hidden."
Kat tilted her head. "Really?" She aimed at Rebecca. "Then I blame you for the Kromaggs raining hell on this world."
"No!" Randy yelled.
"I thought you saints don't kill," Rebecca said.
"Not a saint," Kat said, her eyes on Randy. "Not anymore."
"What's going on with--"
Kat looked past Randy. Her eyes went wide.
"Saints preserve!" Kat exclaimed. "Richard?"
Randy turned to look behind him. Richard was holding Melissa up. He frowned.
"You're...Kat, right?" Richard said.
"Och," Kat said. She shook her head. "It canna be. Richard is dead. I saw it."
"Yea," Melissa said, "he is. but...this is Richard, too. Our Richard."
Kat frowned. "I dinna understand."
"Perhaps because you choose not to see what is right in front of you."
Kat rolled her eyes. She turned to look at the new figure. Randy looked as well. The new figure was a short-haired Kat...her double on this world. The last time the sliders had been here it was a world where all religions were one. Kat's double was in competition with Randy's double for becoming the First, The closet thing that world had to the Pope. Judging from the double's crimson robe, Randy felt she was still religious.
"Let me guess...," Kat started.
"Everything happens for a reason," Kat's double said. She looked at Randy. "So...what fresh hell have you decided to rain down on us now?"
"You okay?"
Richard looked away from the window. Melissa looked back at him. He was still getting used to her not looking like a goth with the shoulder length hair and green shirt with brown jeans. She looked at Richard with a look that was girl next door.
"Yea," Richard answered. "I'm cool."
"Are you sure? Kat's double said it's best we stay away from windows. Never know if the Kromaggs will do a sweep...or if some radical might come by."
"Hm," Richard said. "Maybe that would be a good thing."
"Richard--"
"I killed someone, Melissa," Richard said, looking at her.
"It was self-defense."
"Doesn't matter."
"Yes, it does. Is that what I am? Always getting people killed?"
"Your Other put you in a situation you shouldn't have been in."
"I'm a killer. Richard was so reckless. And if I keep remembering what it's like to be him...if I become him..."
Richard paused. Melissa stared at him in surprise. He turned away.
"For the last few worlds," Richard started, "I've been remembering things."
"But you already remembered Richard's life," Melissa said.
Richard looked at her again. "But now I remember the emotions behind them...as if I was physically there. As if I was Richard. And after Counterculture World...after the evil in my Other's eyes...I don't want to remember."
Melissa approached Richard. She reached for him.
"Richard wasn't all--" Melissa started.
Richard stepped away. "Maybe you should check on the others."
Richard looked back out of the window. The world here looked so desolated. It made him wonder what it was like. After a moment, he turned Melissa was gone. However, Kat stood in front of him.
"Hi," Kat said.
Rebecca leaned back against the wall. Her eyes focused on Kat's double. Randy followed suit from the couch. Kat's double stood before them.
"So," Rebecca began, "the 'Maggs did all this?"
Kat's double shook her head. "Sadly...no. We were already fragmented before the first manta ship appeared. My duplicate's crime sealed that."
Randy looked away. Even thought he was not in his mind, Randy still remembered the condition Kat was in when they showed up. The loss of her father and Richard. Sliding constantly to worlds full of violence. Being in a Kromagg camp. The shy girl...broke. She started to kill random people on various worlds, no reason except that she could. On this one her double was in a position of power so Kat killing a non-believer of this world's faith was the equivalent of a rich man gunning a bum in the middle of a public, busy street.
Randy frowned. "But Kat stayed."
Kat's double nodded. "That is true. I spent quite a few weeks getting to know her, calming a lot of her rage. She even decided to take responsibility for her crime. I thought that life imprisonment was a good penance. Jared Heim felt differently. His group wanted an eye for an eye. Our First would not hear of it. Violence begetting violence until we would be sucked into a vicious whirlwind. He even took it to the Head...who felt the same. However, the damage...had been done. Thus, the bombings began.
"Random people...dressed like any faith with a bracelet...walking in public places. They had...bombs attached to them. People were getting killed. So...it was the new First was chosen...your duplicate."
The double sat down. She covered her face.
"He just made it worse. People were killed in explosions on a daily basis. He...did what he thought best. He asked my duplicate...to train people to kill. And thus...violence beget violence...and we reaped the whirlwind." She looked up, her face full of tears. "And then...the Kromaggs came...and introduced true hell." Her eyes narrowed. "So...you can understand why I do not see your return as a blessing."
"Puh-leaze!" Rebecca exclaimed. "I think you give Randy too much credit."
Randy stood up. "I...think she's right, Rebecca."
Rebecca gasped in disgust. "A whole world asunder just because you left a killer on it?" She glared at Kat's double. "Maybe someone should have handle the precious Kat better."
Kat's double glared at Rebecca. "You know nothing of this world, stranger."
"Different worlds, same bull!" Rebecca said, kneeling in front of the double. "Admit it. Randy didn't fail. YOU did."
"By the Blessed Karmic Deity!" Kat's double exclaimed. She looked at Randy. "Where did you find this...woman?"
"Long story," Randy said, heading for the door. "Excuse me."
Rebecca shot up. "Randy!" She reached out for him. "Randy, wa--"
Randy moved away from Rebecca. "Don't touch me!"
"Ra--"
"Let me alone."
Randy turned back to the door Melissa stared at him. Looking at her right then...made him think of how he wronged her. He wronged all of them.
"I'm sorry," Randy said. "I'm so sorry."
Melissa frowned. Randy stormed out of the room.
"So," Richard started, "is it a good idea to do this?"
Kat smiled as they walked down the deserted sidewalk.
"Why you ask, Richard?" Kat asked, a hint of challenge in her voice. "Scared?"
"Me? No! However not in the mood to outrun a manta ship. Are you?"
"No," Kat said. "But get me some raiders. I could use the exercise."
Richard put his hands in his pockets. "So you can what? Kill them?"
Kat's face darkened. "If I have tae."
"Wow. The hint of the accent. Got 'ye,' Mute."
Kat paused. She stared at Richard. She reached out and touched his cheek. She leaned a little closer.
"I...dinna understand this," Kat said. "How can ye be him...but nae him?"
"Blame Rebecca," Richard said. "We all do."
"So how much of ye...Richard is in there?"
Richard frowned. "Apparently the part that kills."
"Richard isn't--"
"Nice try," Richard cut her off, moving forward. "I killed my Other. I got Nicole Harris killed. Better stay away. You might be next."
"I highly doubt it," Kat said.
Richard turned to face her. "Really? Why?"
"I don't see a killer in your eyes," Kat said, approaching him. Then she stared through him. "Can you say the same about my eyes?"
Richard did not know what to say. He saw the darkness beneath them. He knew...she could kill. He wondered what happened to make her go from shy girl to killer.
Suddenly, he heard it. He looked up quickly. Two manta ships shot through the air. They would be on them any moment.
YEARS AGO...
"How it feel, man?"
Rembrandt Brown turned to look at his...he refused to use the word savior. He glared.
"How do you think it feels, fool?" Rembrandt Brown demanded. "And this actually works?"
Conrad Bennish, Jr. sat back in his booth. He already looked like an idiot, but with the Eskimo hat full of ice on his head...he looked like a buffoon. Rembrandt looked around the bar. Everyone had on one of Bennish's Ice Caps...including Rembrandt.
"I don't see anyone else complaining," Bennish said. "Chill, dude."
"Another round of Evian, Mr. Bennish sir?" Kathy the waitress asked.
"Of course!" Bennish exclaimed. He leaned forward. "And your off time, too...if you don't mind."
Kathy giggled. She mouthed the word 'seven' and headed for the bar.
Rembrandt rolled his eyes. Of call the people to find on this world, why did it have to be Bennish? If it had been a Quinn, maybe he could have found a way to...
Then Rembrandt saw her. She had appear from the other side of the room. She was the only person in the bar without an Ice Cap. She had on a tank top, shorts, and a canteen. Bennish saw her and frowned. Then he shot up.
"Conform, babe!" Bennish yelled. "Resistance is futile."
The woman stopped and turned , her dark hair parting to reveal her face. Rembrandt gasped. He had only seen her once, but Quinn had told him all about Logan St. Clair. She glared at Bennish.
"Really, love?" Logan challenged in an English accent. "Then...resist this!"
"Logan gave him the English two finger salute and stormed out of the bar.
"That haggish little--" Bennish started.
"So," Rembrandt cut him off, an idea forming, "who was that...man?"
NOW...
Randy heard the humming sound of the manta ships. He didn't care. His thoughts were on Kat's double's words.
He had did this. He had set this in motion. He did it the moment that he invented his sliding machine. He did it when he interfered with different worlds with his ethics. Now people were dying cuz he refused to do anything about the Kromaggs. People died when he did something.
A trace of a smile crept onto Randy's face. It was hard to believe almost a year ago he was a Physics student who had turned his back on this life. Professor Brown and the government had wanted his help, but after the death of Ben's double due to his trances Randy wanted nothing to do with it. No more sliding.
Now everyone was after him like he was the next big thing. It made him think of that year that he searched for Quinn Mallory. So was Rembrandt Brown and Logan St. Clair. Quinn was the 'It' boy. He had hoped that would be the case so he could go back to his life. He wondered if his chip had did the trick, and Quinn was back to the Go-To guy on sliding. Then all he had to do was get home. Go back to a normal life.
Randy sighed sadly. He wished he had a normal life again. There was only one way that would happen though. He would have to defeat the Kromaggs...permanently. And he knew how to do that, but if someone died...
It was a chance he would have to take. Randy stood up. He took a deep breath.
Then...Randy gave himself over to a trance.
Richard made it into the alley quickly. A moment later, Kat was behind him. The humming was getting closer. Richard looked around for a moment. He saw a dumpster on one side. On the other side there was two trashcans and some boxes. He looked at Kat.
"Dump the trash cans," Richard said. "Then get in one."
"What?" Kat said.
"Do it!" Richard barked.
Richard grabbed a trash can quickly. As he threw its contents around the alley, Richard looked at Kat. She was doing the same with the other trash can. Good.
Richard dumped the trash can. He grabbed the lid and stepped in.
The humming sounded much closer He hoped it would pas by. A moment later, he felt his breath quicken.
It was right above them.
The elevator doors opened. Melissa stepped out of it. She was face-to-face with Kat's double.
"No sign, either?" Kat's double asked.
"None," Melissa said. "It's like Randy, Richard, and Kat fell off the face of the earth."
"I sent a few trusted friends out," Kat's double said, heading back to the room. "Perhaps they will turn up something before dark."
Melissa nodded. Still her mind raced. Given what Kat's double told her, she hoped they were not out there.
Kat's double opened the door. Melissa followed behind her. She bumped into her. The double had stopped.
"Why--" Melisa started.
Then she stopped. She looked in the direction Kat's double was looking. She frowned.
"Rebecca, why are you standing in Randy's bedroom door?" Melissa demanded.
Rebecca leaned against the doorway to Randy's door. She looked over at the two women.
"Oh," Rebecca said. "You're back. Good. So's Randy...kinda."
"What do you mean?" Melissa asked.
Rebecca gestured. "See for yourself."
Melissa frowned again, but she walked over. The frown left her face. Her jaw dropped.
Randy was in the room. At the moment he scribbled an equation on one of the walls. It wouldn't be too weird if it was just that wall. However, two other walls were completing full of equations.
"What is he doing?" Kat's double asked from behind Melissa.
"Randy tends to fall into little trances," Rebecca explained. "Put a new object in front of him, and he has to figure it out. Or when he wants to figure out something, he goes into them, and--what?"
Melissa had not realized she was staring coldly at Rebecca.
"Nothing," Melissa said quickly.
Rebecca glared. "What?"
"When did you become Randy's cheerleader?"
"I'm not his cheerleader! That was you...until you hooked up with Rich."
"What's going on with me?"
"Maybe I'm concerned. He's never been like--"
"You're not caring."
"You should talk, Mother Teresa."
"Ladies--" Kat's double started.
"We all know who you are, Rebecca. You'll never change. It'll always be about Number One."
Rebecca glared. "What he sees in you I just don't see it."
Melissa glared back. "Why are you even still here?"
Melissa felt a feeling in the back of her head. Her Other. Before she died, her Other kept playing games. Hinting that Rebecca was up to something."
Melissa's eyes widened. "You're up to something."
"What?" Rebecca shrieked.
"That's why you're still here," Melissa said. "It's a con. Planning to betray us?"
"You, maybe. Randy...no."
"Ladies--" Kat's double tried again.
Melissa laughed bitterly. "Why? Cuz you actually care?"
"You little--"
Suddenly, Randy came flying out of his room. Melissa and Rebecca flew to the floor. Melissa looked at Kat's double. She still stood, a result of stepping back. She shook her head at the two of them.
"I tried to warn you two, but--" Kat's double started.
"Kat," Rebecca said, trying to stand, "shut up."
Melissa looked over at Randy. At the moment, he was on the other side of the room, studying the wall as if he had never seen one. Melissa stood up.
"Randy?" Melissa uttered.
Randy headed to the door. He paused. He turned and looked at her. His eyes were completely devoid of feelings. It was like staring at a robot.
"Endgame," Randy muttered.
"Huh?" Melissa said.
Randy walked out the door without another word. Melissa started after him, but got jerked back. She turned to find Rebecca had her arm. She snatched her arm away.
"Don't touch me," Melissa said.
"I got this," Rebecca said, starting to leave.
Melissa blocked her way. "I don't think so."
"If he runs into trouble, I can fight."
"So can I."
"The only reason you care is because Richard's not here. You're nine months too late to be Randy's girlfriend. Excuse me."
Melissa did not know what to say. She turned to see Rebecca close the door behind her. She looked at Kat's double. The double only shrugged her shoulders.
It had been a while. It was now or never. Richard stood up, lid on his head.
There was no more humming. There was no Kromaggs. He looked at the other trash can.
"Ally, ally out and free!" Richard exclaimed.
Kat shot up out of the trash can. "I dinna get it."
Richard got out of the trash can. "Then whey did you stand up?"
"Your voice. So...whiny."
Richard headed for the alley entrance.
"I don't whine," Richard protested.
"That's a whine," Kat said, walking beside him.
"How about we head back to--" Richard started.
He stopped. Two men approached from the other side of the street. They were dressed in grays. Their stubble showed they had not seen a mirror in a while. They both had guns.
"Look at this!" one of them, a bulky man exclaimed. "It's her! The one who brought this down on us."
"I see, Luke," The other man, a tall thin man said. "How about we dice her now?"
"Hey!" Richard said, waving his hands. "Why dice?"
"Is it obvious?"
Luke and his friend turned around. A new figure emerged. Richard's eyes widened. It was a double of the egghead., with a scruffy beard and gray clothes. He glared at Kat.
"That murderer killed my brother," Randall Heim said, aiming his gun. "So, yes...there will be dicing."
Randy blinked, knocking himself right out of his trance. He frowned. What could possibly pull him out of his trance. Randy looked down.
"Oh," Randy uttered.
Bodies. There were mutilated bodies in front of him. They had been tore limb to limb. Guts, detached hands, eyeballs. In fact, the blood was fresh.
Randy looked around. That meant that the killer could still be here. He backed away.
"There you are! I--"
Randy turned around. Rebecca stopped running. Her eyes widened on the carnage.
"Oh my...," Rebecca lost her words.
Randy grabbed her arm. "We need to go. I think whoever did this...is still here."
"Who?" Rebecca muttered. "Isn't it obvious? The Kromaggs cut these people down."
"No," Randy said. "This...wasn't laserfire. And Kromaggs loved eyeballs." His eyes widened. "I believe...this...was human."
"I would have to agree."
Randy turned around. His eyes stayed wide. Rebecca jumped away from the new figure who stood right in front of them.
"How the hell did you get here?" Rebecca demanded.
Randy flinched. It had been months since they had seen Professor Darnell Brown. The last time they had seen him, Professor Brown was fighting two sets of Kromaggs with this telekinetic powers. He stared at the two of him, his eyes full of amusement.
"Mr. Heim. Ms. Pryce," Professor Brown said, "what are you two doing with these bodies?"
YEARS AGO...
Rembrandt knocked on the door. It took a few moments. Then the door fell open. Logan stared at Rembrandt in surprise.
"Can I help you?" Logan asked.
"I hope so," Rembrandt said. He managed a smile. "You know you're a hard gal to find."
Logan put a hand on her hip, her face a grimace. "Yea...proud myself on that. Joke's over." Logan started to slam the door.
"Hey! Wait!" Rembrandt exclaimed. "Not a joke. I need your help."
Logan paused. Her face looked skeptic.
"Really?" Logan uttered.
"Yea," Rembrandt said. "Bennish told me--"
"I knew it!" Logan shrieked, glaring at Rembrandt. "This is Bennish's idea of a joke. You can kiss my--"
Rembrandt threw up his hands. "No, really! No joke! I really need your help."
"A friend of Mr. Ice Cap? I don't think so," Logan said. "Good day. Lose my address." She started to slam the door again.
"I came here through a wormhole!" Rembrandt yelled.
Logan paused. Her eyes widened.
"What did you just say?" Logan asked.
"You heard me," Rembrandt continued. "This isn't my Earth and I need to get to my Earth to save it from Kromaggots."
Logan opened her door.
"Come right on in," she said. "We have a LOT to talk about."
NOW...
Randy stared at Professor Brown. Rebecca jumped forward before he could anything. Her eyes narrowed on him.
"What are you doing here?" Rebecca demanded. "With dead bodies to boot!"
Brown looked at Randy. "Mr. Heim, could you leash your girlfriend?"
Rebecca's eyes widened, a mixture of shock and fury. Randy stepped forward. He touched her hand to calm her.
"I...was in a trance," Randy said. "This..this knocked me out of it."
"Yeah," Rebecca said, her eyes on Randy's hand in hers. "He had just said he thought a human did it."
Brown looked at Randy. "I did not do it."
Rebecca tilted her head. "We only have your word for that."
"A word that is more trustworthy than yours, Ms. Pryce...no matter how well you excel in Mr. Heim's bedroom."
Rebecca shot forward. She swung out, intending to slap Brown. Her hand stopped in mid-air. It was like invisible hands had her. Brown's eyes narrowed.
"Have a care, witch," Brown warned. "I will not hesitate to leave you a vegetable."
"You can let her go, Professor," Randy said.
Rebecca's hand fell to the ground. Rebecca rubbed it, her eyes on Brown. Brown turned to stare at the bodies.
"The handiwork does look extremely familiar," Brown said. " However it is not me. Perhaps a mystery for another time?"
"Agreed," Randy said. "How did you get here?"
Brown looked at Randy. "How do you think? I was brought here." He managed a smile. "I managed to escape."
"That's a shame," Randy said.
Brown frowned. "Why?"
"We're going back in," Randy said, "and deal with this once and for all."
Randy's double glared at Kat. "Any last words, murderer."
"Aye," Kat said, a smirk on her face. "Duck."
The double frowned. "What are--"
Everyone turned to look in the direction Kat looked. Before Richard could react, Kat flipped forward. She did another flip, landing next to one of Randy's double. She socked him in the jaw. Before Randy's double's other man could react, Kat already had a gun on him and fired. She flipped again and kicked Randy's double in the face. Richard stood in the same spot, jaw dropped.
"Whoa," Richard said.
Kat stared at him, a smirk on her face.
"How about--" Kat started. Then she looked past Richard. "Och."
Richard turned around. He had no time to react as the manta ship shot a red beam at him. Everything went black.
Melissa paced. This...nothingness was not helping. She had never felt so...useless."
"I am sure they are fine."
Melissa turned to look at Kat's double. She sat on the couch, her eyes on Melissa. Melissa frowned.
"How can you be sure?" Melissa asked.
"Your group has been traveling for...years now," Kat's double said. "Someone must be protecting you for you to be able to still be among the living."
"Perhaps."
"We live. We die. We are reborn. And you have probably seen a lot. Blessings. Horrors. Yet you still exist. Something...someone guides you. So I am sure that someone will protect Randy." She stood up. "I am going to meditate. Will you be all right?"
Melissa stared at the door. Kat's double was day to Kat's night apparently. It was interesting.
'I at least expect better from Rebecca.'
Melissa frowned. It had been weeks since she thought about her Other. There was no love lost between them. She reminded Melissa of who she was when Melissa first started sliding, but was darker. And it appeared that she was trying to clue Melissa into something before she died. Something having to do with Randy...and Rebecca.
'Think you can spell it out?'
Melissa shot up, remembering the Other's words. She paced again. Before Professor Brown vanished, he and Randy appeared to have put Rebecca in her place. Since then Rebecca appeared to be closer to Randy. It was not a big deal. Randy knew how much of a con artist she could be.
'He doesn't love you.' the Other had said to Rebecca.
'He?' Melissa had said. 'Who's--'
'You're nine months too late to be Randy's girlfriend.'
Why should Rebecca care what Melissa felt for Randy? Why would--
Melissa's eyes widened. "Oh."
Melissa stormed to her room. She grabbed her jacket. Then she headed out the door.
Randy and she needed to talk. God help Rebecca if she crossed Melissa's path first.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Rebecca asked.
"You can always head back to the Dominion, Ms. Pryce," Brown said on the other side of Randy.
"You wish."
"This has to be done," Brown said.
"Exactly," Randy said, turning to look at Rebecca. He reached and touched her hand. He squeezed, causing her to look at him and frowned.
"What are you doing?" Rebecca asked.
"Good question," Brown commented.
Rebecca snatched her hand. Randy frowned. Then he looked forward.
"I'm not Melissa," Rebecca said. "I don't need comforting."
"Could have fooled me," Randy said, "but okay."
"We're here," Brown said.
Randy stared at the building they stood across from. It was very reminiscent of the solid black building they had encountered many worlds ago. The world they lost Brown on. It was more like a shire than a skyscraper. Above Randy made out manta ships. They kept circling above, bring to mind TIE fighters from the Star Wars movies.
Randy looked at the entrance. It was guided by Cromagnon Kromaggs. He looked at Brown.
"What do you think?" Randy asked.
"I think I can take them out easily," Brown commented. "Shall I?"
"No, you shall not."
Randy grinned. "I figured you would show up." He turned around. "Hello, Mary."
Mary stood behind them. She stared at the threesome with mild amusement. Her eyes fell on Brown.
"We come full circle," Mary said.
"So it would appear," Brown said.
Mary looked at Randy. "And now the Dynasty has both of their most important factors. The other one awaits."
Randy frowned. "Other One?"
Richard opened his eyes. He heard murmurs. He started to move, but found nothing moved. Then his eyes adjusted.
He was against the wall. It was like some unseen force pushed down on his chest. It was one of those anti-gravity walls he, Melissa, and Rebecca had been against on that Kromagg prison world.
"He's moving."
"Well, it's about time."
Richard frowned for a moment. Then his eyes widened. Recognition hit.
"Oh, no way!" Richard exclaimed.
"Oh, yes way!" Robert Bufford exclaimed next to the tech at the console on the other side of the room. "Where are your Others at?"
"None of your business!" Richard snapped.
"If the Kromaggs didn't need your skinny a--" Bufford started.
"Bufford," the tech, a short-haired black woman warned.
"Of course," Bufford said. "Must obey the masters."
"They are the reason you are here," the tech said, her face blank.
"That and the fact that I worked with the Arturo Foundation," Bufford said. "And that I had enough of a brain to almost repeat Rebecca Pryce's experiment."
"Experiment?"
Richard barely managed to turn his head. Kat blinked.
"Yes," Bufford said. "This guy...is a clone with implanted memories. He's not even human. Since he had no emotions attached to his memories, the Kromaggs wanted to repeat it...but there was no other success...except for one."
"One...," Richard uttered.
There was only one clone left. He had destroyed all the tubes that the other clones were in. There was one that he didn't destroyed due to lack of time.
"Yea," Bufford said. "he was perfect. There was already downloaded memories in him so the Kromaggs upgraded him. He excels in killing." He smiled. "They want more like him so that's why you are here and Rebecca is coming."
"No," Richard said.
"I wonder where your 'double' is now," Bufford said.
Melissa ducked behind a trash bin. The footsteps passed by quickly. Melissa took a peek. They were Cromagnon soldiers. She waited until they passed. Then she shot up and headed in the opposite direction. She took a moment to look behind her. She bumped into someone. She turned back to look. It was Richard. He stared at her blankly.
"Richard?" Melissa said. "Where have you been? Where's Kat? Have you seen--"
"They...got them," Richard said simply.
"We got to get them before the slide," Melissa said
.
Richard smiled. "Yea. The slide."
Melissa frowned. "Are you okay?"
"Uh...yea," Richard said. "Just...the bodies Kat and I saw before...there's a killer out there." He stared at her. "We need reinforcement. Let's go."
Melissa nodded and helped out of the alley. She missed the smirk on Richard's face. Then he followed.
YEARS AGO...
Rembrandt stared at the device. It was shaped like a mini-remote. He looked over at Logan who was standing over a console.
"Are you sure this is going to work?" Rembrandt asked. "You did say it was one way."
Logan looked up. "I'm positive. And if it does not work I will be monitoring you from here. I can piggyback behind you."
Rembrandt stared around for one more moment. "Still can't believe it. A manta ship."
Logan grinned. "Yea. My home for two years...reformed by rock. Thank you for information."
Rembrandt aimed the remote at a wall. It quickly dissolved into a red wormhole. He ran and jumped in.
"Ah!"
Rembrandt fell on his butt. The wormhole crossed behind him. He looked around to see he was in some basement. Then his eyes fell on a figure.
"Oh, no!" Rembrandt exclaimed. "Not again!"
"Whoa!" Conrad Bennish, Jr. said, holding up hands. "Quinn was right. That is cool."
"Q-ball?" Rembrandt uttered. "I'm not home?"
"Man," Bennish said. "You have any idea how many people are looking for you guys?"
"Looking for--" Rembrandt started.
He looked around. His eyes widened. He had seen it several times back when he, Professor Arturo, Quinn, and Wade first slid. He was in Quinn's basement.
"We have to move," Bennish said, "before the FBI gets a beat on me again."
"FBI?" Rembrandt asked. "What about the Kromaggs?"
Bennish frowned.
"What's a Kromagg?"
Logan landed on the platform. She looked over at the old man. She smiled.
"Hello, Charles," Logan said.
"Logan," Charles said. "Our computer detected something in your system this time."
"I met a Rembrandt double," Logan explained. "He had an airborne anti-Kromagg virus. I think this will help the duplicates on this world."
Charles smiled. "Good. Then get tagged and explore. Do not forget to stop by the library to write down your adventures."
Logan grinned. "I won't."
She had only been here once. A world full of other travelers from other dimensions. It was her first experimental slide...her only slide. She could never find the way back...until she met Rembrandt and gave her an idea.
Logan headed out of the room. It was time to enjoy Outpost World. Maybe with Remmy's stories, she could really do something with the technology.
Time will tell...
NOW...
Randy saw it. He grabbed Rebecca before she could lunge at the figure walking toward them. Brown glared at the black-suited figure.
"Carly Reynolds," Brown said.
"Darnell Brown," Carly Reynolds said. She turned to look at Rebecca. "Rebecca."
"You little--" Rebecca started.
"Some of us can actually have loyalty, Rebecca," Carly said. "Besides, the Kromaggs needed Bufford and mine's help. Now we need yours."
"No way!" Rebecca hissed.
Carly crossed her arms over my chest.
"Then," Carly said, "you are expendable."
Randy heard murmurs from behind him. He turned. Two Cromagnon Kromaggs advanced toward them, lasers out. He looked at Mary.
"She dies," Randy said, "I die."
Mary held up a hand. The murmurs stopped. Randy looked at Rebecca. She cocked an eyebrow.
"Go with her," Randy said.
"But--" Rebecca started.
"I'll be fine."
"But--"
Randy touched her shoulder. "Trust me."
Rebecca flinched. Randy frowned. They have been acting pretty cosy. What did this mean?
"You do realize that in order to sue you to your full potential," Mary said, "we will be heading to the homeworld."
Randy looked at Mary. "Yes."
Koranus exited the cyberaid's vortex. The cyberaid followed. It closed behind them. Koranus looked at Karlus and Kerra.
"Any signs?" Koranus asked.
Karlus looked at Koranus. "None."
"Doesn't appear the Cromagnons detected us," Kerra added.
Koranus looked at the cyberaid. "Well?"
"Your tracker on Project 54 works well," the cyberaid said. She grinned. Target found."
Richard fell to the floor. He turned to look at Kat. She was still held against the wall. Before Richard could react, two Cromagnons grabbed him off the floor. He struggled to no avail.
"Can't we just shoot--" Bufford started.
"Bufford."
Bufford glared at the tech. She looked at him calmly.
"Do not make me get out of this chair," she said.
"I see the subject has waken up. Good."
Richard looked behind Bufford and the tech. Carly Reynolds came out of the shadows. A frowning Rebecca stood behind her. Richard frowned.
"Rebecca?" Richard uttered.
"Randy asked me to help," Rebecca said.
"Do you know they want to repeat your clone experiment?" Richard demanded. "That they turned one into a killer."
"You cannot make one a killer if one is already one...Mr. Hall."
Rebecca frowned. So did Richard. He knew the tone of the voice. As for the voice it was eerily familiar. They were attached to two different people. One was long since dead. And the other...
The figure came out of the shadows. Richard's jaw dropped. He stared...at himself. It was a self that barely noticed the unconscious Melissa in his arms. His cold eyes were on Richard. He tilted his head. Richard frowned, something in the back of his head clicking.
Stab, stab, stab.
Blood.
A bald man with glasses, his hands behind his back.
Richard's eyes widened. Oh my God, all the emotions...everything that made him Richard...came back in a rush.
"Mr. Stone," Richard said.
"Yes," Stone-in-Richard said. "Long time no see. And judging by your eyes something else is back as well. Welcome back, Richard Hall."
Randy stood next to Brown. Mary stood in front of them. She held out a device. A beam of red light shot from it into a wall. The wall dissolved into a circle of red light.
"Are you sure you want to do this, Mr. Heim?" Brown asked.
Randy stared at Brown. "That actually sounded like concern, Professor."
"Perhaps it sounds like concern because it was," Brown said.
Randy cocked an eyebrow. "Is it?"
Brown frowned. "I do not like your tone."
"How long have you been gone, Professor?" Randy challenged. "Who's to say you don't have an agenda?"
"Are you two coming?" Mary asked.
Randy stared at Brown. Brown stared back. Neither of them moved.
"Yes," Randy finally said.
He stared to move toward the red vortex. Then he heard it. A whir. He quickly turned just in time to see a blue vortex emerged out of thin air in front of him.
"What--" Randy started.
The whir sounded off. A figure appeared from it. Randy's eyes widened. It was Quinn Mallory, long brown hair blowing in the vortex's wind.
"Randy," Quinn said, "I can't let you do this."
TO BE CONTINUED...
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