MONTHS AGO...

  It felt like a dream to him. He ran down a corridor, his forehead damp with sweat. He turned to see this silvery liquid flowing toward him like molten lava. No matter how slow it was, the liquid seem to be keeping up with him. Worse, it got closer.
  He turned a corner. His face lit up. There was a door. He quickly ran to it and opened it. It opened out onto a breezy San Francisco day. He turned to see that the silvery liquid had made it around the corner. He started to step through the door.
  Then...he was jerked back. He fell to the floor. He looked at his leg. A tentacle had shot out from the silver liquid and wrapped around his leg. Before he could grab anything he shot backward and landed in the liquid like he was cannonballing into a swimming pool. He started screaming only to find the liquid shooting down his moth. His eyes widened. Then he knew.

  "Ah!"
  Quinn Mallory shot up. He heaved quick breaths. His chest was full of sweat. He felt like his eyes were about to all out.
  "Quinn?"
  Quinn looked at Wade Welles. She sat up in bed with a look of concern on her face.
  "Quinn, are you--" Wade started.
  "I...I remember," Quinn said. "I...remember the equations. Theories. 'Hyperspace.' Sliding. Randy's chip worked."

NOW...

  Randy Heim stood face to face with him. It was Quinn Mallory...the original inventor of the sliding device. He stared at Randy with such intensity as a blue vortex spiraled behind him.
  "Randy," Quinn said, "I can't let you do this."
  "This has to end, Quinn," Randy said.
  "The Kromaggs can't be trusted," Quinn said. "They want to destroy us all."
  "All my masters want," Mary said, "is to go home."
  Quinn's eyes widened. "Mary?" He shook his head. "It's not going to work. There is a Slidecage around your world. There is no way to bypass it!"
  "Wanta bet?" Randy challenged.
  "Don't do this," Quinn begged.
  "Have no choice," Randy said.
  The blue vortex whirred. Another figure jumped out of it. They rolled across the group and flipped over A gun was aimed at Randy's head.
  "I beg to differ," Maggie Beckett said.

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 15: WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE (PART 2)(S5 season finale)

  "Miss Beckett--" Professor Darnell Brown started.
  "Don't 'Miss Beckett' me, Brown," Maggie said.
  The blue vortex whirred two more times. Randy recognized Mallory and Rembrandt Brown. As the vortex closed, Rembrandt took a look at the scene. His eyes widened as he saw Mary.
  "Mary?" Rembrandt uttered. Then he saw Maggie. "Maggie!"
  What's it going to be, Randy?" Maggie asked. "Are you standing down or not?"
  Randy stared at the scene around. He focused on Maggie.
  "Not," Randy declared. "Brown."
  Brown waved a hand, sending Maggie flying into a wall. Randy dashed for Mary's red vortex.
  "Randy!" Quinn yelled.
  "Too late!" Randy yelled. Then he jumped into the vortex.

  Richard stared at him. His body shook from fear. It shook from anger. He remembered how the cyborg Mr. Stone tortured him on numerous occasions. He remembered Mr. Stone's obsession with him. He remembered Mr. Stone...killed him.
  Now Mr. Stone stood in front of Richard, sporting a new look. He was the spinning image of Richard. His essence had been implanted into one of his clones. He held an unconscious Melissa in his arms.
  "And judging by your eyes, something else is back as well. Welcome back, Richard Hall." Stone-in-Richard said.
  "What are you talking about?"
  Richard looked over at Rebecca Pryce. She knocked her rival Carly Reynolds out of the way and stormed over to Stone. He continued to stared at Richard with an unnerving glee.
  "What I am talking about Mrs. Pryce," Stone said, "is the fact that our experiment was a smashing success. Look at him. We knew we could implant memories in a human being. But could implanting them in a blank slate make said slate that person?"
  Rebecca stared at Richard. Her eyes widened. Stone saw it and smirked.
  "Yes," Stone said, "he's...in essence...back. Aren't you?"
  "This is all nice," Carly said, stepping forward, "but does this mean it can be repeated?"
  "Of course," Stone said.
  "Then let us start," Carly said.
  Carly nodded. The Cromagnon soldiers holding Richard started to move. He struggled, but they held him firm. He looked at Stone.
  "Look at you!" Richard exclaimed. "You couldn't even come back in a decent body...like your own."
  Stone smirked. "I like this body. It makes up for it in interesting ways."
  "But if someone kills it, do you download?" Richard asked. "I doubt it. So...I guess that means you're like everyone el--"
  Stone dropped Melissa and lunged at Richard. He grabbed Richard by the throat and held him up. The Cromagnon guards backed off.
  "Does that look like everyone else to you?" Stone challenged.
  "No," Richard managed. "However...looks like...A)I still know...how to...piss off people...and B)...there's a little me...inside you." Richard smirked. "How...you like it?"
  Stone swung Richard away from him. His back hit the console. He slid to the floor. He managed to look up.
  "Yea...still good," Richard managed.
  Stone stepped forward. Carly stepped forward.
  "I don't think so," Carly said. "We are doing as the Kromaggs wish."
  "I will do as I please," Stone said.
  "With Rebecca here, you are not so inexpendable now," Carly said. "Maybe you should think."
  Stone lunged forward. "Wrong move."
  Rebecca blocked his way. "Oh, no. Let me."
  Rebecca turned around and backhanded Carly. She turned to Stone.
  "Now, how about--" Rebecca started.
  Suddenly, a red wormhole shot open. Stone turned to look. Richard shot up quickly. He ran to the console and pushed buttons.
  Katherine Rye was held to the wall by antigravity. With gravity restored, she gasped and fell to the floor. Stone turned to see Richard.
  "No, you--" Stone started.
  A figure emerged from the wormhole. It was a cyberaid. She quickly waved a hand, sending Stone flying into a wall. New figures emerged. It was Karlus and Kerra. They opened fire on the Cromagnon soldiers. The soldiers returned fire.
  Richard ran and picked up Melissa. He headed away from the fight. He turned to see Kat was right behind him. He also saw Rebecca staring at them.
  "You coming?" Richard asked.
  "Hold on," Rebecca said. Then she ran over to Carly and punched her. "Okay. I'm good."

  Brown fell out of the vortex. His butt hit hard around. Judging from the...fuzzy feeling under his hands, he landed on grass...not metal. He smiled and looked up.
  "Good God!" Brown exclaimed, his eyes widening.
  Trees. Giant...in length and width...trees were overhead. There were spots that were clear and you could see sky, but trees were everywhere. He could make one gray in parts of the branches. Platforms.
  "Well, you did warn me."
  Brown looked over at Randy. He was a few feet away, standing. He looked down at a sitting Mary. She started standing.
  "I did," Mary said. "The masters wanted to make this world as close to their homeworld as possible."
  "I see," Randy said. "You do realize that your old world probably isn't as environmentally sound as it was."
  Mary stared at Randy. "Yes. However...it is still home. Should my masters have been vanished due to the war between the Atlantians and the humans? They were continents away."
  "Still," Brown said, "they were offworld conquering worlds same as their contemporaries."
  Mary looked over at Brown. "Only for survival...not conquest."
  "Say that to Quinn Mallory," Brown shot back.
  "Brown," Randy said. "Whether it's right or wrong, they are interfering in other worlds. IF this will stop it, so be it."
  "Do you--"
  "Mary, how do we head up?" Randy said, cutting Brown off.
  Mary walked over to a tree. Randy followed suit. Brown glared at both of them. He took a step.
  Then it hit him. Vertigo. It was just a moment, but it felt like his world had gone inside out, causing him to gasp. Then everything was normal again. Mary touched a tree. A set of double doors morphed into it. They opened, revealing an elevator.
  Brown headed forward a frown on his face. Hopefully, the weird feeling would not come back. The last thing he needed was the unexpected.

  Melissa woke up to her body being juggled. She looked up to see it was Richard. She stiffened, causing Richard to pause.
  "It's me, Melissa," Richard said.
  Melissa frowned with skepticism.
  "Stone doesn't know how to piss you off. Trust me. I can."
  Melissa giggled. Richard put her down. She saw there were in a hallway with black walls. She could only assume they were in the Kromagg base. She looked behind Richard. Kat was running with them. Then she saw Rebecca. She stopped in front of them.
  "Oh," Rebecca said. "I see she wo--"
  Melissa punched Rebecca in the jaw. Rebecca fell to the floor.
  "Melissa--" Richard started.
  "You're sleeping with Randy, aren't you?" Melissa spit out.
  Rebecca looked up at her She glared.
  "Yes," Rebecca answered.
  "You conniving b--" Melissa started.
  "No time!" Richard yelled. "If we live, then you can catfight."
  Melissa glared down at Rebecca. Then she started running, turning a corner. She gasped.
  "Well," Maggie Beckett said. "Fancy meeting you here."

MONTHS AGO...

  "I do not think I would classify him as genius," Professor Maximillion Arturo commented.
  Wade Welles looked up from her magazine. "Professor!"
  "I only feel that if he was a genius, Miss Welles, that his little chip would have worked on Mr. Mallory and myself sooner. Agree, Mr. Mallory?"
  Quinn Mallory mumbled from his seat at the table. He did not notice the frown Professor Arturo gave him. He also did not notice Rembrandt Brown look up from his book. He and Wade always at in the lab with them as they tried to piece together sliding equations. It was like they had never been separated.
  "The more things change, huh, Professor?" Rembrandt asked. "It was a blow to the ego losing parts of the brain."
  Arturo narrowed his eyes on Rembrandt. Wade shot up.
  "Guys!" Wade said. "Just think...we made it. Finally made it home. And no Kromaggs."
  "Now, Miss Welles," Arturo said. "No Kromaggs now. Mr. Heim bought us a reprieve. Nothing more. I think we know they will be back. They have these coordinates after all."
  Wade frowned.
  "They're not the only 'Maggs, Professor," Rembrandt said. "It could happen at any time." He frowned. "I thought my virus would have done more."
  Wade sat down again. She touched Rembrandt's shoulder.
  "Didn't it?" Wade said. "It's only over the last few years that the Kromaggs have been warring again. Those...ones I remember have to wear suits now."
  Rembrandt said, "Still not dead."
  "Yet," Arturo replied.
  "Di says that is all they are doing now," Rembrandt said. "Warring. It's only a matter of time before they focus back in on us."
  "Done!" Quinn announced.
  Everyone looked at him. Quinn held up the device. This time it was the size of a small T-mobile cell phone. Quinn looked at everyone and smiled.
  "So," Quinn said, "who wants to take another spin around the multiverse?"

NOW...

  "Maggie?" Melissa managed.
  Maggie hugged Melissa. "Good to see someone still kicking some butt."
  "What are you doing here?" Melissa asked.
  "Trying to find you crazy guys."
  Melissa looked past Maggie. She smiled. "Rembrandt!" She looked past him. "Quinn? Mallory??"
  "We need to get out of here," Quinn announced.
  "No way!" Rebecca yelled. "Not without Randy!"
  Melissa turned to glare at her. She had some nerve...
  "He's not here," Quinn said. "He's already gone with Mary."
  Quinn aimed a device at one of the walls. The wall dissolved into a blue wormhole. He jumped into it.
  Melissa watched the others jump into it. Finally, it was just Rebecca and Melissa. Melissa glared at her. Rebecca jumped into the wormhole. Melissa followed, wondering what Randy was thinking.

  Randy's eyes widened. The lab...was composed in a giant tree. It had high ceilings and Randy was sure there was a way for ships to lift off from in here.
  "You look impressed," Mary commented.
  Randy looked at her. "I am impressed."
  "If you need anything," Mary said, "John, Will, and myself will be available at all times."
  "And you have guards outside the door," Professor Brown commented.
  Randy turned to look at Brown. He frowned at him. Brown focused on Mary. She turned and faced him.
  "Yes," Mary said. " These are troubled times. Who can say we were not tracked here by our enemies?" She turned to Randy. "Good luck."
  Mary left the lab. Randy stared after her for a moment. Then he glared at Brown.
  "What is up with you?" Randy demanded.
  Brown crossed his arms over his chest. "How naive are you, Mr. Heim? There is no way they will let us out of here once you do what they want."
  "I'm dead regardless," Randy said, turning to look about the lab.
  "This might not have been the best of ideas. At least not without backup."
  "Professor...you are the backup."
  "You flatter, Mr. Heim. However, I did not believe you trusted me so much."
  "I don't," Randy said, putting his hands on his hips and looking up. "However...what choice do I have? We want the same thing...an end to this Kromagg mess. And I think when the chips are down, you will pull me back."
  Brown frowned. "Back? Back from where?"
  Randy gave no answer. Instead he reached into his shirt and pulled out some papers. Brown ventured over to Randy and looked over his shoulder. There was a picture of some circular device surrounded by equations. Randy stared at Brown, causing Brown to step back.
  Randy's eyes were blank. He studied Brown. His head tilted to the right.
  "Endgame," Randy uttered.

  Kat rolled herself on the window sill. She was oblivious to Richard looking at her. He had been in the door leaning against it. Kat had been like this since they left the Dominion for this lab inside the Design building.
  "Any change?"
  Richard turned around. Melissa stood behind him. He shook his head.
  "Been like this since she saw her double's dead body," Richard said. "Kat's always reacted strongly to her doubles though."
  Melissa frowned. She reached out and touched Richard's cheek. He flinched.
  "Wha?" Richard said.
  "How you said that," Melissa said, her dark eyes looking into Richard's. "You're truly...acting like..."
  "Myself," Richard said. "Seeing...well, hearing Mr. Stone triggered something. It's me." He held Melissa. "How you feeling?"
  "He didn't hurt me," Melissa said. "He settled for killing everyone around me."
  "And now he is dead."
  Richard looked over at the window sill. Kat looked at them. Her eyes were full of fury.
  "Uh...is that wise, Kat?" Richard asked. "It's been a while, but I'm sure you remember how lethal Stone could be."
  Kat narrowed her eyes on Richard. "You're alive."
  "Do you have a clone body sitting around?" Richard shot back.
  Kat shot up. "If you remember Stone so well, you know he'll be coming for us. Especially you."
  "Hopefully, we won't be here," Melissa said. "We'll be wherever Randy is."
  Kat laughed bitterly. "So...I am back tae sliding."
  "Where else would yo go?" Melissa demanded. "There's no one here."
  "Uh...guys."
  Richard looked behind Melissa. Mallory ran toward them.
  "We got a problem," Mallory said.

  "What do you mean we can't head to their world?" Rebecca demanded.
  Melissa entered the room with Richard, Kat, and Mallory. Rebecca was on one side of a table with Rembrandt behind her. Quinn was on the other side, Maggie behind him.
  "Does he have to say it again?" Maggie asked. "They're cloaked."
  Rebecca glared. "I didn't ask you."
  Maggie glared back. "Told you anyway. Where did you start caring about Randy?"
  "When she started sleeping with him," Melissa said. Rebecca glared at her, but she ignored it. "What's going on?"
  "We're going after Randy indirectly," Quinn said.
  "Yeah," Rembrandt added. "Since the 'Maggs world is cloaked, there's only one way to go."
  "The slidecage," Maggie said. "If they are using him for weapons, chances are they are going to use him to get through it. So...once Quinn finds a way to bypass the ricochet affect he set up there, we're be there waiting." She looked at Rebecca. "Someone disagreed."
  "Randy might be dead before that!" Rebecca snapped.
  "Unlikely," Melissa said. "They still need him."
  Rebecca turned on Melissa. "They do. Special Agent Brown doesn't."
  "Darnell--" Rembrandt started.
  "--is working for the Kromaggs!" Rebecca replied. "When he gets his chance, he will move. We should go now."
  "I think what Melissa said is right," Richard said. "They need him. I doubt they'll kill him yet."
  Rembrandt touched Rebecca's shoulder. "Either way, it is going to take time for Q-ball to do his magic. Mallory is standing guard. How about we all get some sleep and--"
  "I thought you cared about him," Rebecca said, glaring at Melissa. "I guess if he doesn't want you, it doesn't matter."
  "It's not like that at all," Melissa said, feeling her anger build.
  "Puh-leaze!" Rebecca exclaimed. "You punched me earlier. Jealous?"
  "I think she's just fine," Richard said, wrapping an arm around Melissa's wrist. "However...you sure are acting like a mad black woman."
  Rebecca smirked. "And we know you want him dead...both of you."
  "Water under the bridge," Richard said.
  "Is it?" Rebecca challenged. "Weren't you mad that he kept Earth coordinates from you. Didn't you want to kill him before Stone killed you?"
  Richard said nothing. Melissa looked at him. Richard's eyes said it.
  Rebecca stormed for the door. "Good night."

  He could feel it in the darkness. He could not move however, he felt it in his bones. The closer it got, the more his body tingled. His head grew light-headed as if he would fall unconscious. He fought it down. Then he used every ounce of his strength to shot up. Like a panther, the black ooze jumped at him. It devoured him whole.

  "Ah!"
  Brown breathed in quickly. His forehead was full of sweat. He started to turn, but he realized he wasn't in his bed. He was on a cold floor.
  "Ah! I see you have awaken. Good."
  A figure emerged from the shadows. Brown's eyes narrowed. It was the Humagg Dr. Kersh. He snarled at Brown.
  "Do you know how hard it was to slip you off of that world?" Kersh asked.
  "What do you want, Kersh?" Brown demanded.
  "A progress report," Kersh said. "Koranus is on your trail. It's just a matter of time before he figures out where you are. Then...all hell..." He smiled. "I would like to steal his thunder. It will go good to the general."
  "Then you should be quite satisfied in a few hours," Brown replied. "Mr. Heim has begun to unlock his potential."
  "Hm," Kersh said. "Perhaps I will be. But will you?"
  Brown frowned. "I do not understand."
  "You will."
  Brown blacked out.

  Mallory looked out the window. The streets were still deserted. that was the way it had been for the last few hours. Except for...Quinn, everyone was sleep. Maggie should be getting up any moment to relieve him.
  Mallory grinned as he repositioned his rifle. When Maggie took over, Mallory was going to a room to get some sleep. Well...he was looking forward to having some great dreams about Diana. He could not wait to...
  A snap got Mallory's attention. He stood up, rifle at the ready. He looked outside. He saw no one.
  "Everything okay?"
  Mallory turned around, his rifle aimed. Richard held his hands up.
  "I surrender!" Richard exclaimed.
  Mallory sighed in relief. He dropped his rifle.
  "Are you crazy?" Mallory demanded. "I almost shot you."
  "Sorry," Richard said. "I couldn't sleep. Big day tomorrow."
  "Yeah," Mallory agreed. "Everything blows up, but...finally this will be over."
  Richard sat down. Mallory followed suit. Richard smiled.
  "So what are you doing after this?" Richard asked.
  Mallory frowned. "Hmmm...I don't know really. Di and I have been doing this for years. Maybe we'll use the PDL to find a nice futuristic world with a cabin. Have a lost weekend." He looked at Richard. "You?"
  Richard frowned. "Probably do what I do best."
  "Which is?"
  Richard leaned in. Suddenly, his eyes went cold.
  "Killing," Stone-in-Richard said.
  Before Mallory could react, Stone grabbed him by the neck. He quickly brought Mallory up, held him up...and snapped his neck.

SOME TIME AGO...

  "So...what is it like?"
  Quinn finished packing. He looked up to see Mallory already ready. He frowned.
  "What is what like?" Quinn asked.
  "Being the duplicate with the brains," Mallory said. "I see Di sometimes...trying to work on a theory or when she has an idea. She's a kid on Christmas morning again. This will be the closet to getting a feel so...shoot."
  Quinn thought about it for a moment.
  "When you were sliding, how did it feel meeting a new woman on every world?" Quinn asked.
  Mallory got a lopsided grin. "When they weren't psycho? Cool."
  "That's how it feels," Quinn said. "Now I have to finish--"
  "Not without me."
  Mallory looked behind him. Wade stood there, her arms over her chest. Her eyes narrowed on Quinn.
  "Did you honestly think you would make it offworld without seeing me?" Wade demanded.
  "No," Quinn said.
  "Then give me a moment and--"
  "No," Quinn said again.
  Wade burned holes into him. Mallory threw up his arms.
  "Stepping out of the way," Mallory said and left.
  "Quinn--" Wade started.
  "You're not going, Wade," Quinn said.
  "Yes, I am."
  "No, you're not."
  "Yes, I--"
  "Do you know how long it took to get you back home?"
  "Do you know what'll happen if you don't get back at all?"
  Silence reigned in the room. Quinn finally sat on the bed. It took a moment, but Wade joined him. He held her hand.
  "Wade--" Quinn started.
  "I get why the Professor and Diana aren't going," Wade said. "If something happens to...I'm going."
  "No," Quinn said.
  "Quinn--"
  "Wade, no!" Quinn snapped. "If something happened to you again..." He squeezed her hand tighter. "Give me something to come back to. Please."
  Wade's lower lip quivered. Her eyes watered.
  "I think you should wait," Quinn said.
  "Why would--"
  Quinn reached into his pocket. At the same time, he got down on one knee. Wade's jaw dropped.
  "I tried to be there for you when we slid," Quinn said. "And you were here for me while I dealt with...my setback. Now...I can't see myself with anyone else. Wade Welles...will you marry me?"
  "Quinn..."
  "Mallory! Mallory, are you--"
  Maggie walked in. Rembrandt was behind her. Their eyes widened.
  "Oh," Maggie said.
  "Oh...we're...early," Rembrandt said. "Did you get an answer?"

NOW...

  "Mallory!"
  Maggie stormed down the hallway. She was 30 minutes late. Mallory had not even gotten her. What could he be do--
  Maggie turned the corner. She paused. The front doors to the Design building were wide open. Mallory was now here in sight.
  Maggie cocked her rifle. She headed to the door slowly. Fear tried to grab her, but she ignored it.
  "Mallory!" Maggie said again. She still did not get an answer. "Mallory?"
  Maggie made it to the door. Her eyes widened. Mallory was on the stairs. He was angled like a marionette with its strings cut. Dead.
  "Too simple."
  Maggie gasped, turning quickly. Richard was behind her. His eyes cold, he swung at her. She only had time to fire off a shot before the fist hit her face. She fell down the stairs.

  Melissa shot up. She heard the shot. It was followed by something like someone falling. She ran to her door quickly. She opened the door. Her breath caught in her throat. The Cromagnon Kromagg stared back. He aimed his laser.
  "Hey, you!"
  The Kromagg turned. He got a fist in the face. Rembrandt got the soldier's laser off the floor and fired. It felt dead. He looked at Melissa.
  "You okay?" Rembrandt asked.
  "Yea," Melissa managed.
  "Something tells me Q-ball's gonna have to work a lot quicker."

  Richard ran down the hall. He had heard screams. He also heard laserfire. That wasn't good. He was downstairs now. He was in need of firepower and if anyone had it, it would be Maggie Beckett.
  He turned the corner. The lobby crawled with Cromagnon Kromaggs. He saw no sign of Mallory or Maggie.
  "Oh, snap," Richard muttered.
  He ran back around the corner. He gasped. Stone stood in front of him.
  "Hmmm," Stone said. "I do believe that history is repeating itself, huh, Mr. Hall?"

  "It's not ready!" Quinn shrieked as he ran down the hall.
  "Well, you better get it ready!" Rebecca snapped.
  "Rebecca," Melissa said, firing behind them, "not helping."
  Rembrandt fired on the Cromagnons that was behind them. "She has a point, Girl. Now and not later would be nice."
  "What about the others?" Melissa asked.
  "Ohhh...now you're caring about people?" Rebecca yelled.
  "Rebecca, shut up!" Melissa snapped.
  "Almost got it!" Quinn announced.
  The foursome turned a corner. The door to the stairwell was on their right. Quinn stopped. He looked at Melissa.
  "We'll make our stand here," Quinn said, pulling out a gun. "You two go and get the others while Remmy and I provide cover."
  "What do you mean two?" Rebecca demanded.
  "Don't you care about anyone, but yourself?" Melissa asked.
  "Randy."
  "Well, Randy doesn't like selfish bitches."
  "Then explain yourself."
  "Ladies," Rembrandt warned, firing back around the corner.
  "I'll go," Melissa said. She glared at Rebecca. "I don't know how you live with yourself, but if we make it through this I'll make sure Randy see you for the uncaring slutty traitor you are. You don't love him. You don't even know what it is."
  Melissa ran through the stairwell door without another word.

  Brown walked into the lab. He saw that John had taken Mary's place. He stared at Randy.
  "Any progress?" Brown asked.
  "Yes," John said. "In fact, Mary believe he is just about done. She will be back with our masters to head to the slidecage."
  Brown looked at John. He turned to face him. His eyes narrowed on him.
  "Good," Brown said calmly.
  John started reaching for his throat. Brown put his hands behind his back calmly. He watched as John fell to the floor struggling to breathe.
  "Well, it has been quite fun, John," Brown said. "Now...I do believe you have outlived your usefulness." He smirked. "Pity."
  John gasped for breath for a moment. Brown walked away. Mentally he went into John's mind...and shut it off. John fell to the floor, dead.
  Brown approached Randy. Randy looked oblivious. He slaved over an object the shape of a duffel bag. Brown's eyes widened as he realized that it was a physical version of the picture he saw.
  "Very good, Mr. Heim," Brown said. "Do hurry up before..."
  Brown frowned. He saw other objects on the table as Randy feverishly worked on his device. One really caught his eye. He remembered what it was and looked at Randy too late. Randy grabbed the collar and slapped it around Brown's neck.
  Electricity shot through Brown. It especially attacked his spinal cord. He screamed. Randy smirked, eyes still blank.
  "All pieces accounted for," he said.
  Brown fell into unconsciousness.

  Richard narrowed his eyes on Stone-him.
  "There's a big difference, Copycat," Richard said.
  Stone tilted his head. "Hm. Really? What would that be?"
  "You're not killing me this time," Richard said.
  "Of course. I could do much worse."
  "You will do nothing."
  "Of course I will do something, Mr. Hall. I will not let you go."
  "Watch me, Copycat."
  Richard ran at Stone. Stone lunged at him. Richard completely dropped to the floor. Stone missed him. Richard shot up and started down the hall. He fell to the floor again, a result of Stone's hand around his ankle.
  "I do not think so, Mr. Hall," Stone said.
  A gunshot rang out. Stone released Richard's leg. He fell unconscious, a result of the gunshot in the back. Maggie fired some more shots behind her.
  "I always tell them," Maggie said. "Never the face. You okay?"
  "Yea," Richard said, standing up.
  "Good," Maggie said. "Let's find the others."
  "Mallory--"
  "--is dead," Maggie said, her face darkening. "Now...we need to move." A shadow moved behind Maggie. Before Richard could react, he saw a quick movement. Maggie gasped and fell to the floor, knife in back. Stone stood over her, tissing.
  "Does no one understand?" Stone commented. "Ms. Reynolds said the Kromaggs had enhanced me. What do you people think they did?" He smirked, bringing a chill to Richard. "My cells regenerate. Silly humans." He pulled out a laser. "Now...are we coming along quietly...or dying right now?"

HOURS AGO...

  Rembrandt Brown waited. Quinn kissed Wade. Steven kissed Maggie. Mallory kissed Diana. He looked at Professor Arturo.
  "I guess we're odd guys out, huh, Professor?" Rembrandt commented.
  Arturo looked at Rembrandt. "Speak for yourself, Mr. Brown." He looked over at Quinn. "Now, Mr. Mallory, do not make me come after you."
  Quinn and Wade stopped kissing. they headed over to them. Wade hugged Rembrandt while Quinn hugged Arturo.
  "I'll be back, Professor," Quinn said, looking at Wade for a moment. "Promise."
  "Watch his back, Remmy," Wade said.
  "No doubt, girl," Rembrandt said.
  "Not like we don't know what they're planning," Quinn said.
  "Does not mean it will be easy, Mr. Mallory," Arturo said.
  Quinn frowned. "When has it ever been easy?"

  Quinn emerged out of the vortex. He saw Randy Heim. He was about to enter a red vortex.
  "Randy...I can't let you do this," Quinn declared.

NOW...

  Randy stared down in shock. He could see Maggie's eyes. They were wide open. She was actually dead. So was Mallory. As Stone approached Richard, Richard was pretty sure he would be next.
  "Time is up, Mr. Hall," Stone said, laser still aimed at Richard. "Make your choice."
  "Perhaps he dinna need one, Murderer."
  Richard's eyes widened. Stone turned to see Kat emerging from the stairwell, laser in her hand. Stone stared at her in skepticism.
  "Miss Rye really," Stone said.
  "Dinna think I won't shoot ye," Kat said.
  "You? Unlikely."
  Kat smirked. "Ye really have nae been around for a wee bit. Ye nae know me like ye used tae."
  "Gotta agree," Richard added. "Also...are you insane?"
  "I know what I'm doin'," Kat said.
  "He just killed Maggie and Mallory without breaking a sweat," Richard said.
  "Richard, I got this. Now come here."
  The stairwell door opened again, causing Kat to turn. Stone aimed. Richard jumped at him. Stone fired as he fell to the floor. Richard punched him. Then he looked up.
  Melissa stood in the stairwell door, her eyes wide in shock. Kat turned around, her eyes wider than Melissa's. She looked at the spot where the laser blast had burned the wall, barely missing her.
  "Whoa," Kat commented.
  "Are you two okay?" Melissa asked.
  "Yea," Richard said, standing up.
  "Barely," Kat said, glaring.
  "We need to go," Melissa said. "Quinn's jumped us to the slidecage." She frowned and looked around. "Where's--"
  Melissa's eyes fell on Maggie's dead body. She stepped back, lower lip shaking. Her eyes were full of shock.
  "Oh my God," Melissa uttered.
  "Aye," Kat said.
  Melissa looked at Richard. "Mallory--"
  Richard nodded as he walked over to Melissa. He held her. He also led her back into the stairwell.
  "We need to go," Richard said. "Their deaths shouldn't be in vain."
  "Too late for that, Mr. Hall."
  Richard turned around in time to see Stone stand up. He smirked.
  "You will not be going anywhere," Stone said.
  Kat grabbed the knob to the stairwell door. She looked at Stone.
  "Watch him," Kat said.
  She looked at Richard for a moment. In that moment, Richard knew. He lunged for the door, but Kat slammed it in his face. He heard a fusing. He grabbed for the handle, but it did not move at all.
  "Laserfire," Melissa said.
  "No!" Richard screamed.

  Randy stared down at the device. It looked so simple now. All life looked so simple. However staring at the device was akin to seeing a mother's child walk for the first time. And this device was his and set in motion since he was on the world with the Line. Only a twinkle in his ear. Now it was grown and read to show itself.
  Randy looked at the other devices on the table. It wasn't the only one of his gifts. They all played a part. He picked up one of the little objects...shaped like a mini-Death Star...and put it under the table. He watched in amazement as little needles came out and attached itself to the table like spider legs. He grabbed his device and the two other balls he had and turned.
  Brown spasmed on the floor. He had made that collar stronger. He was not getting up.
  "I see you are done."
  Mary stood in front of him. She was with her masters the Cromagnon Kromaggs. They were dressed in black and crimson robes that remembered Kimonos. They also had soldiers at the ready.
  "Yes," Randy said.

  "Darnell? Darnell. Wakey-wakey."
  Brown turned over. Dr. Kersh laid next to him on a floor. Brown shot up.
  "Heim is about to access the cage," Kersh said. "And General Kolitar needs you ready."
  Brown could not move. His brain knew this was a figment of his imagination. He could think of better.
  "Now, Darnell," Kersh continued, "we had a deal. Do not back out now."
  Brown shook his head.
  "Oh...did you think you really had a choice? Perhaps what you need is an...incentive."
  An imaged fell into Brown's mind. His eyes widened in complete shock. Then he screamed.

  A red vortex sprung open on the other side of the room. Koranus shook out of it. His eyes narrowed on Randy.
  "Project 54's tracker worked," Koranus said. "Commend on my tap...now!!"
  An explosion rocked the lab. Koranus's eyes narrowed on the Cromagnon Kromaggs.
  "Did you think we wouldn't find you?" Koranus said, aiming his laser. "Fools."
  Koranus opened fire on the Cromagnon Kromaggs. The shot stopped mid-air and went into a wall. Mary ran to Randy.
  "We need to leave...now," Mary said.
  Randy stared blankly. "Done."
  He pushed a button on his device and an orange wave hit everyone in its radius. At the same time, his object exploded with a slide storm.

  Melissa ran back into the hallway. Rembrandt still fired off shots. Now Rebecca joined him. Quinn looked over at Melissa.
  "Where's Maggie, Mallory, and--" Quinn started.
  Melissa's look said it all. Rembrandt stopped shooting. He saw the look and his eyes watered.
  "No," Rembrandt said.
  "Well...it's time," Quinn said.
  He pointed his timer at the floor and turned it on. Light shot from it to the floor, melting it. A blue vortex emerged from it.
  "Are you sure this is going to work?" Melissa asked.
  "I have the frequency set as if our sliding signature was a like magnet so we will be drawn to it so...yes," Quinn said.
  Rebecca stepped up. "Good."
  Rebecca jumped into the vortex. It whirred as she vanished.
  Melissa looked over at Quinn. "Here we go."

  Randy snapped out of it as the slidewave device reformed everyone. He saw they were in a large room that resembled a futuristic tv set. They were on a platform around a monitor. Randy looked over at Mary. She was checking on her masters...who looked winded.
  Randy moved to the monitor and connected his device. The monitor lit up. Randy's eyes widened at the coordinates that appeared on the screen. Then he typed them into the slidewave device. Suddenly, a vortex...orange and larger than a normal one...emerged all along one wall in the slidecage. Randy looked over at Mary. She looked at it in surprise.
  "Mission accomplished!" Randy exclaimed.
  "And now...you die!"
  Koranus came out from the monitor. Before Randy could react, Koranus lunged for him.

  A blue vortex shot open on the other side of the room. Rebecca shot out of it quickly, rolled across the floor. Her back hit a rail. She grunted. Why was their sliding device so hard on landings?
  "Ah!"
  Rebecca looked up. Her eyes widened. It was Randy. He was alive! He struggled with Koranus. Rebecca started to shoot up...when a third vortex opened near a large orange vortex against the wall.

  Melissa came out of the wormhole. She shot to her feet quickly. The sight that greeted her caused her to pause.
  Atlantian Kromaggs. They came out of a red wormhole next to an orange wormhole. Humagg soldiers opened fire on the Cromagnon Kromaggs. Cromagnon soldiers returned fire. In the orange wormhole Melissa could even see manta ships attacking manta ships. Her eyes widened on the platform.
  "Randy!" Melissa yelled.

  Randy struggled against the knife at his throat. Koranus pushed harder, his red hair falling into his face. He focused on Randy, eyes full of hatred and oblivious to the laserfire around him.
  "To think Kersh thought his little pet would get the honor of killing you!" Koranus said. "I could--"
  Koranus jumped back quickly, taking the knife with him. Randy was glad for a moment. Then he saw Koranus with the knife in Rebecca's gut. He snarled.
  "Not that oblivious, my dear," Koranus snapped. Then he snatched the knife out and lunged at Randy again.

  "Take them!" Kolitar yelled.
  Karlus and Kerra dashed around the platform. Kolitar looked at the orange vortex. For the first time in years, he saw it. His homeworld. He turned to Kersh.
  "Send in the aids."

  Mary fought the urge to laugh. The soldiers held their own with the enemy's soldiers. However, the masters were the real show, deflecting laserfire. Their eyes were on the orange vortex.
  Then Mary got a mental summons. She looked to the left. Two of the Atlantians dashed toward them. Her masters gave her one word.
  Stone.

  "Oh...my...god," was all Richard could say.
  "All hell has broken loose," Rembrandt said.
  Richard looked at him. He wished he had thought of that.
  "We got to get to the platform," Quinn said.
  "Good luck on that one," Richard said.
  Suddenly, three figures shot out of the Atlantians' wormhole. They shot through the air and aimed themselves at the Cromagnons.
  Cyberaids.
  At the same time, a small wormhole appeared. A figure shot out, knives ready. Richard felt his heart stop. It was Stone and attacked Karlus and Kerra with malice. They never knew what hit them.

  "Thank you," Koranus said, "for opening the vortex. Now...die."
  Suddenly, Randy heard a jolt. Koranus gasped. Randy felt alien blood hit his face, a result of a dagger in Koranus's throat. He fell dead.
  Randy looked at his savior. His eyes widened.
  "Well, if you are going to do something, Mr. Heim," Brown said, "now is the time."

  "They are distracted," Kolitar said. "Come on."
  Most of the soldiers ran for the orange vortex. They jumped in. Kersh paused and looked at the platform. Brown was with Randy.
  Kersh smirked. Then he vanished.

  Kolitar headed for the vortex. He took one last look. An agent of the Cromagnons had stabbed Kerra. Karlus screamed and attacked him. The cyberaids kept the others busy. He could take over and win the war on their own grounds.
  Something caught his eye. Near one of the entrances he saw a young man. It had been years, but the big eyes were still the same as when Kolitar had left the slidecage.
  "Good-bye again...Jules," Kolitar said and jumped into the vortex.

  Randy stood in front of the monitor. He watched the Atlantian Kromaggs head into the orange vortex. He pulled out one of his spider devices. He attached it to the monitor.
  "Professor, willing to help?" Randy asked.
  "Yes," Brown said.
  Randy held up the last of his spider devices.
  "Take this, shoot it through the vortex, and aim for a manta ship," Randy said.
  "Done," Brown said.
  The device shot into the orange vortex. Randy ran for the dead Koranus. He tore off tissue from him. A shadow fell over him, causing him to look up. Quinn looked down.
  "What are you doing?" Quinn demanded. "Why would you let them back?"
  "To bring their defenses down," Randy answered. He walked to his slidewave device and put the tissue in. He looked over at Quinn.
  "Endgame," Randy said.
  Then he pushed the button.

  All Richard heard was a giant whir. He looked over at the platform. A giant wall of orange shot through the room. When it hit the Cromagnons, they screamed and turned to liquid before dissolving into ash. It was the same with the Humaggs.
  Mary looked shocked. Stone looked frustrated. He ran to her quickly.
  "Now would be a good time to retreat," Stone said.
  "No!" Richard yelled.
  He ran for Stone. Stone smirked with Richard's face.
  "You will see me again," Stone said. "Promise."
  A red wormhole opened next to them. Stone snapped Mary's neck. Then he vanished. The wormhole closed behind him.
  Richard made it to the spot and stared.
  He was out there somewhere. He was out there with Richard's face.
  Lord help the worlds.

  A green vortex opened behind the monitor. Randy's device shot lightning into it. Randy blinked. He watched it shoot lightning into the orange vortex and the red vortex, collapsing them.
  A hand grabbed Randy's shoulder. He turned to face Quinn.
  "What did you do?" Quinn asked.
  "What needed to be done," Randy said. "I wanted a normal life again. I could never have that as long as every Kromagg and Humagg wanted me for my knowledge. Everyone who had been in contact with Rembrandt has the anti-Kromagg virus in them. I took it...and the Humagg DNA from Koranus...and put it into my device. I took the virus and had it attack them on a molecular level." He looked at the space where the orange vortex was. "With their homeworld dangling in front of them, they never notice."
  "Dad?"
  Randy looked over at a young man. He came out of the shadows.
  "Jules?" Rembrandt uttered.
  "Is he right?" Jules demanded. "Is my dad..."
  "No choice," Rembrandt said, hugging Jules. His eyes were on Randy. "Apparently."
  "And what about this vortex?" Quinn asked.
  "It's going through all the worlds," Randy said. "Killing anything that is Kromaggs and/or Humagg. I created little vortex storms, destroying their main bases. Once this vortex is done, the laser vortex storm...this ball....will come on. So...the war is over."
  Quinn's eyes widened. "I...don't know what to say."
  "I do," Brown said. "Good night."
  And just like that, everything went black.

  Randy's eyes blinked. He saw night overhead. Then he remembered what happened. He shot to his feet.
  "I thought it would be biblical."
  Randy turned around. Brown was a few feet away. They appeared to be on a plateau of some sort.
  "I definitely did not want you asleep when I kill you," Brown said.
  "Where are the others?" Randy demanded.
  "Where if they did not wake up before your vortex storm," Brown said, "they died in the slidecage."
  "How could you?" Randy yelled. "They were friends!"
  "They have...had a fighting chance," Brown said. "More than I do...thanks to you."
  Randy frowned. "What are--"
  "I'm dying," Brown said. "Kersh took away the Cromagnons' ability to control my mind...gave me a few more abilities...but someday...I will die from power burnout."
  "We can--"
  "No!" Brown snapped, pointing a finger at Randy. "Don't you dare say a word! If you had left well enough alone--"
  "No!" Randy cut in. "You can blame me for a lot, but I didn't put a gun to your head to work with the Kromaggs. You want to throw blame? Look in the mirror." He looked around. "Now I got to get out of--"
  Brown waved a hand. Randy's back stiffened. He could not move as Brown lifted him in the air.
  "I'm going to head home now," Brown said, pulling out the PDL. "But you, Mr. Heim...you can just die."
  Randy shot through the air. Then he spiraled away from the plateau. His eyes saw the ground miles before. Then he fell screaming.

  Quinn grunted. His memory came slowly. When it hit, he shot up.
  Professor Brown had knocked them all out. He saw Remmy, Jules, Richard, Melissa, and Rebecca were still out. He looked at the platform. His eyes widened. He quickly reached for the PDL. He gasped as he saw Brown took it. At the same time needles came out of Randy's device. They became like spider legs, grabbing the monitor. A countdown popped up on the screen.
  10...
  9...
  8...
  7...
  6...

THE-END


 

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