Chanced Meeting Pt.1

Professor Brown looked at his watch. His foot had already started to
tap. His eyes formed an angry line. Where were they?
   People finally came out of the theater. Some people smiled as they came
out. Some people argued about various themes in a particular movie.
Finally, Melissa, Randy, and Richard came out of the theater.
   "I have to see it again," Melissa said.
   "I think you've seen it too much," Richard said.
   "I agree," Randy said. "This is three worlds in a round now. When are
you going to stop?"
   "Well...when I can get the Prof to see it," Melissa said.
   "Keep hoping, Ms. Clark," Professor Brown said. "I think it is a bunch
of garbage."
   "It's a movie...DUH!"
   The sliders started to head for the nearest alleyway.
   "What I mean is," Brown continued, "that the idea is improbable. Magic
and witches do not exist. Science and common sense can explain anything."
   "Explain Nostradamus," Melissa demanded.
   "A madman. His prophecies could be interpreted anyway."
   "Are we going to have a big debate now?" Richard asked.
   "No time," Randy said. Randy pointed the timer at a wall and opened the
wormhole.
   Richard jumped into the wormhole. Randy looked at Professor Brown and
Melissa.
   "Let it be," he said.
   "Fine," Melissa said. "I think the Prof should be more open-minded."
   Melissa jumped into the wormhole.
   "I'm sorry, Professor," Randy said. "Melissa can be a stubborn woman
sometimes."
   "Is that what they are calling it these days, Mr. Heim?" Professor Brown
asked.
   Randy did not answer. He just jumped into the wormhole. Brown followed.
   The blue wormhole opened. richard fell out of it onto the hard ground.
He moved over just in time. Melissa fell out next. Richard grinned. Maybe
he was getting the hang of sliding.
   Randy fell out of the wormhole. He landed right on Richard.
   "Dammit!" Richard yelled.
   Professor Brown landed next to Melissa. The wormhole closed behind him.
   Randy climbed off of Richard. "Is everyone okay?"
   "NO," Richard said annoyed.
   "Uh...guys," Melissa said. "We got trouble."
   The guys followed Melissa's glance. A dozen robed figures were heading
toward them.
   "What are we going to do?" Melissa asked.
   "We could say that we come in peace," Richard said.    "Here they come," Brown said.
   The robed figures stopped in front of the group. One stepped forward and
removed their hood. A woman's face was underneath.
   "Welcome, Tashlytes," she said. "Truly, we are blessed to be alive to
see the coming of the gods."
   WHAT IF YOU DISCOVERED NEW WORLDS? WHAT IF YOU COULD FIND THESE WORLDS
WITHOUT LEAVING YOUR EARTH? YOU'RE THE SAME PERSON AND IT'S THE SAME YEAR,
BUT EVERYTHING AROUND YOU IS DIFFERENT? I FOUND A WAY TO TRAVEL TO PARALLEL
WORLDS!!!
   THE NEW SLIDDDEERRSSS
   EPISODE 2: CHANCED MEETING
   (first part)
   "Wait a minute!" Richard said. "You think--"
   Randy covered Richard's mouth. "We're delighted to be here. Who are
you?"
   The woman kneeled before Randy. The other hood figures did likewise.
Professor Brown walked over to Melissa.
   "I find this quite interesting," Professor Brown said.
   "Ditto," Melissa said.
   "I am Tara, member of the Sisterly Coven of Woodhollow," the woman said.
"Come. We head to the town now."
   "Coven?" Professor Brown said. "Does that mean you are...witches?"
   "We serve you," Tara said. "Call us what you like."
   Tara and her sisters started to head past the Sliders. Richard looked at
Randy.
   "Gods?" Richard said to Randy. "I could really like this."
   Richard headed after the sisters. Randy followed as well. Melissa
folded her arms and looked at Professor Brown.
   "Witches, Prof," Melissa said. "It looks like you can put that common
sense and science to good use."
   "We have not seen any magic yet, Ms. Clark," Professor Brown replied. "I
am sure it is just a lot of decorations and special effects anyway."
   Professor Brown walked faster to catch up to Tara. Melissa also hurried
to catch up to Randy.
   "I thought you would let it be," Randy said.
   "I just want to open the Prof's mind a little," Melissa said.
   Randy ignored Melissa's ramblings. Instead he observed their travelling companions. Their robes were purple with yellow lining. two of the sisters
had staffs with decorations on them. Except for Tara, the other sisters had
hoods on to cover their face.
   Randy looked at Professor Brown talking to Tara. Tara seem to find what
the Professor was saying interesting. Maybe he told her about sliding.
   Randy pulled the timer out and looked at it. During their stay on the
last world, Randy did a little more tinkering on it. He still could not
find the right coordinates to get the group home.
   Right now the group did not seem to care. Richard was busy observing the
sisters. Melissa was busy observing their surroundings. Professor
Brown-was heading right for him.
   "Mr. Heim...Ms. Clark...Mr. Hall," Professor Brown said. "I believe I
know the happenings of this world."
   "Do tell," Richard said.
   "It seems that one of the New Age movements took off here," Professor
Brown explained. "Unlike our world where there are several movements
occurring, this one was more popular than the other ones because the people
have..."magic." Even the government brought into this garbage."
   "Just because it does not fit into your views doesn't make it crap,
Prof," Melissa protested.
   "Yeah," Richard agreed. "Any place that sees us as gods can't be all
bad."
   "Neither of you even know the true workings of this world," Professor
Brown said.
   "I think we all should just relax," Randy said. "We're going to be here
for two days. We could at least have fun...relax...get to know the
culture."
   "Yeah, Prof," Melissa said. "Maybe we can explore the culture together."
   "A good idea, Ms. Clark," Brown agreed. "Maybe we can get some
educational values into you yet."
   "I doubt it," Richard said.
   "I think it's a good idea," Randy said, "and maybe you should be a part
of it."
   Randy saw the grins form on Professor Brown's and Melissa's face. he
also saw the frown creep up on Richard's face. Randy gave into a smile of
his own.
   It was nice to see the Professor and Melissa agree on something.
   "You got to be kidding!" Richard said.
   Melissa and Professor Brown had decided after Tara took them to the hotel
to start their culture search. What they had not told Richard was that they
wanted to start in a bookstore. He had been avoiding bookstores since he
got into college.
   "If we need to learn anything about this world's culture," Melissa said,
"It would be here."    "Exactly," Professor Brown agreed. "Let us look around."
   Richard watched the two of them head for the nearest shelf. He sighed in
defeat and turned to Randy.
   "Any ideas?" Richard asked.
   "We look around," Randy said. Then he headed down a row. Richard
reluctantly followed Randy.
   He took a look at some of the book titles. "Gem to Meditate On." Past
Lives of the Tashlytes." "How to Be in a Coven without Even Trying."
Richard scratched his head. What a world.
   "They have some interesting books here," Randy observed. He picked up
the "Past Lives of the Tashlytes" book.
   "So what does it say about the Tashlytes?" Richard asked.
   "Hmmm. Interesting," Randy said to himself.
   "Egghead!" Richard said sharply.
   Randy came out of his trance. He smiled sheeply. "I'm sorry. Sometimes
I get so involved with new knowledge I forget about everything else."
   "It can't be that intriguing," Richard said.
   "It is for me. The Tashlyte...seem to be a race of Sliders. Well...they
seem to have primitive sliding technology. Maybe they were randomly
sliding. In any cases, the people saw it as magic and treated them like
gods. This book tells about some of the first Tashlytes to come here."
   "You might be right about the sliding bit," Richard agreed. "So they not
only think we're gods, but magicians, too? Great."
   "Why?"
   "They'll do anything we say. Who wouldn't have sex with a god?"
   "Melissa...for one."
   Randy put the book back. Then he picked it up again.
   Richard leaned in on Randy. He whispered.
   "You think she would go for an egghead like you?"
   "Melissa and I are just friends."
   "Your point?"
   "You know...you make me wonder...why were you after it?"
   Richard was taken aback.
   "What are you talking about?" Richard asked.
   "You never did say why you were trying to steal my sliding machine,"
Randy said. "Who put you up to it?"
   "It doesn't matter," Richard said.
   "Well, you should be able to say who," Randy countered.
   "Look what we found!" Melissa said cheerfully as she and Professor Brown
rounded a corner. "It's a--"
   "I don't have to take this crap!" Richard exploded. "Maybe I should stay
here! Then you won't have to see my thief face!"
   Richard stormed out. He headed straight forward and bumped into
somebody.
   "Hey!" the girl said.    "I don't--" Richard started to say. He paused. "Nicole?"
   "So they are in town now?" the woman combing her hair in front of the
mirror asked.
   "Yes, Priestess," the robed sister named Emma answered.
   Anya smoothed out her long brown hair. "I'm not Priestess yet. That's
Tara's job."
   "Not for much longer," Emma said.
   "Agreed," Anya said as she stood and brushed off her white diamond gown.
"this is what I've been waiting for. A way to learn the Tashlytes' magic
and become a Priestess or better yet...an immortal. I'm so sick of
using...my tricks."
   "You might even have the power to come and go from this world," Emma
added.
   Anya smiled. "Yes."
   "So what would you like me to do?" Emma asked.
   "Get close to them," Anya said.
   "Yes, Priestess."
   "Go on."
   Emma left and Anya looked at herself in the mirror again. She was so
beautiful. Soon she would be the more powerful Priestess 'witch' in the
world.
   The Tashlytes would be dead.
   Randy ran out of the bookstore. He looked down the street to see that
Richard was staring at a dark-haired girl dressed in red silk. She
resembled an Arabian servant girl.
   "Randy!" Melissa said as she ran out of the bookstore.
   "Mr. Heim, do you see Mr. Hall?" Professor Brown asked.
   "Yeah," Randy said.
   "Do I know you?" Nicole asked.
   "It's me, Nicole...Richard Hall," Richard said.
   "I remember you now," Nicole admitted. "Nice haircut. You'll have to
talk to me later."
   "Where will you be?"
   "I'm the Atten to the Priestess Tara so I will be at the temple," Nicole
said.
   "You can count on me showing up then," Richard said.
   Nicole smiled. "I look forward to it...Richard."
   Richard was so busy grinning that he didn't notice Melissa walk up. He
watched Nicole go.
   "Who's your friend?" Melissa asked.
   "As if you care," Richard said. He looked at Randy. "Any of you."
   "I think that emotions are running high right now," Professor Brown said.
"We should just head to the hotel."    "Speak for yourself, Proper," Richard said. "I don't need any of you."
   Before the others could react, Richard stormed away down the street.
   "Mr. Hall!" Professor Brown yelled.
   "Let him go," Randy said. "He'll come back when we get ready to slide."
   "And if he does not?" Professor Brown asked.
   Randy just stormed down the street ignoring him.
   "That was harsh," Melissa commented. "I've never seen him dis you
before."
   "I think those two have too many conflicts," Professor Brown said.
   "Kinda like us."
   "Agreed."
   "Well, Richard's always in trouble or causing it. Randy's probably still
mad that we're randomly sliding."
   "And you?"
   Melissa grinned. "I loved it. I hope we get home soon, but it's a blast
seeing new worlds. How about you?"
   "I loathe what Mr. Hall did," Professor Brown said. "However I can
forgive and forget. His sliding with us seems to be a fitting punishment
for his actions."
   "You don't like sliding, huh?" Melissa folded her arms.
   "If we could land better..."
   Melissa giggled as the two of them continued their walk down the street.
It was n ice to be getting along with one of the group. Maybe she could
talk to Randy and get him to call a truce with Richard.
   Nah.
   "Is she here yet?" Professor Brown asked from the bathroom.
   "No," Melissa answered.
   Randy entered the living room from his bedroom. His eyes widened at the
sight of her. Melissa was dressed like the girl Richard was talking to last
night. Her black hair was in a long ponytail. She also wore a veil which
gave her a more sexy and mysterious vibe.
   "Dressing up?" Randy asked.
   "'When in Rome...'" Melissa quoted. Then she smiled. "emma is showing
me and Professor Brown the city. We should be able to have a conclusion to
our argument."
   "Great."
   "You could come along."
   "No thanks. I think I want to work on trying to retrieve our home
coordinates."
   Melissa walked over to Randy and put her arms around him.
   "You should are becoming a busybody since we started to randomly slide,"
Melissa said.
   "I promise to be more loose on the next world," Randy said.
   "Speaking of loose...we never got a chance...to talk about our near kiss on that world where I was President."
   Randy started to pull away. "I know. I-I didn't mean..."
   "It's okay. I didn't mean for it to happen either. We're friends-"
   "BEST friends!"
   "-so sometimes we'll going to joke around."
   "Yeah," Randy agreed. "Besides, you're kinda seeing my roommate."
   Melissa backed away from Randy. She looked down shyly.
   "Yeah...kinda," Melissa said. "We weren't committed though.   It was
just that one date that Richard messed up."
   "So what are you saying?" Randy asked.
   "I"m just enjoying the possibilities," she replied.
   "It won't be for long. Or are you thinking in other terms?"
   Melissa looked confused. "I'm not following you."
   "Well...are you getting with Richard again or--"
   A knock sounded from the hotel door. melissa walked over and opened it.
Emma bowed and smiled.
   "It is good to see you...embracing the culture," Emma said.
   "'When in Rome...'" Melissa started.
   "What is...Rome?"
   "Never mind. Prof, Emma's here! Shake a tail feather!"
   Professor Brown walked out of the bathroom. Randy had to suppress a
laugh. Professor Brown wore a purple room like the sisters. However while
the sisters looked exotic in their robes, the Professor was like a clumsy
troll.   Professor Brown glared at Randy.
   "What, Mr. Heim?" Professor Brown demanded.
   "No more formal words, Brown," Melissa said. "From now on, I'm going to
bring you up to date on informal speaking. You got to be the most formal
speaking black man that I've ever seen."
   "Ms. Clark-"
   "It's Melissa, Brown," Melissa cut Brown off. "Let's get going."
   Before Professor Brown could say a word, Melissa headed out the door with
Emma.
   "Have fun, Professor," Randy said.
   "Good luck, Mr.-Randy," Brown answered.
   "No...it's Mr. Heim for you," Randy said. "It feels too weird to hear
you call me by my first name."
   "Thank you, Mr. Heim."
   Randy saw Professor Brown actually grin. Then he left.
   Richard had returned to the hotel earlier. He did not want to deal with
Randy's questions again. They just reminded him of what he was hiding about
Bufford. Richard groaned annoyingly. If Randy wanted to ask questions, he
would never get any answers. He would just get an enemy.
   Now Richard walked into the temple. He didn't think much of it. It was
just a church. He looked around and was speechless.    The inside of the church was a cross between a market place and a
coffeehouse...just without markets. People were socializing in groups and
being carefree. Some people meditated in a part of the temple. Other
people focused on a gem. Still others talk about all kinds of stuff.
   Richard saw Nicole hanging with a group of girls chanting. He messed
with his hair. He thought about the Nicole he knew. They had started off
hot and heavy in high school. They went to Homecoming, Spring Formal, and
Prom together. She loved his wild passionate side. He loved her compassion
and it redeemed him. Then...college happened and their views became
different.
   "Richard?"
   Very different. She was...but this is a different Nicole.
   "Richard?"
   Richard looked to see Nicole had left her chanting group. She was right
in front of him. Beautiful as ever.
   "Nicole...hi," Richard said.
   "I'm surprised that you made it," Nicole said. "Promptness wasn't your
strong suit."
   Richard smiled. Maybe Melissa had been right: All Richard Halls were
the same.
   "Well...allow me to make it up to you," Richard suggested. "Maybe we can
go out...see the sights. I am new here after all."
   Nicole grinned. "I would like that. It would us a chance...to talk to
each other."
   Nicole grabbed Richard by the hand and led him past the groups of people.
Richard did not pay much attention to the people. All that he could think
about was Nicole. He did not even see Emma bring in Melissa and Professor
Brown.
   "This is the temple," Emma explained. "All kinds of people come here to
pay respect to you our gods."
   "That is all nice, Emma," Professor Brown said. "However it feels like
you do not have free will."
   "Of course, we do," Emma disagreed. "We could choose not to worship
you."
   "So are you all really witches?" Melissa asked. "Tara said-"
   "Most people are not adapt at magic," Emma said. "The only ones with
magic here are you Tashlytes, various Priestesses, and..."
   "Now, Emma," said a voice from behind the trio, "do not tell them all of
our secrets."
   Melissa turned to see a woman walk into the temple. Her curly brown hair
flowed with her white gown which had diamonds in it. melissa felt like a
slave compared to her. She walked pass Melissa and put her arms around
Professor Brown.
   "Mistress Anya," Emma said with a bow. "What a pleasant surprise!"
   "I agree," Brown said. "What secrets could you have?"    "You show me yours," Anya said, "and I'll show you mine." Then she kissed
Brown right in front of everyone.
   Melissa grinned. She wasn't used to such openness on her Earth. Neither
was Brown it seem. Melissa looked around to see that no one noticed them.
   Anya pulled away from Brown and grinned. "Priestess Tara has invited all
of the Tashlytes to dine at the Dominion Hotel."
   "We'll be there," Melissa said.
   "I know you will," Anya said as she turned to look at Melissa.
   Then Anya's left cheek fell off. It was followed by her hair. Her skin
started to become wrinkled. An eye fell from its socket. Mold started to
turn her gown green. Anya's figure became smaller. She bent over.
   Melissa gasped at the gross sight. She looked at Brown. He was as
speechless as she was.
   Anya's skin continued to peel off. My bones became visible through her
skin. Her dress felt totally off. Her bones came apart at the joints and
joined her dress. Then all of it dissolved into dust and sunk into the
floor.
   Emma smiled and clapped. Melissa looked shocked as she observed this.
Brown looked at Emma as if she was mad.
   "What is wrong with you?" Brown asked. "A woman just...dissolved in
front of us."
   "Yes, I know," Emma said. "She's getting very good at it."
   Melissa started to recover from the sight. "You mean it was magic?"
   "Yes," Emma said.
   "Oh...well...I can deal with that...kinda," Melissa replied. She looked
at Brown who was also just recovering. "Brown, can you?"
   Melissa saw Brown stiffen up. She knew he would jump at the chance to
find a scientific reason for what happened.
   "Well...Melissa...I think there is a theory about..."
   Melissa grinned. It looked like the two of them were at it again.
   "OHHH MYYY GOODD!!!" Richard yelled as he slid down the tunnel. His eyes
hit sunlight and he landed in the pool.
   Richard came up for air. He brushed his wet hair out of his eyes.
Nicole had been showing him around all afternoon. They had eaten in the
beautiful Meditating Gardens. Richard had marvelled at the Public Place
where citizens put up their art. Nicole was bringing back a part of him he
thought long gone. Now they were at a kind of amusement park.
   Nicole came out of the tunnel and landed in the pool. Richard waited for
Nicole to surface. Minutes passed.
   "Nicole?" Richard said with a concerned tone.
   "Nicole!"
   The hands grabbed his head and pushed him underwater. Richard struggled,
but he was pushed farther down. He grabbed the hands and resurfaced. Nicole
looked at him with a mischievous smile.    "Do you know how long it's been since someone has looked at me that way?"
Richard asked Nicole.
   "I do not know," she answered.
   Richard let go of Nicole's hands. He held her face in his hands. He
looked at her beautiful blue eyes.
   "Forever," Richard answered. "Maybe...since the last time I was
with...you."
   Richard continued to look at Nicole and hold her face to his's. A doubt
hit him. This wasn't really HIS Nicole. HIS Nicole was on another Earth.
They had broken up over the face...that was then. Nicole was right in front
of him now. He was not going to let her slip away again.
   He brought Nicole closer. She did not struggle.
   "I've been wanting to do this since last night," Richard whispered as he
brought Nicole's lips up to his lips.
   "So have I," she whispered back.
   The next few minutes were something wonderful.
   Randy gave up hours ago. Maybe he would come across a double of his's
who had sliding equipment. His portable sliding machine wasn't giving him
his home coordinates.
   He sighed sadly. It might be because his home coordinates had been
erased. That left Randy and his friends sliding with no way of knowing how
to get home.
   The door opened. Randy smiled and look up. It was Richard.
   "Oh," he muttered. "I thought it was Melissa."
   "Yeah, I love you, too," Richard said Sarcastically.
   "So where have you been?"
   "Why do you care?" Richard asked.
   "You don't got to get defensive. Listen...at this rate we're going to be
sliding for a while. We could at least try to get along."
   "Speak for yourself," Richard snapped. "I'm going to stay here."
   "What?"
   "Do you have too much brain in your head that you can't hear? I'm
staying. I didn't want to be on this trip anyway and you don't want me-"
   "Stop right there!" Randy cut Richard off. "It sounds like you're just
trying to run away from your problems to me. Who is she?"
   "What?" Richard was taken aback.
   "I bet this has something to do with that girl from last night," Randy
said. "Obviously, she's a double of someone you know. So what happened on
our world that is different now?"
   "You're a regular Sherlock Holmes," Richard said annoyed. "Leave me
alone."
   "Why are you like that?" Randy pressed on. "Every time I ask about your
past, you freeze up."
   "I just think you should mind your own business."    "You made it my business when you went into my room and tried to steal my
sliding machine. I'm trying to offer an olive branch here. Will you take
it?"
   "Go to hell," Richard said bitterly.
   The door opened again. Melissa took one look at the two guys.
   "Did Brown and I miss something?" Melissa asked.
   "No," Randy answered. "The resident thief wants to stay on this world."
   "What?" Melissa said. "Richard, is that-"
   Melissa stopped talking. Richard had stormed into his room. She looked
at Randy, but he just shrugged his shoulders.
   "I'll talk to him," Melissa decided. "I'm the closest one here Richard
can even call a friend."
   She walked over to Richard's room and walked in. Randy turned to
Professor Brown. He frowned.
   "Are you okay, Professor?" Randy asked.
   "I do feel a little uncomfortable," Brown admitted. "I guess all of the
wonders of this world has finally gotten to me."
   Melissa closed the door behind her. Richard lied on his bed. His glance
stared up at the ceiling. His hands were on his stomach.
   "Leave me alone," Richard said.
   "And let an opportunity to have a heart to heart go by?" Melissa asked.
"Forget it."
   Melissa sat on the end of the bed. She looked at Richard. Was that
feeling she felt concern?
   "You know Randy wasn't going to be your bosom buddy so don't complain
now," she said.
   "He needs to get over it," Richard said.
   "Really?" Melissa challenged. "Before you...showed up in his life, he
had total control over when he could slide and how long he would be gone.
Now...he doesn't. That can be frustrating for a smart guy like him. You
know that."
   "Yeah. Yeah."
   "I also know how you must feel. We wouldn't be here at all if Randy
hadn't made his machine."
   Richard looked at Melissa for a second. "Yeah. How do you do it?"
   Melissa grinned. "I think this is just an adventure. It didn't start
off that way, but it is now."
   "You're not mad at Egghead?" Richard sat up and stared at Melissa.
   "No."
   "How about me?"
   Melissa looked down at her feet. "Honestly? I'm used to your mischief
by now. We did go out for six months, you know."
   Richard grinned. "Yeah. I know. We had some good times together."
   Melissa looked at Richard. "Randy said you're not going to slide with us tomorrow."
   "I...might not."
   "Why?"
   "Do you remember Nicole Harris?"
   Melissa frowned. "You know one thing I never wanted to hear about was
your ex-girlfriends."
   "Well...she's here...on this Earth," Richard replied. "She...was my
first...well, she was the first girl I can say I really loved...we were high
school sweethearts. We broke up because..." Richard's face became grim and
shadowed. "I have another chance with her, and I don't want to wreck it
again. It's not like anyone is going to miss me."
   Melissa put a hand on Richard's shoulder. She did not say that she would
miss him though.
   Richard grinned again. "Better be careful. If Egghead and Proper saw
us, they might think we could get along."
   The two of them laughed. Melissa looked at Richard for a moment. He had
never been this open in their relationship. He was being down right
compassionate. Maybe...
   Richard stared at Melissa. "What?"
   "Huh?" Melissa said.
   "You were giving me the weirdest look."
   "It was nothing. So...tell me more about this Nicole."
   "So no luck on the timer?" Brown asked.
   "None," Randy said. "Eventually, I just gave up and started to watch the
TV. It gives new meaning to the word 'overkill.' It's like everyone is
sold on this new movement. I would hate to see what happened to someone who
believed it was bogus."
   "Well...I am not sure that it is all...bogus, Mr. Heim," Brown said.
"Today, Ms. Clark-I mean-Melissa and I saw a woman turn to dust in front of
us in the matter of minutes. Then there was the fire breathing man and
people being unusually polite for fear of us sending them to 'The Next
Realm.'"
   Randy corked an eyebrow. "The Next Realm?"
   "I think it is their version of Hell," Brown explained. "Maybe Melissa
was...I cannot believe I am about to say this...right. It is possible for a
world to have unexplainable things like magic."
   "Or maybe the people with the magic are really scientists who like to
keep the general public in the dark," Randy commented.
   "What?"
   "I would like to go to Priestess Tara's dinner tonight," Randy said. "I
have a few questions that I would like to ask. I think that the original
Tashlytes might have been sliders like us. Maybe they accidentally or
purposefully started something here. The result being a whole new belief
system."    "Or a new religion that from our point of view seems like a New Age
Movement gone a little wild," Brown said.
   "Yeah," Randy answered. "It might be a good idea to tell everyone the
truth."
   "I disagree," Brown said. "These people might have been living this way
for years. Who are we to say it is wrong? I think that to destroy a
person's belief system would be wrong."
   "Even if it is built on lies?" Randy challenged. "We have a right-"
   "No, we do not. We slide tomorrow. We do not have to interfere with the
running of things here."
   "I don't believe this," Randy said.
   Melissa came out of Richard's room. She walked over to Randy and Brown.
   "I think we should drop this conversation," Brown said.
   "What conversation?" Melissa asked.
   "Well, Mr. Heim tends to agree with you after I told him what we saw
today," Brown lied.
   "I'll get you to admit that magic can exist yet," Melissa said.
   "So how's Richard?" Randy asked.
   "He's fine now," Melissa answered. "He's just...in love."
   "Love?" Randy said shocked. "Him?? Seems like he's taking advantage of
the fact that people think he's a god to me." Brown saw that Randy stared
at him when he said that. He got Randy's point.
   "Trust me. It's love," Melissa said with a hint of bitterness.
   "You seem to not like that."
   "I think you're reading too much into my feelings. I'm going to get
ready for Tara's dinner."
   Melissa went into her room.
   "She still has feelings for him," Randy said annoyed. "How? He's why
we're here."
   "Some people might say you are jealous," Brown said.
   To be continued

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