SLIDERS: ALTERNATE
SPIN EPISODE 4-THE BEST CON
(second part)
Professor Brown smiled.
The effects of the gas was wearing off finally.
Also he was happy.
"It was about time,"
Brown said to Randy. "I told you to tell Melissa how
you felt. So when
is the date?"
"It would have been
tonight," Randy said, "if what happened
haven't...happened.
But, it did so...I don't know."
"Do not give up
so easily, Mr. Heim. I am sure things will look up."
The door opened.
Professor Brown and Randy turned to see Richard and
Melissa walk in wearing
black leather. They were followed by a raven-haired
woman dressed in a tight
red dress.
Brown smiled.
"Good work, Mr. Hall!"
Randy looked Melissa
over. "What happened to you?"
Richard smiled at
Brown. "Yeah, Proper, I found her. I also found
trouble, too."
"All I want right
now is a hot shower and my hair back," Melissa said.
"Can we take a raincheck
on that date?"
"Yeah...of course,"
Randy said sadly.
Melissa headed for
the bathroom. Randy glared at Richard, but said
nothing.
"What kind of trouble?"
Brown asked.
"Sean found us,"
Richard said.
"Where is he now?"
"He's...tied up
at the moment."
"Who is this Sean
anyway?" Randy asked.
"He's this guy who
liked Nicole," richard said. "Obviously, Nicole liked
me better. He hated
my guts, but was too shy to do anything about it."
"Does everyone have
a grudge with you?" Randy asked.
"Enough of this,"
Brown said. "It is important that we have our device
back in our possession.
Do you have it, Miss Pryce?"
"Afraid not," Rebecca
said.
"What?" Randy said.
"Why did--"
"Well...Rebecca
has a problem," Richard said. "You see...Bufford is a
bigwig here. In fact,
he is the protege to the most dangerous man in
England...Maxmillian Arturo."
"Is this a joke?"
Brown barked. "My family has been friends with or heard
of Professor Arturo for
years! He would never--"
"Wrong world, Professor,"
Randy said.
"I refuse to see
Arturo's character questioned."
"Down, Geniuses,"
Richard said. "Anyway, Rebecca doublecrossed them by
secretly gaining controlling
interest in the Arturo Foundation. She can't
operate with it though
since it is under another name. And you know about
how the laws are here.
Rebecca could be killed for what she did."
"Where do we come
in?" Randy asked.
"Tomorrow night,"
Rebecca said, "the Arturo Foundation will be throwing a
royal banquet at the Royal
Chancellor Hotel. All controlling members have
to be there. Arturo
and Bufford will be on the lookout for me. I need
someone to pretend to be
me and get involved in a game for controlling
interest. My contract
is up you see."
"Contract?" Brown
asked.
"It's a long story,"
Rebecca said. "You help me takeover the company, you
get the timer back.
Deal?"
"Yes," Randy said.
"I do not know,"
Brown said. "This does not seem right to me. Given the
politics here, every con
artist in the city will be wanting a piece of the
action. that means
our doubles...well, those of us who are cons...will pop
up. This is too dangerous."
"Live a little,
Proper," Richard said. "I think it will be a kick. So did
Melissa."
"And you do want
that device back, right?" Rebecca said.
Brown looked at
Randy. His eyes pleaded for Brown to agree. He knew they
need the timer back.
"Okay then," Rebecca
said. "I think we're going to have to do something
with you two. You're
going to stand out too much and..."
Brown regretted
his decision.
Melissa took the
towel from her hair. She felt like crying really. She
had cut her hair and dyed
it on the last world in order to help her family.
Now, she looked at her
short black hair and wished she had not cut it.
A knock came from
her door.
"Come in," Melissa
said.
The door opened.
Melissa turned to see Randy.
"So...how are you?"
Randy asked.
"Lousy," Melissa
said. "I've never felt like a slut. So...are you and
Brown in?"
"Yeah. Rebecca's
going to give us con lessons."
"Con lessons?" Melissa
laughed at the idea.
"I like your hair
that color."
"So do I," Melissa
turned back to the mirror. "I wish it was long again."
Randy stood behind
Melissa now. "I wish we had gone on that date."
Melissa grabbed
Randy's hand. "Maybe we can treat tomorrow night as a
date."
"Maybe," Randy said.
"Then we'll get the timer back. Then...who
knows...the next slide
might be the one home."
Melissa grinned
at Randy. "That's a good hope to have. At least, I have
you if we're not home after
this slide."
Randy grinned back
at Melissa. "And I have you."
The next day, Rebecca
started to put Randy and Brown through their paces.
At times it did not work
out (Brown refused to use contractions; Randy could
not make a pass at another
woman). Other things worked out (Brown dressed
more slicker; Randy learned
more card tricks). Melissa and Richard looked
on in amusement.
"What do you think?"
Melissa asked.
"We'll find out
tonight," Richard said.
"That bad, huh?"
"Oh, yeah."
Rebecca was making
changes to her hair as Melissa came in to work on her
own hair. Rebecca
grinned.
"Well," Rebecca
said as she spined around in her black dress gown, "how do
I look?"
"Classy, yet slutty,"
Melissa replied. "Like the sexy vixen off some
soap."
Melissa started
to pick at the bans in her hair. Rebecca started to size
up her hair.
"Look at you," Rebecca
said. "Short pixie hair. White virgin gown.
No wonder you don't have
a man."
Melissa put her
arm on the counter and turned to face Rebecca. "First of
all, before I started sliding
being without a guy was my personal choice.
Most are dogs. Second
of all, you don't know me so don't act like we're
friends."
Rebecca ignored
Melissa and pushed her breasts together. "What's wrong?
Scared I'm going to take
all your boys away?" She faced Melissa. "Good.
You should be."
Rebecca headed for
the door. She paused and turned to look at Melissa.
"You're lucky I'm not sliding
with you. I would make sure you had nothing."
The door opened
and Randy stood looking at the two women.
"You two, ready?"
Randy asked.
"I know I am," Rebecca
said and kissed Randy on the cheek.
Melissa saw Randy
redden. Rebecca left before the two of them say
anything.
"Ready?" Randy asked
Melissa.
"I wish you haven't
told her about sliding," Melissa said as she walked by
him. "By the way,
nice tux."
"Wow," Melissa said.
"They can really
afford this room?" Randy asked.
"Money can gain
you anything," Rebecca said.
"Amen," Richard
added.
"Money is also why
you are in trouble in the first place," Brown pointed
out.
"It even has a skylight,"
Melissa said as she looked up.
"Let's get going,"
Rebecca ordered.
The sliders started
to walk down the staircase. Melissa held on to
Randy's arm. Rebecca
was on Richard's arm. people of rich social status
were all over the luxurious
room. Randy could tell some were from different
countries.
"Darnell Brown,
what a surprise!"
Everyone turned
around to see a guy dressed in an Armani suit. His hair
was slicked back.
"Do I know you,
Sir?" Brown asked.
"Yes, you do," the
man said. "Robert Bufford, fellow member of the Arturo
Foundation. I thought
you said that Debra and you wouldn't make it."
Everyone looked
at Brown to see if he would slip up. Brown just smiled
and said:
"Plans change.
Debra is busy with something else. besides, we would not
want my stock being traded
off...would we?"
Bufford grinned.
Randy resisted the urge to shiver. He felt Melissa's
grip tighten on his arm.
It seem every Bufford had some agenda.
"And how are you,
Dominique?" Bufford asked the other four. "Which one
are--"
Randy turned to
Rebecca. She looked at Melissa.
"Well, tell him,
Dominique," Rebecca said to Melissa. "Don't leave him in
suspense."
"Okay," Melissa
said. "We all considered getting engaged."
"Where's your ring?"
Bufford asked.
"We're still in
the thinking stage," Melissa lied.
"Well, it was nice
to meet you finally. I was starting to think Dominique
was a con."
"You're too paranoid,"
Rebecca said. She turned to Richard. "How about
we dance?"
"Sure," Richard
said.
As Rebecca continued
down the stairs with Richard, Randy looked back at
Bufford. He was eyeing
Melissa with interest.
"I'll see you for
the game," he said. "Enjoy the night."
When Bufford was
gone, Randy looked at Brown.
"Looks like your
double's a con," Randy said.
"Well, it is nice
to know I am important in most worlds," Brown said.
"Did Rebecca say
when she would give us the timer?" Melissa asked.
"After the game,"
Randy said.
"It looks like it's
going to be an interesting night," Brown commented.
"You dance well,"
Rebecca commented.
"I have a sexy date,"
Richard said. "I want to prove you made the right
choice."
Richard brought
Rebecca a little closer. He looked at her. She grinned.
"So are you just
going to look at me or kiss me?" Rebecca asked.
"What do you think?"
Richard countered.
Richard planted
a kiss on Rebecca. His arms held her in place. She did
not struggle.
"You...bastard!"
Richard pulled back
to see Harley standing in front of them. Her face was
a beet as her eyes narrowed
at Richard.
"I should have known
you would get together with...some bimbo!" Harley
shrieked.
"I can explain--"
Richard started.
"Yeah...I bet,"
Harley said. "Hey! It's a con!"
Richard started
to look left and right. Policemen were starting to come
through the crowd.
"It's a con!!" Harley
shrieked again.
"What's going on
over there?" Randy asked.
A crowd had gathered
on the dance floor. Policemen had just started to
enter the crowd now.
"Let's see what's
going on," Randy said.
"As long as we do
not interfere," Brown said.
Randy and Brown
started to head for the crowd. Melissa started to follow
when the hand came over
her mouth. Another hand grabbed her waist. melissa
struggled, but the person
dragged her to a hall. Melissa felt the hands
loosen. She turned
to knock her attacker out. She gasped.
"Wasn't expecting
me, huh?" Ben Loveland asked. He was in a tux like the
other guys.
"Ben?" Melissa said
in shock. His eyes betrayed contempt. It made her
flashback to another Ben
who had been on her first slide. They both looked
crazy.
"I've been watching
you with those other guys!" Ben barked. "Richard Hall
and Randy Heim! Randy
was my best friend! You said you never messed with
him!"
"I never--"
"You slut!"
"I--"
Ben started to approach
Melissa. "Can't have you doublecrossing me."
"Ben, wait!"
"For what?
For you to betray me again?" Ben barked.
"Is everything okay,
Miss?"
Melissa and Ben
turned to see two policemen approaching. Melissa looked
at Ben. He glared
at her. She did not want to do it, but...
"No," Melissa said.
"Here's another con: Ben Loveland. He is probably
here under an alias.
He just tried to blackmail me. Thank God, my husband
knows about that affair."
Melissa saw Ben's
eyes widen in surprise. She felt her stomach hurting.
"Don't listen to
her!" Ben said. "She's a con, too!"
"Everyone knows
Dominique Brooks," Melissa said. "I bet no one knows you
here."
The policemen pulled
out handcuffs. Before Ben could run, they had him.
"You have the right
to..."
"There's no problem,"
Rebecca said to the policemen. "It's just a stupid
quarrel."
The policemen stared
at Rebecca for a moment. Then they returned to what
they were doing.
Rebecca grabbed Harley.
"Get my seat ready,"
Rebecca said to Richard. "Girl talk."
"Are you sure you're
okay?" Randy whispered to Melissa.
"Shh!" Brown said.
The game had been
going on for thirty minutes. major players had lost
their corporations to up
and comers. Others had something to their credit.
In the end, there was only
Richard representing Rebecca and Bufford
representing the Arturo
Foundation. The winner gained controlling interest.
Neither of the two
had folded yet.
"Come on," Randy
whispered.
Melissa and Randy
exited the game room and sat in the hall.
"So are you okay?"
Randy asked.
"Why do you keep
asking me that?" Melissa demanded. "I'm fine."
"It must have been
hard to face Ben," Randy suggested. "You know you can
tell me."
Melissa looked at
randy. She saw the concern in his eyes. A tear started
to form in her eye.
"This isn't going
to work," Melissa finally said. "I feel too...I
shouldn't but I feel guilty.
I can't do this."
Randy looked away.
Melissa started to touch his shoulder, but she
stopped. It would
have been pointless.
"I understand,"
Randy said.
"YEE-HAW!"
The shout startled
the two of them. Finally, Rebecca walked out on
Brown's arm. She
grinned at Randy and Melissa.
"You won?" Randy
asked.
"Of course," Rebecca
said. "Thanks to you all."
Richard walked out
of the room. His face was shining as much as
Rebecca's.
"I can't believe
I won all of that money!" Richard yelled. "I'm the man!"
"This is all fun,
but," Melissa said, "where's the timer?"
"Oh...that," Rebecca
said. She raised her dress and pulled it out of her
garter. "You mean
this?"
Rebecca waved it
at the foursome. Melissa saw what the time said. They
had two more minutes.
Randy started to
reach for the timer when Rebecca pulled the timer away.
"I don't think so,"
Rebecca said.
"What?" Randy said.
"Don't move," Rebecca
ordered. She pulled out a gun.
"What are you? A
walking arsenal?" Melissa asked.
"Why?" Brown asked.
"Why?" Rebecca said.
"Keeping this and selling it to one of tonight's
losers might be worthwhile.
Or better yet, I could use it...study it until
I can travel between worlds
and raise some funds."
"You are despicable,"
Brown said.
"Flattery will get
a bullet in you leg, Brown," Rebecca said. "Now, shut
up!"
Rebecca started
to back away from the sliders. She looked at Richard.
"You could stay
with me," she said. "We do make quite the pair."
Richard grinned.
"I would love that...if the police weren't coming."
"What?"
Rebecca turned to
look. Too late. Richard grabbed the gun. Meanwhile,
Brown grabbed the timer.
He threw it to Randy. Randy looked at the timer
and aimed at a wall.
The wall dissolved
into a wormhole. Quickly, Melissa jumped through the
wormhole. Randy followed.
Brown was next. Richard threw the gun and
kissed Rebecca.
"It's been fun!"
Richard yelled.
He jumped into the
wormhole. It closed before Rebecca could react.
"What's going on?"
Rebecca turned to
see Bufford and Sean staring at her. She put her hands
behind her and smiled.
"Dominique Brooks
just gave her shares to me," Rebecca said. "That means
you work for me."
"You're kidding!"
Sean cried. "You're a con!"
"Just a rumor that
Arturo and Bufford here like to use...not anymore. As
you have seen...Dominique
and I are two different people."
Rebecca looked at
Sean. "Bring my car around. I want to see
Arturo...personally."
Sean left, followed
by a dumbfounded Bufford. Rebecca looked at the wall
where the wormhole had
been. She smiled again.
"Sliding, huh?"
she said to herself. "Hmmm..."
The wormhole opened
upon the street of San Francisco. Melissa flew out of
it and landed safely.
Randy landed next to her. Brown came next. Finally,
Richard flew out and landed
on his butt. The wormhole closed.
"I hate you," Richard
said to Randy.
"Uh...guys?" Melissa
said.
Randy followed Melissa's
stare. A group of women were staring at them.
In fact, most of the women
in the area was staring at them.
"Do you notice it?"
Melissa asked.
"What?" Randy asked.
"There are no men
here," Melissa said. "It's like they're nonexistent."
"I think we better
get away from here," Brown said. "How long are we
here?"
"A couple of minutes,"
Randy replied.
"I don't think we
have that long," Melissa said.
Some of the women
had started to approach the sliders. One brunette
looked Richard over.
Suddenly, she pushed him against a wall and jumped on
him.
"I want your sperm,"
the woman said.
THE-END