The vortex opened. Randy Heim fell out. He landed on his feet and looked around quickly. He was in a really dirty alley.
  Several whirs happened at once. Melissa Clark, Katherine Rye, and Randall Heim fell out. Before Randy could react, they landed on him.
  "Does this get any comfortable?" Randall asked.
  "Do ye always complain?" Kat asked.
  Randy tried to move. He found his hands were on Melissa's breasts. Her eyes widened in surprise.
  "Uh..." Randy managed.
  A whir sounded out. Professor Darnell Brown's wheelchair shot out at the foursome. Everyone quickly dotted out of the way. The vortex closed after him as Brown's wheelchair landed.
  "That thing is deadly," Melissa said, gesturing to the wheelchair.
  Brown glared at Melissa. Randy stared at him. Normally, he would reply to Melissa's comment. The disease in his body had taken away his power to speak.
  Suddenly, Brown started to gasp for breath. He grabbed at his chest.
  "Professor?" Randy yelled.

I FOUND THE GATEWAY! I FOUND A WAY TO TRAVEL BETWEEN WORLDS. WHERE IT'S THE SAME TIME, SAME PLACE, DIFFERENT DIMENSION. FOR TWO YEARS, MY FRIENDS AND I SEARCHED FOR HOME. OUR ENEMIES ARE CLOSING IN...NOW THE QUESTION IS...DO WE GO HOME?

SLIDERS: ALTERNATE SPIN-SEASON 3
EPISODE 17: DARKEST HOUR

  "We need a doctor," Randy said to the nurse at the desk.
  The nurse looked up. Randy had to resist the urge to gasp. It was Wade Welles. And she was glaring.
  "Did you hear a thing he said?" Melissa asked, coming to the desk.
  Wade stood up. She started talking in a language that Randy didn't understand. He stared at Professor Brown. He was struggling.
  "Look," Randy snapped. "I don't-"
  "It's Japanese," Randall said coming up to the desk. "Let me."
  Randall started talking to Wade. She nodded. Then she talked to a nurse behind her. The nurse rushed to Brown. She stared for a second. Then she pushed Brown down the hall.
  Wade continued to talk to Randall. Randy meanwhile watched Professor Brown go. His thoughts were all over the place. Brown couldn't breathed. If they had not been next to the hospital...
  "We need to go," Randall announced in a whisper.
  "W-" Kat started.
  Randall shushed her as he walked past Randy.
  "Policemen are on the way," Randall whispered. "They will find us, take us to the barracks, and kill us. Less you talk; better chances you will be fine."
  "What are you talking about?" Melissa demanded. "What have we done?"
  Randall glared. "You speak English."

  Melissa stared over at Kat. She was soundly asleep on the bed next to one Melissa was curled up on. Randy had thought it would be too risky to check into the Dominion. So here they were at the Motel 12.
  Melissa looked over at Randy. He was at the window, peeking out. The serious stare. It was kinda sexy.
  Melissa shook her head. No time for that.
  "Any sign of Randall?" Melissa asked.
  Randy looked at her. "None."
  "Maybe we shouldn't have sent him to the library," Melissa commented.
  Randy walked over to the bed and sat down. "I agree, but he's the only one who knows Japanese." He rubbed his eyes. "God! I can't believe the Professor..."
  Melissa put her hand on Randy's shoulder. "Come on. Professor Brown is a fighter. He'll pull through."
  Randy frowned. "He's dying, Melissa...and there's nothing I can do." He pulled out a notebook. "that doctor on Evolution World was close to a cure. If only...but I don't understand!"
  "Then here's a thought," Melissa suggested. "Find someone who does."
  Randy stared at Melissa. "Here? In a world where everyone speaks Japanese?"
  Melissa stared at Randy. "You've been in worse scraps." She smiled. "I believe you can."
  Randy smiled. "That's good to hear...especially from you."
  Melissa looked down. A hand touched her cheek, bringing her face back up. She looked into Randy's brown eyes and her stomach got...funny. This was so not like her. Randy started to lean into her face. He was going to kiss her. And she was scared by the fact she was going to let him.
  "Uh...is Randall back yet?"
  Melissa pulled back from Randy. Kat glared at her.
  "Uh...no," Randy said, standing up from the bed.
  Kat continued to glare at Melissa. Melissa frowned.
  "What?" Melissa demanded.
  "A friend could be dyin'," Kat snapped.
  "You were just sleep," Melissa spit out.
  The door opened. Melissa looked at it. Randall stood int he door with several books in his right hand. He paused and looked around. An eyebrow arched.
  "Did I...miss something?" Randall asked.
  Melissa jumped off the bed. "No." She grabbed her jacket. "I'm going for a walk."
  "Wait," Randy said. "We should stay close."
  "I'll be fine," Melissa said, not looking behind as she headed for the door. "Don't worry."
  Melissa made it out of the door and a good foot away before she realized she was not alone. She turned around. Kat glared at her.
  "Are ye daft?" Kat demanded.
  Melissa put her hands on her hips "What is that suppose to mean?"
  "Ye know yuir secret is safe," Kat explained. "But gettin' close to Randy...is wrong."
  "What can I say?" Melissa protested. "He's cute."
  Kat balled her hands into fist. "And how do ye think he'll be when he realizes ye nae his? He'll be heartbroken. Ye canna do this."
  "Maybe he won't find her?"
  "Nae an option."
  Melissa said nothing. She turned and walked down the motel stairs. She knew Kat had a point. Still...what was she suppose to do?

  Randy watched Kat shut the motel door behind her. Randall stared at the door. Then he focused on Randy.
  "I am starting to wonder about those two," Randall said.
  "What do you mean?" Randy asked.
  Randall laughed. He walked over to the bed and dropped the books.
  "Just when I think I am rubbing off..." Randall commented.
  "You're not," Randy spit out.
  "They're hiding something," Randall spit out.
  "I disagree."
  "Trust me. I have seen-"
  "Trust you?" Randy said with a laugh. "Is that a joke?" He frowned. "Make no mistake...you are an uninvited guest here."
  Randall sighed sadly. He looked at Randy, his eyes betrayed hurt.
  "Think what you want...but listen," Randall said. "I have seen enough games...done enough with Sarah and the others...to know one when I see it. it would be in your best interest to find out what their secret is."
  Randy looked at his double. Again he found himself wondering how he became this...manipulator.
  The door opened. Randy looked away from Randall in time to see Kat close the door. A frown was all over her face.
  "What's wrong?" Randy asked.
  "Nothing," Kat said quickly. She looked at Randall. "What did ye learn?"
  "The Japanese invented the atomic bomb during World War II...and had no problem using it," Randall said simply.

  "Stupid girl," Melissa muttered to herself.
  Kat's words were still in her head as she walked the crowded San Francisco street. She barely noticed the diversity around her.
  'And how do ye think he'll be when he realizes ye nae his?'
  It was not like she wanted to be interested in him. besides, who said he ever had to find out? If they could just avoid the Foundation...
  Melissa shook that thought out of her head. As long as Egghead's double was there, they were going to be knocking heads with the Foundation...
  Now if she could get rid of him...
  Someone bumped into her. Melissa looked up to tell her off. The words caught in her throat.
  It was her. The black woman from her...flashback. Diana Davis. At the moment, she tore into Melissa in Japanese, resembling a pissed-off Tyra Banks. Nest to her was Rebecca Pryce and a Japanese man. They all were dressed in black leather.
  Melissa moved out of their way and allowed them to pass. As they moved past her, Rebecca gave her a look. Melissa looked down quickly. They all were dressed in black leather.
  Melissa moved out of their way and allowed them to pass. As they moved past her. Rebecca gave her a look. Melissa looked down quickly. They continued past her.
  Melissa's eyes narrowed on their back. She recognized the leather. SHE used to wear it. Those were members of the Foundation.
  Her eyes widened. Not only was the Foundation on that world, there was an associate here.
  Melissa followed.

  "Einstein," Randall started, "never made the atomic bomb. He was more interested in...hatwear."
  "Saints perserve," Kat gasped from her bed where she sat with a book in her lap. "I canna believe...London...Washington DC. Bombed by Japanese scientists."
  "Well at least they got Hitler, too," Randy commented from his bed. He stared at Kat. "I guess they didn't want the competition."
  "Actually, there have been Hitler sightings since 1956," Randall commented, sitting down at a desk in the corner. "The Japanese destroyed all of the capitals and put regents in their place. A whole new world order took over."
  "But look at the death to get it," Kat said.
  "There's no crime now," Randall shot back.
  "And that makes death right?" Kat shot back.
  "Hey!" Randy yelled. "We can debate a little later. Right now...we should go check on the Professor. Crime or no crime, we need to be sure he's okay."

  Brown opened his eyes. He let his mouth open, allowing breath to enter and exit. He never felt so glad to breathe.
  The nanotechs. They had finally gotten to his lungs. After snaking through his body, they were finally ready to do him in.
  Brown frowned. He had been so busy being glad he was still alive he did not realize. He was not in the hospital.
  He pushed him up on the bed with his hands. He was in a room with no windows. Several posters dotted the wall. A few feet from him was two figures. they were standing over a desk, with a mini-fluorescent light over them.
  "I just cannot believe it," said one of the figures, the voice definitely female. "the way these nanotechs destroy everything in their path. How could the Japs have produced this and we not know of it?"
  "It wouldn't be the first time, Kims," the other figure said, the voice being a familiar male one. "The Japs are good at guarding their weaponry. You remember D.C."
  "Yeah," Kims replied. "Never did apologize to Mom for bailing on my wedding. Now..."
  The man put a hand on the woman's shoulder. His face came into the light. Brown narrowed his eyes. It was Bufford.
  "Can you cure him, Kims?" Bufford asked.
  Kims glared at Bufford. "Scientist, not a miracle worker."
  Brown looked down. He remembered Miashuyhi Kims from his Physics class. While Randy had been the dark horse and Bufford the overachiever, Kims was the underdog. She had so much potential. Her family always suggested the department. This Kims seem to be just as scrappy.
  "Happy Welles told us about finding him," Bufford continued. "The last thing we need are the Japs torturing him more."
  "You know we have to get back in, right?" Kims asked. "I have no data on this disease."
  Bufford frowned. "You know how hard it was to break him out?"
  Kims glared. "Know how hard it is to save him without more info? You and Heim will have to go back."
  Brown looked to his left. He saw a little drawer with a glass on it. He grabbed it and threw it over the two's head. Kims and Bufford turned around. Their eyes widened.
  "Sir," Bufford muttered.
  Kims smiled. "Good to have you back, sir...and alive."
  Brown managed a smile.

  Melissa smiled. Davis, Pryce, and the man...Filjkawia...had entered the hospital. It had been easy to hold back outside on the street. now she had to find a way to keep following them.
  A Japanese woman exited the hospital. She wore a white hospital coat, revealing she was a doctor. She wore glasses and had her jet black hair in a ponytail.
  Melissa's smile grew bigger.

  Melissa entered the hospital. Immediately, she felt self-conscious in the hall. Most of the doctors, nurses, and attendants were Japanese.
  At the nurse desk was her target. Filjkawia was talking with the nurse. Davis and Pryce watched them for a moment. Finally, they headed down the hall.
  Melissa grabbed the long notepad off one of the nearly doors She slowly headed down the hall. The trio still headed down the hall. It appeared that they were heading for the double doors at the very end.
  The doctor spun up in front of her. He started to speak in Japanese. Melissa looked past him. the trio walked through the double doors.
  The doctor started to bark at her. Melissa really wished she knew how to speak Japanese. His barking was drawing undue attention to her. She had to think of something.
  Melissa held up a finger to silence the doctor. His eyes widened in shock at what Melissa cold only assume was what he saw as an underling disrespecting him. She did not care. She gestured to the nearest room. The doctor followed.

  Melissa walked through the double doors. She paused and frowned.
  It was an empty white room. At the far wall was elevator doors. At the moment, they were opening, revealing two American-looking men in lab coats.
  "I can't believe it is finally done," one said.
  "About time," the other said. "I'll be glad to leave this world."
  "Japanese alert," the first said as they walked past Melissa and out into the hall.
  Melissa watched the tow of them leave. She stepped into the elevator. It shut behind her and headed down.
  What was she getting herself into? The more that she saw, the more Melissa felt she was in over her head. Obviously, this world knew something of the Foundation. And now she was going into the lion's den...
  The elevator doors opened. Melissa barely remembered stepping off. Her eyes were on the sight before her.
  Metal planks. As far as the eye could see. All of it surrounded what looked like a metal cannon. people were working on it went drills and everything.
  Melissa looked to her left. There was screens with technicians sitting in front of them, typing away. Foundation guards stood about in their black leathers. On the good side, people in white lab coats walked among these people. Melissa joined the few who were. She saw Davis, Pryce, and Filjkawia.
  "It is a great honor to use your vast technology, Filjkawia," Davis commented. "With the enemy all about, my partners needed the best as well as secrecy."
  Filjkawia nodded. "You pick...the best."
  "Now all we have to do is cart this back to the Home Office," Pryce said, looking at the cannon.
  Melissa frowned as she looked over a technician's shoulder, pretending to take notes. That cannon sounded like bad news.
  A beep went off on Filjkawia. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone. He talked for a few moments in Japanese. Then he returned it to his pocket.
  "I must leave," Filjkawia announced. "The work of a chief of staff...never done."
  Davis nodded. Filjkawia bowed and headed back to the elevator. Davis stared after him and glared. Pryce only smirked.
  "I so hate this world," Davis said.
  "I can see why," Pryce said. "Good thing I am not an associate."
  Davis frowned. "Interesting point. Speaking of which...why are you here? This project was to be handed to Mr. Stone to be delivered to Arturo and Franks."
  "Things come up," Pryce answered. "Stone is busy with his extinguishings. Then there's the hunt for that group..."
  "Yes," Davis said. "THAT group. What that Heim did to our base on Earth 243." she sighed sadly. "If the Kromaggs get ahold of him..."
  "But they won't," Pryce replied.
  "How do you know this?" Davis snapped.
  "They're smart, but we're smarter." Pryce smiled. "Besides when this device Stone got from Geiger's notes works...no more 'Maggots to think about. We can go about our work."
  Melissa felt that she had heard enough. She had to re-group with the others. She turned away from the technician she was watching and headed for the elevator.
  Melissa made into the elevator. The doors were almost closed. A hand shot in, causing the doors to re-open.
  "Nice try," Pryce said, backed by two guards. "Where do you think you're going?"

  Randy watched as Randall spoke Japanese to the nurse. Wade Welles was on break so they had to deal with this pushy plump woman.
  Randy walked up the hall a little. His mind drifted to Melissa. She still had not called or looked for them. Looked for him. He felt that she was slowly coming back to him...but now what?
  Randy looked about. It did not appear like anyone was watching him. He stepped into a room with an open door.
  His thoughts turned to the Professor. Who knew how long he had now. Could be hours. could be minutes. He had to find a way to help him. He promised to get them home. Richard was already dead. He would not lose anyone els-
  Randy's leg caught on something. He looked down. There was an unconscious man on the floor.
  "What-" Randy started.
  A hand covered his mouth. Before he could react, Randy felt handcuffs closed around his wrists. He was pulled back by a jerk. He found himself face-to-face with Jared Heim.
  It was Jared Heim. Randy recognized the double of the brother he might have back home. However, he wore glasses. his brown hair was pulled back into a ponytail that looked weird on him since he was dressed in a white lab coat complete with buttoned-down green shirt and dark pants.
  "Looks like we got an interloper," Jared said.
  "We can't have that," another familiar voice said. "I don't know who knocked out the man, but he walked in. He might tell them that we're here to get data on Brown."
  Jared glared over Randy's shoulder. "Gee, Bufford. Give him recap, why don't you!"
  Randy's eyes widened. Bufford?
  He bit the hand on his mouth. A small yelp escaped from Bufford's mouth.
  "You're here for Brown?" Randy asked. "So am I. He needs help."
  "We know," Jared said. "That's why we came back."
  "Back?" Randy said with a frown.
  "Brown isn't here," Bufford said from behind Randy. "We took him. They...the government did something to him. He's dying."
  "I know," Randy said, going along with them. "He needs my help."
  Jared frowned. "Really? why should we believe you?"
  "You told me this much," Randy said. He managed to stare right at Jared. "Besides, there is a notebook under this shirt...has the equation needed to cure Professor Brown."
  "That's a lie."
  "Fine," Randy said. "Let him die."
  Hands grabbed Randy's shoulder.
  "You shut your-"
  Randy kicked backward, getting Bufford in the knee.
  "You son of-" Bufford started.
  "Bufford, stop," Jared snapped. He reached into the front of Randy's shirt. he felt the notebook and pulled it out. he stared at it for a moment, bewilderment crossing his face.
  "Well?" Randy said after a moment. "Do you believe me?"
  Footsteps in a rush got Randy's attention.
  "Freeze!"

  Kat jumped at the sound of the yell. She turned to see two Japanese men with .24 calibers trained on her and Randall. Between them stood Rembrandt Brown.
  "Yeah," Rembrandt said. "I speak English."
  "Is there a problem?" Randall asked, glaring from the counter.
  "You bet there's a problem," Rembrandt said. "The presumed-dead rebel Darnell Brown checks in...along with English-speaking posse...and you think it goes unnoticed. Not on my watch!"
  "'Tis a mistake," Kat managed.
  Randall snapped at her in Japanese. She did not understand, but it felt like the equivalent of shut up. She kept her mouth quiet.
  "The only mistake you made," said a voice from behind Rembrandt, revealing a tall Japanese man dressed in black leather. Kat realized he was involved with the Foundation, "was thinking you could make it out of here with the body." His eyes burned into them. "Now...where is it?"
  Randy frowned. "Here."
  "I don't think you're in a position to bluff, rebel," Rembrandt said, pulling out a pistol.
  "Not bluffing."
  "Where is he?"
  "Here."
  "You deaf?"
  "Are you?"
  "Enough!" the Japanese man snapped. "Brown, take them to Level 4. Let us see if our electricshock tools loosen their lips."
  "Anything you say, Filjkawia," Rembrandt said.
  Kat backed away from the approaching guards. She turned to look at Randall. Her thoughts raced as she wondered how they would get out of this.
  "Hey, boys! Eat this!"
  Kat looked down the hall. Randy was down the hall with a double of Bufford and another figure. Bufford threw something that she could not see. It landed between Filjkawia and Rembrandt. Kat's eyes widened. It was a grenade.
  Hands grabbed Kat. She looked into Randall's eyes.
  "Run!" Randall yelled.
  Kat made it over to the door which it led to the stairwell. She heard a boom and turned around. There was smoke.
  She paused, causing Randall to bump into her. He glared.
  "Move!" Randall yelled.
  "But Randy-" Kat started.
  "He knows where to meet us," Randall said, moving past her. "Let's worry about us."
  Kat stared back at the door. She followed Randall down the stairs. She had to accept it.
  They had been separated.

  "Isn't he...well...short?"
  Randy felt the back of his head loosen, signaling that the blindfold was coming off. His eyes adjusted to the room and its speaker. His eyes widened.
  "Kims?" Randy managed.
  "You were expecting the Borg Queen?" Miashuyhi Kims said from her desk. "now...who are you and how do you know my name?"
  Randy's eyes fell on the bed. There he was. Professor Brown was on the bed. He looked deathly pale. Randy headed toward him. Kims shot up.
  "Nah uh," Kims said.
  "He's on our side, Kims," Bufford said from behind him.
  "Oh, really?" Kims asked sarcastically. "What's next? 'The Visitors are our Friends?' What has gotten into you? He could be a spy or-"
  "Look," Jared said, moving forward with the notebook in his hands.
  Kims took the notebook from Jared and opened it. Randy watched her eyes widen at the equations. She stared at Randy.
  "Well?" Bufford asked from behind Randy.
  Kims looked past Randy. "He's right." She smiled. "It's a piece of the puzzle."
  Coughing got Randy's attention. He looked past Kims. Professor Brown was having another breath attack.
  "Professor!" Randy yelled.

  Melissa screamed. The electricity stopped running through her body. Her head fell froward in exhaustion as she sat in the chair. Her black hair fell over her face, covering up the round pads attached to her forehead and cheeks.
  "I am so happy Filjkawia recommended this."
  Melissa managed to look up. Rebecca Pryce stood over her with a smirk on her face. She managed a glare.
  "Why the glare?" Rebecca asked. She leaned in closer. "There was a time we were on the same side...working for the Foundation."
  "Brainwashed," Melissa muttered. She managed to stop her shakes. She narrowed her eyes. "And you? What's your angle? What con you pulling?"
  Rebecca shook her head. "No con. Just want your kind to stay on your world."
  "Yeah, ri-"
  Melissa felt a spark on her forehead. Then her body came to life with electric fire. Her mouth opened and let out a primal scream.

  Rebecca studied the unconscious Melissa. It had taken a while, but the girl had passed out. Good for her.
  "Loved it...too much."
  Rebecca did not bother to turn around. She knew who it was among the shadows. They had a deal.
  "Nice to see you're practicing your speech patterns," Rebecca commented.
  "Loved it...too...much!"
  Rebecca turned to look at him. She could not see into the shadows. She could tell he glared at her.
  "Maybe I do," Rebecca continued. "They had a world of opportunity in front of them and messed it up for the rest of us! Look at them! Look at you!"
  Rebecca got silence as a response. She crossed her arms over her chest.
  "We both know why we're in this," Rebecca said. "My organization make a handy profit from the worlds we extinguish. You...will get your revenge."
  Rebecca could make out movement, resembling a nod.
  "Yes," he said. "She...will help."

  Randy reached out. His hand encircled Professor Brown's hand. Professor Brown stared at him with eyes wide open. The look they had in them reminded Randy of those television shows where a father looked at a son with pride. A small smile crossed his face.
  "Good to see you're still with us," Randy said. "Kims is going over the equations now. I can't seem to make heads or tails over Dru's notes, but Kims..." he paused, looking down at his feet. "She always was the special one in the class. I was good. Bufford...okay, he was, too. We were always competing. Kims didn't have time for things like that. She worked the assignment in some unique way that made us envious. If anyone can crack this, she can. I...sure can't."
  Randy felt Professor Brown's hand tighten around his. He looked up to see Professor Brown shaking his head.
  "I wasn't even close, Professor," Randy admitted.
  Brown frowned.
  "There was this one part of the equation...I couldn't get," Randy said. "Maybe Kims..."
  "She's not even close either."
  Randy looked up. Kims dropped the notebook into Randy's lap.
  "I've gone through it," Kims explained. "And again and again, I get stumped on the same part. This is hopeless."
  "Don't say that," Randy snapped.
  "Why?" Kims countered. "YOU just did." She shook her head. "And I have an MFA in this stuff." She looked at Randy. "Are you sure this is all the data you got? Are you missing anything?"
  "No," Randy said. "That's everything. And if you can't do it-"
  Randy paused. A memory clawing to the surface. Weeks ago, he was on a world where Egypt had returned to power. he had been looking over Dr. Dru's notes, searching for the solution. His double taunted him over his shoulder, confident with his knowledge of nanotechnology.
  'Well, I studied a lot at the academy so nanotechnology isn't Greek to me.'
  Randy's eyes widened. "My brother?"
  Kims frowned. "Huh?"
  "He would know how to solve this."
  Kims glared. "And you're just now telling me?"
  "Hey! We're on...the outs."
  Kims rolled her eyes. "Know where he's at?"
  "Room 12 at the Motel 12."
  "I'll get the guys on it," Kims said, heading for the door.
  Randy turned back to look at the Professor. He had fallen asleep. Randy stood up and headed for Kims's desk.
  Professor Brown could sleep. He was going to work the problem. He wouldn't stop until he did.

  Kat paced. It had been hours since she had seen Randy or Melissa. She did not know how she was still here in the motel. she needed to start looking. She headed for the door.
  The door opened, revealing Randall. He stared at her seriously.
  "And where do you think you're going?" Randall asked.
  "Tae look for the others," Kat answered.
  "How?" Randall asked. "You don't speak Japanese."
  "I dinna care," Kat protested.
  Randall closed the door. "Well, maybe you should. I had to pose as a tourist to get into the library. They were eon yellow alert. It seems the rebel Darnell Brown is out...and the city is on mild lockdown by Filjkawia cousin the Governor."
  Kat's eyes widened. "The man from the hospital."
  "Exactly," Randall replied, grabbing Kat's arm. "So the best thing to do now would be to move location."
  Kat snatched her arm away from Randall. "Are ye daft? How will the others find us?"
  "We'll think of a way," Randall replied. "For now...we run."
  "Nae!" Kat snapped.
  "Why do you care?" Randall asked. "I see the way you look at Melissa. "Not to mention the fact Randy killed Richard."
  Kat headed for the door. She grabbed the doorknob and opened it. All she wanted was to be away from Randall's accusation.
  Rembrandt Brown stood in the door. A walkie-talkie hanged from one shoulder. he spoke into it.
  "Targets found," Rembrandt said. His eyes narrowed on Kat. "Now...where is Darnell Brown?"

  Randy heard the door open. It sounded like it was some place far from these rebels' base. His mind saw numbers. Numbers that joined together to from problems. Problems were combat by solutions. problems and solutions joined together to form equations.
  He stared at the notes. Then calmly he turned to the sheet of paper to the right of the notes. pen in hand, Randy started to write. His focus was on possible solutions to Professor Brown's problem.
  It was a problem. Problems...could be solved.

  Randall wished for his laser. If he had it, Randall was sure he and the fair Katherine would have made it out of the motel safefully. Instead, they were back at the hospital on an elevator. Two guards stood behind him and Katherine. Meanwhile, Rembrandt Brown and another guard stood in front of them.
  Randall looked over at Kat. he felt himself asking secret questions. When he had last seen her, Katherine Rye was a woman bent on avenging her boyfriend's death. Quite violent. Now she was a pacifist.
  His eyes narrowed. A pacifist with a few secrets. He had noticed many moments when she and Melissa Clark were thick as thieves...about to be caught. He wondered how much she would give to keep that secret.
  The elevator door clicked and opened. The guard moved out of the door, pausing to stand at the side. Rembrandt moved out of it, gesturing to Randall.
  "After you," Rembrandt said.
  "No thank you," Randall said. "I think I'll stay on the elevator."
  Rembrandt's face darkened. "That wasn't a request."
  "Really?" Randall shot back.
  "Will ye stop it?" Kat snapped.
  Randall looked at her in surprise. Kat looked back at him. Her expression revealed how confusion over why he was egging these people off. She turned and stormed out of the elevator. Randall followed.
  "Welcome to the criminal ward," Rembrandt announced. "Here we take care of your kind."
  Rembrandt shouted an order in Japanese. Randall felt a hand push him forward.
  He wondered where they were taking him.

  Rebecca smiled as she turned the corner. Her partner was safely back at the Home Office. She would be right behind with Davis and the weapon. First she had to pick up Melissa Clark.
  Rebecca paused. Her face frowned up.
  Melissa was no longer in the electric chair.
  She was gone.

  Kat looked at the walls. She saw nothing she could use to help in an escape.
  She looked at the corner as it approached. All she saw was a fire extinguisher. Even if she could reach it, could she turn the thing on anyone?
  Alarms started to scream through the halls. Rembrandt and his guards appeared completely surprised. It was as if no one ever broke into this place.
  A fist connected with Rembrandt's face. A kick backwards took out one of the guards.
  "Duck!" Randall snapped.
  Kat fell to the floor. It was a good thing. Randall's leg hit the guard right in the face.
  Kat stood up. She saw the last guard run for the corner. He turned it and ran into someone's leg. He fell unconscious.
  Melissa walked around the corner. Kat felt her jaw drop. Melissa stared at the unconscious guard at her feet.
  "Melissa?" Kat managed.
  Melissa stared at her. Then she started to fall. She caught herself though. Wade Welles came up behind Melissa and steadied her.
  "You again," Randall said.
  "You don't have much time," Wade said.   Melissa pulled away from Wade. "She's...right. Foundation...here."
  Wade headed for the stairway. "We got to get you to Darnell. He'll know what to do."

  Jared Heim headed down the hall. He had just gotten a call from their agent. Randy's brother was on the way. And with his arrival...a cure for their leader.
  Jared opened the door. Randy sat at the desk. Sweat fell from his forehead. His right hand sped across papers on the desk. Kims stood over Randy's shoulder, her arms over her chest.
  "What's going on?" Jared asked.
  Kims shrugged her shoulders. "I came back from the bathroom and there he was. He's scribbling equations...looking for a cure."
  "Randy?" Jared managed.
  Kims looked at Jared. "He's in a trance. he doesn't hear you."
  "We found his brother," Jared replied. "He's on his way."
  "Good," Kims said. "Maybe he can solve that."
  Jared started at the bed where Darnell Brown had been resting. He still laid on the bed. However, something covered his body.
  "What the-" Jared said, moving forward.
  Jared walked over to the desk, moving the lamp away from Randy. randy appeared not to notice as he continued to write away.
  Jared focused the light on Brown. His skin was not brown anymore. It was gray and covered with some kind of...techno wires. It was like circuitry from a computer.
  "Oh my God," Jared muttered.
  "Yeah," Kims commented. "I hope Randy's brother is one."

  "Are ye sure ye all right?" Kat asked.
  Melissa looked up from the floor of the van. "Right as rain, kitten."
  "So...how you wind up there?" Randall asked.
  Melissa looked over at Randall. He sat near the front of the van. He stared at them blankly.
  "I told you," Melissa replied. "The Foundation's here. One of the associates...a double of Diana Davis...has a deal with the head man here. The weapon is done. They're about to begin taking it to the Home Office."
  "'Tis nae good," Kat commented.
  Melissa looked back at Kat and smirked. "You think?"
  "I'm on your side," Kat protested.
  Melissa leaned back and sighed. She had to stop giving Kat such a hard time. She was keeping her identity secret after all.
  "So," Randall said, "the endgame begins."
  "And what side are you going to be on?" Melissa challenged.
  Randall grinned. "Same as what yours appear to be: my own."
  The van came to a stop. A few moments later, a double of Bufford opened the door. Melissa blinked to adjust to the light. While she adjusted, Melissa felt something soft land in her hand. She looked down to see it was a blindfold.
  "Put it on," Bufford instructed.

  Images.
  Darnell saw them before him.
  Being young and free...
  His father Leroy arguing with Darnell's mother...
  His mother telling him of Uncle Rembrandt's disappearance...more of a father to him than his own...
  The long hours of studying...
  Getting his Masters...
  Meeting his future wife Debra...
  Flashes of light...
  Arguing with Debra...
  Teaching Physics at the college...
  Debra leaving Darnell...him too busy to notice...
  Darnell becoming consumed by work...
  William Franks...
  More flashes of light...A figure emerged from the light like from air. Darnell feel there was something familiar about the figure. Something...he did not like.
  More images flashed across Darnell's sight, distracting him.
  His students working on exams...one of them shocking him more than the others....a quiet brown-haired man who dressed in baggy clothes...Randy Heim...
  The message in his office...
  A blue circle of light in the air...a vortex...to another world...
  Other worlds...
  The flashes of lights came across Darnell's sight. the figure was closer now. It reached out for him.
  A world where pagans used technology to fool a population into worship...Anya's world...
  A world where conning was the rule, not the exception...Rebecca Pryce's world...
  A world where cloning was allowed...
  Where there was gunplay ID...
  Where cross-genetics created a boy of incredible telepathic/telekinetic power...Chad Owens's world...
  Flashes of light...The figure was in front of Darnell. Shadows caused by the light blinded the weirdly shaped man...his hand closed in front of Darnell.
  Witnessing Chad Owens's power...
  Seeing Debra hung as a scientist on a world where it was a crime...
  Killing Debra's murderers...
  Giving in to his dark side...
  Challenging the student...Randy Heim...
  Encountering his Other...a double darker than himself...
  Meeting his calmer self on that world of doubles...
  Encountering Logan St. Clair...
  The flashes of lights...dim...The figure...opens his hand. Darnell's eyes...widened as more images attack his mind.
  Mr. Stone...
  Eve Albright...
  The Geiger device on that one world...
  Watching Debra die at the hands of Humaggs...warriors of the Kromagg Dynasty...
  Kromaggs...
  A lab...scientists over him...cutting...into his head...light flashing...turning the scientists into liquid...
  The hand opens...
  Light flashes...kills scientists...
  The hand opens...
  ...kills Foundation scientists...
  The hand opens...revealing a round black object.
  Another image...of Mr. Stone...in Darnell's head...part of the therapy on Eve's homeworld...holding the black pebble...saying...saying...
  The figure stepped forward. His inhuman mouth moved.
  "...saying the answers were within you all alone," the figure said.
  "No!" Brown gasped. "It's you!"

  Randy blinked. And just like that, he came out of it. When he focused on a problem, he spaced out. He always solved the problem.
  The equation was in front of Randy. The missing part...still unsolved.
  "So you rejoin the living."
  Randy turned around. Kims stared at him. Her face full of sarcasm. Her blue eyes, however, were full of hope.
  "I...I can't solve it," Randy said, looking at the floor. "I've tried and...I can't get this last part."   "Maybe this will help."
  Randy looked at the door. Bufford entered the room. His double was behind him. His eyes widened.
  "I see the infection has spreaded," Randall commented.
  Randy stared at the bed. His eyes widened at all the wires across Professor Brown's skin. He was next to him in a second.
  "No!" Randy yelled. "Professor!"
  "So...you're here to help," Kims said.
  "In a word...no," Randall said. "The little savage can die for all I care."
  Randy heard a click. He turned around to see Bufford with a rifle. It was aimed at Randall's head.
  "You will save him," Bufford said.
  "Do not think so," Randall said.
  "I mean it!" Bufford yelled.
  Randall looked at Bufford. "You shoot me; you kill the only person who can save him." He smirked. "However...go ahead. I call your bluff."
  "You have to," Randy said, standing up.
  "You haven't learned anything," Randall replied. "I do what I want. Same as Sarah. Same as Eric. Same as Eve."
  Randy frowned. "And that's what this is about? Your little game with Eve. Who loves her more...you...Brown...or her HUSBAND."
  Randall's face darkened. He knocked the gun away from his face. Without another word, he stormed out.

  Brown's eyes narrowed.
  "Kresh," Brown said.
  Kresh stood before him. The evil scientist of the Kromagg Dynasty. He and the others had defeated their plans long ago.
  "Or so you thought," Kresh replied. His hand with the black pebble reached up, touching the back of Darnell's head.
  Flashes...
  Killing the mole Colin Mallory...
  Sleeping with Eve...
  The labs...
  The death...

  Kat entered the room. She had hoped when she heard Randall go back in that he would help at last. Instead, he sat at the desk writing.
  "Helpin' at last?" Kat asked.
  Randall looked up. "No. Let them do their last ditch attempts. He will die."
  "How can ye say that?" Kat demanded. "Better...how can ye let them? Ye have the answer."
  Randall laughed. "He...was just dead weight."
  Kat put a hand on her hip. "Some...would say the same of ye."

  Logan St. Clair...
  Stone...
  Kresh...
  "It is time."

  Randall grinned. "And what are you trying to say?"
  "A friend is in trouble-" Kat started.
  "No friend of mine," Randall said.
  "-and ye do naethin'!" Kat finished.
  Randall shrugged his shoulders.
  "Enough," Kat said. "Ye want to play a wee game. I have one. I have a secret. Ye have information. How aboot a switch?"
  Randall frowned. A trace of a grin crossed his face.
  "And what secret could you have?" Randall asked.
  "A secret that could have consequences on all of us," Kat replied.
  "Hmmm...unlikely."
  Kat grinned. "You'll be surprised."
  "Really? Then tell."
  "Promise ye help Professor Brown."
  "Depends on the secret."
  Kat stared dead-pan. "Melissa is nae the real one. 'Tis a double."
  Randall's eyes widened. Then he turned dead pan. "Done."
  The door flew open. Kat turned around. Randy, Kims, and Melissa stood there.
  "What's going on?" Randy asked.
  Kat looked at Randall. "Randall has decided-"
  A beep sounded through the room. Kat looked at the bed. There was a machine next to Brown. It has a long line on its screen at the moment. Brown had flatlined.
  "No," Kat gasped.
  "Professor!" Randy yelled as he ran for the bed.
  "Ye have tae help him now," Kat said to Randall.
  "Or not," Kims said. "Look."
  Kat turned to look at Professor Brown's bed. His skin was changing. The wires were shimmering back into his skin, changing back to its normal brown color.
  "What in the-" Randy started.
  "Oh my God," Kims exclaimed.
  Brown shot up with a gasp. He stared wide-eyed at the group. Kat could make out for a second reptilian eyes. Brown blinked and they were normal.
  "Professor?" Randy muttered.
  Professor Brown stared at him.
  "Mr. Heim," Darnell Brown said in a voice between cool and calm.
  Kat frowned. Had she seen things?
  Was Brown really all right?

  Randy frowned as he saw back in the bed. He did not know what to think.
  Professor Brown was alive. He did not know how. He asked Professor Brown, but got silence as an answer. He was not sure whether that was a good thing.
  Then there was the Foundation. While he had been focused on Professor Brown, the others had uncovered their weapon. It was another Geiger device. He knew the damage it did. He was wiped from existence once as a result. Logan St. Clair almost wiped out all Quinn Mallorys last year. If the Foundation used it again...
  Randy heard the door open. He turned to see Melissa in the door.
  "They're back," Melissa said. "However...Rebecca's already gone...with the weapon."
  "Then time's up," Randy said. "We have to deal with the Foundation once and for all."
  Melissa shut the door. She grinned.
  "We have an ace," Melissa said. "Guess who got left behind?"
  Randy's eyes widened. "You mean..."
  "The associate was kindly 'borrowed' by Jared and Bufford," Melissa said, smile on her face. She sat on the bed. "We have our way to the Home Office."
  Randy smiled. "Which means we have our way in."
  Melissa smiled. "Yes."
  Randy looked down. So many thoughts and ideas were fighting in his head. Something moved. He looked to find Melissa's lips meet his lips. He pulled back quickly.
  "What-" Randy started.
  Melissa put a finger to Randy's lips silencing him.
  "We're going to have a busy next few days," Melissa said, leaning in. "Let's focus on us tonight."
  Melissa kissed Randy. As he flew back on the bed Randy just focused on Melissa's nice lips and her warm body in his arms again.

THE-END


 

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