Quinn Mallory turned his head to glare at Randy Heim. He was running behind Quinn, keeping up. Randy noticed and gave a blank stare.
"You just couldn't leave it alone!" Quinn yelled.
"I was curious," Randy said, voice usually calm for someone running for his life. "As a scientist, I would think you would understand."
Quinn made it to the corner. He paused, breath escaping him quickly. He turned in time to see Randy come around the corner.
"I understand we are running for our lives and not sure when the ti--"
A beep came from Quinn's pocket. He pulled out the device. It was their timer.
"I guess it is time," Randy said dead-pan.
A whir sounded from the blue vortex. Quinn shot out of it. He hit the sidewalk hard.
He made it to his feet. His eyes widened. Fear slowly started to fill him.
It was San Francisco. He had landed on a sidewalk. The whole street was deserted. There were abandoned cars on the street. A few of them even had rumble on them. He looked up at a building. He saw the wide hole in the side and wondered what made it.
Another whir came from the vortex. Another figured shot out of it. It was Randy. He rolled across the sidewalk.
"That was rough," Randy commented.
Another whir sounded from the vortex. It was quickly followed by another. Jules shot out of the vortex. He landed on his back. He was followed by Cassandra Wilkes. As the vortex closed, Cassandra landed right on him.
"Oh," Cassandra said. "Sorry."
"Uh...it's okay," Jules said.
A moment passed.
"You two getting up?" Randy commented.
Quinn glared at him. Now was not the time given how he had been acting on the last few worlds. Quinn pulled out the timer.
"We have a couple of minutes here," Quinn announced. "Maybe we can figure out what caused this."
"I think I know," Cassandra said. "Look."
Quinn looked up.
A manta ship was in the air...
...and heading straight for them.
WHAT IF YOU SLIDE TO A DIFFERENT DIMENSION? A PLACE WHERE YOU'RE THE SAME PERSON, IT'S THE SAME YEAR, BUT EVERYTHING ELSE IS DIFFERENT?
WORLDS WHERE...
...THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION ENDED DIFFERENTLY...
OR
...THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION IS IN FULL SWING...
OR
...THE ALEXANDRIAN EMPIRE STILL REIGN?
OVER THE LAST SEVEN YEARS, THERE HAVE BEEN INFINITE WORLDS, INFINITE POSSIBILITIES...AND MANY ENEMIES...
THE WAR HAS BEGUN...
WHAT SIDE WOULD YOU BE ON?
AND...WHAT IF YOUR KEY TO GETTING HOME...WAS LOST?
SLIDERS: ALTERNATE SPIN-SEASON 8
EPISODE 5: DIFFERENT VIEWS, DIFFERENT CONSEQUENCES
Quinn made it back into the alley. His breath came in rushes after the run he just did. He looked down at the timer. It was almost...
"Is it time?" Randy asked, running up beside him.
"Almost," Quinn asked.
Footsteps grew closer. Quinn turned around. It was Cassandra and Jules. They were both out of breath.
"Thankfully, it didn't see us," Cassandra said.
"How can you be so sure?" Jules asked.
"I agree with Jules," Randy said. "I'm surprised that they did not home in on our vortex."
"I'm surprised you agree with anyone," Quinn said.
"Same," Cassandra added.
Randy gave an icy stare in Quinn's direction. Immature of Quinn to say sure, but it was a fact taht Randy was making clear. Quinn looked at the timer.
"Almo--" Quinn started.
Then he heard it.
Something that was high pitched. It sounded like a jet shooting through the air. Something told Quinn though that it was not a jet.
Quinn looked at Randy. His eyes widened. Randy was as white as milk, the look in his face the look of someone seeing someone dead, but familiar. Quinn frowned.
"What?" Quinn asked.
"Huh?" Randy uttered, looking at Quinn like someone from a dream.
"You know the sound. What is it?"
Randy's face went black. "Nothing."
"That wasn't nothing."
Quinn heard another familiar sound in that moment.
WWWWWWWWWWWWWHHHHHIIIIIIIIIIIIRRRRRRRRRR!!!!
Quinn jerked around. A vortex had opened. A red vortex.
"Oh, no," Jules uttered.
A beeping sound vibrated from Quinn's pocket. He grabbed the timer quickly. He aimed it at a nearby wall and hit the switch. Light shot from it, hitting the wall. It dissolved into a blue vortex.
"Go!" Quinn yelled.
Jules jumped into the vortex quickly. So did Cassandra. Randy looked lost, his eyes on the vortex.
"Randy!" Quinn yelled. "Go!"
That appeared to break the spell. Randy blinked quickly. Then he jumped into the vortex.
Quinn followed behind. As the blue vortex closed, Quinn found himself wondering.
"Welcome to the Dominion Hotel. How can I help you?"
Quinn opened his mouth to say something. He simply couldn't.
He was used to Gomez Calhoun being behind the hotel counter. He was either smiling at new guests or being skeptic of them. Usually, he was in charge of the Dominion no matter what. What Quinn was not expecting...was a robot.
Interestingly enough, the robot was the same size as Calhoun. He even sat like Calhoun would sit, his giant steel hand on the counter. His big metallic eyes looked welcoming for eyes that had no feeling whatsoever.
"Welcome to the Dominion Hotel. How can I help you?"
"You going to answer him, Quinn?"
Quinn came out of his thoughts. It was Cassandra next to him. Her blue eyes already showed a hint of concern.
"Oh...uh...yeah," Quinn said. "We need a room for four for three nights."
The robot turned at a diagonal. Then it moved back into place. One of the hands held four key cards. The other hand was held out, awaiting money. Quinn gladly gave it out. Meanwhile, Cassandra got the key cards.
"You all right?" Cassandra asked.
"Uh...yeah," Quinn answered.
Cassandra frowned. "I'm serious. We already have one unpredictable inventor. We don't need two."
"I agree," Quinn said, his eyes falling on Randy who sat on the lobby couch. "You see him on that last world?"
"Yeah," Cassandra said, her voice suddenly lower. "It was like he saw a ghost."
"Or heard one," Quinn added.
The robot's hand popped out again. "We hope you enjoy your stay."
"Thanks," Quinn said. He looked at Cassandra again. "He obviously knew what it was."
"Good luck getting it out of him," Cassandra said.
"Great. Just what we need," Quinn commented. "Another secret he's hiding from us."
Cassandra's face darkened for a moment.
"Not you, too," Quinn said.
"It's nothing," Cassandra said shortly.
"Cass--"
"It's nothing," Cassandra snapped. "Let's head to the room."
Randy Heim's eyes flickered open.
He was sure it was hours before morning. He had also been sure of where everything in the room was. He knew how it was positioned. It was part of the reason his eyes were open. Something was off. And that only meant one thing.
"What do you want?" Randy asked aloud.
"Oh," Cassandra's voice uttered. "You are awaken."
"Someone wanted to disturb me," Randy said.
"You wouldn't be disturbed if you were a light sleeper," Cassandra shot back.
Randy sat up in his bed. Sure enough, Cassandra sat in a chair backwards. The look in her eyes were not unlike how he looked at others now. They were things to be studied. They were equations.
"What do you want?" Randy asked.
"To know what you're hiding," Cassandra replied.
"Can't you just have a vision and find out?"
"Who's to say I haven't?"
"Apparently, you know nothing."
"And yet," Cassandra said with a shrug, "here we are."
"Hm. I don't like this game."
"Not a game."
"All the years of trying to capture me with your Goth doubles? Are you for real?"
"I'm just giving you a chance."
"Oh? For?"
"To come clean. You are already on thin ice. Keeping your friends' location secret. Erasing minds. Quinn doesn't trust you. Neither do I. Or Jules. One more bombshell...you might be left somewhere."
"After you spent all this time getting me?" Randy challenged. "I doubt that."
"I wouldn't go that far," Cassandra said. "We have Quinn. Zoe is out there somewhere. Not to mention Randall Heim."
"None of them is me."
"But they do make you expendable."
"Hardly."
"How about we ask Zoe that?"
"How about you do that?" Randy asked, his eyes narrowing.
Cassandra stood up. "I just might."
"You have to find her first," Randy shot back.
"Don't worry," Cassandra said. "When I do, I won't hide it like you did Ethan."
He was out of the bed in a flash. He swung. Cassandra was just as quick, kicking her now empty chair up and into her hands. It blocked Randy's arm. Cassandra smirked.
"You can't escape fate," Cassandra said, "remember?"
"Get out," Randy hissed.
Cassandra dropped the chair. "Fine. How about you actually help rather than hurt now? Your first step? Tell Quinn what you're hiding."
"Welcome to Copper's! How are you doing?"
Quinn stared up at the thin golden robot that stood before him.
"Two coffees," Quinn answered. "Black."
"All right," the robot said. Then it was gone.
Quinn took a look around. He felt his face form a grimace. Everywhere he looked there was a robot. There was a robot taking another order at a table, the customers being human at least. There was a robot serving as hostess. There was a robot acting as bartender at a bar.
Did anyone work around here?
Quinn looked down at the timer. He was definitely sure that after his brainstorming session with Randy, he was heading over to the library. He wondered what happened on this world that allowed this to happen.
A shadow fell over Quinn. He looked up. He had not even heard the robot return. Yet there it was, two coffees in its mechanical hands.
"Your coffees, Sir," the robot announced.
"Thanks," Quinn said.
After the robot left, Quinn continued to look around. A few times, Quinn found his eyes hitting the door. There was no sign of Randy.
It made Quinn think of everything so far. He had fallen in with Rebecca Pryce, courtesy of Randy's double Zoe hijacking his vortex to Rembrandt Brown. Then Zoe betrayed them to Edward Albright and the deadly Mr. Stone. Then they had found Randy and Ethan Bradshaw only to be betrayed by Rebecca. Randy was no better, hiding that he knew Rembrandt's location all along. It was a fact Rebecca took advantage, sliding off to where Rembrandt was. Then Ethan died in the Yuzaki attack, leaving Randy shattered.
Quinn looked at the doors to the restaurant again. Still no sign of Randy. Quinn glared at the door as if Randy was there.
Enough.
He knew Randy was hiding something. It was probably something big. He needed to get to the bottom of it. But how...
"Quinn? Quinn Mallory?"
Quinn had not realize he had stood up. It had also been a while since he heard the voice that said his name. He turned around...to find Wade Welles standing behind him. She was not alone. Next to her in a slick dark business suit was Rembrandt Brown.
Both of them had their hands behind their back. This Wade's hair was a long auburn. She was dressed in a beige suit. Her eyes appeared to be studying him like a bug under a microscope. He could not say the same for Rembrandt. He wore shades.
"It is you!" Wade exclaimed. "Good. Our employer has been looking for you everywhere. Now...come with us...and no one has to get hurt."
"Excuse me?"
It was all Quinn could think of. This was too sudden to him. Granted, he should be used to surprises given all the years he had been sliding.
But...he was now engaged to Wade. They would get married when he got back to Earth Prime. After all the years of 'will-they/won't-they,' Quinn and Wade had found each other. So any Wade threatening him hurted.
"Our employer would like to meet you in one piece," Wade continued. "He had queried you several times with no responses."
"I'm sure there's a reason for that," Quinn replied.
"Well, he does not take no for an answer," Wade shot back. "So...do we head to the limo or does Remmmy have to apply his Navy training?"
"I--" Quinn started.
"Welcome to Copper! How can I--"
Quinn did not hesitate. He shoved the robot that popped up between him and Wade as sharply as he could. It shot into their direction. Quinn dashed down the aisle, ignoring the gasps.
BAM!!!
Quinn ducked. At the same time, he saw a window near him cracked. It continued to form lines on its surface like a spider making a web. Then it shattered, glass flying everywhere.
Quinn turned around, eyes widened. Rembrandt Brown stood, a smoking gun in his hands. His face under the shades was a stone mask.
Quinn didn't wait.
He ran.
"So...you miss your world?"
Cassandra Wilkes stared across the table. Jules stared back at her. His puppy dog eyes showed he really wanted an answer. She glared at him.
"Isn't that obvious?" Cassandra asked.
Jules looked down at his plate. He rubbed his shoulder. His cheek turned a shade of red.
"Not really," Jules answered.
"I do," Cassandra replied.
Jules looked at her again. "You hide it well."
"Uh...thanks," Cassandra said. She grinned. "You miss your world?"
Jules picked up the burger in front of him. "Don't have one."
"Destroyed?"
"Never existed. Born in slidecage."
Cassandra watched Jules as he chewed on his burger. She frowned.
"Slidecage?" Cassandra uttered.
"My parents were offworld when their world used a weapon on the Kromaggs," Jules said. "When they tried to return, they were caught up in a trap set by people on their world. So were other people and Kromaggs. They warred for years in the slidecage. My parents died when I was young. Kolitar...a Kromagg...found me. Raised me. I didn't know I was human...until I met Rembrandt Brown."
"Oh," Cassandra said.
Jules grinned. "It's okay. It's...water under the bridge."
"So being with the Kromaggs all that time? You learn anything useful?"
"No," Jules snapped.
Cassandra felt a frown on her face again. Jules's face had hardened when he snapped. After a moment, he relaxed again.
"I mean no," Jules said finally. "Nothing useful. Nothing that will help us find Rembrandt." He looked down. "Next to Thomas, he was my closest friend."
Cassandra reached across the table. She touched Jules's hand and encircled it. He looked just as surprised as she felt.
"We'll find him," Cassandra said.
Jules grinned. "You think so."
"I know so."
"Because of your visions?"
Cassandra's forehead wrinkled. Jules looked down again.
"I heard you and Randy arguing last night," Jules explained.
Cassandra pulled back. Her plate of spaghetti was forgotten. Her mind thought about her latest vision. She shook it away.
"I don't trust him," Cassandra said. "And he's hiding something. I don't need visions to tell me that."
Jules sat back in his chair. His forehead formed lines. He scratched the back of his head.
"But...aren't we all hiding something?" Jules asked.
Cassandra leaned back in her chair. She took in Jules with a sly grin. It made her think of the Jules double she had met a little over a week ago. Jules always appeared so withdrawn and not in the moment. His double was not. Maybe they were more alike than she thought.
"What in the world!! Cassandra, where are your bodyguards?"
Cassandra looked up from the table. She felt her heart speed up. Randy stood by the table.
No. Randy's doule stood by the table. He had shoulder-length dark hair that curled at the end. He looked back at her behind a pair of Hugo Boss glasses. He looked like a computer whiz in his brown sweater over a collared shirt and light brown khakis. His brown eyes were full of fear.
"Uh..." Jules started.
"Bodyguards?" Cassandra uttered.
Randy's double grabbed her up, a hand on each shoulder. "Honey, I know you are fully capable of defending you, but it does my heart good to know you are well taken care of."
"Huh?" Jules uttered.
"Honey?" Cassandra added.
Randy's double brought his watch to his lips.
"Clark. Rye. Answer me," Randy's double said. "Need extraction now. On my mark before..."
All of a sudden, Cassandra felt her body become heated. Then electricity shot through her. She had time to scream before she blacked out.
Quinn brought a hand to his lips.
"Hm," Quinn uttered as he stared at the computer screen.
"Fine anything interesting?"
Quinn jumped. He turned around quickly. Randy stared back at him through the library stacks.
"Where have you been?" Quinn demanded.
"I was...theorizing," Randy answered.
"That's funny," Quinn said. "I was waiting for you at Copper's to do just that."
"Hm. No."
"Not funny."
"I'm not joking," Randy said. "The last time we used your idea, we still didn't find the others."
"And your idea has worked?" Quinn countered. "No. No, it didn't. We should be pooling our resources." His eyes narrowed on Randy. "Unless you don't want to find them."
Randy crossed his arms over his chest. Quinn saw the hint of fire in his eyes. He glared right back, standing up.
"And if I don't?" Randy challenged.
Quinn crossed his arms over his chest.
"You might find yourself left here in a day and a half," Quinn said.
"Try it," Randy said icily.
"Well, I don't have the timer."
"For now."
"I'm not giving it to you."
"Of course not! My tech actually works."
Quinn felt his back stiffen. "No. It's working and unlike you I think of the team."
"Riiiiight."
"I think we have both gotten our teams home the same amount of times."
Randy smirked. "Said the guy who went into exile."
"Versus the guy who gave the secret of slidestorms to Eve," Quinn shot back, causing Randy to flinch. "Yes. Richard told me how you sold them out."
"To save them!" Randy snapped. "Of course, Richard would twist that."
"At least, he's honest."
"Because you never hid anything? Because I seem to recall you holding Professor Arturo's condition--"
"Is that any better than you hiding Rembrandt's location from Ethan?"
"I'm warning you--"
"What would Ethan even say--"
Randy lunged at Quinn. Quinn grabbed his hands. He glared at him.
"I'm not afraid of you," Quinn said.
"You should be!" Randy snapped. "I'm not an artifact." He snatched his hands away, his eyes staring at Quinn with anger in them. "No one is hunting you down. They are hunting me down. I killed the Kromaggs. I brought the dark sliders down. I created the slidestorm. Accept it. You're irrevelant."
Quinn frowned. His first instinct was to punch him in the face. He resisted it.
"Fine," Quinn said. "If you're so revelant...prove it."
Randy frowned. "Didn't I?"
"I don't see my friends," Quinn said. "And the Yuzaki and stone are still around. If I'm so irrevelant, you will find them before I do."
"No doubt."
"We'll see."
"Yes...we'll see."
Quinn kicked himself. Randy turned around. Rembrandt Brown was right behind him, gun trained on him. Quinn looked to his left. Wade Welles came out of the library stacks with a gun of his own.
"So, Quinn," Wade asked, "are you coming nicely this time?"
Cassandra opened her eyes.
The first thing she saw...was blue. It was blurry blue, but blue just the same. A few objects moved through this blue. As her eyes adjusted, Cassandra saw it was a sky. She also saw it was not birds flying. Her eyes widened.
It was manta ships.
A lot of them. They flew through the air in some form of formation. A few moments later, more objects came into sights. she saw they were jets. They took on the manta ships.
They were also losing.
Cassandra started to move. She knew she had to do something. She...
A figure shot up in front of her. She recognized it as Jules. It was a Jules with a goatee. He held her in his arms tight. The look of concern in his eyes was deeper than she was used to seeing in the Jules she was geting to know. Was it even her Jules she wondered?
"Cassandra, wake up," Jules said. "Please. Wake up. I can't lost you now. I--"
"Ah!"
Cassandra jerked awake. Whereever she was, it was dark. The floor was cold. She started to move. Suddenly, light appeared, blinding her. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust.
Everything was white. The floor was white. The walls were white. The ceiling was white. The only thing that stood out was there was criss-cross lines on the floor and walls. That...and the clear glass that was the cell door.
She was alone.
Cassandra pushed herself up, causing her curly blond hair to fall all about her. Her last memory was being electrified. So was Jules and a double of Randy. She wondered where they were.
"Ah! The beauty has awaken."
Cassandra stared at the glass door. Surprise filled her body. Her mouth opened.
"Oh," she uttered.
"I do not see this ending well."
Quinn looked at Randy. They walked side by side down the hallway. They had matching handcuffs on as they passed by lines of closed doors.
"Does it ever really?" Quinn asked.
"True," Randy said.
"Just don't go erasing people's mind," Quinn said.
Randy's jaw tensed up. He kept his eyes forward. Not one word passed his lips, setting Quinn on edge.
"I mean it," Quinn said.
"Try and stop me," Randy said, his voice cold.
"I will stop you."
"Hm," Randy commented.
"Rem, you know what they talking about?" Wade asked, walking behind Quinn with her gun pointed at his back.
"Nope," Rembrandt answered, his gun on Randy. "Don't care. We're here."
And here...was the end of the hallway. Twin brown double doors were closed to them. Rembrandt reached around Randy and opened one door.
"In," Wade instructed.
Randy walked in first. Quinn followed. His mind raced around as he entered the room, wondering what to expect.
BOOM!!!!
Quinn only had time to realize he was in a luxurious den. It looked like Wade was locking Randy and him in.
"Well, gentlemen..."
Quinn turned forward again, his eyes focusing on the den in front of him. The big cushy chair was turned away. Now it turned, revealing Maximillian Arturo.
"...whatever are we going to do with you?" Arturo quipped.
"Wow," Randy said. "It's a regular reunion with you."
Maximillian Arturo stared at Quinn and Randy. He had his hands together as he stared. It made Quinn think about countless times when Professor Arturo would be trying to not lose his temper...and would fail. Now he stared at the two of them looking like an extremely pleased boy on Christmas morning.
"Do you realized how long I have waited for this moment?" Arturo asked. "How many times I have called or emalied or left numerous messages? None of them were ever returned, mind you, but...I had hope. And at last...you left your bunker. Patience truly is a virtue."
"So...what is this about?" Quinn asked.
That resulted in Arturo's forehead wrinkling up. Quinn hoped that was not a mistake. Maybe they didn't have to fight their way out of this...
"What is it always about?" Arturo asked. "Mechanoid efficiency. As I am sure you are aware, the workforce is now 50 percent made up of your creations."
Quinn felt the frown on his face.
He...created the robots.
"However...that was ten years ago," Arturo continued. "It is time for a newer...and I hope cheaper...model. You have the knowledge. However, I have the fiancee. Forget about that deal you made with Eric Price...and yes, I know about your secret meeting...and ally with me."
Cassandra stared at him.
Quinn Mallory. Except he wasn't Quinn. This Quinn had unkempt dark hair, not unlike Albert Einstein. His eyes looked smaller behind the spectacles he had on. He wore a big v-necked blue sweater. Every few seconds, he flinched.
"Yes," the double said. "Me?" His eyes became lines. "Did you and your boyfriend really, really think you could cash in on my empire? I do not think so."
"My boyfriend?" Casssandra uttered.
"And yet I really am not surprised you are the stereotypical Blonde."
Cassandra glared at the double. She was already not liking this one.
"What do you want?" Cassandra asked.
"From you? Nothing," Quinn's double said. "You're just the leverage. Now...from Randy Heim? I want to know what he knows."
"Maybe he knows nothing."
The double smirked. "Oh. He knows. Regardless of all the bodyguards he choose to carry with him and yourself, he obviously knows." His face darkened. "I will not be going down. Ever."
Suddenly, the glass in front of Cassandra shimmered. Cassandra jumped back, expecting it to electify. Instead, the glass...vanished. She looked over at Quinn's double. He had a gun ready.
"Move," he demanded.
Quinn crossed his arms over his chest. He had half a mind to leave. Of course, that only reminded him to look at the doors where Wade and Rembrandt were at the ready if he or Randy tried to escape.
"Well...I see your friend likes the lab I have made."
Quinn kept his face blank as he looked at Arturo. He was not far from Quinn, looking at him like a pet dog trying to gain favor. Meanwhile, Randy leaned over a table, his hands already tinkering with various tools and parts on it.
"He falls into trances," Quinn said. "Pay him no mind. He's no one."
Did Quinn see him flinch? Who would have thought?
"Speaking of pay," Arturo said, "how do you feel about my offer?"
"Can I even say no?" Quinn asked. He gestured behind him to the door. "All things considered."
"Why, of course!" Arturo exclaimed. "You can always leave."
"Alive?"
Arturo released a big hearty laugh.
"You make it sound like my offer is not a good one," Arturo said. "Look around you. The world is already divided between humans who work day in and day out and the mechanoids who work so that others do not have to."
"Were they given a choice?" Quinn asked.
"Does it matter?"
"Doesn't it always?"
"Come, come, Mr. Mallory! Surely, you are not advocating for humans to be bad in the throws of customer service," Arturo commented. "A normal person will more than likely protest, quit, or do far worse when encountering a rude customer. Mechanoids...have no emotions to overact. They simply redo the order and get it corrected if it was not the first time. Everyone wins."
"Except for the person out on the street," Quinn shot back.
"That seems pecuilar coming from you," Artruo replied. "After all...YOU caused the socioeconomic shift that you are not protesting."
Quinn felt his back tense up. Arturo had a point. He hated to admit it, but it was true. After all, his double was responsible.
"Besides," Arturo continued, "if you don't, surely someone else will. Is this not the way of the world. For all we know, your little friend might turn out to surpass you."
"Don't think so."
"Kind of quick to reply, Mr. Mallory. Touch a nerve, did I?"
Quinn looked back over at Randy. He was definitely in a trance. He was already in the process of creating something. Quinn felt his jaw set, his forehead wrinkling.
Surpass? There were quite a few people who appeared to think that of Randy Heim. It was almost like they had forgotten that it was Quinn Mallory who invented sliding. It was like they had forgotten that his doubles were usually highly intelligent, one even creating a slidewave. And over time, Quinn had matured, using his intelligence, but tempering it with caution. That was something Randy had not learned and he had been sliding for years.
Surpass...was subjective.
"I see the wheels are turning," Arturo commented. "Good. And I...will leave you to that. With Miss Welles and Mr. Brown here...if you should need any...help."
Quinn barely noticed Arturo walking away. Arturo's words stuck in his head. His eyes fell on Randy. He was getting into whatever it was he was working on. Quinn's eyes narrowed on him.
It was time to show Randy how it was done.
The double doors shot open. There were many things that Cassandra expected to be on the other side. What she did not expect...was a patio. It looked out on a nice day, Golden Gate Bridge in the distance.
Cassandra saw the patio chairs. She also saw that Jules and Randy's double sat in one of each. They were surrounded by robots. Four totalled, two of the robots aimed guns at Randy's double and Jules. Cassandra stopped walking.
"More," Quinn's double ordered.
Jules looked up. "Cassandra!"
Randy's double also looked up. "Cassandra! You're alive! I was so--"
"She won't be for long," Quinn cut in, "If she doesn't move."
Cassandra continued walking. She let her eyes wander about, searching for possible escape routes. She also saw that it was a wide patio.
"Well," Quinn's double said, "here we are!"
"Yes," Randy's double said, "we're here. Now...why?"
Cassandra turned to look at Quinn's double. His face had darkened even more. His eyes hit on Randy's double.
"You must seriously think I am stupid," Quinn's double said.
"More like a recluse," Randy's double replied.
"Hm," Quinn's double said, his eyes throwing daggers at Randy. "I guess I could understand that. Except for the occasional...cameo, I stay in my ivory tower in downtown San Francisco. However, there's this amazing thing called the internet...you might have heard of it...that allows you to keep apace with the world." A smirk crept onto his face. "And funny thing about being a...tinkerer, you can interesting things like jump onto San Francisco's camera grid. There is not much I don't know...like your meeting with Eric Price for one."
"As if you don't take meetings," Randy replied.
"As the creator of the only efficient robotic worker, I always take meetings," Quinn's double said. "I also pay attention to any...competition."
"Because I am?"
"Don't play coy."
Suddenly, a hand grabbed Cassandra's arm. She was jerked backwards. Her back hit something small and cold. She was sure it was the gun Quinn was holding on her.
"I do have your girlfriend here," he said. "Would hate for any...accidents."
"Don't you dare," Randy's double practically hissed.
"Fine. I will not dare," Quinn's double replied. "Simply show me your specs."
"Specs?"
"You know...the ones for a new, slicker faster mechaniod," Quinn's double replied.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Then Cassandra felt it. Something touched the back of her head. No, it was a something Cassandra realized, her eyes widening. It was the gun.
"I bet your girlfriend's life," Quinn's double said, "you do."
Quinn stopped working.
He wasn't totally absorbed in what he was doing. He kept finding his eyes dotting over to the double doors. Wade and Rembrandt slowly paced in front of it. His eyes fell on her small delicate figure as she paced. He just wanted to...
Then he would shake his head. It was no good having dirty thoughts. Especially since Wade was worlds away. He really needed to find Remmy and the others so he could get back to her...the woman he would marry.
Quinn looked down at the handheld device. He grinned.
This was a start.
Quinn aimed at the nearest wall and pushed a button. Light shot from the device. It hit the wall, causing it to dissolve. It morphed into a blue vortex.
"What in the world--" Wade started.
"Randy, r--" Quinn started.
Suddenly, a loud shriek sounded through the room. Quinn covered his ears. At the same time, he looked over at Wade and Rembrandt. They were screaming. They finally fell to the ground.
Quinn ran over to them. His thoughts raced. The last few worlds, Randy were wiping people's memories. There was no idea how much damage had been done to them. None. Or worse, Randy might have taken them o--
Quinn kneeled by wade. He checked her pulse. A small smile crept onto his face. She was alive.
"I'm going to need you to move."
Quinn frowned. He turned around. Randy stared back at him, his brown eyes full of ice. Attached to him was a small mechanical glove. It was a glove that reminded Quinn of the prosthetics that Randy liked to make. It was also aimed at Wade.
"What are you doing?" Quinn demanded.
"They saw that vortex," Randy said. "Their curiosity will make them want to know what it is. Then...they will find out the truth."
"Jump in the vortex, Randy."
"Not until--"
"Jump in the vortex, Randy! Now!"
"I have had about enough of you," Randy said. "Accept it, Quinn. We are at war. What we will need is fewer enemies."
"Then tell me, Genius," Quinn challenged, "what are you going to do about the camera in here?"
Randy released a frustrated sigh. "My work is never done."
Quinn did it easily. He reached into Wade's jacket and pulled it out. He amied the gun at Randy.
"Jump in the vortex," Quinn ordered. "Now."
Randy stared at Quinn with a blank stare. Quinn continued to aim the gun at him. Randy held his mechanical glove at him. Neither moved.
"I said--" Quinn started.
"You won't shoot me," Randy said firmly.
"Try me."
"You need me."
"Actually...no," Quinn said. "I'm not going to slide into every world hurting people who have discovered sliding."
"Isn't it better they don't know what's out there?"
"Ignorance is not always bliss."
"Isn't it?"
"Not at the expense of people's free will."
"Listen to yourself!"
"No! You listen to yourself! This is wrong."
"No," Randy replied. "We were wrong. The Foundation was right. Look at what our interference has done. And we let it go on." His face darkened. "Not anymore."
"Agreed," Quinn said, standing slwoly. "We're not doing this anymore. Not everything has to lead back to Ethan."
"Don't you--"
"I'm right," Quinn continued. "You hold yourself responsible still."
"No," Randy said, his voice steel. "I hold you responsible."
"He was..."
"You don't know that!" Randy snapped. "Maybe...you let your emotions get in the way."
"And you do not?" Randy challenged, his face getting back to normal.
"Sometimes," Quinn admitted. "But I'm not actively trying to hurt people. And I'm not going to let you do it."
"Try and stop me."
"Oh, I'm going to. Now...jump in the vortex."
"No," Randy said. "So...I guess we got a problem."
"So," the Quinn double said, "are you going to tell me what I want to know or..."
"I can't!" Randy's double exclaimed.
"Why not?"
Cassandra felt sweat start to form on her forehead. Randy's double sighed in frustration.
"Because...it's in here," Randy's double said, pointing at his head.
"What?" Quinn's double asked, clearly confused.
"I created from my mind," Randy's double continued. "No notes. No backups. Just...saw what needed to be improved and...improved on it."
"Oh. Good."
Cassandra felt the gun leave the back of her head. Before she could do anything, Cassandra was shoved to the right. Then...BANG!!! Cassandra jumped in surprise, the sound of the gun being real close.
Then Cassandra noticed it. A hole was in Randy's double's forehead. Blood started to pour from the wound. The double's body fell back into the chair.
Dead.
"Now," Quinn's double said, "whatever am I going to do with the two of you?"
There was no sound, but the sound of the blue vortex. Quinn was sure he only had a few more moments. Then it would close. Of course, he could open it agian. The real questionw as did they have time before Arturo realize what happened. Or worse, Wade and Rembrandt woke up.
Wade...
No, they were leaving now.
"Are you--"
Quinn did not hesitate. He fired.
"Uh," Jules finally uttered, "nothing?"
Quinn's double laughed. "Surely, you jest. I just shot a man in the head. Hardly...'nothing.' In fact--"
Cassandra swung her arm out. It connected with its target: Quinn's stomach. The double leaned over. She quickly punched him in the jaw.
It had the effect she wanted. The double released the gun. It fell to the floor and slid away. It headed toward Jules. Cassandra started to head after it.
It came out of nowhere. A shadow got in Cassandra's way. It was one of Quinn's robots. It swung out an arm, knocking Cassandra backwards.
Cassandra fell to the floor. She looked up to see that she was seeing spots. Meanwhile, she barely made out the robot. It continued to advance.
Cassandra felt a pain to her head. Then everything went black.
Quinn looked down at his device again. He had needed a few minutes to reconfigure it for his purpose. He admitted that he was afraid. He had not attempt this since Zoe hijacked his vortex to Rembrandt. For all, he knew she would do it again. Then he would be out...searching...
Quinn shook the thought away. It was a doubt. He was finished with doubts.
He paused for a moment. He turned around. He paused again. Then he turned back to the device.
It would keep.
The vortex whirred. Quinn jumped out of the vortex. It closed behind him quickly. He immediately started to look around. He wondered if it had worked...
A sigh of relief escaped Quinn's lips. It had worked. There in front of him were Jules and Cassandra.
He frowned. Jules held Cassandra in his arms. In one hand was a gun. Around them was a lot of destroyed robots, a dead Randy Heim, and an unconcsious Quinn Mallory.
Cassandra's eyes flickered open. The first thing that came to mind was that her face hurt. She started rubbing it as she moved on the bed she was on. The last few hours felt so blurry.
"You okay?"
Cassandra jerked on the bed. Jules sat in the corner. He had managed to ball himself in the chair that was in the corner. His eyes took her in with real concern.
"Uh...yeah," Cassandra managed. "A little roughed up." She managed a frown. "What happened?"
"You struggled with Quinn's double," Jules explained. "In the struggle, you got hit hard by one of the robots."
Yeah. Cassandra remembered that. It was good to hear she might not have a concussion.
"Wait," Cassandra said, seeing they were in a hotel room in the Dominion. "How did we get here?"
"Quinn found her," Jules said.
"I mean...we got attacked."
Cassandra saw Jules's eyes betray some fear. He hid it quickly. When he showed her the rest of his face, Jules had managed a smile.
"I...Luke Skywalkered them," Jules said dead-pan.
"You?" Cassandra uttered.
"See?" Jules said, throwing her a lopsided grin. "You know my secret."
Cassandra laughed. She couldn't help it.
"Fine," she said. "How about we tell the joke to the others?"
Jules frowned. That made Cassandra frown.
"What?" Cassandra asked.
Jules hid his face away.
"Jules," Cassandra uttered, "where are the others?"
"You're awaken. Good."
Quinn had to admit. He liked seeing Randy with a confused look on his face. After all the smirks and cold dismissals, it was nice to see Randy off his game.
Randy was tied to a bed at the moment. Quinn had managed to bandage his shoulder. The bandage was stained with dark red. Randy grunted his teeth as he realized the wound on his right shoulder. His eyes fell on Quinn, narrowing. Quinn simply crossed his arms over his chest.
"I think it's about time we had a chat," Quinn said.
"You shot me," Randy uttered.
"And you deserved it," Quinn said.
"Really?" Randy asked. "And what do you deserve?"
"For one," Quinn said, "respect. Someone that I have earned. I am smarter than you. Obviously, I am quicker on the uptake. At the end of the day, we should be pooling our resources to find Remmy, Melissa, and Jared before Rebecca gets them into trouble...or worse, the Yuzaki find them."
"And I feel we should focus on the Yuzaki threat," Randy said. "Or Stone."
"Not if you are going to go after them like you're Ahab," Quinn said.
"Then we have a problem."
"No...you do."
Randy's face darkened. Quinn leaned over the bed. His arms steadied him.
"How many times," Quinn said. "How many times have your personal agendas or trances endangered you?"
"Personal?" Randy uttered. "The Yuzaki--"
"--killed Ethan," Quinn said, cutting Randy off. "Are they a threat? Or course. But...for now...they are manageable. My friends being in danger from a con artist...is not. Now, we are going to find them whether you like it or not."
"Good luck with that."
"If Zoe haven't hijacked my vortex, I would have by now," Quinn said. "I did it once. I will do it again."
"And the Yuzaki?"
"If they become a serious danger before we find Remmy and the others, they will be dealt with," Quinn answered. "Same with Stone. Same with Albright. Right now, we need to find the others. I won't settle anything from you, but agreement." He narrowed his eyes on Randy. "No more secrets. Head in game."
"My head is in the game," Randy replied. "Is yours?"
"Yes," Quinn answered.
"Following a dream...a hope," Randy said, "while we should be taking out the trouble period. Doesn't look like your head is all in to me."
"You should talk."
"And if the Yuzaki get to Earth Prime before we take care of them? Who's fault will that be?"
Quinn said nothing. That got a smirk out of Randy. Quinn's jaw set.
"Not caring about Wade, are you?" Randy asked.
"More than you are for Ethan," Quinn shot back.
That wiped the smirk off his face. Quinn grinned for a moment. Then he stood up straight.
"We need to be ont he same page, Randy," Quinn said. "And make no mistake: I'll leave you on a world at the first sign of hurting the others or a secret. So...you in...or out?"
THE-END
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