"What did you expect?"
  Randy Heim leaned on the balcony. He watched the parade march by as he thought about the question. He looked over at Melissa Clark.
  "I expected us to follow Quinn's vortex," randy said. "Then we would be home...together."
  Randy reached out to touch Melissa's cheek. She pulled away.
  "That isn't what happened though," a voice behind him said. "Melissa is gone. You...are not home."
  "I will get there."
  "Maybe."
  Randy focused on the people marching. He made out doubles among them. There were doubles of him, Melissa, Richard, and Brown.
  "You underestimate my abilities."
  "And you overestimate them."
  Randy turned to face the speaker. He found the barrel of a gun in his face.
  "Like I said," the speaker said, "what did you expect?"

  Randy screamed. He felt a pain in his chest. He reached for it quickly.
  "Mr. Heim?"
  Randy looked over at Professor brown. He moved away from the pillar he stood by and approached Randy. He pushed Randy back down to the bed.
  "Do not rise up, Mr. Heim," Brown said. "You are not fully recovered from your wound."
  "Wound?" Randy muttered. Then he remembered. The warrior stood over him again. His spear was at the ready. He drove it down.
  "Yes," Brown said as he saw Randy's eyes. "You were mistaken for an Athenian."
  "A what?"
  "I will explain later," Brown said. "Get some rest now. I will find Mr. Hall and Miss Rye and-"
  "Melissa?" Randy said. He started to sit up again.
  Brown pushed him down again. "She's gone! Now rest!"
  Randy did not move. He remembered that, too.
  "We will discuss this in the morning," Brown said firmly.
  Randy only nodded. Brown moved his hands away from Randy's chest. Randy turned away from him. He heard footsteps. They moved away until he heard them no longer.
  "Melissa..." Randy mumbled.
  Then he closed his eyes and let the shadows claim him.


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 2: EDGE

  "For fair Katherine."
  Richard rolled his eyes as he sat on the marble stairs. A little way down, one of Katherine's suitors gave her a green wreath lined with roses. She blushed as she put it on.
  "I see Miss Rye has a new suitor."
  Richard saw the shadow mixed with his own. He said nothing as Brown sat down. He watched the suitor kiss Katherine's hand.
  "So how's the Egghead?" Richard asked.
  "Finally woke up," Brown said. "He looked extremely shell shocked."
  "I would be, too," Richard said. "Oh, wait! I lost the love of my life, too!"
  "Now, Mr. Hall-"
  "It's okay, Proper. Forget I said it," Richard said. "So did you tell him how long he was out?"
  "Not yet," Brown said.
  "You know he's going to be pissed."
  "Yes. That is a given."
  "I think I'm going for a walk."
  "Do you want to talk, Mr. Hall?"
  Richard grinned slowly. "About what? We can't talk plan until Egghead wakes up."
  "About what happened with Mr. Stone."
  Richard shot up. "Maybe later."
  "Hall-"
  Richard spun on Brown. "Later okay!" He saw the shock on Brown's face. "Sorry. I did not mean to yell."
  "Is there a quarrel?"
  Richard turned to look at the suitor. He looked tensed. His hand on his sheatened sword. His shoulders stood at attention. The only thing holding him back was Katherine's hand on his shoulder.
  "No, Marcos," Richard said, remembering him from yesterday. "I'm just going for a walk."
  He moved past Marcos. He knew their eyes were on him. He did not care. He needed to be by himself right now. He needed to not think.

  The chariot came to a stop on the main street. Randy held on to the side tightly.
  "Are you all right, Mr. Heim?" Brown asked.
  "Great," Randy said.
  "I apologize for Caesar," the man said as he gestured to the horse. "He can indulge too much to the speed."
  "Caesar?" Richard said. "You named your horse after Julius Caesar?"
  The man nodded. "Why not? If it was not for him and his descendents, we would not have New Sparta."
  Randy looked over at Katherine. She shrugged her shoulders in confusion.
  "What's New Sparta, Tonious?" Randy asked.
  Tonious got out of the chariot. He waved his hands around. "Why...all of this. It is New Sparta."
  Randy stared about the main street. It was a regular market place. People stood under arches selling all kinds of things from food to clothes to weapons. A group of men walked past randy discussing men's purpose in this world. A few girls giggle to themselves. Way down the street, Randy could see a fountain.
  "Definitely not San Francisco," Richard said. "Definitely not home."
  Randy glared at Richard. "Yeah, you would say that."
  Richard looked back at him. His eyes narrowed.
  "What is this San Francisco?" Tonious asked.
  "It is to the north," Brown lied.
  "Yea," Richard said, his eyes still on Randy. "Way north."
  Katherine moved away from the group. She stared at some spears.
  "Yes, fair Katherine," Tonious said as he walked over to her. "Our spears are..."
  "What was that about, you two?" Brown asked.
  "We needed a distraction," Richard said. "Now, we have one."
  "I bet," Randy said. "Have you forgotten about Melissa?"
  "No," Richard said. "Just thinking of the big picture."
  "Don't you mean yourself?" Randy shot back.
  "As if you can talk," Richard attacked. "It's all about Melissa to you. Then we have a little spy among us and-"
  "Spy?" Brown muttered. "Miss Rye has been a revelation and-"
  "AND," Richard said, "she was among the enemy. How do we know this wasn't set up? They put some hynoptic suggestion in Egghead so it's not far-fetched."
  "And you?" Randy challenged. "How do we know Stone didn't put something in your head?"
  "Calm down, young man," Brown cautioned.
  "All I'm saying is someone should keep an eye on her," Richard said. "And get us home."
  "Are you three coming?" Tonious asked.
  Randy looked at him. He was already a few feet away. Katherine's confusion matched Tonious as well.
  "We are on our way," Brown said. "Just run along."
  Tonious headed down the street to the fountain. Katherine stared at them. Then she skipped along behind him.
  "So what's it going to be?" Richard asked. "Your girl or your world? Or maybe the spy-"
  "Hall, you are out of line!" Brown barked.
  "It's okay, Professor," Randy said. "Richard just needed to vent." He glared at Richard. "If it wasn't for Katherine, we would all be back in that base dying slowly. We have a chance now. We can go back and learn what Stone's plans are. And we are going back."
  "Don't you think we should warn Earth first?" Richard asked. "In fact, shouldn't we warn all of them?"
  "Do what you want," Randy said. "I'm going back to Stone's world. You can be with me...or not."
  "Not," Richard said flatly.
  "He must really have messed with your mind to get you this scared," Randy said as he walked up to Richard's face. "What did he do? How did he do it? Was Nicole-"
  Richard's face darkened. Without a word, he headed down the street.
  "What a wimp," Randy commented. He looked over at Brown. "What?"
  Brown stared back at Randy. His mouth was open.
  "I do not even recognize you," Brown said.
  "Professor, I'm still me," Randy said. "I'm just worried about Melissa."
  "We all are, Mr. Heim," Brown said. "The last thing we need is to be at each other's throats. Let us focus on one thing at a time. We should focus on getting the timer working . Then we can figure out what our next move is."
  "Yes," Randy agreed. "I couldn't have said it better."

  Katherine's eyes widened on the fountain. The rocks had been sculptured into lifelike people. Women in togas held what looked like baskets. Water splashed out of it. In between was a tower that sprayed out a mushroom of water.
  "It looks like you enjoy it."
  Katherine turned to look at Tonious. She smiled.
  "I thought you would," Tonious said. "It is a beautiful sight."
  "Well, it is amusing that you have time to look over the sights when your fellow man is dying."
  Katherine looked to the left of the fountain. A gray-haired man approached the two of them. He wore a short-sleeved red toga. A golden ring was around his head. He glared at them. His glare was reflected in the warrior behind him who was in full armor from helmet to scandals. Tonious's chest stiffened at the sight.
  "Hello, Father," Tonious said.
  "You pollute the air with your words," the warrior said.
  "At least I did not spear an innocent man," Tonious said.
  The warrior stepped closer. Tonious's father held a hand up to halt him.
  "At least Apollo fights for his country," Tonious's father said. "You hide behind your doctrine."
  "Someone has to care for the wounded," Tonious cried.
  "Better they die in battle with Athens than return in failure," Apollo said.
  "Then why are you back?" Tonious countered.
  "General's order," Apollo replied. "We regroup before Athens can strike."
  "Yes, Tonious's father agreed. "Here is your chance to join the army."
  "I...have to decline, Father," Tonious said.
  "Then we have nothing to discuss, Tonious," his father said, "and I have one son."
  Tonious's father headed down the street without another word. Randy and Brown walked past him. Apollo paused in front of Randy and bowed.
  "I apologize, fellow," Apollo said to Randy.
  Katherine corked an eyebrow. So the warrior could be polite.
  "Think nothing of it...fellow," Randy said.
  "It is a pity we will not fight side by side," Apollo said. He stared at Brown. "And if you were younger...pity. Sparta needs more loyal citizens."
  Apollo stormed away without another word. Katherine looked at Randy. He shrugged his shoulders at her. She looked at Brown. He glared at Randy.
  "Come now!" Brown exclaimed. "I am not that old!"
  Katherine hid her smile. She stared at Tonious. The smile left her face. He looked as if he had been stabbed. She touched his shoulder. He stared at her sadly.
  "I will be all right, Katherine," Tonious said. "Thank you."
  "So...you are at war?" Randy asked.
  Tonious sat on the side of the fountain. "Yes. Our ancient enemies...Athens...has risen again...determined to erase centuries of assimilation by Sparta."
  "I always thought Sparta fell to the Roman Empire after the Peloponnesian War?" Brown asked.
  "The Roman Empire?" Tonious said in confusion.
  "Excuse my friend," Randy said. "Old age has set in already."
  "I'm not that old!" Brown barked.
  "I think I will head back," Tonious said standing up.
  "We will meet you later," Randy suggested.
  "Yes...I would be honored," Tonious said. He looked at Katherine. "Katherine."
  She nodded. As Tonious headed for Caesar, She felt sad. To see him work so hard for this father's approval and not get it...it must really hurt.
  "So what now?" Randy asked.
  "I am not that old," Brown complained.
  Katherine stared over by a pillar. She thought she saw a shadow move. She headed toward it, but a hand stopped her. She turned to stare into Randy's eyes.
  "Katherine," Randy said, "maybe it would be a good idea if you stay with Professor Brown."
  She looked back at the pillar. There was no one around it.

  Richard stared at himself in the lake. He smiled at his white robe. He could have been a king. His smile withered. A king of pain.
  Laughter shot through the air. He dotted around. It sounded like...no...it can't be. Nicole was dead. She was dead because of him. Stone used his guilt when he...
  Richard turned away from the lake. He could not be weak. He had to be strong. Bad things were coming. He had to be ready.
  They had to be ready. They had to be tight. They had to trust each other. He had to do it. He had to get not only himself ready...but the group ready.

  Randy smiled. It had been difficult given what he had to work with it. He was tempted to give up. Too much was at stake.
  "So the timer is done?"
  Randy looked up. "Yeah. We have an hour."
  Melissa sat down next to him. "Then you will come for me? Or will you head to home first?"
  Randy reached over. His hand cupped Melissa's right cheek. She looked down as her face reddened.
  "I think you know the answer to that question," Randy said.
  "Yes, we all know the answer to that question."
  Randy turned away from Melissa. His eyes locked with the barrel of a gun. A sound rang out.

  Randy jumped out of his sleep.
  "Mr. Heim?"
  Randy stood up from the stone table. he looked over at Brown. He headed for Randy with Apollo behind him.
  "It's nothing," Randy said. "Bad dream." He held up the timer. "Look at what is working?"
  Randy pushed a button. The timer lit up like a Christmas tree. Numbers dotted across the front until they stopped.
  "Hmmm...a week," Brown said. "Well, that is excellent, Mr. Heim.?
  "What is it?" Apollo asked surprised.
  Randy put the timer away. "It's...just...a gizmo that I'm working on." He managed a smile. "I'm happy Brown found you."
  "I think I will find the others and tell them the great news," Brown said.
  "You do that," Randy said.
  He watched Brown head back across the field. He pitied keeping anything from him. Sacrifices had to be made.
  "I apologize for spearing you," Apollo said.
  "It's okay," Randy said. His hand touched his chest where the wound was. He wondered if it would scar. he stared at Apollo again. "In fact...there is a way you can make it up to me."
  Apollo frowned in confusion. "Make up?"
  "Repay your debt," Randy said.
  Apollo nodded his head in understanding. "Anything."
  Randy smiled. "No...something more simple than that."

  Katherine sat with Tonious. He had brought her to the outdoor apaththeater to listen to various philosophers debate their views. Several people sat around on stone benches listening. Of course, it had gone from thoughts on the nature of reality to whether New Sparta had the right to silence Athens. Katherine spent most of it watching Tonious. Most of the talks he stared like a wide-eyed youth. Now his eyes narrowed on the latest talker as he talked about harmony.
  "It would never work," Tonious said finally. He looked at Katherine now. "Sparta has been an empire built on taking over anything not theirs...killing all in the way. Surely the gods wanted us to live differently."
  Katherine wished she knew the words to put Tonious at ease. She wished she could talk more, but...
  "I apologize," Tonious said, looking down at his hands. "I was suppose to be showing you some of the greatest minds of New Sparta at work. Instead...I brood."
  Katherine reached over and held Tonious's hands. He looked up from his hands and stared at her. She smiled.
  "Sometimes...I wish you could speak," Tonious said. "Why is that?"
  "That is something you will never know, Tonious."
  Tonious's eyes widened. Katherine realized that the talker had stopped talking. Most of the people stared in their direction. Their faces mirrored Tonious's own face.
  Katherine turned to look behind her. A purple-robed figure stood in front of her. The fact that the figure's chest had two breasts revealed it was a woman. Her bony fingers shook as they held on to her cane. Her eyes looked like they saw nothing, yet they seem focused on Katherine and Tonious.
  "What have you to tell, Mistress Cassandra?" the speaker from the stage asked.
  "I am sure it is nothing, Caspian," Tonious replied.
  A smile spreaded across Cassandra's face. "You know better than to doubt my visions, Son of Romanius. Was it not I who foresaw the rise of Athens here? Was it not I who saw your brother's folly with the stranger? Have I not foreseen visions for everyone here?"
  "Yes, you have, Mistress Cassandra," Caspian replied. "You must forgive Tonious. His brother's return wears on him greatly."
  "Tell us your new visions, Mistress Cassandra," a woman below Katherine's seat asked.
  "Oh, child," Cassandra said. "I see only sorrow." She pointed her cane at Tonious. "Especially for you."
  Gasps shot up from the crowd. A few people moved away from Katherine and Tonious. Katherine stared over at Tonious.
  "Nice try," Tonious said. "I respect your opinion as I respect most of the citizens', Cassandra. However, your vision must be wrong. The war is nowhere near here yet."
  "Tragedy can take more than one form, young one," Cassandra replied.
  "Yes...perhaps," Tonious said as he stood up. "Come along, Katherine."
  Katherine started to her feet. Cassandra's cane shot to the left, knocking Tonious to the ground. It came back around but stopped before it hit Katherine's face.
  "Surely you want to hear your fate, little one. Your past is always close behind you. One who had you will return to claim you while one who never did will open your heart again only to-"
  "Enough, Cassandra!" Tonious barked. "I allow you much because you are my elder as well as blind, but I will not have you attacking me."
  "Then I will leave," Cassandra said simply. "Beware my words...or everyone pays."
  Katherine watched the seer leave. It took a few moments, but slowly conversation returned to the crowd. Tonious got to his feet again. He held out a hand for Katherine.
  "I apologize again," Tonious said.
  Katherine took Tonious's hand and stood up.
  "You made a grave mistake, my friend," Caspian said as he came up behind Tonious.
  Tonious stared at Caspian. "Perhaps, my friend."

  "Three days?" Richard bellowed.
  "That is what the note said, Hall," Brown said as he sat with Richard at a market around the fountain square. "He said he had an idea he wanted to work on."
  "Never a good thing," Richard said.
  "Mr. Hall!"
  "Sorry," Richard managed. "It's good...really. Egghead getting back into inventing...creating...helps us."
  "I hope that it also helps him with dealing with Miss Clark's disappearance."
  Richard laughed. "It was love, Brown. You just don't get over it. Still...when are we going to go after her?"
  Brown stared at Richard. He had never seen Brown look that way before. His eyes narrowed on Brown.
  "We are going back for her...right?" Richard asked.
  "Of course," Brown said. "How...will be the real question. Right now we have no way. Better to focus on getting home...where our chances are better...and warning them of Mr. Stone."
  "I still think we should warn all of the worlds," Richard said, "starting with this one."
  "Caution will win out in the end," Brown replied. "Let us not go off half-cocked until we know the true scope of Stone's plans."
  'the true scope of Stone's plans...'
  Richard reached for his throat. It felt hard to breathe as he found himself back in Stone's torture chamber. He had been beaten for two weeks, but nothing phased him. Until...
  'the true scope...'
  He heard those words before. Stone had not said it. It was his enforcer. The one who watched dover him when Stone was busy. It...
  "Mr. Hall."
  Richard's eyes blinked. He was out of the room again. He was sitting with Brown on an alternate world. He sighted in relief.
  "So...when are you going to talk about what happened on that world?" Brown asked.
  Richard smirked. "When you do."
  "I do not remember anything before Mr. Heim discovered me," Brown admitted.
  "Aren't you worried they might have done something to you?" Richard asked.
  Brown looked away from Richard into the nearby crowd. "Yes...yes, I am."
  "I'm sorry," Richard said.
  "Have you seen Miss Rye?"
  Richard frowned. "No. That worries me. Who knows what she and her boyfriend are planning?"
  Brown shook his head. "Hall...you really have to be less suspicious-"
  "There was a time, Proper, you would want me to be that," Richard countered. "We know nothing about her. She could be part of a plan to betray us."
  "Unlikely given that her father was killed by Daniel."
  Richard laughed bitterly. "Puh-leaze! That is so X-Files."
  Brown frowned. "Mr. Heim vouches for her so I will stick to supporting her."
  "I don't know, Proper," Richard said. "The last time you vouched for a baddie...Nicole died."
  A silence fell over the both of them. Richard found his eyes avoiding Brown's. They had not talked about Nicole since they found Quinn Mallory. It was a sore spot between both of them.
  "Look!" Brown exclaimed. "There is Miss Rye now. How about you watch her?"
  Richard stared at the direction Brown was looking. Katherine emerged from a group gathered around the fountain. She saw the two of them and waved.
  Then a scream cut through the air. Richard saw the smile leave Katherine's face. The group behind her scrambled as a figure emerged from the shadows.
  It was Tonious. His white toga was dirtied by red. Richard knew it was blood. He stumbled toward Katherine. Her face was a face of fear. He reached for her, his hands red as the blood on his toga. Katherine tripped and fell. Tonious gasped one last time before he fell on her.
  "Miss Rye!" Brown yelled. He ran over to her.
  "Cassandra was right."
  Richard heard most mutterings as he stood up. They all talked about Cassandra and her visions.
  "Mr. Hall, I could use some help," Brown barked.
  "Halt!"
  Richard paused as Romanius and his son Apollo entered the square. Several warriors backed them up. Romanius paused over Brown and Katherine. His eyes narrowed.
  "Arrest them," Romanius commanded.
  "What?" Brown yelled. "We did nothing."
  "As the last to be with my son," Romanius said. "I believe you had something to do with it. Take them."
  The warriors grabbed Brown and Katherine. Richard headed through the crowd. He had to find Egghead. He would know what to do.

  "Where did you go?" Randy asked.
  Apollo's eyes narrowed on Randy as he walked toward him. Randy started to stand, but Apollo waved a hand to stop him.
  "Worry not about my whereabouts," Apollo said. "how was your run and meditation?"
  "Calm," Randy replied. "Peaceful."
  "Focused?"
  "Yeah."
  "Then let us begin."
  Apollo raised his right arm. Randy looked up to see the spear. It was the same one from when he first slid in. Apollo stabbed at Randy.
  "Die!" Apollo barked.
  Randy dotted to the right. The spear missed him. Its sharp tip ran into the ground.
  Randy looked over past Apollo. He had a sword a few feet away. He dashed for it. A foot caught him in the face.
  "You are just a lamb," Apollo said. "I am the ram."
  Apollo pulled the spear out of the ground. Randy watched Apollo raise it again. He saw it and remembered his helplessness. He felt his muscles tense up. It was like the gun from his dreams. It was ready to end his life, even though he was not ready to die.
  Randy's eyes narrowed on Apollo's face. He was not ready to die.
  "You talk too much," Randy remarked.
  He swung a leg at Apollo. It connected with Apollo's crotch. He fell to the ground. His hands grabbed his crotch. His spear had fallen beside him. Randy snatched it up and held it to Apollo's throat. His hand gripped Apollo's hair in an iron grip.
  "Am I learning?" Randy demanded.
  "Sadly, no."
  Randy turned away from Apollo. An old woman stood behind him. He had not heard her approach at all. She focused on his pot, but he saw form her expression that she was blind. Her staff was like a tree branch.
  "Who are you?" Randy demanded.
  "Cassandra," the old woman said. "You will not succeed except in alienating your associates."
  "You do not know what I plan," Randy protested.
  Cassandra grinned. "I know much. My visions tell me."
  "Is this a test?" Randy asked Apollo.
  "You doubt me?" Cassandra demanded, her face becoming a glare. "No wonder your dreams are full of death."
  Randy matched Cassandra's glare with one of his own. "You know nothing of my dreams."
  "You lost someone," Cassandra said. "Your true love. The guilt of losing her weights on you greatly. It now produces this new shade to you. A shade that will only lead to death if you pursue. The barrel of the gun waits for it."
  Randy released Apollo's hair. He stood in front of her. "I refuse to believe this right now."
  "Your love would," Cassandra said coyly.
  "As if you know anything," Randy shot back.
  "Then go and save her," Casandra said. "If you can."
  Randy held up the timer. "Oh, you bet I can. I figure out something today."
  Randy pushed a button. A circle of blue light formed next to Cassandra. Apollo's eyes widened in shock. Cassandra gave no sign of knowing the vortex was there.
  "I'll be back," Randy said. Then he ran for the vortex and vanished.

  "Egghead!"
  Richard was too late. Randy had jumped into the vortex. It shrunk until it finally vanished as if it never existed.
  "What have you done?" Richard demanded.
  An old woman stared at him. "What you could not do for your love...that is what he planned." She smiled. "And you...your fate will soon go down a path that will separate you from home."
  "Lady...you're a freak," Richard commented.
  "And you...were perhaps involve with my brother's death," Apollo said.
  "Yeah, right," Richard said. "I bet it was you with your Cain and Abel crap."
  "Dog!"
  Apollo lunged at Richard. Richard swung at Apollo. He fell to the ground unconscious.
  "Common sense...works every time," Richard said. "Now as for you-"
  Richard stared around. The old woman was gone.
  "Darn!" Richard exclaimed.
  "She's the least of your problems."
  Richard turned around. His eyes widened at the sight that fell before it.
  "You!" Richard managed before a fist made his world go black.

  Randy hopped out of the vortex. He stared about the corridor he was in. A smile filled his face. He was back on the last world. His idea of boosting the timer's power had worked. The timer had not fried.
  He hurried down the corridor. He did not have much time. He had to find Melissa before...
  Randy turned the corner. A trooper paused at the surprise. Randy knocked him out with a good right hook. Then he dragged away the body to the nearest room.

  Brown sat in the cell annoyed. There was no sign of Randy and Richard. He could only hope that they were busy planning some way to free him and Miss Rye.
  He stared over at Katherine. She kneeled in a corner, shaking.
  "It is all right, Miss Rye," Brown said. "Our associates will get us liberated from this place."
  Katherine gave no reply. She moved closer to the wall. Tears ran down her face.
  "They are ready."
  Brown stared at the cell door. Romanius stood in the door with several guards. Brown glared at him.
  "Ready for what?" Brown asked.
  "Your punishment for the death of my son," Romanius said.
  "We did-"
  "No more of your lies!" Romanius barked.
  "You did not care about your son anyway," Brown replied.
  "Your punishment," Romanius continued, "will be this practice we gained when we encountered a group called the Christians. It was in their trainings."
  Brown frowned.
  "We are going to crucified you," Romanius said.

  Randy stared at the screen. The console was taking forever to find Melissa's location. Happily it revealed that Earth Prime had not been completely...remade. He had an idea about how to stick it to Stone and Daniel.
  The console beeped. Randy smiled as he saw Melissa's location. He scanned over the map. He headed down the corridor.
  An idea struck him. He had to do it while he was here.

  Brown followed the guards. Katherine was beside him. Her eyes stared at her feet. Tears still covered her face.
  The guards stopped in front of a beach. Brown looked down on it. There were a few crosses upright on it. Corpses hanged from them. The sight made Brown nausea.
  A thump got Brown's attention. He looked beside him. Katherine had fainted.
  "Carry her," Romanius demanded.
  "You can't do this!" Brown exclaimed.
  Brown sense a movement. Pain shot through his head as he fell to the ground. He stared up to see Apollo behind him, his sword was ready. Brown wished he could make him choke on it.
  "Up, murderer!" Apollo barked.
  Brown watched a guard pick up Katherine. He stood up. Choking would be too good for them. He would torture them first.
  "Do not hope for your friend," Apollo said. "He has left."
  "Impossible," Brown said.
  "He vanished in a circle of blue light," Apollo said. "Your other friend is dead."
  "He will follow his friend soon enough," Romanius said. "March."
  Brown was pushed from behind. He barely registered it. His mind was on Heim. He recalled that Apollo had been too busy fighting to notice the vortex when they first slid in. For him to know...
  What was Mr. Heim up to?

  Randy stood outside the door. This was it. The moment he had worked so hard for. he psyched in a code Katherine wrote down for him. It was like a skeleton key and should work.
  The door shot open. Randy moved one foot in before he stopped.
  "Oh my God," Randy muttered.
  Richard stood in the door. No...he was being held by a hand. His face was bloodied up. His toga was tore.
  "Well...what did you expect?"
  Those words cut through Randy like a neck. He stared at the speaker. Darnell Brown stared at him with a sinister grin.
  "Who are you?" Randy demanded.
  "Oh...I forget," Darnell Brown replied. "We never really met. I am Professor Darnell Brown. You met my associates a long time ago. You slid to my world thinking it was yours. You were almost dead wrong."
  "You're the Other," Randy gasped. "What the Professor is afraid of becoming."
  "Pity," the Other said. "It will be the only way to stop me."
  "Where's Melissa?" Randy demanded.
  "Oh...she's busy."
  Randy turned around. OtherRichard and OtherMelissa stood there, kissing. Daniel Carter glared at him. Next to him was Nicole...or a double of her. Her black hair was shorter than Randy was used to.
  "Take the fun out of it, Nicole," Daniel said. He stared at Randy. "Welcome back. Nice to see you're ready to die."
  "I don't think so," Randy said.
  OtherRichard and OtherMelissa laughed.
  "Can I have him?" Nicole begged.
  "No," Daniel replied.
  Nicole put on her pouty face. "I did such a good job when Richard was here. I'm doing a great job with Melissa."
  Randy lunged at Nicole. Daniel swung his fist at Randy. He hit Randy in the lip. Randy fell to the ground. The Others kept laughing.
  "No, Heim," Daniel said. "This time there is no escape...for any of you. We have Melissa. Brown and Nicole fetched Richard. Right now, your Brown should be...getting killed. I wish Katherine was not a part of it, but..."
  Randy wiped the blood from his lip. "Did you think I would come in here without a backup plan?"
  Daniel looked at Randy. Randy smiled.
  "Think again," Randy said. "Computer: Operation Fusion."
  ACKNOWLEDGED.
  Randy ran for the door in front of him. He dived in as red lasers shot out from the outer corner of the odor. He ignored the screams he heard.
  "Impressive," Brown's Other commented.
  "I'm not done yet," Randy commented.
  He swung his leg. It tripped Brown's Other. He fell to the ground quickly.
  "Richard," Randy said as Richard fell to the floor.
  "Idiot," Richard managed. "Getting us in trouble."
  The door behind Randy started to close.
  "Well, I planned for everything," Randy said.
  Brown shot up. Randy swung a fist at him. He fell back to the ground unconscious.
  "I said everything," Randy repeated. "Now let's get you-"
  "Ah!"
  Randy turned to the door. Nicole stood in the door. She smirked.
  "Did you think you would really get away?" Nicole taunted. "I am sure Mr. Stone will allow me to work on you."
  Randy put Richard down on the floor. He slowly stood up.
  "So you are the one Stone used to break Richard," Randy said.
  "Break him?" Nicole said. "Did I? I never did find out for sure." She held up her electric pole. "I guess I will find out."
  Nicole lunged at Randy. He dotted to the right. The electric pole barely missed his arm. He shot at Nicole and grabbed her right arm. She frowned and balled her left hand into a fist. Then she swung it out. Randy's jaw shot with pain as he released her arm. Nicole hopped and shot her leg in the air. Randy fell back to the wall. Nicole stood over him with the electric pole in her hand.
  "Say good night," Nicole said.
  Randy felt his body shake as he stared at the pole. He failed. He failed the group. He failed himself. Finally he failed Melissa. Now he paid the price.
  Electricity shot up Nicole's body. She released a gasp before she fell to the ground. Randy stared at his savior.
  Richard stood over Nicole's body. His eyes stared at her. They revealed nothing.
  "Good night...bitch," Richard said. He looked at Randy. "Are you ready?"

  "Yes, sir," the guard said to Romanius.
  "Start then," Romanius demanded.
  Brown did not know what to say. The guard stood over him with the nail ready. Another guard had what appeared to be a sledgehammer. He held it above his head now intent on destroying Brown's ability to use his right hand.
  Brown shut his eyes tight. He knew this was going to hurt.
  A whir sounded through the air. Brown opened his eyes just in time. A vortex opened above his sight. Randy and Richard shot out.
  "What in the-" Apollo started.
  Randy took him out with a right hook. Richard meanwhile threw what Brown recognized as an electrical pole at a guard. The guard screamed in pain as he fell to the ground.
  "Proper, you okay?" Richard asked.
  "Great, Hall," Brown replied. "I will be extremely content, if you would release me."
  "No time," Randy replied. "Vortex closed. Here goes the next one."
  As if on cue, a whir reached Brown's ear. Suddenly, the cross he was tied to went flying into the air with him on it. He shot through the vortex quickly like a bullet. He barely managed a scream.

  "So how is he?" Randy asked as he looked up at Richard.
  Richard stared down at the timer on the bar counter. "What are you doing to the timer?"
  "Not important," Randy said. "How is he?"
  Richard sat down beside Randy. "Is it really that important to you, Egghead? You didn't care when our lives were in danger."
  "When did you become the conscience of the group?" Randy asked.
  "Maybe when you lost yours," Richard said. "Listen...we all miss Melissa. We ARE going back when we're ready."
  "We're ready," Randy said.
  Richard laughed bitterly. "If you believed that, Melissa would be here right now."
  Randy looked down at the timer. "You're right. I failed her. And now..."
  Richard put a hand on Randy's shoulder. "You wish you had done more. Been better. Faster. Saved her life."
  Randy looked over at Richard. "Sorry. I forgot...Nicole."
  Richard felt a lump in his throat. "I feel that I'm doing right. I'm going to do my time when we get home...assuming it's still home when we get home."
  Randy smiled. "Well...if it makes you feel better...it might be."
  Richard frowned. "What do you mean?"
  "Let's say...Stone's going to find it hard to slide to our home world without the coordinates."
  Richard's eyes widened. "You erased them? Did you-"
  Randy shook his head. "Sorry. I couldn't get them out of the computer fast enough."
  Richard stared at the timer. Their only chance to get home...
  "We're going home," Randy said as if he could read Richard's mind. "It might not be tomorrow. It won't be today. But we are going. And when we do...Melissa will be with us."
  "Can I get you something to drink?" the bartender asked Richard.
  "Uh..." Richard started.
  "Give my friend what I had, Kathy," Randy said.
  Richard corked an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"
  "Yeah, I said it," Randy said. "Friend."
  "I guess hell really did freeze over," Richard said.
  Randy smiled. "I guess."

  "So that's that?"
  Randy continued to work on the timer. It had been an interesting night after Richard left to check on Professor Brown and Katherine. His gamble had paid off. He figured out a way to get the timer to go back to a previous world without it burning out. A little shielding and a better energy conductor did magic. Now he could focus on the next part of his plan.
  "Are you even listening to me?"
  "No, not really," Randy replied. He stared up at the figure over his shoulder. Melissa Clark glared at him. "Richard taught me something today. The thief actually did. If he can deal with his guilt even when it's torturing him for three months, I can deal with you."
  Melissa stared at the timer. "So that's it. Leave me with Stone while 'Richard's guilt' does unspeakable horrors to me. I thought you loved me."
  Randy's eyes narrowed. "I love Melissa a lot." He got off his stool. "You are just a figment of my imagination. If I ignore you, you will go away. The truth of the matter...we ARE going to get home. All of us. Including Melissa. Why? Because I love her. And I will get her...WHEN I'M READY." Randy moved toward the door. "You have no power over me anymore."
  "Do you really expect that to happen?"
  Randy paused. He stared back at Daniel Carter.
  "Yes," Randy replied.
  "Did you forget the seer's vision?" Daniel challenged. "Your friends might make it home...but you won't."
  Randy smirked. "You'll be surprised."
  Daniel smirked back at him. "So will you." He shrugged his shoulders. "Still...what did you expect?"
  "A happy ending," Randy replied.
  Randy started for the door again. A hand grabbed his shoulder. It roughly turned him around. He met eyes with Cassandra. Her eyes were black as tar as she held a gun to his face.
  "Not even close," she hissed.

  Cassandra's eyes snapped open. She stared up at Daniel Carter. He stared down at her like a kid on Christmas.
  "Well?" Daniel asked.
  "I think he got the message," Cassandra replied.
  "Good," Daniel said. "I don't want him thinking he's off the hook. I will kill him."
  Cassandra corked her head. "Perhaps. He is a worthy adversary."
  "I've already taken steps that will bear fruit. He...and his friends...won't be seeing home."
  "What about his erasing your way to his home?" Cassandra asked.
  "How do you-"
  "I have my ways."
  "And yet you could not kill Heim here."
  "He was underestimated...by both of us."
  Daniel held out his hand. He pushed a button on his watch. A green circle of light formed to his left.
  "I didn't get him this time," Daniel said, "but I have plenty of time. His has run out."
  "And yours?" Cassandra asked.
  "Sorry, Cass," Daniel said. "I'm not a fan of horoscopes."
  Daniel jumped into the green circle and vanished. It closed after him. Cassandra sighted in relief. He was so irritating.
  As she stood up, she heard the sound of another circle forming. She felt another figure. It was like chalk on a blackboard.
  "Well?" the voice demanded.
  "Your plans continue as you wish," Cassandra replied. "Heim and Carter did as you thought they would so your plans continue a-pace." A smile crept upon her face. "I honestly think Carter has no idea that you are using him."
  "He...does not," the voice replied. "My associates want him in the dark until their true motives are revealed. Then..."
  "He is of no use to you," Cassandra said, finishing his sentence.
  "You really know too much, seer."
  "I am a seer...after all, Mr. Stone," Cassandra replied.
  A hand grabbed Cassandra's shoulder. She felt something cold at her temple.
  "And yet," Mr. Stone said, you could not predict your own death."
  "What?" Cassandra muttered.
  "Now, Cassandra," Mr. Stone said with some glee in his voice, "what did you expect?"

THE-END



 

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