Randy Heim's eyes flickered. He was sure what had aroused him. He turned in his bed. Seeing Ethan would make him...
Randy shot up quickly.
Ethan Bradshaw's eyes were open. He laid in the bed, spreaded across the bed. His chest was full of blood. Blood...that still ran warm...
"Ah!"
Randy stopped yelling. His forehead was wet, sweat running down his chins. He wiped it away. He was in his bed.
Alone.
Ethan...was dead.
The vortex whirred. Then...Quinn Mallory shot out of it. He rolled across the ground. The vortex closed behind him. He stood up, his eyes on the timer.
"Two days and ch--" Quinn started. He stopped.
They had made it into an alley. He saw Cassandra was a few feet away. A little bit away from her was Jules. Both of them had faces full of pain.
He did not blame them. The last few days had taken everything away from them. Jules lost his closest friend Thomas. Cassandra lost her whole world. Quinn had lost his only way to track down Rembrandt Brown and Melissa Clark. And Randy...
Quinn frowned. "Where's Randy?"
Cassandra crossed her arms over her chest. "Does it matter? It's not like he can get far."
"Cassandra--" Quinn started.
"Am I wrong?" Cassandra countered.
"I know you still have a lot to get used to," Quinn said. "Sorry you're used to being able to go home and leave again."
"I don't know if there's even a home to go back to," Cassandra said, her blue eyes burning with anger. "The Yuzaki might be razing it completely by now."
"But you don't know."
Quinn and Cassandra looked over at the new spearker. Jules staredx at Cassandra.
"You shouldn't give up hope," Jules said.
Cassandra frowned. After a moment, she glared at Quinn. Then she headed out of the alley. Quinn looked at Jules. He managed a grin.
"Th--" Quinn started.
"Don't," Jules said, his dark eyes flashing its own anger. "Please."
Jules headed after Cassandra. Quinn followed suit. He ran a hand through his shaggy dark hair.
They had barely gotten out of Animal Curfew World. Not enough of sliding appeared to be making them closer. In fact, it appeared to be making it worse.
For Quinn, it didn't help that he knew the truth. Randy had known all along now to get to Rembrandt and Melissa. He found out too late. Now the conwoman Rebecca Pryce get the device and was with them. Who knew what she would do? It made Quinn want to knock Randy out.
Quinn made it to the outside of the alley. It looked normal enough. Now if he could find Randy...
"He moves quick," Jules commented.
"We need to find him," Quinn said.
"Do we?" Cassandra uttered.
Quinn glared at her. "You need to s--"
"Sandy? Sandy baby, is that you?"
Cassandra looked away from Quinn. He looked at where she looked. It was Max Brown. Unlike the one on Cassandra's world whom was a straight-laced soldier in black, this Max was a man with short braids and normal clothes that had a smile on his face.
Cassandra's eyes widened. "Max?"
Max hugged her. He kissed her. He pulled back.
"What are--" Max started.
Cassandra pulled back...and swung.
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 3: OFF THE GRID
"What in the world?"
Max Brown stared up at Cassandra, shock and anger in his eyes. He was kneeled over, rubbing his jaw. Cassandra stared back.
"Uh...," Cassandra started.
All the worlds she had been to. All of them she had been on assignment. Rarely had she dealt with a double. Especially one she was...
Max. Poor Max. She had separated from him during the Yuzaki attack. Now she had no idea if he was alive. If she would have a chance to...see him.
"Sorry," Cassandra said. "You took me by surprise."
"Obviously!" Max snapped. "Damn, you got a right hook on you!"
"As if you didn't know," Cassandra said.
"I didn't!" Max yelled. "You refused self-defense class when I suggested it."
"Oh."
Wrong Max. Cassandra mentally kicked herslef. Max knew her punches well. There was many a time they had sparred.
A hand wrapped around Cassandra's shoulder. She turned to look at Quinn. She narrowed her eyes on him. Quinn looked forward.
"She was hanging out with us...Max was it?" Quinn said. "Old college friends."
"Well, you did say expect some college guests for the wedding," Max said, grinning at Cassandra.
Cassandra frowned. "Wedding?"
"Sounds like you guys have a lot to discuss yourself," Quinn said.
Max frowned. "Apparently." He smiled again. "Well, I haven't had lunch yet."
"I--" Cassandra started.
"Go on," Quinn said. "We'll be at the Dominion."
"Later," Jules uttered.
Then they were gone. Leaving Cassandra with a beaming Max. He wrapped his arms around her. Cassandra had to admit...it wasn't a bad feeling.
"Shall we go, Sandy?" Max asked.
"So...how are you holding up?"
Jules looked up at Quinn from the couch. Quinn had just checked them into the Dominion. Now he came to tell Jules...only to see Jules with a lost look in his eyes.
Jules pulled his knees up to his cheek. He wrapped his arms around his legs. Then he started rocking.
"Fine," Jules said.
"Jules--" Quinn started.
"What did you expected, Quinn?" Jules snapped, stopping his rocking. "The slidecage...lonely place to be. Thomas and I were glad to be off it. We had normal lives. Sometimes...I wished for more. And helping Nathan Rye and Eve...was exciting." He looked at Quinn, tears threaening to fall from his eyes. "But...I would take it all back...to have Thomas back." He looked away. "He...I...I hate sliding." He looked at Quinn. "I hate you."
"Jules--" Quinn started.
"I hate you," Jules said, standing up. "Why did you have to think of sliding? Why couldn't you keep it to yourself? Why...did Thomas have to die?"
Jules headed away from Quinn. Quinn saw he was heading for the elevator. He followed suit.
Out of everyone, Jules had been the most quiet over what had happened. On one hand, it was good he was letting it out. On the other hand, Jules's outburst made Quinn wonder...was Jules right?
"No one wanted Thomas to die," Quinn said, making it next to Jules. "Maggie always said good things about him. And...I won't let his death be in vain."
"His death," Jules said, looking at Quinn again, "shouldn't have been at all."
"Yes," Quinn agreed, "but it was. Now...what do we do about that?"
The elevator doors opened. Jules stepped in quickly. Quinn did the same. He noticed Jules looked less tense. Good.
As the elevator doors closed, Quinn found his mind turning to Randy. He wondered how Randy was holding up. He also wondered how he would snap Randy out of it.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Randy's eyes blinked. The tears had just stopped. As a result, his chins were still wet as he laid on the bed in a fetus position.
He turned over. He turned over...and saw him.
Him.
Ethan laid in the bed with Randy. His curly jet-black hair fell across his forehead. He stared at Randy with his gray eyes. His gray eyes had so much sadness to them.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Ethan asked him again.
Randy stared back at him. He stared back at those gray eyes. He saw their sadness. His hand reached out to touch him. His hand reached for that face. Ethan moved back a bit.
"You did not need to know," Randy said.
"Did I?" Ethan whispered back.
"Rembrandt, Melissa, and Jared were fine. No need for you to worry."
Ethan's gray eyes looked at Randy, making him feel naked. Then he moved closer...ever closer....toward Randy. He looked...he moved close enough to touch Randy. Randy leaned into him. He leaned into Ethan. Only to be close. Only to be touched. Only to kiss him again.
"Cassandra knew," Ethan uttered. "So did you. Why didn't you tell...me?"
Randy shot up from the bed. He looked to the bed.
Ethan was gone.
Randy stared at the bed. He looked at its emptyness. He looked at it. He looked at it and remembered.
He remembered their first meeting. It was brief. It was on a manta ship.
He remembered trying to adjust to him. From being a good fighter on a doomed world to gettting matching haircuts on another to talks in the middle of the night, he had been three for Rnady. He had always been there for Randy. He had laways been there.
"Conqueror of worlds."
Randy turned over on the bed. His eyes fell on the mirror. Ethan's gray eyes looked back at him.
"Conqeror of worlds," Ethan said. "Master of weapons. Inventor of my heart. And yet...you couldn't tell me the truth."
"Cassandra isn't always right," Randy said.
"You know better?"
"Do I?"
Sharp movement to Randy's left got his attention. However...there was nothing there. He looked back at the mirror...
...to find Ethan gone.
Cassandra was caught completely by surprise. She looked down at the hand holding her own right hand on the table. Max looked back at her, a lopsided grin on his face.
"It was such a surprise to see you," Max said. "You been so silent the last few days. I was worried."
Cassandra was at a loss for words. Max was...is a sparring partner. On her world, they had met sparring with each other. Max was very straight-laced. That was something she did not see in the man sitting across from her in the restaurant. He had small braids unlike the Max she knew. He was dressed in brown colors versus the black gear all the troops on her world wore. In fact, the only thing that was the same between the two Maxes...was the look he gave Cassandra now, a look of half-joking and warmth. Almost like they were...
Cassandra shook her head, curls swinging everywhere.
Cassandra and Max were companions. Comrade. Nothing more. She had slid several times with her troops. Learning how to deal with doubles should not be hard. But Max...
...was still alive. Quinn had slide her and the others off of her world before she could see if he was okay during the Yuzaki attack. She never got to tell him...
"Earth to Sandy?"
Cassandra came out of her thoughts. Max still stared at her, his brown eyes full of concern. She managed a smile.
"Sorry," Cassandra said. "A lot on my mind."
"Like the wedding," Max said. "I understand." He stood up. "I feel the Little Boys' room calling. Be right back."
Max walked away without another word. Cassandra watched him walk away. Her forehead wrinkled up.
Wedding?
A shadow fell over her. Cassandra turned. She nearly jumped out of her chair.
She had not see the older woman in front of her since she had entered the academy at 15. Heaven forbid she actually called Cassandra. It was worse if Cassandra called. Memories of the various talks filled her head. She hated the word 'weak.'
Lillian Wilkes stared at her daughter, a grimace on her face.
"What are you doing here with that Burrhead?" she demanded.
"What did you just say?" Cassandra asked, the shock starting to wear off.
"My apologises," Lillian Wilkes said. She leaned back in her chair, putting her hands in her lap. Her blue eyes stared ice at Cassandra. "Just so we're clear...I was asking about the Brownie."
Cassandra felt herself at a loss for words. Her mother sighed in frustration. she reached out for Cassandra's hand, surprising her.
"Honey," Lillian said. "What are you doing in town? I spirited you away for a reason. Especially before you start to show..."
"Start to..." Cassandra started. She stopped, realization hitting her. "Oh."
"Are you ready to pay, Ma'am?" a waiter asked, heading for the door. "or maybe some dessert for..."
"No," Lillian said icily. She snatched out her purse. She had a credit check. "Charge it to this card, please."
"But--" Cassandra started.
Lillian Wilkes stared at her. Cassandra shut up quickly. She knew that look well.
"Okay, Ma'am," the waiter managed. Then he was gone.
"That was the last thing we needed," Lillian continued. "I did not take you off the grid only to mess it up."
"Off the grid?" Cassandra uttered.
Lillian glared. "Okay, did he drug you?"
Cassandra's eyes widened. "M--"
Lillian shot up quickly, pale blonde hair falling into her face. she used a finger to put her hair behind her ear. She looked around to see if anyone was in earshot.
"Now, now," Lillian said, "let's not say that word."
"It's true," Cassandra said, her eyes narrowing. "You're my--"
"Enough!" Lillian snapped. "Now we have to be away before..."
"Mrs. Wilkes, what are you doing here?"
Cassandra turned to her left in time to see Max by her side. He touched the back of her chair. His back was stiffened as he faced Cassandra's mother. Lillian looked back at him with an icy stare.
"Trying to save my girl," Lillian said. "She can do better. And...higher."
Max frowned. "Higher?"
Lillian looked at Cassandra. "This Blackie went to college, right?"
Cassandra grunted in frustration. She put her head down on the table. She found herself wondering what she had gotten herself into.
Quinn turned around. All he saw was more people. They looked normal enough. People on their cell phones. People walking their dogs. People hanging around with each other, debating songs, tv shows, and other things. Again, it was normal enough.
So why did he feel like he was being watched?
"See anything?"
Quinn looked beside him. Jules walked along behind. He stared forward without looking at him.
"No," Quinn said. "It looks normal enough. I just can't shake this feeling we--"
"Maybe it's because you're used to it," Jules said.
"And now...you have to."
Jules stopped walking. He turned to face Quinn. His eyes were full of ice.
"Or...I could leave," Jules said.
"Jules--"
"It isn't the first time you left me on a world."
"Your choice."
"Yes," Jules said, "my choice. Just like this one."
"You don't know this world, Jules," Quinn said. "I'm not leaving you here."
"My choice."
"And how did it turn out?"
Jules glared at Quinn. Quinn kicked himself mentally. That was a low blow even for him.
"That was unwise of you."
Quinn turned around. He had not seen the dark-haired cropped man among the crowd. Nor had Quinn seen the well-dressed men with him with dark shades on. BIG men with shades on on each side of the dark-haired man. Menawhile the crowd moved around them as if they did not see them. However, Quinn noticed people stole a glance at him and Jules. Their eyes had a hint of fear.
"Can we he--" Quinn started.
"Nice try, Mr. Mallory," said the dark-haired man. "Oh, yes, we know of you. Graduated top of your class. Did a lovely thesis on transdimenisonal travel and its practical use in modern society. Professor Maximillion Arturo even gave you lovely references." He frowned. "You have been missing for almost ten years."
"Well, I have been on sabbatical," Quinn said. "Uh...Mr..."
"Charles Lordley," the man said. "You see...me and my associates work for the department of Criminal Affairs. Our monitors are...tripped whenever someone pays for something in cash." He stared at Quinn with malice. "Surely someone with your degrees and intelligence knows the law."
"Law?" Jules uttered.
Lordley looked over at Jules, his eyes taking in Jules.
"Yes," Lordley finally said. "Cash became obsolete years ago. Credit cards. Debit cards. Charge, charge, charge. Something any terrorist would know. And use to...'persuade' people to their cause."
"We aren't criminials," Jules protested.
"Funny you should say that...Jules, is it?" Lordley said. "Not only did you pay for...Zebra Cakes...this morning...but somewhere in Sedona, Arizona...a hat?" His eyes looked back on Quinn and narrowed. "Since no one can be in two places at once...tell me, Terrorist, how should we play this?"
Randy felt him before he saw him.
It made him think of how it truly started between the two of them. Melissa Clark had been with Richard Hall. He had tried to step in, but Melissa had chosen to stay with her boyfriend. Rembrandt Brown hated him. His brother from a parallel Earth, Jared Heim, was a stranger. Cassandra's vision of him dying haunted him everywhere he went.
"I was safe."
Randy managed a smile. He kept his eyes forward. He walked through. lost in his memories.
"You needed someone to talk to."
Randy smirked. "Not like anyone was."
"What else is new?"
"True," Randy agreed. "And I did. To know. When you die. Who is going to kill you? And I saw...no one cared."
"I cared."
"Often."
"Humor. Cute. Though it's a moot point now."
"I should have told you."
"Obviously. Now...why didn't you?"
Randy paused in his step. Fear gripped him. He wasn't sure he was ready.
"You died."
"And I...came back," Randy said, his eyes watering. "So...why couldn't you?"
"Because he couldn't escape fate."
Randy's eyes widened. He turned to his left. He tensed up.
Cassandra stood next to her, her long blond curly hair blowing in the wind. Her arms were wrapped around her. Her blue eyes bored through Randy like fire through a forest.
"Are you real?" Randy asked.
"You tell me," Cassandra countered.
"I don't know."
Cassandra smirked. "Exactly." Her face darkened. "Do you want to be trapped within your mind or living within reality?"
"He's...gone," Randy found the words falling out of his mouth. He looked down. "I don't know what to do."
Silence.
He felt a chill. He stared to look up. Then he felt stuubble, stopping Rnady in his tracks.
His stubble.
His warm presence.
Taking himn back to their late night talks. His grin. The way they bantered as Randy was in his pajamas and he was in his black boxers. It would not happen again.
"Live," Ethan whispered into his ear.
Randy turned...
...to find him gone...again.
Randy's forehead became a line of wrinkles. A tear ran down his cheek. The last week and its images were like a dagger to the eye as he thought of the missed opportunities between the two of them since he had been focused on safeguarding Cassandra's world.
So many...
"How am I supposed to live without you?" Randy asked aloud, another tear falling.
Then...his eyes fell on the cliff.
"She's not going to give up, you know."
Cassandra looked up, her mind had been lost in thought. She looked up from the sofa she sat on. Max sat down with her, mugs in his hands. Cassandra grabbed one of them. She sipped form it, allowing the hot tea to warm her up. She then looked at Max.
"What?" Cassandra asked.
"Lillian," Max said. "Your mother." He sipped his hot tea. "She won't give up."
"She doesn't matter," Cassandra said.
Max cocked an eyebrow. "Really?"
Cassandra frowned as she kept with her hot tea.
"What I mean," Cassandra said, "is...I'm not worried."
Max's forehead formed lines. Cassandra felt like kicking herself. She was no good at playing a double...not surprising since she slid into worlds, did her job, and slid back. This...was new to her.
"Okay," Max said, "who are you, and what have you done with Sandy?"
Cassandra managed a grin. "What do you mean?"
"As long as I've known you, it's been the same," Max said. He smirked. "Mother = Evil Bitch Monster of Death. She's part of San Fran's high society. I couldn't even come home with you for Christmas." His face became a grimace. "Did Malcolm X's March mean nothing?"
"Guess not," Cassandra managed.
"Joke, baby," Max said. "I know you don't like me mentioning it, but...it's surprising...you picked me at all." He put his tea down. He grabbed her hands in his. "I'm a chef. I'll never be available for a platinum. I barely got a bronze. Our child...if we have any...will always be barely above using cash aka No-No Numero Uno."
Cassandra moved back on the sofa.
"Oh," Cassandra uttered.
"What's wrong?" Max asked.
Cassandra stared at Max. His eyes were full of concern. She also saw confusion. It was all she needed to know the truth.
Her double was pregnant. She had asked her mother to help her vanish. Most importantly, Max had no idea her double was having his baby.
"Uh..." Cassandra started.
Suddenly, a loud knock sounded from the door. Cassandra jumped, half-expecting a Yuzaki to attack. Max stood up.
"What in the world?" Max uttered, heading for the door.
Cassandra relaxed. She ran a hand through her hair. She placed her hot tea down.
She had to get used to it. Sliding was not in her control anymore. Even with that she shouldn't be expecting Yuzaki around every corner.
Max opened the door. Cassandra saw his back tensed up. A trace of smile formed onto her face as it reminded her of her Max.
"Can I help you?" Max asked.
"Yes, Mr. Brown," said a feminine voice from the door.
Cassandra slowly stood up, making sure she didn't make a sound. Something about the woman's voice was icy. Icy...could be bad news.
"We believe you have a terrorist with you, Mr. Brown," the feminine voice continued.
"You must be mistaken," Max said.
Cassandra made it over to the window. She looked out. Her eyes widened.
San Francisco went about its day, oblivious. She saw a few black cars along the sidewalk. She doubted it was coincidence.
"I doubt that, Mr. Brown," the feminine voice continued. "Unless you want to explain why you were seen with Cassandra Wilkes today when she...is currently moving through Europe?"
"What?"
"Yes," the feminine voice said, "I suspect Miss Wilkes forget about the Credit Card Crash of 2007. Only cash there. So a card? Easily stands out. Now...where is she?"
"Now, Mr. Mallory," Lordley said, "will you come quietly or...not?"
"What he's going to do," said a new, but familiar voice, "is DUCK!!!"
Quinn had almost no time to react as he ducked out of the way. A round ball sailed by. It landed and rolled toward Lordley's well-worn shoes.
Quinn heard a CLICK. He lookedand saw the ball was metal. His eyes widened at the same time as Lordley.
Gernade.
"Jules, run!" Quinn yelled.
Quinn dashed down the street. He pushed people as he didd, making sure he did it away from the grenade. He looked around to see Jules doing the same.
"Grenade!" Quinn yelled. "Gre--"
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
Quinn flew through the air. It lasted a moment before he hit the sidewalk. He rolled along it, stopping at a set of black boots. He looked up.
Randy stared back at him. He was dressed in black, complete with black trenchcoat. He looked at Quinn with brown eyes devoid of emotions.
"You really need to do better off the grid," he said. "Shall we go?"
Quinn frowned.
Double.
Great.
Randy's eyes flickered. He started to move...only to instantly feel pain in his chest.
"Slowly, Sir."
A hand pushed Randy down. As his eyes adjusted, Randy saw it was in a big white bed. A woman with short dark hair dressed in hospital scrubs stood over him.
Randy's eyes adjusted again.
No. Not just any woman. It was Wade Welles...Quinn's fiancee on Earth Prime.
"Where...am I?" Randy managed.
"Hospital," Wade said. "You took a very nasty fall." Her forehead ceased. "You are very lucky to be alive in fact. Is there something you would like to talk about?"
Randy looked away. His last memory? It was him being in Golden Gate Park. The cliff. He made it to the edge and...
A hand touched Randy's hand on the bed, bringing him back to reality. Randy looked back at Wade. She stared at him, deep concern all over her face.
"There were a few witnesses nearby," Wade said. "They said...you jumped. Any truth to that?"
Randy looked away again. A moment passed. He felt a small squeeze on his hand.
"You don't have to answer right now," Wade said. "Just know...you're not alone. And...it gets better."
Randy looked at her again. He felt his eyes water to spite himself.
"Does it?" Randy asked. "Does it really?"
It was Wade's turn to look down. A moment later, she looked at him. Her dark eyes had a bit of fire to them as if she was remembering something painful that was still recent.
"It does," Wade said. "It takes time. You...have to let it." She managed a smile. "Now...how about you get some rest?"
Randy nodded. Then he rolled over. Footsteps faded away from the room.
Good.
That meant he could react to the figure standing in the corner. Bleeding onto the floor, he stared at Randy with accusing eyes. They were eyes that burned through Randy like he was a Salem witch on a stake.
"You would die for Melissa," he hissed. "But you can't for me?"
"Stop," Randy said, his voice sounding small and tears running down his face.
"Make me."
Cassandra opened her eyes. It took her a moment to get her brearings. Then she shot up quickly.
She had managed to slip out the window yesterday. She made it through an alley to a neighboring street. She should have tracked down the others. Instead...she was here.
Here...being a luxurious bedroom. She got up. She looked around the spacious room she was. In the townhouse of her mother.
Her eyes fell on a chair by an elaborated drawer. On it was a blue dress. Her normal black clothes were nowhere in sight.
She arched an eyebrow.
Randy's eyes narrowed on Quinn.
"No," the double said.
"No?" Quinn uttered.
"You were sloppy enough as it is," Randy said as he sat at a table working on something. "I am not going to take you back out to find your associates. Especially with the Gridrakers out in full force. It's signing off on your deaths. I won't do it."
A figure shot past Quinn. Before Quinn could get out of his chair, Jules slammed his fist down on the table.
"No!" Jules yelled. "We're not leaving without our friends!"
Randy glared. "You don't have a choice."
"There's always a choice!" Jules shot back.
Quinn cocked an eyebrow. Jules did not notice. His focus was on Randy's double.
"You can hide in the mud," Jules continued, "or you can do something about it." He narrowed his eyes. "I'm not leaving without my friends. Not again. Not after Thomas."
Randy's double frowned. "Thomas?"
"Our friend," Quinn said.
Jules looked at Quinn.
"Our?" Jules uttered.
"I knew him, too, Jules," Quinn said. "And his death won't be in vain." He looked across the table at Randy's double. "Find our friends."
"No," the double replied. "My time is limited."
"Didn't you go to UCSF?" Quinn asked. "Physics?"
"As a matter of fact, yes."
"Good. I'm sure you're smart enough to maximize your time," Quinn replied. "Or aren't you as smart as you like to act?"
Randy's face darkened. Quinn resisted the urge to smirk. He was already fine, knowing he hit the bullseye.
"Fine," the double said, putting a back cover on the device he was working on. He stared at Quinn. "Game on."
Cassandra paused in the doorway. She saw Lillian sitting in the den. Rare for her, she looked relaxed with her legs cross and dressed in the best Prada. A cup of tea was to her lips.
She looked so open. So vulnerable. If only Cassandra's own mother had been...softer. Then again, would Cassandra had risen in the ranks if she had nothing to prove?
She shook her head to clear her head. No reason to play a game of woulda, coulda, shoulda. She headed for her.
"I see you have woken."
Cassandra almost paused. Emphasis on alomost. She was not the little girl fearful of her mother. No more.
"Indeed," Cassandra said. She stood in front of her. "And you...are the one responsible for that meeting last night."
"Whatever gave you that idea?"
"Don't play with me."
"Oh, no, Dear. I think you know I don't play games." Lillian took another sip of her tea before placing it on the coffeetable. Then she looked at Cassandra, her eyes full of ice. "Why did you come back? Do you know how much you endanger us? Do you even care?"
Cassandra frowned. "This? Coming from you? Not impressed."
"This...tough chick act? Same."
"You do not control my life."
"Because your burrhead does that just fine for you?"
"Grow up, Lillian."
Cassandra's mother's face darkened. She leaned back in her chair. While her eyes were still icy, there was now a hint of fire to them.
"Grow up?" Lillian uttered. "I would think it was fairly obvious whom the grown up in this room is. After all I was the one who got married BEFORE I was 'in the family way.' I am the one who had to put up with your consistent rebellion after your father left. I was the one who greased the wheels for you to go to a respected college. I was the one who took responsibility for YOUR lead. Follow my lead, and be something to ascend to: an adult. And adults have their own jobs, credit...NOT CASH, and date...people of high society. Not trash. Not beneath them. High society. I was not about to let you destroy everything I have crawled to gain by having a half breed."
Cassandra crossed her arms over her chest. "Here's a thought. Maybe in order for me to grow up...you let me. And I came back to make my own choices."
Lillian smirked. "Oh, really? Good luck doing that with no credit."
"I'll manage," Cassandra said.
Lillian arched an eyebrow. "You?"
Cassandra dropped her arms. "Yes. After all, that is what adults do."
"No credit?"
"I'll make do."
"With cash. Highly illegal."
Cassandra walked away. "I'll take my chances."
"Sez the imposter."
Cassandra stopped walking. She turned back around in time to see Lillian get out of her chair. She definitely played the cat who ate the canary to the hilt, dressed in her purple Parda suit. She put her hand in the pocket for her business jacket. Cassandra stated to approach her. She stopped quickly as she saw what her mother pulled out of her pocket.
"Now," Lillian said, aiming the tiny pistol she had, "who are you and what have you done with my daughter?"
"Stop."
"Why?" was the response.
Randy did not turn around to answer his question. He sat on the side of his hospital bed. He had managed to get his pants on. He struggled with his gray shirt now. Somewhere behind him...probably against the wall and leaning...was him.
"So, you have taken to ignoring me now, have you?"
"I have no choice," Randy replied, managing to get his head and right arm into his shirt.
"Why is that?"
Darn left sleeve!
"Why is--"
"Because," Randy said, cutting him off. "If I keep doing this...if I keep letting you in, I will not be able to accept it." Silence reigned, echoing through the room. "You're gone. I'm not. And as much as I want to let myself fall apart, I can't."
"Oh, you can," he said, sounding very close. "You just did not love me as much as her."
Randy turned...to find himself staring into deep gray eyes.
"If you believe that," Randy said, "then you never knew me at all." He pushed his left arm into his left sleeve. "You leave now."
He leaned forward. His lips were a few inches from Randy's ear. He could have touched it. It was so close. Randy could even feel the warmth.
"You could always stay here," came the whisper.
"No."
"That was not a problem yesterday."
"It was crushing me yesterday."
"And it's not now."
Randy's eyes watered. "It always is. I...will manage."
"Will you?"
He steeled himself. "I always do." He stood up. "You know that. Good-bye."
Randy started to head for the door.
"Can't you stay...a little longer."
"I can't."
"Why?"
"If I don't leave...I never will."
"Would that be so bad?"
"It would for other worlds."
Randy made it to the door.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Randy stopped.
"If I could come back, I figured you could, too," Randy said without looking back. "I was wrong. Worse, I was unconscious when it happened. As for the tracker? I made a promise. I'll keep it. Even if I am alone. No more distraction. Not even you. Not again. I love you...but you leave now."
Randy waited. He heard nothing. He gave a grin. Then he walked out of the door.
"Why, hello, Mr. Heim."
Randy turned around. A group of men dressed in suits stared at him. The shorter man in the middle gave him a slight nod.
"I hear that you had an...unfortunate...incident yesterday at Golden Gate Park yesterday," the man continued. "You made it here. You appear to be well. However, you were also paying for a dinner in Toronto at the same time. Odd, don't you think?"
Randy frowned. "And who are you?"
"Charles Lordley," the man replied. "Department of Criminal Affairs. It would appear that in the last few days that people are trying to prove the ideal that a person can be in two places at once. Worse, a few of those places involve people paying in cash."
"Is that bad?" Randy asked.
The look on Lordley's face say it all.
"Obviously, we have found the copycat," Lordley said. "You are coming with us."
"I don't think so," Randy said.
"I disagree," Lordley said.
"Hm."
Randy guessed he had no one to blame, but himself. Ethan's death had let him become vulnerable. Now here he was dealing with mistaken identity. For a moment, he wished he had his prosthetic again. If he made it out of this, Randy knew.
No more vulnerability.
Suddenly, the air literally shifted between Randy and Lordley. A figure emerged into being. Randy's eyes widened as he saw it was his double.
"Oops," his double uttered.
Suddenly, Lordley's men fell to the floor. They landed unconscious. Lordley turned around...just in time to get a punch to the face. Randy looked over at his savior.
"You okay?" Quinn asked.
"Yeah," Randy said.
"Why are you in a hospital?" Jules asked, standing over by Quinn.
"Doesn't matter," Randy said.
"I think it does," Quinn said.
"So do I," Randy's double said. "I for one would love to know why you are wearing my face. But first...let's head."
"Well?"
Cassandra stared back at her mother.
"You wouldn't believe me," Cassandra said.
"Try me," Lillian countered.
"I am your daughter," Cassandra said. "From a parallel Earth."
Lillian frowned. "Pardon?"
Cassandra kept her eyes on her. "You heard me. I am your daughter...from a parallel Earth."
"Or," Lillian said, gun still aimed, "this is some mind game you want to play. For what purpose I do not know."
"Do any of you Lillians get easier?" Cassandra asked.
"Game over, Dear," Lillian said. "Now I suggest you have a seat. I have a phone call or two to make. I cannot--"
"Do you hate me that much?" Cassandra asked.
"Pardon?"
"Do you hate me that much?"
"I do not know you."
"Of course, you do. Every time I called from boarding school, you were to scorn me for calling. Said homesickness was a sign of weakness."
Lillian's eyes widened. "Wait. How do you know that?"
Cassandra resisted the urge to smirk. Even on totally different worlds, there were constants. She decided to dar it. She took a step forward. Lillain gestured with her gun arm.
"Do not even think about it," Lillain warned.
"I'm your--"
"Stop it!"
"How do you think I know that?" Cassandra challenged. "I'll tell you why. I'm your daughter."
"No."
"Yes. I even have my own Max on your world. I'm not pregnant. We're not even married. But...I...did...do...did care about him. I never--"
"Could you stop mentioning him?" Lillian snapped.
"It's the truth, LILLIAN," Cassandra shot back.
"No daughter of mine is going to be having a half-breed."
Cassandra finally smirked. "So I'm your daughter now?"
Lillian glared at her. Cassandra glared right back. She was used to her mother being cold. Unfeeling toward her. She was not ready for her to be an out and out...
"I would rather you were off the grid with no chance of me seeing you again than you to be marrying someone...not our kind."
Cassandra narrowed her eyes. "'Our kind?'"
"Did I stutter?"
Cassandra did not know what to say. She really could not believe that her mother had said that. She stared into the icy stare her mother gave her. Finally, she turned around. Then...she started walking away.
"And where do you think you are heading, Dear?" Lillain asked.
Cassandra turned back. "Away from you."
Cassandra turned back to the door. She stared to walk again.
"Stop right there," Lillian said.
"No," Cassandra said, not turning around.
"I will shoot you."
"Your daughter. I do not think so...Mother."
"I said stop!"
Cassandra swung around. "Really, Mother? Fine." She stepped forward. "You shoot me in the front."
Cassandra's mother's forehead wrinkled up. Then it thinnened out again.
"I am very serious," her mother said.
Cassandra didn't even flinch. "So am I."
"I real--"
"Why the hesitation?" Cassandra continued. "The mother I know...would consider hesitation a weakness. As well as compassion. You said you were going to pull the trigger. Pull it. Otherwise...I am heading to Max."
"No."
"Tick, tock, Mother."
"Time's up."
Cassandra's eyes widened. She turned around. Quinn stared back at her. Next to him was Jules. She could even see Randy in the background fiddling with something.
"Quinn?" Cassandra uttered. "How--"
"I'm a good tracker."
Cassandra turned around. Her eyes grew wider.
Randy stood by her mother. No. Randy's double had her mother in his hands. She was unconscious.
"What did you--" Cassandra started.
"Nerve endings," Randy's double said as he placed Cassandra's mother on the couch. He turned to look at the group. "So can we go be--"
Suddenly, an object shot past Cassandra. She jerked away from it. Then she realized...it wasn't aimed at her. It was aimed at Randy's double. It hit him square in the forehead. Electricity shot through his body. He let out a scream and fell to the floor unconscious. Cassandra turned on the group, glaring.
"What was that?" Cassandra demanded.
Then she noticed it. Quinn also looked at Randy. His face was full of shock and horror.
"I know what it was," Quinn said. "Randy, you didn't--"
"I did," Randy said, cutting him off.
Jules frowned. "What was that?"
"It can fry brain cells," Quinn said, the anger becoming evident on his face as each moment passed. "Specifically the part of the brain that can figure out sliding."
"How do you--"
"It was done to me," Quinn answered, cutting Jules off. "it took me two years to recover."
"He won't have that long," Randy said coldly.
"How could you?" Quinn demanded.
"How could you leave without Ethan?" Randy said, his expression going blank right before Cassndra's eyes. "Because you had to. So did I. No more distractions. Not ever."
"I don't like this."
It was a simple equation. All he had to do was focus on the isotope. From there he could...
"I know you can hear me."
"Yes," Randy said, not even looking up from the papers he looked over. "And I told you to go away."
"Yet I'm here."
"For now. Not for much longer."
"Oh. Meaning?"
"Meaning," Randy continued. "I will not let another person open this Pandora's box."
"If you can help it."
"I CAN help it."
"We'll see."
"You know I can do anything I set my mind to."
"Yes. One of the reasons I love you."
Randy's face hardened for a moment. He lost his ability to focus on the equations. He released a sigh, letting his face soften.
"I love you, too," Randy said. "Now...when I turn around, you will be gone. I will not see you again. This? Done."
Randy turned around.
All he saw...was an empty hotel room.
"I don't like it."
Cassandra looked over at Quinn. They sat on the couch. She looked away again, her hands together.
"Losing two years of my life?" Cassandra uttered. "I wouldn't like it, either." She looked over at the hotel door that led to Randy's bedroom. "Still...he's at least focused."
"You call that focused?"
Cassandra looked back at Quinn. "My world...is gone. Gone, Quinn. We are randomly slidng. If his focusing results in either getting back to Ma--I mean--my world...I'm fine with it."
"Regardless of the damage he does?"
Cassandra narrowed her eyes. "He's not alone on that."
"Excuse me?"
"You. Him. Rebecca. Stone. For years, you go into other people's worlds and other people's worlds and other people's affairs. How long did you truly think it would take before a world responded to that? Acted defensively?"
Quinn's face darkened. "And how much of this have to do with Max and not the Yuzaki?"
"You son of a--"
"Everything okay?"
Cassandra looked up. She and Quinn had been so deep in talk, neither of them had seen Jules walk up. He studied both of their faces, his clear eyes unsure of what was going on.
"Yes," Quinn said.
"As can be expected," Cassandra said.
"You sure?" Jules asked. "We did just leave your mother there."
"Lillian will take care of herself," Cassandra said icily. "She always does."
"I'm more worried about Randy's double," Quinn said. "There's no way of knowing what that chip did to his brain."
"Of course, there is."
Cassandra turned. Randy came ouf of his bedroom. She frowned. His expression. She had worked with him on her world for months now. This blank look on his face was nothing like she had seen before.
"He will not remember anything at all," Randy said, his voice listless. "Nothing. Now...shall we go?"
THE-END
Back to Season 8