Jules leaned against the wall. His arms were crossed over his chest. He said nothing. They were doing a good job without him.
Quinn Mallory's body language matched Jules's as Quinn stared down Randy Heim. Randy sat at a table in the cafe they were in, not looking up at all.
"I don't believe you," Quinn said.
"You do that," Randy said, not looking up. His voice flat.
That had been the way Randy had been since his boyfriend died. He simply did not care. No, that wasn't true. He cared about sliding. Only sliding. With an emphasis on pinpointing the missing sliders Rembrandt Brown, Melissa Clark, and Jared Heim.
"I will pinpoint them one way or the other," Randy said. "You can help. Or not."
Jules felt a smile crept onto his face. He missed Rembrandt. He only hoped that conwoman Rebecca Pryce had not done anything to him.
"I want to find Rembrandt, too," Quinn said. "But that equation won't work."
"You have a better one?"
Quinn sat down. He stared at Randy, the spark of an idea obvious on his face given the way it lit up.
"Give me the timer," Quinn said, "and watch and learn."
The wormhole whirred. Jules shot out of it. He landed with a thud, his body meeting a cold surface.
Jules pushed himself up. His eyes widened.
The ground...was solid white steel. BLADE RUNNER came to mind. He thought of his friend Thomas. His eyes watered as he thought of the fact Thomas died saving him.
The wormhole whirred again. A new figure shot out of it. Jules had time to see it was Cassandra Wilkes before she shot at him. She knocked into Jules, sending him flying across the steel.
Then...he hit open air. He fell screaming.
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 4: A MATTER OF DOUBLES
The whir sounded off. Quinn shot out of the blue vortex quickly. He hit the ground. His body immediately slid across the cold surface. He knocked sharply into something. He turned, his eyes widening.
He had knocked into Cassandra. She rolled away from him. Then...she went over the edge.
"Cassandra!" Quinn yelled.
The whir sounded again. Quinn barely noticed. He barely even noticed the open skyline in front of him full of hovercars and futuristic towers. He looked over the edge.
Nothing.
"Are you all right?"
Quinn looked behind him. The vortex had closed. Randy Heim was behind him. The vortex had closed. Randy Heim was behind him, a hint of a questioning glance on his face.
"Cassandra," Quinn said. "She just went over the edge." He frowned. "Where's Jules?"
Quinn looked back over the edge. He sat nothing, but clouds, different levels of whatever they were on, and hovercars. If Jules fell over...
"Oh, well," Randy said toneless. "We have a day and a half here."
Quinn looked back at Randy. Randy was busy looking over the timer. Quinn narrowed his eyes.
"'Oh, well?'" Quinn asked. "Are you serious?"
"Yeah," Randy replied. "Besides, I don't see Rembrandt or Melissa anywhere. Do you?" His eyes kept on Quinn, his face betraying some smugness. "Guess your idea didn't work."
"I guess I could have kept the idea to myself and not told my friends."
Randy's face darkened. Quinn looked away.
"We have to find them," Quinn said.
"And what...pray tell...are you doing in a restricted area?"
Randy frowned, turning around. Quinn looked past Randy as well. Their eyes fell on the new speaker.
It was a woman with long white blond hair. She was dressed in a long black jacket. She was in a buttoned down black shirt and pants. She was not alone. There was a long dark-haired woman with bangs with her who was dressed the same way. She gave them a glare.
"Uh..." Quinn started.
"Wrong answer," the blond-haired woman said.
The dark-haired woman reached into her jacket. She pulled out a thin rectangular object. Suddenly, it exteneded out into a staff.
"Yes," she said. "Very wrong."
Jules's eyes opened. For a moment, he wasn't sure how he got here. Then he realized how he got here. He looked around quickly.
He was in a bed. He ran a hand through his dark hair.
Where was he? He knew he went over a cliff. He knew he fell. He...should be dead. Yet...he was alive.
He ran his hand through his head again. Death. It made him think of Thomas, hsi friend from the slidecage. They have...had been good friends. On Dark Sliders World...their home for a few years...they had been with Quinn helping when they were attacked by a group headed by Edward Albright. In the escape, Thomas was killed. He died saving Jules. He really missed his friend.
SHHHHHHIIIZZZZZZ
Jules looked toward the door. Doors. They slid open...revealing a new person.
"Jules!" the guy in the googles exclaimed. He ran to the bed and hugged Jules tightly. "Thank the Gods! Leela would have killed me if she knew you died going topside."
"Uh...thanks," Jules managed.
"Why did you even move so early?" the Googles guy continued. "We are far from ready."
"Uh...recon," Jules said.
Googles Guy frowned. "You don't trust me."
Jules frowned. "You know me?"
"Jules and Jake: The Dynamic Duo! Kings of the Hoverboard!" Googles Guy exclamied. He pulled the googles up, showing off brown eyes full of concern. "Are you sure you didn't hit your head, man?"
Jules scratched at his head. "Maybe."
Jake sighed in relief. "Good." He stood up. "You good to ride?"
Jules frowned. "Ride?"
Jake rolled his eyes. "Come on."
Cassandra did not know what to say.
She had been knocked over the cliff. But now? Now she walked among the people.
And the people...were poor.
It appeared that Cassandra was in a marketplace of some sort. Booths were set up as various people offered up things like apples, books, and iPods. Families walked among the booths, looking at what was being offered.
Cassandra also took in the clothes which were different shades of grays, dark browns, and greens. They were dirted and ragged. She was not sure how they were like this.
"You seem lost."
Cassandra turned around. A middle-aged man stared back at her. He was dressed like the others, light and dark browns for him. His curly dark hair was slicked back. She saw a little gray in his beard.
"Just wondering why everyone is like this," Cassandra said.
"Hm. Interesting," the man replied. He stared Cassandra up and down. "It is not usual for your kind to even come down from your expensive Spire to see us little people."
Cassandra frowned. "My kind?"
"Your clothes give you away," the man continued. "Black fibers are extremely difficult to come by here. Black leather...is non-existent." His face darkened. "You would be well advised to get on your hoverboard and head back into the clouds. We...don't want you here."
"Maybe you do not, Marcus."
Marcus frowned. Then he turned around. Cassandra saw who he was looking at. And who he was looking at...was Jules.
No. Cassandra was still in the process of getting to know Jules. They had only been sliding together a few weeks. If anything, Jules was a very withdrawn boy.
This Jules? This Jules looked at the two of them with playful cockiness. He had his dark hair slicked back. He was dressed in a black jacket over brown clothes. He gave a lopsidd grin. This Jules? He had an undercurent to him.
"Some of us...like the company of lovely women," Jules said.
Marcus glared. "Some of us have heard you like the company of...anyone."
Jules came closer, grin still on his face. "Some of us know you like the company of anyone BUT your wife."
"Have a care, Jules."
"I always do. Perhaps you should remember that."
Silence fell over them. The only chatter Cassandra heard was the other people in the marketplace. Marcus and Jules stared each other down.
"Maybe that's something I should ask Leela," Marcus said.
Jules smirked. "Perhaps."
Marcus glared a moemnt more. Then he grunted and stormed away. Jules watched him walk away. Then he looked at Cassandra, again on his face.
"So," Jules said, "how about you show me your world?"
Quinn had almost no time to stand up. The blond-haired woman headed toward Quinn. A shadow shot up in front of Quinn.
Randy.
Quinn frowned. Since Quinn found Randy on Cassandra's world there had been no love lost between the two of them. He's been even more distant since his boyfriend Ethan died. More cold.
Suddenly, the blond-haired woman jumped up, flipping over Randy. She landed in front of Quinn. She threw up her hand. It had a rectangular object in it. It extended out into a staff.
"Oh, how your kind disgusts me," she said, the contempt obvious.
She swung out the staff. Quinn leaned backward, the staff narrowly missing his head. His eyes widened. That seemed to make the woman angrier.
"We don't mean to cause trouble," Quinn said.
"Then you shouldn't be here at all," the woman said. "Your kind don't belong here."
"My kind?"
"Finish him, Tess!" the dark-haired woman yelled. "This one is giving me trouble!"
Quinn looked over the woman's shoulder. Sure enough, Randy swung at the woman. She dodged easy enough. Then she attacked him with her staff. He moved away, dodging each time the staff came close. Quinn saw Randy's eyes.
He was in one of his trance.
Great.
"Coming, Naomi!" the blond-haired woman Tess said.
Suddenly, the staff swung out at Quinn again. Quinn jerked backward. He stumbled, causing him to spin around. His eyes widened as he saw he had reached the edge again.
"Good ri--" Tess started.
Something hit Tess's head from the back. She fell to the ground. Quinn saw she was knocked out.
"I see the patrols have grown weaker since I was part of it."
Quinn looked over at Randy. Naomi was knocked out on the ground. Randy stood over her, oblivious to her very presence. He stared at Quinn's rescuer: Jared Heim.
Jared Heim had shoulder length dark hair on this world. He was dressed in black just like Naomi and Tess. He didn't have a long black jacket like them, but it was a full black leather bodysuit. He stared down at Naomi with amused puzzlement on his face. After a moment, he looked at Randy.
"All right, little brother," Jared said, "what have you and your lover gotten into this time?"
"Lover?" Quinn uttered.
"What else would you be?" Jared asked, his eyes taking Quinn in with mild interest. He looked at Randy. "Randy doesn't do date."
"I'm not his lover."
"Riiight."
"Really!"
"Where you find this one, little brother?"
"Long story," Randy replied.
"Which we can tell on the way," Jared said moving away from them.
"'On the way...'" Quinn uttered.
Jared looked back at him. "Why, of course. It's a death sentence to be down in the lower levels of the Spire. Someone might accuse you of being part of the unwashed before. And the Heims...are definitely not that." He headed away. After a moment, he paused. He looked back at the two of them, a frown on his face. "You coming?"
"Uh," Quinn said, looking at Randy, "yeah."
"Wow."
That was what fell out of Jules's mouth.
Hoverboards.
They were everywhere. They were against the wall. They were carried by various guys and girls in the silvery dome Jules and Jake were in. They were flown around by guys.
Jules's eyes widened. They were guys in black leather jackets and black leather pants and boots. They shot through the air like skateboarders on a rink.
"None of them compare to you," Jake commented.
"I wouldn't go that far."
Jules saw Jake roll his eyes. Then he turned around. Jules followed suit.
A red-haired guy stood behind them. His hoverboard under his right arm, he stared at the two of them with a smug look on his face. Jules couldn't say he liked this leather-clad guy.
"Shut up, Daric," Jake said.
"Or what?" Daric challenged. His eyes fell on Jules. "Nice threads. What happened? Someone robbed your house?"
"Haha, Daric," Jake said.
"Just saying..." Daric said.
"Maybe you should stop."
"So...Jules...he speak for you now," Daric said, his eyes studying Jules like a snake.
Jules looked back at Daric. He knew nothing about his double. Nothing. He could assume he was Top Dog on this world. Still...how was he supposed to be?
"Maybe you should chill," Jules said. "No one to impress here."
"That's for sure," Jake added. He crossed his arms over his chest. "Besides, Leela's spoken for."
Daric's face actually darkened.
"For now," Daric said.
"Sez you," Jake said.
"And you?" Jules said, crossing his arms over his chest. "Don't matter."
"Oh," Daric said, smirking. "He's growing a pair now."
"He's always had a pair. Nice pair at that."
Daric looked behind him. He moved to the left. Jules looked past him. A red-haired woman dressed in black leather stood behind him. She walked over to Jules. Her arms wrapped around Jules's neck. She leaned in and gave him a kiss.
"Ha!" Jake commented.
"I'm out," Daric said.
Jules barely heard them. His mind was on this girl's lips. Her nice warm lips were on his. They felt good.
"Okay! Get a room!" Jake exclaimed.
The redhead tossed Jake a look.
"How about you go play in traffic, Jake?" she asked.
"Sure thing, Leela."
Jake dropped his hoverboard to the ground. It stopped before it hit the ground though. It floated just a few feet above it.
"Later," Jake said.
Before Jules could say anything, Jake jumped on his board. Then...he shot away. Jules watched after him in awe.
"So," Leela said, "when are we going to raid the Spire again?"
Jules frowned. "Raid?"
"Yeah," Leela said. "It's been a while. We can't let those 1% cotinue to tell us where we can or cannot go as if we're the plague." She kissed Jules again. Jules felt warm all over. He looked into her green eyes. She grinned. He grinned back. "How about tonight? For me? Tonight? Plllleassssssssse."
Jules kept his grin.
Why not?
Jules stopped eating the hero sandwich he had. His eyes dotted in Cassandra's direction. Cassandra sat in a chair across from him.
"You...fell?" Jules managed through bites.
"Yes," Cassandra said.
"You fell from the Spire?"
"Yes."
"So...no Shuttle?"
"None."
"Really?"
Cassandra frowned. "Isn't that why we're here?"
"Yeah, but...you fell?"
Cassandra sighed in frustration. "Yes, I fell."
"So...who caught you?"
"I...don't know."
Jules bit into his hero sandwich. "I do."
Cassandra's eyes widened. "Who?"
Jules finished his sandwich. A moment passed. Then he grinned at Cassandra.
"Me," Jules said.
"What?" Cassandra exclaimed. She kicked Jules's leg. "Then why even ask me?"
Jules laughed. "Maybe I watned to see that lovely smile. Is that so wrong?"
Cassandra had not even realized it. She...was smiling. She looked away quickly, her face warming.
What was she doing? The fate of her world was unknown due to the Yuzaki. She had no way to get back home since the timer Randy made was basic. How could she even smile? Be happy?
"No," Cassandra said. "No, it's not wrong."
Jules grinned. "Good."
"Hey!"
Cassandra turned in her chair. A fat mechanic was in the door. He gestured behind him.
"Shuttle ready," the mechanic bellowed. His face bunched up. "You sure this is a good idea?"
"Gus," Jules said, "don't worry. Those snobs won't trace it back to you. So, Foxy, you ready to go?"
Cassandra stared at Jules. Inside she felt warm and surprised by this Jules. It also made her wonder where her Jules were. Had he been saved? Outside she smirked.
"Yes," she said.
"See anything you like?"
Quinn looked up from the white steel desk he sat at. A hologram of a flat screen paused, the news reporter in mid-sentence. He leaned back and looked at the den doors.
Jared Heim stood in the door. He was dressed in a white leather body suit. He also had a champagne flute in hand that he took a sip from.
"Just...searching for some friends," Quinn replied.
"By researching 2010?" Jared commented. "'Occupy' era politics is so a decade ago."
"When in Rome..."
Jared frowned.
"Never mind," Quinn said.
"Sounds like you need a break," Jared said.
"Can't," Quinn said. "I haven't heard from my friends in a while. I want to know they're okay."
"Wow. You are so...compassionate. Very different from most of my little brother's lover."
Quinn glared. "I'm not his lover."
"Okay. Whatever."
"Why is that so hard to believe?"
"Just the way you two act," Jared replied. "There's some tension there."
"Happily engaged," Quinn said.
"Where's the fiancee?"
On another Earth. That was what Quinn wanted to say. His fiancee Wade Welles was back on their homeworld, awaiting his return. She also hoped he came back with Rembrandt Brown and Randy's group. She had no idea that Maggie Beckett or Mallory were dead. He needed her.
"Fine," Jared said, cutting into Quinn's thoughts. "Whatever." He managed a grin. "Come. Take a break. I'm sure my brother would love the suit."
Quinn looked down at his black bodysuit. It wasn't leather like Jared's. It might as well be given how it felt.
"Again, I'm not Randy's lo--"
"Yeah. Whatever. Come on."
Jared walked out of the room. Quinn followed suit. While his internet searching was useful, it was not helping him find a way to go to the lower levels and find Jules and Cassandra. Time was running out.
Quinn's eyes widened as he came out of the den.
Earlier, Jared had brought Randy and hin to his part of the Spire which was shaped like a spike. He showed Quinn the den where he could research. They had walked across a large ballroom of some sort. And that ballroom was now full of people dressed in various different bodysuits. They chattered and drank.
Then Quinn saw Randy in a corner. He had something in his hand. Quinn realized it was a timer.
Quinn headed for Randy. He felt his temper building. When he changed into this suit. he was sure he put the timer in his little pocket.
"What are you doing with that?" Quinn demanded. "More importantly, how did you get it?'
Randy still tinkered with the timer. He seem oblivious to Quinn's presence. Quinn felt his anger grow. He reached out for the timer.
Randy's free hand shot out. It encircled around Quinn's waist. Then he squeezed.
Quinn grunted. He grabbed Randy's arm.
"Randy, stop," Quinn snapped.
Quinn glared into Randy's eyes. He stared back at Quinn with blank eyes. Then...his eyes flickered. Then Randy jerked, coming out of his trance.
"What?" Randy uttered.
"What are you doing with that?" Quinn asked, gesturing to the timer.
"We tried it your way," Randy said. "It's my turn."
"No," Quinn said. "We had no time to explore. Remmy, Melissa, and Jared could be here."
"Then, they would be here," Randy replied. "See them?"
"Do you?"
Randy's face darkened. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"I'm sorry about Ethan--"
"Don't."
"There are other people to think of."
"Like Wade."
"Who's alive. Th--"
Randy's hand tightened on Quinn's hand. Suddenly, he swung Quinn. His back hit the wall. Gasps echoed through the room.
"You are not the boss of me," Randy said.
"I am when you endanger others," Quinn said. He snatched his arm away from Randy. He shoved Randy. "I'm not standing for it. Not anymore."
"Like I said," Jared said, popping up beside Randy, "tension."
"We're not--" Quinn started.
Quinn stopped. On the other side of the room was Cassandra. She was still in her Goth clothes. She stood next to Jules who was in a black bodysuit.
"They're alive," Quinn exclaimed.
"Wow. They think they're better than us when in reality...they are no better."
Jules took in the ballroom he was in. It was full of people in various black and white bodysuits. Some were made of leather. Some were not. All appeared to have an air of royalty to them. It made Jules feel out of place.
The hand tightned around Jules's arm. Leela leaned into him. He looked down at her. She looked up at him through her red bangs, her green eyes full of amazement.
"Don't you think?" Leela asked.
"Uh...yeah," Jules said.
Leela frowned. "Okay, are you sure you're okay? You were silent in the shuttle to. Not to mention...not touchy-feely."
"Uh...," Jules said, scratching the back of his head, "...it's this head bump."
"Oooooooh," Leela said, reaching for Jules's head with one hand while pulling him closer with the other. "Then how about I make it better?"
Jules smiled. He leaned down, letting his lips connect to Leela's lips. They were just as warm as before. They were more hungry. It was a welcome change for him. He wanted it to. In fact...he could get used to it.
Jules pulled back finally. Leela looked at him with a look of satisfication on her face. She looked to her right. Her face went pale in seconds, causing Jules to look. His jaw fell ajar.
Cassandra stood in front of them. She was not alone. She was arm in arm with Jules. Except it wasn't Jules.This Jules was dressed almost exactly like him. The only difference was he also had a leather jacket to go with the bodysuit.
"Oh," Jules uttered.
Jules stared back at...Jules. His eyes narrowed.
"'Oh?'" Jules uttered. "That's all you can say. Because I was thinking more...what the--"
"Jules...who is that...woman?"
Then Jules remembered where he was. He was happy to see Cassandra alive and well. At the moment, she looked like she was about to attack Leela. He looked at Leela. Her look matched Cassandra's like his look had matched Jules's.
Jules. He still didn't know what to say about that. He was so...not him. but the look in his eyes...was...like...him.
"We...just met actually," Cassandra said to Leela.
"Yeah," Jules's double agreed. "What are you doing with...him?"
"Is it not obvious?" Leela asked. "I thought he was you."
"Or you him," Cassandra added.
"Back off."
"Make me."
"Ladies."
Cassandra and Leela both looked at Jules. So did his double. He immediately felt put on the spot. He looked at his double. He was calm as a monk. He had to be the same.
"Chill," Jules continued. "Isn't it obvious I'm the real deal?" He drew Leela closer. "I'm with perfection after all."
"You got that right," Leela said, kissing Jules's cheek.
"You don't honestly believe this!" his double snapped.
"Why wouldn't I?" Leela countered. "After all, who is this? Who are you?"
The double's eyes narrowed on Jules. He looked at Leela. He flashed her a smile.
"Seriously, Leela?" the double asked. "It's me, baby."
Jules leaned into Leela's ear. "Don't listen to him, baby."
"You!" the double snapped. "Stop now!"
"Because he's sooo scared of you, imposter," Leela said, giggling as Jules nosed her ear.
Jules managed a grin. He saw his double's face darken. He saw Cassandra. She had a surprised look on her face. That made him pause.
He didn't know his double. Was he that good as him? Was even that a good thing...or bad?
Suddenly, the lights went out. A moment later, screams went out. before Jules could react, he was shoved backwards. Leela's arm grip vanished. He tried to find it again.
Suddenly, pain!!! Then he fell into unconscious.
"Backup system engaged."
And just like that, the lights came back on. Cassandra looked around her. She saw a lot of people had been pushed to the floor. A few of them were unconscious.
Cassandra then noticed it. She looked about on the floor. All she saw was stranger.
Both Jules were gone.
So was Leela.
A hand gripped her shoulder. It roughly turned her around. A man in a blue bodysuit stood in front of her. He also had on a hat. There was an emblem on the right of his chest as well as the hat.
SFPD.
"I.D. please," the officer said.
"Uh..." Cassandra said.
"She's with us."
Cassandra felt movement beside her. She looked and saw it was Quinn. His eyes were on the officer. The officer did not appear to be impressed.
"I.D. please," the officer said.
'They're with me."
Quinn looked past Cassandra. She stared, turning to see who he was looking at. She recognized the figure as Jared Heim.
"All right, Sir," the officer said. Then he was gone.
"How important are you?" Quinn asked.
"I told you," Jared said. "The Heims are a very powerful family. Just ask my--where is Little Brother?"
Cassandra frowned. "So you and Randy are okay."
Quinn looked around. "Were. Glad to see you're alive."
"Ditto," Cassandra said. "So's Jules."
"Who is Jules?" Jared asked.
"One of our missing friends," Quinn explained. "So is she. Cassandra, Jared. Jared, Cassandra."
"Charmed," Jared said.
"Same," Cassandra added.
"Where is Randy though?" Jared asked. "He was right near us."
Cassandra looked at Quinn. She frowned as she saw it. There was a hint of worry in Quinn's eyes. And maybe...fear?
"Good question," Quinn said.
Jules woke up to movement. He was moving. But...he himself was not using his feet. They weren't moving at all. As his eyes adjusted, Jules realized he was upside down. Someone was carrying him over their shoulder.
"Darn! He's up!"
Jules came to a sudden stop.
"Really?"
"Yes, really!"
Jules suddenly saw the ground grow closer. His feet touched it again. He moved back quickly, eager to see who had been carrying him. He felt his forehead wrinkle up.
"Jake?" Jules uttered. "Wh--"
Jake moved to the side. Daric stepped forward, a big smirk on his face. Jules felt immediately on guard.
"Well, well, well," Daric said. "look-y at what we have here."
"What do you have here?" Jules demanded.
"We followed you and Leela," Jake explained. He smiled sheepishly. "We wanted in on the fun."
"And what fun it was!" Daric exclaimed.
Jules frowned. "You think so. All I saw was the same ole people doing the same ole th--"
"Nice try," Daric said. "But we saw you."
"You...saw...me..." Jules muttered with the right amount of skepticism.
"There were...two of you," Jake uttered. "two Jules." His face became a grimace. "Who are you?"
"That was kinda weird, huh?"
"Don't even try it, clone," Daric said.
"I'm not the clone," Jules said.
"Then who are you?" Jake demanded. "Because you're not Jules."
"Yes, I am!" Jules protested.
"What did we do in tenth grade then?" Jake challenged.
Jules crossed his chest. He ignored Daric who he was sure had a smirk on his face. His eyes were on Jake. Jake stared back at him with a blank stare.
"Jake--" Jules started.
"Ha!" Daric yelled. "I k--"
"Shut up!" Jules snapped.
"Answer the quetion," Jake demanded. "What did we do in tenth grade?"
"We snuck up here and set off a few bombs...among other things."
Jake had a moment to blush as he turned around. Jules saw that the smirk had vanished from Daric's face as he, too, turned around. Jules found himself...staring at himself. His double walked over to Jake, touching his shoulder.
"It's all good," Jules's double whispered. Then he looked at Jules. "I'm glad you are up here, too. I figured we shouldn't leave empty handed. Anyone up for Robin Hood?"
"Me!" Jake exclaimed, throwing up a hand.
"Sounds interesting," Daric added. "How it go?"
"Leela needs a distraction," Jules said. "So we're going to give her one. Who wants to relive the Fourth of July?"
"How can you tell me to remain calm?"
Cassaandra stared at Quinn. She leaned against a wall. Meanwhile he stood a little bit away from her. Jared paced by his white couch.
"What option do we have?" Cassandra asked.
"We could go search ourserlves?" Quinn suggested.
"And have the police question us again?" Cassandra said. "I don't think so."
"Then what?" Quinn asked. "We both saw it. Two Jules. If anyone questions it..."
"Then we will created a beautiful lie," Cassandra said.
"And if no one believes it?"
Cassandra's mouth opened, shaping into an 'ah.'
"And that," Cassandra said, "is what this is really about?"
"You weren't around for the Foundation," Quinn said, his stared leveled on her. "Then again neither was I. You know why. Because I was left in a state not unlike a vegetable. But I heard later on what they were doing. Never again."
"Is now any different?" Cassandra challenged. "Instead of people winding out all sliding knowledge, they are amassing it. Knowledge is power and the one who uses it best...wins."
"At what cost?"
"Sides have already been picked. Get used to it."
"Not interested in collateral damage," Quinn shot back. "This is not going down like it did on your mother's world."
Cassandra flinched. Last week, they had been on a world where Cassandra had been mistaken for her double. She had a strained relationship with her mother...just like Cassandra appeared to have. In dealing with it, the sliders had met a Randy double and told him about parallel worlds.
It was short-lived. Randy created a microchip. As soon as the double helped them find Cassandra, Randy threw the microchip onto his forehead. It wiped out all of the double's memory. Obviously, it did not sit well with Quinn.
"Sorry," Quinn said. He reached for Cassandra's shoulder. "I didn't--"
Cassandra threw up a hand. "I'm fine." She stopped leaning. "Okay. Let's go looking."
Cassandra quickly hid in the shadows. A moment later, officers in the blue bodysuits walked past. They were still in the process of searching everything and everyone in Jared's house. Heaven forbid you didn't have an I.D.
She came out of the shadows. She made sure the officers were still walking one way. Then...she went in the opposite direction.
On her world, Cassandra had been a tracker. She...alone with that world's Randy, Ben, and Melissa...were quite good at it. And when they began sliding, they were deadly. Given how poor the levels below were, there was only one place any potential thief would go...not knowing someone might want them silence could be following.
The double doors slid open easily for it to be Jared's bedroom. Cassandra walked through it. Then she smirked.
Leela was by the drawer. It was open, a few clothes showing. Leela's eyes were full of awe as her hands had credit cards in them.
"Wow," Cassandra said, causing Leela to look up. "Predictable."
"Well," Leela said, dropping the cards, "if it ain't the pretender."
"This coming from you? Rich. Where is he?"
Suddenly, an explosion rocked the bedroom. Leela stared about. She smirked at Cassandra.
"Probably wherever that came from," Leela replied.
Another explosion sounded out. It shock the room, causing Cassandra to lose her balance. Before she could regain it. Leela lunged at her.
"Come on! Another one!"
"In a moment!" Jules's double yelled over at Jake. "All this advance tech...and it still takes a long time to configure a bomb."
"So...what you going to do with your clone?"
Jules were roughly shoved. It was a remainder that Daric was behind him. They were in the lower levels of someone's house. Apparently, there was a series of tunnels connecting all of the lower levels of the houses. Their basement area. It made it easy for people to...drop in. Daric kept guard on him. Meanwhile Jules were made a black circular device in his hands like it was a Rubik's cube. Jake planted them and let them rip when they were at the next house.
"I know you can get daft," Jules's double said, looking up at Daric, "but just so we're clear: Leela's spoken for. You watch him."
"If I didn't know better," Daric said, taking a step past Jules, "I think you're being soft because he's a clone."
"Not a clone," Jules said.
"Fine. Whatever, " Daric said. "You're wearing his face. We know he don't got a twin so what's the deal?"
All eyes were on Jules. Silence reigned for a moment. He found himself looking down, not sure what was the right thing to do. A giggle escaped Daric's lips.
"Anyway," Daric said. "I say we keep bombing. Leave his body with a faulty bomb so they think it's an isolated thing."
"No!" Jules yelled.
"Why not?"
Jules looked over at his double. His double glared at him.
"Give me a reason to keep you alive," the double demanded.
Jules stared back at him. "Because I'm you...from a parallel Earth."
"Wrong answer."
Jules turned around too late.
Randy lunged at him.
Jules moved out of the way. His left leg stumbled over his right foot. He stumbled ot the floor. He turned around quickly and looked up. His eyes widened.
A chip was on Daric's forehead. Before Jules could react, electricity ran through Daric's body He fell next to Jules, unconscious.
Randy had not been aiming for Jules. He had been aiming...
"Hey!" Jake yelled, running for the scene.
"No!" Jules shouted, struggling to get to his feet.
Too late. Randy was already on Jake. Jake swung at Randy. Randy dodged easily. Then he lunged froward, getting a chip on Jake's forward. Electricity shot through his body. He sceramed as he fell to the floor.
Jules's double took in the scene. Jules saw surprise and shock on his face. Then...Randy turned his glance on him. He took a step forward. Jules threw up a hand. It was the hand with the bomb on it.
"Try me," Jules's double warned. "No one walks."
"Ahhh!!!"
Leela grabbed Cassandra's arms and swung her into a wall. Pain shot through her back. Before Cassandra could react to it, Leela balled her hand into a fist. Then she swung. Cassandra ducked. Leela's fist hit steel wall. She yelled, grabbing her hurt hand.
"You c--" Leela started.
Cassandra punched her in the jaw. She looked down at her. Her eyes widened.
It was a bruised Max that was on the bedroom floor. He stared at her in surprise. He had a beard.
"No," Cassandra uttered.
"I thought you would never come back," Max uttered back. "We had no idea. They would--"
A loud sound caused Cassandra to turn around.
Manta ships all over the place...
...she kissed someone, but it was not who she was expected to...
...Quinn's angry glance at Randy, their hands turning to look at...
A fist got Cassandra int he face. She stumbled back. Her mind picked a crappy time to give her a vision.
"Sorry," Leela said, fists balled. "Didn't mean to interrupt your cross-eyes. Oh, wait! I did--"
Cassandra spun around, bringing up a leg. She kicked Leela in the face. She flew into the bed, unconscious.
"Shut up," Cassandra said.
"What's going on in here?"
Cassandra had not even heard the double doors. Quinn headed for her, Jared right behind him. He held her by the sides, staring at her.
"You okay?" Quinn asked.
"Yeah," Cassandra said. "She just got in a sucker punch."
"She's out now," Jared said. "I'll get the police."
Quinn and Cassandra watched Jared leave. Cassandra shivered. She knew the room wasn't cold. It was the vision.
"Can't escape fate," Cassandra muttered.
"What?"
Cassandra looked at Quinn. He showed nothing, but concern. She pulled away from him. She headed for the double doors.
"Nothing," Cassandra said. "I got an idea for finding Randy."
"What's wrong? Don't wanta take a chance on me?"
Jules made it over to Randy. He took one look at him. He knew. Randy's eyes were completely blank. He was in one of his trances. It was only a mater of time before he figured a way around the bomb.
"Trust me," Jules said, looking at his double. "You don't want him to chance it."
"Trust?" his double spit out. "You? Are you for real?"
"I'm telling the truth."
"That's a first!"
"Will you listen to me?"
"Why? This...is your fault!"
"What?" Jules uttered. "No."
"Yes!" his double shot back. "Who told you to interfere in my life? I'll tell you who. NO ONE!!!"
Jules stared at Randy. At the moment, he was still. Time was ticking.
"If I had not been here," Jules said, "would you stick to Leela? Jake?"
"That was one time!"
"Would you?"
Jules's double frowned. That made a smile cross Jules's face.
"Wouldn't you still crash that party?" Jules continued. "Still bomb things here."
"They deserve it!" the double yelled. "All people wanted were equal rights, equal responsibility for everyone."
"Then you work within your system," Jules said.
Jules's double looked away. "I--"
Suddenly, Randy came back to life. He lunged froward. Jules's double dodged. Randy lunged again, one hand with the chip in it. Jules jumped forward. He aimed to push Randy away.
Jules's double pushed Randy back. Randy stumbled back. He fell to one side.
Jules had no time to react. The hand with the chip...hit his forehead. Electricity started shooting through him. He screamed. He also heard another scream. Then everything went black.
The double doors slid open. The doctor walked out of them. Quinn shot up quickly. He was sure Cassandra did the same.
"He's alive," the doctor said. "And awake."
Quinn manage a smile. "Thank you, Doctor."
"Can we see him?" Cassandra asked.
"One at a time," the doctor advised. "I don't want any more stress."
Quinn looked at Cassandra. They exchanged looks. They didn't have too long before the slide. Stress...was relative.
Quinn looked down the hall. Jared headed for them.
"You go ahead," Quinn said.
Cassandra headed away. Jared made it over to Quinn.
"How goes things?" Jared asked.
"Everyone is okay," Quinn said.
"Good," Jared said.
"How are things on your end?"
"Those rascals escaped."
"Hm."
That wasn't a good thing. Especially in light of Randy attacking two of the men. Quinn was not in the mood for a dangerous loose end.
He looked away from Jared. Down the hall, he saw Randy coming. He had coffee in hand. He also looked oblivious to what had occurred not too long ago.
Randy's eyes fell on Quinn. He paused in his step. His eyes narrowed.
Quinn glared back, his mind already racing.
Jules was thirsty. He didn't understand why he was given what had happened. Yet...he was. Worse, the pitcher was on the other side of the room. What he wouldn't give to have it...
Suddenly, the pitcher shot right for him. Jules only had time to widen his eyes. Then he caught it.
No, no, no. It had been years since he used the Kromagg techniques. Years. He didn't want them. Finally, they want completely dormant.
"Not again," Jules muttered.
The double doors opened. Jules looked at them to see Cassandra. She walked in. Suddenly, she stopped, frowning.
"What's wrong?" Cassandra asked.
"Uh...nothing," Jules said, managing a smile.
Jules laid back in his bed. It had only been a day. Still, Leela had called and told him.
Daric and Jake...were total blank slates. He could only had imagine how he...his...double?...would have been if he hadn't stepped in, tearing off that chip.
Jules brought up his right hand. It was bandaged. In time, it would heal. And then...then what?
"I find this quite interesting."
Jules sat up. He had almost forgotten. He needed a pick-me-up earlier. Leela was unavailable. In fact, he lucked out. At the moment, his booty call was studying the chip.
"So what you find?" Jules asked.
"Just a few theories," he answered, looking up, hair falling into his face.
Jules sat up. "That sounds cool."
"Oh, it is."
"Okay then, Quinn," Jules said, "tell me: what do you know about parallel worlds?"
Quinn frowned. "A lot actually. Why would you want to know?"
Jules smirked.
"Revenge."
THE-END
Back to Season 8