Sand.
He was oh so tired of sand.
He had tracked through the sand for an hour now. He would have rather slid in, but that was too risky given the artifact. Not that it was his idea to go after it...
And now he tracked across this sand. He had for 45 minutes now. A few times the wind picked up, trying to cut his face with its sharpness. Thankfully, he was masked well with sharfs.
He made it to the top of the sane dunes. His eyes widened before his feet stopped. There was the artifact, half buried in the sand.
The manta ship.
Quinn Mallory pulled down the sharf. His face immediately frowned. then he wonded.
How had he gotten into this mess?
A WEEK AGO...
Eric Price remembered the day well.
It was quite the day at Price Corporation. Business was booming. According to his assistants and employees they were posed to end the quarter with quite the profit. Little did they know it was because of the various things he had...acquired from parallel Earths.
The elevator door slid open. Eric stepped out, a grin on his face. He looked over at his assistant. She was typing away at her computer. She looked up, her face darkening.
Uh oh.
"Yes?" Eric asked.
"You might want to turn on your television, Sir," she said.
Eric stormed into his office. As he shut the door, Eric wondered what was going on. He quickly turned on his television.
"Oh," Eric uttered.
It was right there. It...being Congress. And right there...in the middle of Congress...was Quinn Mallory.
The blue vortex whirred. Quinn Mallory did not have much time as he slid out of it. He rolled quickly and stood up.
He was here. He was in Congress. He was actually in Congress. Who would have thought it. For a moment, he was taken aback.
Then he remembered why he was here. He stood taller. He stared defiantly out into the crowd.
"The Sliding Act of 2005," Quinn began, "was created in order to control people's ability to travel the way they wanted to. And traveled they did...to worlds...earths...where it was the same year...and the same time...but history was different. some people do...slide for ill. But...I...just want to go home." He narrowed his eyes. "Anywone who gets in my way...well...you see how easy it was for me to slide in here." He smirked. "Do you really want to see what else I can do?"
As if on cue...a blue vortex opened...right under Quinn. He smirked as he fell through it. The last thing he saw...were shocked faces.
A whir sounded through the air. A moment later, Quinn shot out of the blue vortex. He rolled across the cold hard floor. the vortex closed quickly. Quinn looked over at where it had been. His eyes narrowed.
A figure approached from where the vortex had been. A light from above flashed over the figure shining on the red hair.
"Well?" the figure asked.
"They got the point, Zoe," Quinn said, standing up.
"Good," Zoe said. "Shall we go?"
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 1: THE TRAVELER (S8 PREMIERE)
MONTHS AGO...
Quinn Mallory stared back at Richard Hall. Richard Hall looked out onto the harbor. He let Richard's words sink in as they stood outside the warehouse that was their base.
"So we are on Dark Sliders World?" Quinn asked.
"Yep," Richard replied.
"You're with Rebecca," Quinn continued.
"Yep," Richard said.
"And Professor Brown is back with the others?"
"Yep."
Quinn narrowed his eyes out on Richard.
"Good."
Then Quinn took a step back. He balled his fist up. He swung...to find Richard catch it. He looked at Quinn.
"I've been practicing," Richard said. He grabbed Quinn by the throat and tightened. "Changes definitely occurred while you were...where were you again?"
Quinn felt his breath sturggle to get out. Richard's grip was super strong. Obviously, a lot had happened in his absence.
"What do you think you're doing?"
Richard released his grip on Quinn. Quinn pulled away. He turned to look at the new speaker.
Her name was Rebecca Pryce. On her world, she was a dangerous conwoman. She still was. At the moment, she took in the scene with mild annoyance, her jet-black hair blowing in the wind.
"We need him," Rebecca said.
"As if he would take our side," Richard replied.
"With your persuasion skills..."
Richard glared at Rebecca. Quinn did the same.
"Would yours be any different?" Quinn challenged.
Rebecca corked an eyebrow. "Better."
"All I wanted was to find the others," Quinn said. "I found Earth Prime...or so I thought."
"Or so you thought?" Richard uttered.
"I found a slight difference," Quinn said. "I've been trying to find the others ever since. I was close. That next slide should have done it." He kept his eyes on Rebecca. "It was obvious my slide was messed with."
"Well...Zoe does that," Rebecca said.
Quinn frowned. "Zoe?"
"The cold redhead," Richard replied.
"Oh. Her."
Quinn felt his jaw set. He remembered Zoe from when he first got here. He immediately had a dislike for her.
"What you should be concerned about," Rebecca said, "is the war that's coming."
"War?" Quinn uttered.
"Too many people know about sliding now," Rebecca continued. "And as a result, it's all about the knowledge. Albright. Stone. The Yuzaki. Everyone wants to control it for their agendas. For any one of them to control all the worlds they have to have all the knowledge...and destroy the rest."
"Then wouldn't you want to have Randy here?"
"Ha!" Richard said bitterly.
"No need," Rebecca said. "Anything Randy can do, Zoe can do it better."
"After all..."
Quinn looked away from Rebecca and Richard. Zoe stood a little bit away from the, accomapnied by another redhead who had her arms over her chest. Zoe took in the scene with a blank stare.
"...can Randy Heim grip a vortex and re-aim it?" Zoe asked.
Quinn said nothing. Zoe smirked.
"I didn't think so," Zoe said.
"So?" the redhead next to Zoe asked. "Is he with us?"
"No idea, Ivy," Rebecca said. She looked at Quinn. "So Quinn...are you in...or out?"
NOW
"'The governement still have no response to the incident in Congress today. Citizens are being told to be on the lookout...'"
"Looking at your handiwork?"
Quinn turned away form the television screens he was looking at. Zoe stood behind him, Her hands in her long black jacket. He made out her blank eyes under the red bangs, her hair in a long braid. He managed a grin.
"I was actually on a walkabout," Quinn said.
Zoe tilted her head. "Hoping to find your friends."
"I have no friends on this world," Quinn replied. "Everyone's a pawn."
"That's not what Hall says," Zoe said. "He said you left some...friends...here on his world." She frowned. "I'm surprised you haven't tried to look them up."
Quinn said nothing. He was annoyed. Richard had gone and told Rebecca and her group. He had told them that after finding Randy after escaping the slidecage, they had left Jules and Thomas. He looked back at Zoe, frowning.
"I guess nothing is secret," Quinn said.
Then Quinn saw it. For a second, Zoe's face darkened, releasing hurt. She covered it up quickly with a blank stare.
"We all have something to hide," Zoe said. "Rebecca takes meetings with Eric Price. Richard and Ivy keep a lot of track on...Stone."
Quinn shivered at the mention of Mr. Stone. A killer from a world where Big Brother was in charge, Mr. Stone lost his body a long time ago. His cyborg mind wa downloaded into a clone of Richard Hall. He was the enforcer for Edward Albright now, but he was till obsessive with finding Richard...and torturing him.
Quinn managed a smile. "So what is your secret?"
Zoe also managed a smile. She stepped forward. At the same time, she pulled her right hand out of her pocket. In her hand was a circular device. A red light shined on the tip.
"My secret? I found your friends," Zoe replied. "Shall we go?"
Richard Hall leaned back in his booth. He took a look at the bar. It was quite lively for mid-week. Especially after today's incident.
"How can you be so sure?"
Richard grabbed up his beer pitcher. He gave a sideway glance to Ivy. She also leaned back inthe booth, her figner idly rubbing her wine-glass's top.
"Because," Richard said. "You can take the victims away from the killer, but you can't keep the killer from the victims. there's always going to be that...itch."
"Meaning?" Ivy asked.
"You remember Beth?"
The flinch across Ivy's face would say that Ivy did remember. Good.
"My best friend?" Ivy uttered. "The one whom neck Stone snapped? Duh."
"He didn't have to do it," Richard said. "He didn't have to...but he did." He looked back at the bar. "He kills like a normal person breathes. So I bet...BINGO!!!"
"What do you--" Ivy started.
Then Ivy stopped. Richard grinned. He was sure she saw what he did.
There was a leggy blonde at the bar. Leggy Blonde wore a white short skirt dress. And next to her...was a Richard with slicked back hair and a hand on the nape of her neck.
Not Richard.
Stone.
"You ready for this?" Ivy asked.
Richard felt his hand tighten on the beer mug. He heard it. The sound of it cracking. Stone was now not the only clone with super strength. And given Stone killed the man who was the closest thing to a dad Richard had had...
Richard looked at Ivy.
"Yes."
The blue vortex whirred. Quinn shot out of it quickly. His body rolled across the soft floor. He groaned. Say what you will about Randy's timer, Quinn didn't remember having rough landings all the time.
"Quinn?"
Quinn came out of his thoughts, looking up.
He remembered Jules. Born in the slidecage, Jules had come with the sliders after the Kromaggs were defeated. However, he...along with Thomas, another guy in the slidecage...did not want to do the constant sliding and danger. So...they stayed on Dark Sliders World. Quinn wondered from time to time how they were. Jules, at the moment, stared at him and Zoe from his seat on the comfy looking sofa.
Next to him with a giant bowl of popcorn was Thomas. A look of surprise was on his face as he stared at the duo who came out of the now closing vortex. His jaw finally started moving.
"You...how...what?" Thomas managed.
"Long story," Zoe said, standing next to Quinn. "So...impressed?"
"You led them to us!" Thomas yelled.
"Trust me," Zoe said, looking down at her device. "We did not." She looked over at Quinn. "Sliding signature logged for later use."
Quinn stared at her. He felt the frown grow on his face. He only got a blank stare. Sometimes he seriously wondered if she was human at all.
MONTHS AGO...
Zoe...tinkered.
It wasn't anything she wasn't used to. It was the moments when she was not creating something or working on a project that she found unbearable. Dealing with people was a...hand full.
"Just can't leave you alone too long, can I?"
Zoe blinked. She turned away form the board she was in front of her. She had forgotten about where she was. It was a lovely library with racks among racks of books lining the walls of the den.
Randall Heim stared back at her since the last time she had been here, he had grown out a beard. It made her think what it would be like to grow one. She mentally shook the thought away.
"The logrithm was wrong," Zoe said.
"Why am I not surprised?" Randall asked. "I figured Randy would pull a double cross on Eve."
"Anything for his friends," Zoe said. "In any case...I...corrected...it."
Randall stared at the board with the equations. He frowned.
"Meaning?" Randall uttered.
Zoe grinned. "Like our...alternate...you can also create a slidestorm."
"Excellent," Randall said, smiling. "That is knowledge that will come in handy soon. Still...I do not understand why you would help. Given Rebecca is--"
"I have my reasons," Zoe said, a hint of cold in her voice.
NOW...
"Annnnnnn he's moving!"
Ivy's face lit up as she saw what Richard saw. Stone had placed his hand on the Blonde's waist, a weird gesture for Richard given it was Stone. Now he was leading her toward the door.
"How did you even know he would?" Ivy asked.
"Like I said," Richard said, "he kills like the rest of us breathe. Move."
Richard felt it as they made it to the door. He frowned as he realized what it was: fear.
Richard...scared?
There was no love lost between Richard and Mr. Stone. On Stone's world, he had tortured him. he even had three months to break Richard's will once. Richard never broke, making Stone obsessive. Even Richard dying and returning in a clone body or Stone losing his cyborg body and returning in a body cloned after Richard did not stop Stone from obsessing over recapturing Richard.
Then...Dad...a double of Richard's dad...was killed by stone. Richard didn't have a good relationship with his dad on Earth Prime. But his man...this double...made it all right. And Stone...killed him.
He had to pay. If not for his dad, or even potential victims, he also had to avenged Katherine Rye, a girl who slid with him and the others. She died saving them from him and the Kromaggs.
Richard stepped out the door to the bar. He looked around. He made out Stone with the Blonde. They were a half block away. He watched the two of them, his hands balling into fists.
Scared? Richard? No. Not anymore.
"Let's do this," Richard said.
"Finally," Ivy said.
"You don't have to come," Richard said.
Ivy looked at him. She tilted her head, red hair falling into her face a little. A smile crept onto her face, reminding Richard of the flirt she was on Great Depression World.
"I wanta watch," Ivy replied. "For Beth."
Richard walked a little faster. A few people were coming out of other bars, buildings, and cares. A few were drunken, stumbling about in glee. A few were sober, dressed as if they were either finishing working or heading out into the nightlife. They all crowded the sidewalk. Before Richard knew what hit them, Ivy and he were blocked off from Stone and his victim.
"Hey!" Ivy yelped at a guy stumbling into his face.
"Excuse us!" Richard yelled.
His eyes were on Stone and the Blonde. Suddenly, a giant hat got in his face. When it stumbled from in front of him, Richard saw it, his eyes widening.
Stone and Blondie...were gone.
"No," Richard uttered.
The people in front of Ivy and him still moved too slow. He felt sweat forming on his forehead. He wiped at it quickly.
No. This was not happening.
"Excuse me!" Richard yelled.
Then he shoved the nearest people to him. They went flying like rag dolls. Richard kept moving.
"Richard?"
Richard spun around. Ivy stared back at him. She gestured down to the people he pushed out of the way. One of them...a guy in slacks...held his arm. Richard looked at him for a moment. Then he looked at Ivy and shrugged.
"Guess I don't know my own strength," Richard replied.
"Richard."
"Look. Time's wasting. You want Stone or not?"
Richard headed back around. a few moments, he heard quick footsteps. Then Ivy was beside him again.
"You and your clone strength," Ivy muttered.
"I didn't ask for it," Richard said. "Doesn't mean I shouldn't use it."
"Watch out. You sound like Stone."
Richard paused. He turned on Ivy. His eyes narrowed on her.
"Don't ever compare me to that sicko," Richard warned.
"Or what, Clone boy?" Ivy challenged. "You gonna kill me like he would?"
"You keep pushing."
"Well," Ivy said, approaching Richard and wrapping her arms around his waist, "it is what I do best."
Richard smirked. "Later."
Ivy pulled back. "Oh, you liked it."
Richard continued walking. The smirk was still on his face. It was nice to be with someone who wanted to be with him. So unlike...
Later. Now was not the time to think of his ex Melissa or where she might be...
Richard stopped in front of the darkened alley. It had been a bit since he had seen Stone. Too long. Something told him to enter.
Richard headed into the alley. A flicker of shadow told him that Ivy was behind him. He kept walking.
His eyes adjusted to the darkness. This alley was unusually clean versus the alleys he used to slide into with the others. There was hardly any trash on the ground. There were still big trash bins...and a few small ones.
Then his eyes fell on it.
A dark trail. A dark trail that came from the side of the trash bin. Richard headed over to the side. His eyes widened.
There was the Blonde. There was also blood coming from her head. As if to add on to it, her neck was at a weird angle. Broken.
"Crap," Richard said.
"What...oh."
"We're out," Richard said.
"And her?" Ivy asked.
"What about her?"
"So this is him?"
Quinn looked up from the lab desk he had been sitting at. There was an older man in the door. His hair was mostly blonde, some hints of gray showing. He was with a blond girl that Quinn knew as Katherine Rye. She looked at him, clearly bored.
"He dinna look like much," Kat said.
"Katherine," the older man said.
"Fine. He looked bigger on T.V."
Quinn managed a smile. "I'll take that as a compliment."
The older man glared. "Don't. You have put us in quite a tight situation."
"And you are?" Quinn asked.
"Nathan Rye," the older man replied. "The Sliding Act outlawed a lot of transdimensional travel. What few people knew how to do it became valuable. All I wanted was to live a peaceful life. People like you wrecked it for us."
"Don't lay that on Quinn."
Jules walked past Nathan and Kat. He stood in front of the table, his stance defiant. Nathan glared at Jules.
"Now, Jules--" Nathan started.
"No!" Jules said. "This is about the alien ships."
"And he has nothing to do with that?" Nathan demanded.
"I was there," Quinn admitted.
"Who wasn't?"
Quinn frowned. He knew that voice. Nathan turned. A woman with long straight jet-black hair entered the room.
"Eve," Quinn said.
"Unfortuately, the Yuzaki gave my husband what he needed to start a war," Eve said. "Then again...so have you."
"Me?" Quinn uttered. "All I wanted was to get my friends and head home."
"And we have to pay the price for it?" Nathan asked.
"Depends," Quinn said, standing. "Did you do something wrong?"
"Wrong is subjective," Eve said.
"Is it?" Quinn challenged. "I don't think it is."
"Then tell me Quinn," Eve said, "how many people are you willing to let die by your choice to not pick a side? My husband is surely already made a...response to your...show."
"So what is it like?"
Zoe looked up from her device. She was sitting on the couch in the den. Thomas stood over her. She frowned.
"What...it...is...like?" Zoe managed.
"You know," Thomas said. "Using that brain to create all kinds of different things. Wonderous things. Dangerous things. I couldn't hope to do half of the things you...Quinn...Randy...could do. So...what's it like?"
Zoe stared at him. She let the question roll around in her head. What was it like to be who she was? She felt her forehead throb as it focused on that one question. That one question that threatened to knock out her total concentration.
"It..." Zoe started.
She paused. She looked down at the device in her hands. Her head tilted for a moment. Then she took her mini-screwdriver out and fiddled with it for a moment.
"Uh...Zoe..." Thomas uttered.
She looked up at him. She held up her device. She flipped a switch. The lights went out for a second. Then they came back on. She smirked at Thomas.
"It," Zoe said, "feels like one big living experiment."
Suddenly, a red vortex shot open near them.
The light flickered for a moment. Quinn frowned. So did Eve. She looked over at Nathan. He shrugged.
"What was that?" Quinn asked.
"I have no idea," Eve said. "What I want to know is whom side you are on?"
"My own," Quinn said. "I'm not helping you, Eve."
Eve crossed her arms over her chest. She stared him down. A smirk crept onto her face.
"That's funny," Eve said. "Randall did."
Quinn frowned. "What--"
Suddenly, a red vortex shot open by the two of them. Quinn pushed Eve out of the way. A figure shot out of it. He took in his surroundings quickly, laser in hand.
Quinn remembered him. His name was Grant. He worked for...
"Oh, no," Quinn uttered.
He worked for Edward Albright...Eve's husband. He worked for the government.
Suddenly, another red vortex opened up. Two figures shot out. They were dressed in black turtlenecks and cargo pants. They took in their surroundings.
Another red vortex opened by a window. A figure emerged. Quinn saw him and narrowed his eyes.
"Stone."
"Mr. Mallory," Stone said, "what a pleasure it is to find one of you! You will not be escaping."
EVENTUALLY...
Quinn sat down in the manta ship. For a moment, he hestiated. After all, he knew what the consequences were going.
Not just for him.
For everyone.
Then Quinn thought about Wade. He thought about how her eyes watered when he proposed. Her eyes lit up as she said yes: he would give anything to get back to her.
Anything.
He pushed a button.
A moment passed. He sat back. Then he heard it.
The engine.
BUT BEFORE...
"Run!"
Kat dashed for the door. Nathan was right behind. Quinn watched Eve do the same. He turned to face Stone...
...to find Stone right in front of him. Quinn gasped in surprise.
"No, no, Mr. Mallory," Stone said. "I said you will not be e--"
Stone was knocked out of the way. He went flying across the floor, trapped in Jules's arms.
"Jules!!" Quinn yelled.
"Go!" Jules yelled, grabbing at Stone's arms. "I got--"
Suddenly, Jules flew at Quinn. Quinn grabbed him, among falling to the floor. Stone glared.
"Wrong!" Stone yelled. "Get--"
Suddenly, a blue vortex shot open by Quinn. He turned in time to see Zoe pop out. A moment later, Thomas did the same. The vortex whirred, shutting behind them. Just as quickly, another blue vortex opened. Before Quinn could say anything, Zoe pushed him in.
"Ah!!!"
Richard swung his fist out. He connected with the wall in his room. The wall cracked, lines shooting through it like a solder's web.
"Hm. Looks like someone doesn't know his own strength."
Richard turned to his door. Ivy leaned in it. She had a grin on her face. Her green eyes flashed for a moment, causing Richard to frown. Was that concern in her eyes?
"Just angry," Richard said.
Ivy gestured to the wall. "I see."
"I was so close," Richard said, sitting on his bed.
Ivy walked over to the bed. She sat down. Her eyes stayed on him.
"We," Ivy uttered. "We were close. You're not the only one who wants that sicko to pay." Her eyes lit up. "And he will."
"Count on it," Richard said.
After seeing his father fall through a wormhole with a sword through him, Richard had promised that. And he...
A hand on his shoulder brought Richard out of his thoughts. He stared at Ivy still. She really was looking back at him with concern.
"You really aren't used to someone caring about you, huh?"
"Why would I be?" Richard asked. "It's everyone for themselves."
"Until they find someone...something that matters."
There was a silence between them. It made Richard wonder when the last time he cared about someone was. Then he remembered.
Melissa.
He shook his head.
Look how that turned out.
A hand touched his shaggy dark brown hair, reminding Richard he wasn't alone. Ivy stared back. She ran her fingers through his hair, a slight grin on her face.
"What?" Richard asked, his forehead bunching up.
"When I met you," Ivy began, "You were all suave. Then you had Ethan with you. Beth and I just thought you were nothing, but game. But...there's more to you." She leaned closer. "I like that."
Ivy moved closer. Then their lips were touching. Richard wrapped around Ivy's waist. They fell back on the bed. Then he heard it.
A whir.
He looked up in time. A blue wormhole opened right above the bed. He looked over at Ivy. She looked up surprised, too. He glared at the wormhole.
"You got to be kid--" Richard started.
The wormhole whirred. A figure shot out. Before Richard could move, Quinn landed right on top of him.
"Where--" Quinn started.
"Get out!" Richard yelled.
The wormhole whirred again. Another figure shot out. Richard made out Zoe. She landed by Ivy. She let her eyes look about.
"Hm," Zoe observed. "We're back."
"No kidding," Richard said. "Think you could get--"
The wormhole released another whir. A new figure shot out of it. They landed on Quinn, pushing him back down on Richard. He groaned in annoyance.
The wormhole whirred again. Another figure shot out of it. They hit the trio hard. The wormhole closed behind them.
"Oh, no!! He's going to follow us! He's going to get us! We're d--"
"Thomas!" Jules said.
"We're fine," Quinn said. "Zoe's timer is c--"
"Could you get off me!!!" Richard yelled.
Eric Price felt his back tense up. He was sure that evening he wold have to retain Bethanny for a full body massage. If it was not one situation, it was another. A man of his lineage could only take so much.
Eric turned the corner. He felt his forehead wrinkle up. He hoped it did not stay that way.
Two men dressed in black turtlenecks, chest armor, and cargo pants detained his secretary in the corner. They were being watched by a man who stood by her desk. He knew the older man on sight.
"Edward, what is the meaning of this?" Eric asked.
Edward Albright turned to look at Eric. His dark eyes betrayed nothing. Neither did his posture, his hands behind his back.
"There was a disturbance two hours ago," Edward explained.
"Yes, yes, yes," Eric said. "Who in the industry did not see little Quinn Mallory give Congress quite a fright."
Edward stared blankly at Eric. "THAT...was not what I was referring to."
Eric frowned. "Oh."
"During the resulting incident, my associates not only discovered the terrorist Quinn Mallory...but my wife," Edward said.
Eric's eyes widened. "Oh."
"So surely," Edward continued, "you can understand."
Eric felt his forehead frowning again.
"'Understand?'" Eric uttered.
"Lockdown," Edward said. "All of you. Peter Carmichael. Randall Heim..."
"If you can even find him," Eric commented.
"EVE," Edward continued. His eyes narrowed on Eric. "You."
"Pardon me?" Eric said. "I have been nothing, but cooperative with you and the government. None of us want the Yuzaki or sliding terrorists here. ALL of us want to benefit from the technology."
"Things change I am afraid," Edward said.
"Really?" Eric said.
"24 hours," Edward said. "Then you will have to come in and be...debriefed."
Eric nodded. "Of course."
"Gentlemen," Edward said, looking at his men.
Eric watched Albright and his men walk away. He felt his stare become a glare. To think he gave that man such excellent tips...
"Hold my calls," Eric said, walking past his secretary and into his office.
He slammed the door. His anger grew. He ran a hand through his hair quickly.
It was going downhill. It was going downhill fast. To think he...along with Randall, Peter, Eve, the late Sarah Weisschester-Carroll, and their own Quinn Mallory...would enjoy exploring the infinite possibilities that parallel worlds provided. Now? Now the knowledge would be their undoing.
"Well...that didn't sound very reassuring."
Eric looked over at his desk. The dark brown leather seat was turned away from him. Now it slowly turned toward him, revealing a jet-black haired woman in it with a smirk.
"Rebecca," Eric uttered.
Rebecca looked back. "So...how about we improve your odds?"
Quinn paced. He did not like this at all.
"So...you have no idea where she's at?"
Quinn looked over at Jules. Jules leaned against a stack of boxes. His eyes betrayed his worry.
"Nope," Quinn said.
"I don't like this."
Quinn looked over at Thomas. He sat in a chair with wheels. He also looked concerned. Meanwhile Zoe was next to him. She was busy tinkering with her device.
"I mean...they just swooped in," Thomas said. "They swooped in. We have no idea whether Nathan, Kat, or Eve are okay. They could be arrested or hurt or--"
"Thomas!" Jules yelled.
"It's the truth!!" Thomas snapped.
"Guys!" Quinn yelled. "Calm down!"
"No!" Thomas said, standing up. "I will not calm down! Lasers! Wormhole! Possible imprisonment!! All I want to do is have a nornmal life! Am I asking for too much? I don't think so!"
"Nobody asked for this," Quinn said. "I would love to get home and be with my fiancee. But...I have friends to find first."
"And if you never find them?" Thomas asked. "What if you slide for years...for the rest of your life...and NEVER find them? Or worse...you find them. You find them and slide home...and THERE'S NO HOME TO GO HOME TO?!"
"Hm," Zoe muttered.
Quinn looked at her. He looked at Thomas again. Then he looked away.
What if.
Too many questions. So much traveling. An awful lot of sliding.
What if Quinn never got home? What if he never found Rembrandt or Randy? What if he never saw Wade again? See her eyes light up? See her lips form that cute smile she had? Never feel her lips against his? Wake up next to her...
"No," Quinn uttered.
"There you are!"
Quinn came out of his thoughts. Rebecca came out from among the stacks of boxes. she took in the scene and frowned.
"What's going on?" Rebecca asked.
"In a word..."
Quinn looked over at Zoe. She glared at Rebecca. She held up her device. She hit a switch on it. The lights flicker.
"...revenge," Zoe said, smirking.
"She's up to something."
Ivy frowned as she looked at Richard. He leaned on the rail. He gave her a lop-sided grin.
"Remember," Richard said, "takes a con to know a con." He frowned. "If Rebecca ain't here, she's up to something."
"At least she's on our side."
"Maybe. Hard to tell sometimes."
"Isn't that anybody?" Ivy challenged.
Richard smirked. "Always have to have the last word."
Ivy smirked. "Problem?"
Richard leaned closer. "Nope."
He kissed Ivy. She pulled back after a moment, a smile on her face.
"Let's go have some fun," Ivy suggested.
"You don't have to tell me twice," Richard said.
Ivy headed back to the warehouse. Richard grinned. He turned to follow her.
Suddenly, the lights flickered.
"What was that?" Ivy asked.
"Someone probably didn't pay the bill," Richard said dead-pan.
Ivy turned to look at him. She gave him such a smirk.
"Charmer," Ivy said.
"And you like me for i--" Richard started.
A figure shot up behind Ivy. Before Richard could react, Ivy's head jerked to the left. She fell to the ground...dead. Stone looked down at her. He tilted his head. Then he looked at Richard with crazy glee in his eyes.
"They just keep dropping like flies around you, Mr. Hall," Stone said.
A YEAR AGO...
"Quinn, you don't need to hold my hand so tight!"
It was Golden Gate Park. The sun shined through the clouds, giving the sky a luminscent feel. Quinn barely acknowledge the joggers, couples having pincics, or families enjoying the day. He walked hand in hand with Wade. And for him...that was all that mattered.
"Do you know how long it's been?" Quinn asked, looking at Wade. "How long it's been since I laid eyes on you?" He smiled. "I never want to let you go."
Wade laughed. "It's only been a day."
"Same," Quinn said, smirking.
Wade smirked. Then they laughed. Quinn felt so happy. He was glad that after all this time, he had made it home.
He frowned. Unlike the others. They were still on Alexandrian World. He had to go back.
"What's wrong?" Wade asked.
Quinn looked at Wade again. Her eyes were full of so much concern. So much love. That was what he liked about her. It was why he loved her. He sighed sadly, stopping. Wade did the same.
"Okay, Quinn," Wade said. "Now you're scaring me."
Quinn reached out and touched Wade's cheek. He cushioned it. She leaned into it, relaxing.
"You know I have to go back," Quinn said. "I have to find the others. I have to find Rembrandt."
Wade's forehead wrinkled up. Her eyes widened for a moment. Her face left his hand as she straightened up.
"Who?" Wade asked.
NOW
Zoe's eyes narrowed on Rebecca. Quinn could see the malice in those eyes. He saw the hatred.
"You lied to me," Zoe declared.
Quinn looked over at Rebecca. She looked just as confused as he was sure he was. She narrowed her eyes on Zoe.
"Zoe, what are--" Rebecca started.
"You knew who I was before you dropped that black box...that primitive timer...on my table," Zoe started. "You said you were in hiding."
"I was!" Rebecca snapped.
"Gee, Rebecca," Zoe said. "I wonder why."
A whir echoed through the air. Red lights curved around the boxes. Quinn felt his insides start to flipflop, his fear slowly growing. Meanwhile, Rebecca stared Zoe down. Zoe meanwhile did the same.
"You knew the truth," Zoe said. "In order to get yourself out of a jam...you needed a genius. Someone that was used to trouble. You needed Randy Heim. But...he wasn't born a 'he' on my world."
Quinn's eyes widened. He looked at Rebecca.
"What?" Quinn muttered.
Zoe looked at Quinn. "On my world, my father...BRIAN HEIM...married Teresa Banning. They had a daughter. They also divorced. I took her last name. I...am Randy Heim." Her eyes narrowed. "Randy...and Randall helped me...for a price."
"A price?" Quinn uttered.
"Yes..."
Quinn looked past Zoe. A figure glowed behind her. As the figure came closer, light finally hit his face. Quinn stepped away. It was Edward Albright.
"...a price," Edward said.
"Oh, no," Thomas said, stumbling away from Zoe.
"Quinn," Jules said.
"Oh, yes," Edward said.
Quinn heard it. Footsteps. He turned quickly. He made out Edward's government goons. He turned back to see Edward smirking at them.
"Get them," Edward ordered.
Richard looked down. Ivy was on the ground of the docks, her neck broken. Stone stood over her, oblivious to the fact she was dead.
Richard felt his body shake. His eyes fell on Ivy again. Ivy. Another person who had gotten close to him. Stone had done it again. He had taken someone he cared about. First, Katherine Rye. Then his father. Now...Ivy.
"How did you think this would end?" Stone asked, barely contained joy on his face.
Richard's eyes were still on Ivy. She laid so still, her neck in an odd angle. Her eyes were still open. What she stared up at Richard could not say. Instead, he turned his sight on Stone.
"How?" Richard uttered. "With your sick ass dead."
Stone tilted his head. "Oh, really?"
He moved quick. Before Richard could react, Stone was in front of him. He shot out his arm, his hand encircling Richard's neck.
"Oh, who was going to kill my...'sorry ass?'" Stone asked. "You?"
Richard glared at Stone. He grabbed at Stone's hand. Then...he squeezed.
The eyes staring back at Richard widened. The surprise came through. Richard felt it. The hand around his neck loosened, releasing Richard's neck. He smirked.
"Yes," Richard said. "Me!"
He swung. His fist connected to Stone's face. He flew through the air, hitting a stack of crates.
Quinn looked around. He could tell.
They were surrounded.
He looked at Jules. He was next to Rebecca, both of them tense. Rebecca's eyes were on Zoe, the look on betrayal was evident.
"Good luck," Zoe said.
Then her body shimmered. A moment later, Zoe vanished. Quinn's eyes widened. He wondered if there was anything she couldn't do.
Footsteps brought Quinn out of his thoughts. The government goons were closer. Edward stared Quinn down, his hands behind his back.
"You're not taking us," Quinn said.
"I believe you are out of tricks, Mr. Mallory," Edward said.
"Maybe you underestimate him."
Rebecca reached into her pocket. She pulled out a timer. She aimed it at some crates. It shot lightning at them. The crates dissolved into a green vortex. Quinn looked at Rebecca in surprise. Before he could stop her, Rebecca ran for the vortex and jumped into it. She vanished.
"What in--" Jules started.
"No time!" Thomas yelled. "Go!"
"But--" Jules started.
"Go!" Quinn yelled.
Jules headed for the vortex. Quinn was right behind him.
"No!" Edward yelled. "Fire!"
Oh, no. Quinn turned around. The guards aimed. Their lasers were ready. Jules didn't see.
"Jules!" Quinn yelled.
The guards fired. Suddenly, Quinn was shoved out of the way. He fell to the ground. Meanwhile, laserfire cut through a figure. They fell to the floor dead.
Thomas. Blood fell from his lips. Quinn shook as he looked at the lovable goof. Dead.
"No!"
Jules had stopped running. His eyes were on Thomas. They watered.
Quinn shot up from the floor. There was no time. Any moment, Jules would be next. He...would be a prisoner.
Quinn grabbed Jules. Then he quickly jumped with him in the vortex.
The vortex whirred. Quinn and Jules tumbled out. It closed behind them.
"Jules, are you okay?" Quinn asked. "Did they--"
"Thomas," Jules uttered, his eyes watering. "He's..."
"Guys."
Quinn and Jules paused. They turned from each other. Rebecca stood by them. Quinn took in their surroundings. They were on the college campus...and completely surrounded by men in black. Men who had guns trained on them. Quinn's eyes widened as he recognized one of them as Maxim Brown.
Maxim Brown was Rembrandt's son on several parallel worlds. On this one, he was dressed in a blue muscle shirt and cargo pants. His head was shaved, and he glared at them with icy hatred.
"Not Yuzaki," Maxim said. "Good."
"Wait. You know the Yuzaki?" Rebecca asked. "Who are you?"
"His name is Maxim Brown," Quinn said. "On some w--"
"The name is Max," he corrected. "And I...will ask the questions."
"Don't worry, Max. I got this."
Max turned around. The troops parted, allowing Quinn to have a look. His eyes widened.
"Randy?" Quinn uttered.
TO BE CONTINUED...
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