NORMAL WAREHOUSE UNIVERSE
"I can't wait here any longer," Myka explainedimpatiently, pacing around the office in the Warehouse.
"Artie said he'll be here," Pete said, trying to calm her down, "Relax, I get false messages, remember?"
That remark did nothing to settle Myka's nerves.Then the door to the umbilical that leads outside swung open. Artie was pushed in with his hands restrained by a pair of handcuffs. Behind him came Alternate Claudia, holding a small device in her hands.
"If it isn't Tweedledum and Tweedledee ," Alternate Claudia said, and then gave them a sadistic smile. She pressed the small device and Artie convulsed, receiving a powerful electric shock.
"Claudia, what are you doing!" Myka yelled. Pete dove down to help Artie get back up on his feet.
"That's not our Claudia," Artie said. "Our Claudia is trapped in another reality."
"What?" Pete asked, confused. "You mean she's?"
Alternate Claudia pulled out her modified Telsa gun and aimed it at Myka, who was about to pull out her own gun.
"Slow down, sister," Alternate Claudia said. "This one is set to kill."
Myka and Pete slowly raised their hands into the air. "Guns, throw them away," Alternate Claudia demanded. Both Myka and Pete slowly complied and threw their weapons off to the side. Alternate Claudia then threw a pair of handcuffs at Myka, "Handcuff yourself to Pete." Myka reluctantly did so.
"Good, glad we could all reach an understandment," Alternate Claudia said. "Now let's take a walk to the H.G. Wells section of the Warehouse. 'kay?"
"The time machine," Artie said, realizing her plan. "You plan on using it to get back to your reality in the past, to save Joshua." Alternate Claudia gave him a hateful glare, also wondering how he knew. "It's the only thing that would make you go to these lengths," Artie explained himself, "You don't need to do this, you're better than this Claudia—"
"SHUT UP!" Alternate Claudia cried out and raised her hand prepared to press the device, "Get moving, now!"
"Artie, I don't think you should make the crazy girl mad," Pete said. Artie agreed silently.
They began to walk outside into the Warehouse. They took twists and turns, Artie knew that they'd have to pass near the Mirror section. All he needed was a way to distract Alternate Claudia long enough for her to drop her guard. Suddenly, as if a prayer had beenanswered, everyone saw a bright flash.Pete and Myka looked at each other and read each other's minds. They took the chance and charged at Alternate Claudia. She quickly shot Pete with her Telsa, bringing him to his knees as the electric bolts wrapped themselves around him ripping apart his nerves. Myka was pulled down and slightly shocked as well.
"Pete!" Myka shouted, She couldn't do much being stuck with him.
"Oh crud," Alternate Claudia said as Artie started to move, since he was shocked by the handcuffs he got a lesser electric charge, "Look what you made me do."
Across a few aisles, Claudia managed to recover from a fit of coughing and smoke. She heard a faint screaming coming from two aisles over. She quickly rushed over to its source and found it coming from a long crate. She recognized the voice. "Leena?" she asked incredulously.
"Claudia?" called out the muffled reply.
Claudia's eyes opened wide "Leena!" She rushed over and pried the crate open to see a bunch of Egyptian dung beetles crawling all over Leena. She quickly pulled her out, brushing the beetles away. Leena scurried away from Claudia quickly"Leena," Claudia spoke, "It's okay, it's me."
"Claudia?" Leena smiled, she felt a cool wind of relief. Claudia's aura radiated a fondness, a familiarity that soothed her. "You need to warn Artie and the others!" Leena shouted.
"Cool down," Claudia said, "I gots things under control." Claudia got up and made her way towards the office but she felt Leena tug on her arm.
"Claudia, she's that way," Leena pointed out. Claudia stared back at her and remembered what Alternate Artie and gang told her. "Leena, leave. Get out of here, and don't stop." Claudia's eyes began to slightly water. Leena was about to protest but Claudia spoke again. "Leena, please." Leena hugged her.
"Just be careful," Leena told her, and thenwalked away. Claudia wipedher eyes and started to make her way down the aisles.
"It's show time," she said out loud as she pulled out a net gun from a pack she picked up from the side.
