Richard Crane watched in horror as Tate pushed the button. From his perspective the two realities merged and Tate expanded like a bloated puffer fish, the gun tumbled to the floor and the room when dark.

"Tate!" Richard called into the pitch black. "Tate where are you?"

There was a clang of metal to his right and then footsteps. The bastard was getting away.

"Candi, can you get these lights back on?"

"I'm afraid the entire grid was blown, Richard"

"Dammit! Can you still open a gateway?"

"Yes, I don't draw power from the local grid to create the singularity."

"Good, open it now." He demanded.

"Of course, Richard."

There was the familiar flash and before him stood the doorway, without hesitating he stepped through.

-~o0O0o~-

The gateway opened behind them soundlessly so no one notice as Richard appeared out of thin air and tumbled over the small group kneeling on the floor.

He tried in vain to avoid stepping on Emmeline and only succeeded in throwing himself off balance and landing on Flynns' back. In one smooth motion she turned, pivoted her entire body, pin-wheeled her legs and came down on top of Richard with her left hand on his chest and a knife at his throat.

Richard couldn't believe it, one moment he was stepping though the gateway and the next an almost naked woman was about to decapitate him.

"Wait! Don't..." He cried.

Emmeline and John turned to see what was happening and she screamed in horror.

"No Flynn, Stop! It's Richard!" She yelled.

The knife was pressed hard against his jugular, as he stared up into Flynns' eyes. Her expression changed, and she glanced at John.

"Your call sir." She said through clenched teeth.

John looked from Flynn to Emmeline who nodded quickly biting her bottom lip.

"Let him up Flynn." John ordered.

The big security officer climbed to her feet and then offered Richard her hand.

"No hard feelings, just doing my job." She smiled.

He ignored her hand, stood up and brushed himself off indignantly. He stared at Flynn for a moment and then turned to the others.

"Are you okay Emmeline?" He asked.

"I'm fine Richard, thank goodness you're here! Professor Tate..."

"I know," He patted her hand and turned to John. "Do I know you? You look familiar..."

Emmeline stepped in, "Oh right, sorry, Richard Crane this Jonathan Sheppard."

The two men stood staring at each other in an awkward silence with Emmeline in between.

Suddenly Richard lunged at him grabbing John by the front of his shirt. "Jonathan Sheppard?" he yelled, spittle flying from his mouth. "You bastard! You did it! You killed all of them!"

John tried to break free of his grasp, holding his wrists and twisting away. Richard raged at him like a crazed animal. Flynn flew in from the left tackling him and all three of them hit the floor. She reached back and threw a high arching punch at Richard hitting him squarely in the face. Blood erupted from his nose and his head bounced off of the floor. He lay there bleeding, unconscious as she turned to help John to his feet.

"Sorry about that Mr. Sheppard, I wasn't expecting..."

"It's okay Flynn, he caught me by surprise too." He turned to Emmeline. "Come on, we should get out of here."

Emmeline stared at him uncomprehendingly. "What, leave and go where?" She went down to her knees and began mopping Richards' bloody nose with a tissue. He was completely out and she cradled his head fearing he might choke. "Besides we can't leave Richard, we need him."

Jonathan snorted, "In case you missed it he just attacked me!"

"And in case you missed it, in his world you're responsible for millions of deaths and untold suffering!"

Her words hit him like a slap to the face. "That wasn't me!" He shouted.

She shouted back, "I know that, but he doesn't does he? And now look at him. I won't just leave him here!" She turned away from him, concentrating on Richard.

John turned and stormed towards the door exasperated. "Fine," he called over his shoulder. "But if he tries that shit again, I'll kill him myself!"

Flynn quickly put on her body armor, while Emmeline finished cleaning Richard up and then the two of them carried him outside to the car. John was in the drivers seat. Flynn loaded Richard into the back.

"So," Emmeline asked sarcastically slamming her door. "Where are we going?"

John ignored the tone in her voice and pulled the car away from the curb, driving manually. "I don't know, but we need to get away from here and regroup."