A/N: Ah plot bunnies! You never know where and when they will find you! So we were watching Total Recall (the new one not the old) & smack dab in the middle of it came this idea. Now you have to know that I grew up with science fiction – Fritz Leiber, Kurt Vonnegut, Orson Scott Card, but one of my favourites is Philip K. Dick and if you have seen Total Recall, Minority Report, The Adjustment Bureau or Blade Runner (director's cut, please) then you should know (if you don't already) that all of these were based on the stories of Philip K. Dick - & some of them had longer titles than I use – lol! Example Total Recall is We'll Remember it For You Wholesale and Blade Runner is Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Not really important to the story - just me rambling. Anyway one of the things I always liked about his stories is that they were just around the corner or in the not too distant future. So now I'll be quiet & stop this rather long author's note. Enjoy!

Warnings – one swear word

Not Too Distant Future

1. Imposter

"Is he ready?"

"Yes, I do believe he is."

"This had better work," the soft voice said, the promise of the threat evident in the tone.

"Oh it will work. Helps that he was willing. Not like the test subject. That was…unfortunate."

"So, minor surgery to make them look the same, false memories implanted deep enough to cover real ones."

"You have to understand. They aren't just false memories. They are real ones. That's what the nanites do. They took John Watson's real memories as he lay dying, his real personality and implanted them in his head. He is for all intents and purposes John Watson. He won't remember who he used to be unless we send new data to the nanites. And he will act, think and feel exactly like John Watson. He can even be a doctor. It's flawless."

"We then use the nanites to give further commands, correct?"

"Yes. Exactly."

There was a pause.

"Seems a shame…"

"What's that?"

"Well he is awfully exciting this way. Rather intriguing. I was just wondering what it would be like, what he'd be like, like this, not remembering me. Could be fun," the voice was a soft purr now.

"You know he wouldn't consider you his first choice, not now. This is why we picked John Watson. He's perfect, perfect for Sherlock Holmes. He's his type and Sherlock's John's, when he isn't looking at women. They will be perfect together. And when it's time, when you're ready, he can be given new orders."

"I still think it's a shame we couldn't have given him directly to Mycroft. It would save time."

"We talked about this. You know Mycroft would be suspicious, if he just showed up, someone he would want. This way, he may find it odd that his brother has finally found a love interest, but he won't be suspecting his brother's lover of being an assassin."

A heavy sigh.

"You are right. You always are. It would just be easier, but…it would not be more fun. And really what's the point if we can't have a little fun."

Music came on suddenly from the pocket of the first speaker, a song from the last century, but one that was particularly meaningful, Seal's Crazy. He reached into his pocket and cranked the volume on his personal player. The old songs were the best.

"Let him go. Wake him up or whatever it is you do and set him loose on the Holmes boys. Keep me advised and let me know when it gets interesting, otherwise don't bother me. I'll tell you when I'm ready. Oh and Wilson?"

"Yes?"

"Don't fuck this up. I'd hate to turn you into shoes."