My first Atlantis Story upload.
This story is almost complete on my computer (just a little in the middle to do, ironically the details that are important to the rest of the story).
Set on June 27th 2008
John was doing some laps around the city, listening to some music as he went, radio in his pocket.
Ronan was waiting for him at the end of the corridor and John jogged over putting away his headphones and attaching his radio.
"Hey bud, what's up?" John said using a towel he had waiting for him to wipe his face then draping it over his shoulder.
"You said you were meeting us for lunch...that was two hours ago Sheppard" Ronan said.
John looked at his watch to check, "crap, I forgot. I am feeling hungry... Fancy seconds?" John said not wanting to eat on his own if he could help it.
"Sure" Ronan said shrugging.
~Cafeteria~
John and Ronan finished their respective meals and sat back and relaxed for a bit. Putting their feet up on some spare chairs.
"So where is everyone else? They not hungry" John said.
"Sheppard, you ok?"
"Yeah, why?"
"You missed lunch, remember?"
John stood up and his legs almost buckled, luckily he used his reflex grip on the table to steady himself.
"I think I should take you to the infirmary" Ronan said.
"Maybe that's a good idea" John said really confused.
~Infirmary~
"What did ya do to each other this time?" Carson said looking for any obvious signs of injury.
"There's something wrong with his memory" Ronan said.
"And my legs, it feels like i've been running for hours"
"You have" Ronan said.
"Oh" John said promptly shutting up and allowing Carson to direct him towards the scanner.
~An hour or so later~
"What's going on?" Rodney asked upon seeing Teyla and Ronan already seated beside John.
"We do not know, Dr Beckett is running some tests" Teyla said, clearly concerned with his condition.
"Sheppard" Rodney said giving John a small push, trying to see his condition for himself.
"Dr Beckett gave him something to make him sleep. He was confused and wouldn't allow Carson to run his tests...It was either that or restraints"
"Carson what is it? I've seen that look, how bad is it?" Rodney said, seeing Carson reviewing the results of John's scan.
They all crowded around the doctor hoping that this thing was reversible.
"What look? Anyway do ye see these?" Beckett said pointing to a section in John's brain.
"Is that what I think it is?" Rodney asked hoping that for once he was wrong.
"Yes and no" He replied.
"What? They either are nanites or they aren't" Rodney said confused.
"They're not nanites, but they do appear to be be similiar in design. These are much smaller and are most concentrated in his brain, currently affecting the short term memories but it's progressive, they seem to be increasing in number but there is no visible evidence of replication"
"What about an EM pulse? If these are earlier models surely that should work" Rodney said.
"I'm not sure what the effect on the Colonel's brain this would have. I don't want to risk brain damage"
"Where did they come from? And why isn't any one else having memory problems?" Ronan asked.
"Dr Beckett" Dr Keller stammered.
"What is it?" he said turning to see the worried look on her face.
"You better come see this" she said calling up the data onto the screen.
"This is the Colonel's blood sample, you can see them here. Now watch" she said.
"Where did they go?" Rodney asked as the little machines dissapeared.
"I took some random samples and most of them are clean the ones that aren't the same thing happened and I called them in for a follow up scan and blood test and they were completely clean...Since these do not seem to self replicate I can only come to the conclusion that they must be targetting Colonel Sheppard. I should run some more blood tests just to be sure that he is the only target"
"One of the ancient labs playing up again McKay?" John said coming around.
"Erm, no, well I don't think so" Rodney said not knowing of any at this time.
"What's going on?" John said sitting up.
Apart from an ache in his legs he felt fine.
"What's the last thing you remember?" Carson asked.
"Sparring with Ronan. Did you hit me?" John asked.
"What's the date?" Rodney said wanting a more accurate answer.
"12th April" John replied.
"That's not too bad" Rodney said.
"And the year?" Carson said.
"2007. Did I hit my head or something?" he said with no hesitation.
There was silence, no one knew how to tell him that he was slowly losing his mind. Although the silence in itself told John that this was more serious than a concussion.
A/N - And there's the best point I thought I could end the chapter.
What is a man without any memories? ... An empty shell.