AN: Sorry for the long wait for this update. Went through a rough patch health wise, just at a time when RL was at its most demanding. Anyway, this chapter's on the long side to somewhat make up for it. Hope you enjoy it. Thanks for reading and the reviews! Instead of answering them individually, you'll find my replies at the bottom of the page. I've seen other authors do this, and I think it's a great idea.

Reunion

The third gate they traveled through brought Ronon and Sheppard to a large hangar, almost empty except for oversized shelves on both sides that reached to the ceiling, carrying large, opaque modules that appeared to be some type of incubators. Again, a solitary figure was waiting for them, but this time it was no hologram, because its footsteps echoed loudly through the spacious interior as it came closer.

"Colonel Sheppard, I…"

"Spare me the niceties, Michael. We both know that I wouldn't be here if I had a choice, so let's get to the point where you tell me what evil schemes you have in mind for me."

"Actually, I was about to offer you some sustenance. It will prepare you for my 'evil schemes' as you just chose to describe them."

"Well, in that case I think I'll pass," John replied, crossing his arms over his chest.

Michael's eyes flickered towards Ronon, who grabbed Sheppard by the back of his tac vest and half lifted him off the floor.

"I must insist," Michael said.

"Well, in that case, and since Ronon is asking so nicely…" John croaked, his air supply severely restricted. The next moment he was back on his feet again, gasping and rubbing his throat.

"I am still expecting somebody, so you will use this time to fortify yourself." While the Wraith was speaking he handed Ronon a piece of cord, and after the Satedan had tied the Colonel's hands with it, he guided his commander to a table that was set up some distance away towards the side of the hangar. On it were several pitchers with differently colored contecnts.

"Some water, maybe?" John suggested, but Ronon reached for one that held a blood red liquid and slowly let a small amount trickle into a metal cup.

"Your idea or his?" Sheppard breathed, glad that they both now had their backs to Michael so he would not be able to see their lips moving.

"His."

"Who's coming?"

"No idea."

John pretended to refuse the drink, so Ronon grabbed his hair and forced him to his knees. Then he ostensibly pulled Sheppard's head back and poured the content of the mug down his throat. Although it was barely a mouthful, John swallowed convulsively several times to make it appear that he had in fact received a full dose. To his surprise it appeared that it was in fact some kind of juice, and the taste wasn't bad - somewhere between tomato and cranberry. Of course, there was no telling what kind of effect it would have on him. But they had no choice. They had not found out yet what Michael's plans were, so Ronon had to continue playing the willing slave. Still, the uneasy glance he directed at the Colonel said clearly enough that he, too, was concerned about the impact of the drink.

While they were both waiting for whatever the brew was going to do to Sheppard, they heard the Stargate activate. Looking casually over his shoulder, John recognized the new arrival. Pretending to wipe his mouth on his shoulder in order to cover his moving lips, he whispered, "Tyre!", glad that he was able to warn his team mate so that his reaction would not give him away when he came face to face with the man who had betrayed him twice. Ronon stiffened at the mention of this name, and it took him a moment to fight down the rage that threatened to overtake him. While he was trying to control his emotions, John saw Michael talk to Tyre, and the looks they both threw in Ronon's direction troubled him. He saw a palm shaped device change hands from the Wraith to this worshipper, and turned back to the table.

"Watch out," John breathed again, "looks like Mikey's suspicious and Tyre's gonna test you."

"I can handle him," Ronon growled.

"Just keep cool," was the last thing John managed to say before the two other men had come close enough to hear. Tyre walked right past them, and Ronon fell into step behind him without a word. He felt uneasy leaving John alone with Michael, but in order to keep up his cover he had to do exactly as he was told.

Tyre led him to a bare cell, empty except for a cot in one corner. Closing the door behind them, he suddenly pivoted and smashed his fist into Ronon's face. Tasting blood where the inside of his cheek had caught on his teeth, the former Runner straightened and stood still again, face impassive. Like a cat, Tyre slowly circled him, fixing the control device to his palm. A command flashed through Ronon's brain, 'FEEL NO PAIN'. Steeling himself against what was to come, he still almost cried out when Tyre dug a vicious finger into the place just below his shoulder into the half healed wound from the metal spike. Unable to keep the pain from reflecting in his eyes, Ronon slowly turned his head to look at the hand tormenting him. 'LOOK AT ME' came the next order, so he shifted his gaze back at his former friend's face. In order to keep his gaze vacant, Ronon employed an old trick he had used while still a cadet in the Satedan army. To discipline the young recruits, they had been forced to witness the punishments of their peers, which usually took the form of flogging. He had taught himself to focus on a point that lay beyond the scene he was supposed to witness, so all he could see was a blur while still giving the impression of watching. And it worked its magic in this situation as well. After staring into Ronon's face for about a minute, Tyre left the room, apparently satisfied since he only closed the door without locking it.

Remaining in character for the sake of any hidden monitoring devices, Ronon sat down on the cot and stared into space, his brain working feverishly to plan his next step.

John watched his team mate walk away. There had been no telling how this mission would go, but this was the worst case scenario. Losing the jumper and Rodney had been the first blow, now they were being separated as well. At least he was not yet feeling any ill effects form the drink he'd had. On the contrary, he felt rather well.

"Follow me," Michael prompted. While leading his captive down an aisle of shelves he explained, "I have made significant progress in my genetic research."

"You mean outfitting your creatures with the Ancient gene?" John asked, thinking of Michael's comment about the jumper.

"That's one of the minor side effects, but it barely scratches the surface of the new process I'm about to finalize. Tonight it will be tested for the first time, and I am glad that you will be my test subject."

They stopped outside a door that was guarded by two Wraith drones. It slid aside at their approach. Beyond was some kind of lab. Sheppard recognized the tilting table of greenish metal with its restraints. They had found a similar one in another of Michael's facilities during their search for Teyla. Next to the table was one of the large pods from the hangar. Several tubes ran from it, most of them attached to monitoring devices.

Michael untied Sheppard's hands and pointed at the table. For a moment, John considered resisting. Whatever had been in that drink, it made him feel strong and alive. The Wraith appeared to have read his thoughts.

"Do not attempt anything foolish," he cautioned the Colonel. "The Palapa juice you drank only serves to increase your red blood cell count. It does not give you superhuman powers. And those drones outside the door are not the only guards I have."

Realizing that resistance was futile John lay down on the table and allowed himself to be strapped in. He winced when Michael picked up an IV needle and deftly inserted it into a vein on his hand. Next its tube was attached to one of the blood red cords coming from the pod. After checking that the connection was secure, Michael turned back to his prisoner, triumph flickering in his eyes.

"What you are about to witness, Colonel Sheppard, is not only cloning on the highest level, it is also in a way the path to eternal life. What I have in this pod is the beginning of a being that consists exclusively of stem cells. It is basically an empty page, waiting to be filled with the blueprint of an existing person. By infusing it with your blood, I will make an exact replica of you, at least as far as the body and basic thought processes are concerned. The conscious mind will still be a blank slate for me to program at my will."

"A Zombie Doppelganger of mine? How ingenious," John drawled. "And exactly how much of my blood are you going to need for this?"

Michael sneered as he opened a valve in the IV line. "All of it."

Thanks for the reviews:

Estel's Maiden, totally agree this is what Shep would do.

Jammeke, you just found out what Michael was planning..., while

musik-luvr, you'll have to wait a bit longer to find out about Rodney.

rhaddict, at least Ronon's got his gun back. The sword should follow soon...