The Tatterdemalion
Chaptr. 9 – Something Shared
It wasn't until the Clone stepped nearer that Sheppard noticed with a jolt that there was a marked difference between them. It became immediately clear that the Clone was only partly familiar in his facial features – a fact that gave Sheppard a surge of relief. Clone Sheppard pulled back the hood of his cloak that was made of rough wool and was covering up his long leather coat underneath. As soon as he noticed the leather showing, Sheppard suspected that he had been the one watching him during his restless nights' sleep.
Wordlessly, Sheppard looked him up and down and as his eyes settled once more on his face, the Clone reached up and pulled back his hood fully. Bartok's eyes lowered but Sheppard's grew wide when the full extent of the Clones features became clear and he witnessed the grotesque blending of the Clone. It became apparent that he was half Michael and half Sheppard – his face an odd blend of both but to Sheppard there was no mistaking his own features looking back at him. It was un-nerving and he couldn't help but shrink back again.
Ok, so he looked like him but did he have his memories? Please no! Sheppard gulped.
For a while no-body spoke and that's when Sheppard 'pulled his socks up' and looked him in the eye.
"So, Michael did a job on you?... on me, us! Whatever!" he said, suddenly feeling at a loss. Was this a good thing or a bad thing that the clone was here with him now?
"My Founder was certain that what he did to make me, would have a strong outcome. Ancient with Wraith mixed together and with his mutation could prove invaluable to the saving of his hybrids."
"Invaluable!...and … Don't call me John!" Sheppard barked out, unsure what he was thinking, but it certainly didn't warrant first name terms with the Clone. He needed to get to grips with these facts first before listening to what else he had to say.
"Sheppard then."
Sheppard slowly nodded and then full realisation hit him hard and he suddenly felt betrayed by Bartok.
"You knew about this of course! So this was the secret! Why did you not tell me about him..me..oh god.. Sooner?"
Bartok squirmed under Sheppard's gaze. "I was getting to it. You had to know what happened that led to this point. I am sorry Sheppard, I told you it was my fault that you were brought here. The genes..I couldn't quite get the genes to mix well. Michael and I, we tried..we .."
"Right now Bartok, I do not want to hear it. Just tell me, how did you get my DNA to make this Clone?"
Clone Sheppard spoke up, "You did have a knack for leaving blood at every planet you ventured to. It was easy for Michael to retrieve it."
Sheppard opened his mouth to speak but clamped it shut again when he realised the Clone had been right. Many of the planets he had been on, Michael had been there at the time, and he now realised how easy it must have been for him to get samples, he always seemed to get injured, Beckett would attest to that! Damn. That was slack." And he mentally chastised himself.
"So what now, why are you here?"
Clone Sheppard put down the sack he had been holding and took out some clothes and pushed them though the bars at Sheppard.
"Sorry these are not your own clothes, but here, put these on. I want to get you out of here and these scrubs are too thin. Please, we do not have much time."
Sheppard was dumbstruck but took the clothes from him, aware he did not want to make contact with his skin, and jerked the clothes into his stomach. He looked at the clothes and then back at the Clone. "Why do you want to get me out of here? Why help me at all?" he asked.
"My intent is to get you away to safety Sheppard but I do not have time to explain."
"Explain anyway, cos I ain't going anywhere until you tell me what's going on and where are my own clothes?"
The Clone pulled aside his coats and Sheppard caught sight of his BDU's and he would have commented but Bartok had put his hand up to the Clone's forehead. Sheppard gawked – Bartok clearly had concerns for the clone, Sheppard couldn't believe his eyes.
"You are unwell." It was a statement, not a question and Bartok shook Sheppard's arm, "Please, do as he asks, I must get the two of you out of here and help you both somehow."
"Well as far as I understand it, helping him is my organs!" Sheppard was almost shouting.
"Sshh Sheppard." Bartok was near panicking.
"No, he is right Bartok. That is what would happen to him if he stays here, and you know that, as you would be the one forced to do the operation."
"What are you saying John?" Bartok asked the Clone.
John? – That was the name that he used! Sheppard shuddered and it had nothing to do with the cold.
"Bartok, things have changed. You know it, I know it. Look at Sheppard, I can see in his face that he recognises himself in me and his expressions betray his shock and hatred at what I present. It brings home to me that this is not right what we want to do to him. You know I am very ill and you also know that his organs might still not be enough to save me." He looked at Bartok, "I do not want to take Sheppard's life Bartok and I believe you think the same."
Bartok sighed heavily and touched the Clone's arm in silent agreement.
"You have looked after me very well but I am weak and I don't think there is anything you can do to save me now." He then looked at Sheppard. "I am sorry Sheppard, this is a strange situation to be in."
"Do you have my memories?" Sheppard interrupted, "I'm sorry, but I have to know."
"I will be honest and say to you that I do have some Sheppard. But please do not fret, at best they are jumbled. I do not dwell on your past, only look to my future. I know of no security threats to Atlantis and from what I believe I remember … you remember! … about protocol in Atlantis, I know, your codes would be cancelled by now anyway, would they not?"
A silent nod from Sheppard.
"My memories Sheppard, they do not compete or war with each other, I cannot explain what I feel but I think it is slowly destroying me. Despite Michael's drugs and experiments on me, though Sheppard, I have managed to contain Michael's dark side and want only the best for you.
Sheppard, I am, in effect, more you than him. I need you to trust me - as if you would trust your own instincts - and I know what that would take from you to let go, but please, I ask again, do you trust and believe in me to get you out of here?"
"You may look like me to a certain degree, but if you are more like me than I care to admit, then you know I will not trust you fully, but out of here is obviously what I want, but I know this could still be a trap but I cannot see I have a choice in the matter."
"Perhaps I should share one thing with you. Something that might help you in your decision."
"Go on."
"We share something Sheppard, apart from our physical bodies. There is one jumbled feeling I cannot get over, one that will not leave me – my love for Teyla."
At the mention of Teyla's name, Sheppard threw himself at the bars of his cell trying to get a hold of the Clone. "You leave her out of this! Don't EVER mention her name from your lips!"
The Clone stepped back, knowing what the outcome of his admission would be from Sheppard and put up his hands, "I do not wish to upset you further Sheppard, but I have to make you understand that she is the reason I am letting you go, it's actually for her, so I..you..can be with her. But this might also shock you Sheppard, please be prepared for this for you do not know; it is not only your memories, you see, that I have of Teyla, but those of Michael – in his own way he had loved her too."
Sheppard balled his fists.
Clone Sheppard held his head down low, "I cannot cope with all the memories any more, they swirl in my mind all the time and it is both too much and the only thing that keeps me sane. You will never understand but I repeat, and trust me when I say that I do this for her. For it is you – that part of me – that she loves. I cannot bare for her to be unhappy and when I sat with you the other night and heard you cry her name in your sleep, I knew then that you must be together as a couple now, am I correct?"
Sheppard reluctantly nodded, this was simply something he could not lie about, and certainly not… to himself!
Clone Sheppard laughed, "I would like to know who made the first move?"
Despite himself Sheppard smiled and looked him in the eye, "Kind of a joint effort!"
"Then, I am glad I reached this decision."
Sheppard closed his eyes and sighed. His head was reeling from all that had just transpired. Resigned to trusting Clone John, as he now thought of him, he put the clothes on that the Clone had brought over his scrubs and for a moment the world went out of focus and the next thing he knew he was holding onto the bars with his eyes screwed up tight, a wave of nausea threatened and he almost fainted but Bartok was swift and opened the cell door and held his shoulders.
"Here, open your mouth and take this powder, I apologise, I am late in giving you some pain relief. You do not need to open your eyes, I will pop some in for you." Bartok's tone was gentle and Sheppard complied.
He felt Bartok pour some of the same fine powder he had had before on his tongue and he swallowed along with some water that materialised at his lips. It didn't take long to kick in and through bleary eyes he became aware of the other two watching him closely. Sheppard also noticed the door to his cell was left open and he realised that a relationship of trust had been laid open for him to be party to. He weighed up his opponent. Was he as strong as he was? – Well, as would have been if not for all that had happened to him lately. He knew he could still put up a fight if need be, but as for the ailing Clone, could he?
"If you are feeling better now, we must go?" Clone John asked.
Sheppard weighed up his weakened state and several aches within his body and decided to keep that piece of information to himself so nodded. A steadying hand on his elbow from Bartok made him realise that he was not hiding his weakness from anyone. He wafted his helping hand away and strode forward and took the proffered cloak from the clone before donning it swiftly. For a couple of seconds Sheppard eyed Clone John up close. He thought they had been the same height but Sheppard could see up close the Clone's stooped gait made him shorter by an inch or so. The clone had a look of pain about his eyes and Sheppard wondered just how long he had before his organs gave up. In short, he did not like the look of him at all.
John Sheppard had, over the years, found himself in many dangerous situations, but he was starting to think that this was his most dangerous one yet. No-one thought him alive, that was for sure; rescue would not be coming anytime soon; and here he was escaping his prison with two people with whom he really didn't know and had no idea, in all honesty, what they were going to do to help him. Somehow, Sheppard knew he had still not heard the full story but as being out of his cell was a better option than remaining in it, he blindly put his trust in Bartok and the Clone just now and hoped to at least get some strength back soon before he could take his life and decisions back into his own hand. For now, it was all about getting out of there.