000 Disclaimer, I own absolutely nothing 000 Huge thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter! Seriously sorry for the lack of updating but this chapter was hard to write! Ok so quick thanks to the following for their reviews: Phaser Lady, GoddessAnjanee, Rinne, Buggles568, firebirdgirl, Volley and The Libran Iniquity.
Ok, before reading this chapter I've gotta tell you all that I've called the clones Reed and Tucker and the originals Malcolm and Trip. This'll either allieviate confusion or just make things worse but who knows?000
Tucker surveyed himself…the original…curiously. He looked more muscular than he remembered from his last glance into the bathroom mirror. Well, from what the scenario told him. The blond hair was a blonde as ever and Tucker found himself briefly entertaining the idea that Trip dyed his hair. The bars on the uniform told him that the original him had become Captain.
Glancing across at Reed and Malcolm he could see distinct differences between the two. For one thing, Malcolm had hair and the barest hint of a tan, Reed was hairless with milky white skin. Malcolm's hair seemed a lot more out of control than he remembered, slightly longer too. He seemed more relaxed, yet perhaps more alert than Tucker ever remembered him being.
It took him a moment to figure out the identity of the two officers who staggered into the room. One he didn't recognise at all…the other, an older, bloodier, version of Joe Walters an easy going, oddly humoured ensign who worked in the science department. But where was T'Pol? Or Captain Archer?
Tucker opened his mouth to speak but Reed beat him to it.
"So, what are you going to do now?"
Malcolm and Trip looked at each other. They stared at each for a long while, each trying to find the answer locked in the others eyes.
"I don't know," said Trip honestly. He glanced back to Walters and Lily. "We need to get Joe back to Enterprise."
"I'm fine," Walters told the wall.
"If you leave us here," said Reed finally. "Do me a quick favour first…" He locked eyes with Malcolm. "Kill me."
Tucker opened his mouth to tell Reed to shut up, tell him he was being stupid, but the words died on his lips. "You've given up." His tone was mildly accusing.
"We can't kill you!" Lily blurted out. She looked at Trip pleadingly. "Sir, shouldn't bring them back with us?"
Trip opened his mouth to speak but he couldn't find the right words.
"Lily, we don't even know which way is out…" Malcolm reminded her gently.
"You can't take them," Isobel muttered mutinously, scrubbing at her eyes with the back of her hand.
"What do you mean they can't take us?" Tucker asked feeling a hint of desperation creep into his voice.
"That's provided they even want carbon copies of themselves," said Reed rolling his eyes. "Give it up, they won't let us go."
"Well, it's nice to know you're such a little ray of optimistic sunshine!" Tucker bit back.
"They can't take you," Isobel repeated, louder this time. "It's a physical impossibility. They take you, you die."
"What?" Malcolm whispered, finding his voice. "What do you mean they'll die?"
Isobel shot him a withering look. "Do you not know what 'die' means? If you take them they will cease to function. They're just clones, they're kept alive by the machines that feed scenarios into their heads, the drugs currently zipping through their systems keep them well under control. Take them away and the withdrawal will kill them."
Reed clenched his fists and chewed on his bottom lip a moment. "Well, suffer withdrawal and die or spend the rest of my unnatural life with a hysterical maniac. As the old saying goes 'One door closes, and the rest slam shut'!"
"Phlox can help, I'm sure he can," said Trip quickly glancing over to Malcolm.
Malcolm remained silent, staring at his feet. He didn't raise his head to meet Trip's gaze. Could he cope with this? Did he want to cope with this? If Isobel was right about the withdrawal, would he want to watch himself die? Would he be able to kill…well, himself?
"I don't think Phlox can help this time," Reed whispered softly.
Lily lowered Walters to the ground; he leaned against the wall and closed his eyes. Reed watched them both intently. "At least not us."
Malcolm raised his head and stared at his clone. "Are you sure?"
Reed closed his eyes. "A little clarity would be nice for a change." He nodded.
"Sir!" Lily exclaimed. "You can't be possibly be thinking of doing this? It's murder!"
"I believe the term is euthanasia," Reed snapped back. "And he better bloody well be thinking of it too. I don't want to live like this! Don't you understand! I can't go with you because I'll die anyway, even if Phlox does find a cure I'll never be accepted, I won't know anything, I won't be able to do anything, years lying on a table can't be fantastic for muscles!" Reed turned his head to look at Tucker. "Can you honestly say you want to live a lie?"
Tucker paused; he didn't want to admit that Reed had a point. "I don't want a scenario…"
"Come with us," said Trip immediately. "Phlox can help you, you can both start new lives -"
"Either way you're going to die," said Isobel standing up and brushing off her uniform. She laughed. "They finally found you and you're going to die anyway! Oh that's just brilliant!" She laughed again, leaning against the wall for support.
"What about you?" Tucker asked suddenly. "Isobel, you're a prisoner as much as we are, surely you want to leave?"
Isobel's expression darkened. "If I leave my family dies," She spat. "I would suffer hell a thousand times over as long as they go unharmed!"
Silence fell. Trip stared down at Tucker. Reed seemed so determined to die; he seemed to be refusing to believe there was hope for him. But Tucker…Tucker just seemed so lost.
Reed turned his piercing gaze onto Trip. "The final decision rests with you, but if it helps any, in my six years of being alive I've gained thirty-four years worth of memories." His eyes flickered across to Malcolm. "I figure the galaxy can only handle one Malcolm Reed."
Tucker clenched his fists and turned to look at Reed. "It's amazing how someone who was screaming and trying to eat his lip earlier is now full of such amazing clarity of how he wants the rest of his life to be!"
Reed flinched and took a moment before replying quietly, "It's still my choice to make isn't it?"
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