000 Disclaimer, I own nothing 000 Huge thanks for the reviews go to: GoddessAnjanee, The Libran Iniquity, Phaser Lady, Volley, Rinne, Tata, firebirdgirl.
Well, this is it, the end, again if you have any questions regarding plot/plot holes etc stick it a review, I might be tempted to clarify some points with an epilogue 000
Lily looked from the Captain and the Commander to the clones lying motionless on the tables. "Are we going to take them with us?"
Isobel moved quickly in front of the clones. "Well, you could waste time and take them with you…" She smiled cheekily and patted Reed's head.
"Captain, we can't leave them here," said Lily quietly.
Isobel scowled and shoved Lily roughly. Lily cried out and stumbled into Malcolm who winced when she connected with his tender, abused skin.
"I'm still speaking!" Isobel snapped haughtily, folding her arms.
Malcolm's hand twitched near Trip's phase pistol, he seemed itching to take it out and shoot her. Trip tore his eyes away from the dead clones and turned to face her.
Isobel leapt back onto to one of the tables, knocking one of Reed's legs off, leaving it hanging limply. "As I was saying," she said calmly checking her filthy nails. "You could take these literal dead lumps of weight with you… or you get your unconscious friend over there back to your ship before he expels the last of his blood all over my nice clean floor."
Lily pushed Malcolm away with a cry and fell to the floor beside Walters. His skin was deathly pale, Trip feared for the worst as he knelt beside Lily and fumbled for a pulse.
"Come on, Joe," Lily encouraged. "Wake up."
He didn't move. Trip finally found a pulse, thrumming slowly beneath his fingers.
"He's still alive," Trip announced. "We have to get back to the ship – now."
With Malcolm's help, Trip grabbed Walters in a fireman's carry. Isobel waved to them cheerfully. "If he dies it's all your fault!" she said beaming.
"Shut up!" Lily screamed turning and throwing all her weight into a punch.
Isobel screeched and launched herself at Lily. Malcolm yanked out Trip's phase pistol and pointed it at her. Isobel slowed and shrank back.
Trip hurried towards the exit flanked by Lily, Malcolm bringing up the rear his weapon trained on Isobel. She waved cheekily to him as the exit closed.
Isobel paused a few moments, listening intently.
"The originals have left, Angel."
Isobel started, They were speaking to her. Instantly she straightened up and smoothed down her uniform with care.
"Did the copies live?"
Isobel hesitated and carefully reached to check for the clones pulses. She gulped. "No sirs…but I didn't let them take the bodies!"
"Fresh copies will be supplied, return the dead copies to the morgue for physical analysis. You have performed adequately; your family shall remain unharmed. At this time we do not believe the originals will return, however, they may attempt to destroy the facility. Rebuilding will wait till the vessel has left orbit."
Isobel nodded. "May I leave for a fresh uniform, sirs?"
"Yes. You did well; we believe the subjects truly believed you mad."
Isobel smiled. "Thank you, sirs. Drama was one of my favourite studies."
There was a pause, Isobel's smile fell and she feared that she had become to familiar. Finally They spoke, "We know this, it is why you were copied. Clean up. You have saved your family…for now. Speak of this study to no one, remember what it is for."
Isobel hesitated a moment, then nodded. "For the good of the people," she murmured to herself. "For the survival of my family."
Outside the building, the Away Team moved swiftly towards the shuttlepod. None of them said a word.
Lily hit the door release and Trip climbed in then laid Walters down on one of the benches. Wordlessly Lily moved over to the comm. barely acknowledging Malcolm as he climbed in and settled himself in the pilot's seat.
"Shuttlepod One to Enterprise," said Lily clearly. "Enterprise respond."
There was a momentary crackle of static, then…
"We were beginning to get worried, what happened?"
"Later, Baker, just have Phlox on standby when we get back, Joe's been shot, he's bleeding badly."
"Will do. Hurry home."
Lily cut the communication and turned to the back of the shuttlepod where Trip was attempting to help Walters. She didn't say a word as she watched them.
Malcolm quickly got the shuttlepod into the air, trying to keep his composure, the days events threatening to overwhelm him. Seeing himself, lying there so vocal and then so still. That twisted smile of relief that crossed his clone's face when he died shook him to the core.
He pushed his wayward thoughts back, bringing himself into focus by remembering the pain in his body from the attack by the alien soldier earlier.
Beside him Lily shifted slightly and closed her eyes. She could still see the twisted expressions on the clones faces as they died…even worse, she could still see in her mind's eye the dead mutilated clone of Malcolm staring up at her from the depths of the cupboard his body had been carelessly shoved into. She could smell the stench of death rising from the staring corpse.
Her eyes flew open and she once more focused her gaze on the two in the back. The Captain, leant over Walters' leg tending the wound, seemed older than he'd ever been. His face creased in worry and confusion, the light of the shuttlepod reflecting on the slight greying in his hair and his stance suggesting the worries of the universe rested on his shoulders.
Hours later finally nestled safely aboard the Enterprise; Trip found himself hovering at Sickbay doors. It had been touch and go for a moment with Walters, but after swift surgical intervention by Phlox the prognosis looked good for the young Lieutenant.
Trip wasn't entirely certain why he was here, he had found himself checking on everything in the ship just to assure himself it was real and it was there. He opened the door and saw Lily sat at Walters bedside.
Phlox's bat screeched once and Trip left. He headed towards Malcolm's quarters but again paused at the door. He raised his hand to the door bell and let it hang there.
He knew he couldn't intrude, but he couldn't let his hand fall. He took one last deep breath and finally walked away down the empty corridor.
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