Three (Overcrossed) Pasts John Sheppard Might Be Hiding, by Sophonisba [backstory challenge]

[saphanibaal]

-title- Three (Overcrossed) Pasts John Sheppard Might Be Hiding
-author- Sophonisba (saphanibaal)
-rating- Mostly suitable for general audiences; some foul language.
-spoilers- I'm not sure that a character's name counts as a spoiler. Either one of them.
-characters- Sheppard; guest appearance by Holland and, more subtly, by Rodney and Teyla, as well as

Comments

back from vacation and answering

[saphanibaal]

//While no. 1 is a neat idea and no. 2 is cool (because Sheppard would be awesome as the world's most laid-back resurrected killer mummy (which makes me think of ninja zombie pirates, for some reason)), no. 3 is UTTERLY BRILLIANT.//

Thank you!

In re no. 2 -- I think it's because "mummy helicopter/spaceship pilot" occupies sort of the same kind of nexus of coolness as "ninja zombie pirate," especially if you decide that you somehow got "elf" in there in a lefthanded sort of way.

//Sheppard as Holmes (or Holmes as Sheppard)? And Watson as Rodney?//

Er, actually, Teyla was Watson. Rodney was Mycroft. I'd tried to make those two clear, but...

This started life as a more complicated and depressing crossover idea, but then I realized that if I put it in reverse and added more people it would be perfect for this challenge. (Although you then do lose the "explanation" for the wild music that doesn't sound like music.)

//But put the same person in a very different environment when they're growing up, and of course they'll end up as someone a bit different.//

Exactly; instead of remembering eleventeen different kinds of ash and more than that of dirt, Sheppard now has memorized the design and mechanical tolerances of every aircraft ever built and probably many many random factoids about his favorite football team -- people don't look at you funny when it's about sports. And instead of outright disguises, he now does the chameleon act about himself -- which would take up a lot of resources that he earlier spent on other things.

Elizabeth still had to earn her own respect first, though. ^_^

Once again, thank you for the extravagant compliments!

Re: back from vacation and answering

[bratfarrar]

*buries head in hands* Yes, yes, of course Teyla is Watson and Rodney is Mycroft. How did I manage to mix up the two? It really is quite obvious, and I'm just being dense. Don't mind me.