This is touching beyond words. I haven't looked at any Joe comics in a long time. Billy was one of my favorites because he gave Storm Shadow depth.

Hmm...send in the clones.

Mindbender had a clone...like, just in case? Well, statistically speaking, given how many times Mindbender's plans (to be fair, everyone else's plans, too) have failed, his execution was bound to happen at some point.

So the Commander goes from "he can be the son I've always wanted to be" to "and if not, at least I can kill him myself." I can't think of the word for that sort of mindset, but it's not anything healthy.

"I freed them from their self-imposed chains!"
My chains are self-imposed for a reason, thanks.

"You're you."
Truth! Whatever input there may be, the decision of who you are is yours.

I can't believe I haven't reviewed this before. I read it months ago, and I was sure I'd said something because it broke my heart in the best possible way. But apparently not. Anyway, I thought this was a lovely way to flesh out canon, and if you do ever decide to feed this plot bunny again, I look forward to it.

Sorry to take so long to R/R. I like that you've followed up on this, even though I know you don't plan to do much else with this AU universe. You can easily feel the emotions that both William and Tommy are struggling with, without having to blatantly spell it out. That's a sign of good writing.

*Sigh* at the end I was tearing up as well. So sad and so sweet. A very fitting second chapter. Thanks for sharing.

Great chapter! I really like the focus on how Billy/William view Storm Shadow and the bit at the end is just awesome.

I repeat what I said when I read this before: This is the ONLY conceivable reason I can see for Storm Shadow sending Billy's body back to Cobra Commander. The ONLY one.
And it's all moot anyway because Billy isn't dead. "Sips pina colada as pleasure barge floats along past pyramids."

Excellent continuation of the explanation of the character continuity error. (lookit long words!)

Woah.

This was fantastic. I think you know my feelings on Billy's death, but this was really, really good. The idea of watching your own autopsy...unsettling, to say the least.

Well done.

I do like what you've done here much more than the JM discussion of spirits or dream sequences. The existential angst - what makes a person a person, what makes a self a self - is a fabulous unifying thread.

You nailed Mindbender in terms of continuity characterization; the Commander's speech seemed a bit toned down from his Hama-esque floridity, fondness for alliteration, and unusual choice of adjectives. I also don't remember Billy ever referring to the Commander as "Dad" - but this is a fairly minor detail, and I could easily be wrong. :)

William's awakening in the lab was VERY well written, the details placed perfectly to draw the reader through the scene quite literally through Billy's eyes. The way you brought in the only logical explanation for the return of the body - to incite CC to action - was well-portrayed through the Commander's character; for what it's worth, I agree with you... if you take out that motivation, SS's returning Billy to his father makes no sense whatsoever. Ah well.

The conversation between Tommy and Billy/ William was easily the best part of the story - I found it very believable, particularly in that Tommy was willing to accept this new being not as the person he WAS, but as a new person in his own right.

Very good story.

Love the way you bring out the problems for Billy as well as Storm Shadow. You sure you're not Psyche Out in disguise ;-).

Deep. So deep. It's deep inside a clone's head, looking out and wondering whether you are a copy of yourself. I liked it all, and I find myself thinking it must be the beginning of a whole new universe and wishing that NewBilly gets a better life than he's been allowed in the comics that have betrayed him.

You already read some of my previous comments, but I'll still say it again: This is a very nice one shot, one that makes my brain turn over spin off ideas. All of the characters were handled well, especially Billy/William's emotions.

funny how things work don't they?

Eep! Just found this story today. I should've known you would not let the insult of issue 172 lie and this was a very interesting way of expanding that. I wouldn't put it past the creators to come up with something like this to bring Billy back. *glances around nerviously* Great story,very well written and it brings up all sorts of intreguing questions with a clone of Billy running around.

Thanks for posting it. : )