Sweet Dreams

Chapter 1: Are Made of This

Disclaimer: I just…no. I claim no ownership of any of this. Song is originally by the Eurythmics.

Warnings: EVERYTHING OKAY. Rape/non-con, abuse (physical, sexual, mental), slavery. Tentacles, teeth. Khan being…Khan. Swearing/foul language. I don't believe in happy endings.

For viewing pleasure, listen to this nifty playlist I made just for this fic/pairing/relationship: playlist?list=PLMlrZzlkIB9OpgbYXVfiKtV_fVqzI7O3r. So I told myself not to write this and here I am writing this. Dreams, I swear…

Sweet dreams are made of this…

Kirk woke up in a room flooded with light. He was forced in the center and felt uncomfortably exposed, probably due to his lack of clothing except for a small loincloth. His eyes tried to focus as the rest of his senses registered his surroundings. He knew the mission went wrong, horribly wrong…but to what extent?

He heard words being spoken in a foreign tongue and really wished Uhura was there to translate, or that he at least had taken the time to learn some different languages while given the chance at the Academy. Now it was probably too late. However, the message seemed clear enough once he was able to get a good look around. Other humans were in a similar state around him, with the dominant alien species hovering near them like guards. At least he knew he was on the right planet, so the mission wasn't too far off. Looking at his fellow race, staring into their hopeless, broken eyes, Captain Kirk knew exactly what he landed himself into.

The slave trade.

He was currently being held on exhibit, as far as he could tell, in a circular room—a cage—where other species stood behind the tinted glass to look at him. They observed him, remarking to themselves, and continued walking around to other exhibits. He watched them carefully, already thinking of a plan of escape.

He was pulled up and roughly shoved away, the exhibition apparently over. Struggling, he dimly realized his hands were bound behind his back. His legs were stiff and weak, but walked when he commanded them to. Made to join a line of other humans who were all dressed similarly, Kirk took the opportunity to look around. There was a large crowd of multiple alien species wandering around the room they were held in, the noise too loud to distinguish one language from the other. He saw creatures he never dreamed of, and others only seen in nightmares. A few looked passable as humanoid, but the rest were clearly of an entirely other nature.

Who am I to disagree…

As he scanned the crowd, he noticed one such humanoid who appeared female, though not one he'd ever seen before. She was attractive, at least, and smiled at him once their eyes met. He allowed a tentative smile back. She began to approach, and he thought maybe he would finally catch a break and figure out what was happening here.

"Careful, she's not what she appears." A soft voice whispered at his side.

He jerked slightly, turning to look at the woman who spoke. It took a moment, but recognition lit up his features. "Hey, Ambassador Riley, it's you." He breathed. She was disheveled and seemed older, but it was definitely her.

She looked at him, assessing his features, wondering how he knew her. "It's been a while since I was addressed that way. Who are you?"

"Captain James Tiberius Kirk, ma'am, of the starship Enterprise. I came here to rescue you and the others who went missing."

She snorted, a forlorn and slightly sardonic sound. "And look where it got you."

"Look, I'm sure my crew will find a way out of this, so don't worry." He tried reassuring her.

"Kid, I've been stuck on this godforsaken shithole of a planet for years—I've lost count, who knows how many it's been now—and you think you can swoop in and save me? The 'others' are already gone, Captain. I'm the only one left, and trust me…escape is impossible."

Kirk didn't want to believe what she was saying, but he knew the truth when he heard it. She didn't put up any front or try to sugarcoat the issue. Instead he glanced around again, taking a gulp of air. The female was closer now, but made no move to approach other than to smile and wave her fingers at him.

"So tell me what's going on here then. How did Starfleet not know about this place?"

"Because every time they tried to figure it out, people like me ended up right in the middle of it, never to be heard from again. Our original mission was to investigate this planet and seek a mutual alliance, as with most missions, but we were wholly unprepared for what happened." She began. He nodded for her to continue. "It's a slave trade, a Black Market of sorts. The dominant species of this planet harvest solely humans to be sold off as pets to other alien species. It's not an easy life."

Through the scars and bruises marring her skin, he knew what she meant. "So there's nothing we can do? No escape? No contact to warn others who may come after us?"

She shook her head. "Sorry. If they sent you to rescue me and you ended up in the same position, that's how everyone else will be."

"And when you said the others were 'gone' what did you mean?"

She looked him dead in the eye. "Exactly what I said, kid. They tried to escape. Now they're gone."

He focused on his breathing, unable to process his situation just yet. "What…what exactly is going to happen to me? What do they do to the…pets?"

"Anything and everything. It depends on who you get sold to. Mostly it's a form of slavery, with pets performing household tasks or providing pleasure to their owners." She replied. "Take that one over there, the female you were eyeing." She gestured toward the humanoid with a jerk of her head. "Her species may look harmless enough, but they're known for their teeth."

"Teeth?"

"In their genitals. They're the equivalent of a black widow spider or praying mantis on Earth because they like to eat their mates whole after having sex."

He coughed, looking back and forth between the two. "You're serious?" his voice took on a higher pitch and he cleared it, attempting to regain his composure. He had to focus on finding an escape.

I travel the world and the seven seas…

"It's a short life for one of her pets, but it looks like she's set her sights on you. Sorry."

He gulped again, flashbacks of one-night stands flitting across his vision. For his life to end in such a way would be a waste and he knew it. "Alright, what's the process here, do you know?" he asked to keep from panicking.

"Well, you were just put on display so the potential buyers could get a look at you. They'll take you into the auction house where they'll bid after having some time for a meet and greet."

"Meet and greet?" he echoed.

"Yeah, a chance to sample the merchandise before buying. They'll put each individual in a room and have potentials spend a few minutes alone with them, nothing too serious, just an up-close and personal look for consideration."

The way she talked about the process unnerved him, so clinical and precise, as if all emotion was detached. He observed her for a longer period than before, realizing what she must have went through to make her this way. She caught his stare with a blank look.

"I'm going to get out of this, and when I do, I'm taking you with me and as many others as I possibly can. We'll tell Starfleet about this, send in the troops if we must, to rescue all these other people and stop this from happening. I promise."

Her expression softened, giving him a sad smile. "Oh Captain, I wouldn't be able to go back even if you could find a way to escape. I can't function in a normal society anymore. This is my life now. You understand, right? I can't go back."

It wasn't that she didn't want to, it was because her life was so altered at this point based on what she went through it would be hell to face all those people she once knew. He saw it in her eyes and instantly grasped what she meant. When she said there was no escape, she meant it. Even if you left, the horrors of this place would remain. How could anyone face your old friends, even family members, after experiencing life's greatest tragedies?

He nodded in understanding, unable to like his acceptance of her position but too intelligent to mock her pain with false hopes and naïve disbelief. The grim reality was staring him in the face. How long would it take him to turn out like her? After all, she and the rest of her crew went missing only three years ago.

Everybody's looking for something…

He sighed and realized they were getting close to the end of the line, nearing the auction house as she called it. He briefly wondered if he should ask why she was going through the process again if she had been here for so long, then thought better of it. He didn't want to know the answer after all. Instead he went back to some of the burning questions he had in mind ever since he woke up.

"So why humans?"

"We're seen as inferior, cattle to be put to use for greater purposes than our own conception. Pets, essentially, hence the preferred title." She answered in a monotone.

A shiver went down his spine as Kirk was reminded of another being whom considered humans as filth beneath his very boots. Khan Noonien Singh was a hassle before the start of his five-year mission, and it was only a year into it. The memories of his short awakening were still too fresh for Kirk.

So fresh, in fact, he thought he caught a glimpse of a black coat swishing nearby, disappearing into the crowd. He froze, searching for the source. A guard nudged him forward and he lost sight of the movement, being carried by the crowd into the room. They were allowed a bit more freedom in here, not compressed but spread out. There were only a few rooms for more intimate inspection of the goods. The way he saw it, the slaves would be rotated from the larger crowd to the smaller rooms, allowing both a small and large view of them by onlookers. He scanned the room after being separated from his newfound friend, wondering if he would ever see her again.

That's when he saw what he thought—but knew otherwise—he saw earlier. It was impossible, but standing right in front of him nonetheless. Khan was there, looking at him with those same piercing eyes as before. His hair was still slicked back, clothes dark and clinging to his skin, stance predatory. He seemed to fit right in with the rest of the slavers. Kirk's heart thudded behind his chest, both astonished and slightly relieved to see his old enemy in this unfamiliar place. He caught himself walking toward him, hesitant yet curious.

Some of them want to use you…

"Captain Kirk, what a surprise to see you here." Khan's voice rumbled in greeting as he approached.

"I could say the same about you." Kirk replied in a low tone, old anger flaring up deep inside him. "How the hell did you escape?"

Khan shook his head slowly, "Tsk, tsk, dear Jim, there's no room for talk like that here. You're not a Captain anymore either, or has your lack of a uniform not properly registered in your feeble mind yet? I was simply renewing an old rivalry when I greeted you, but those formalities are no longer necessary."

"Why do I get the feeling you had a hand in this." Kirk said through clenched teeth. He felt himself relaxing, despite the danger this man posed. Somehow, it was all safer compared to the unknown. Khan he could wrap his mind around and understand, predict his motives and untrustworthiness, something he knew.

Khan smirked. "I have to admit I really appreciate the idea of humans made into subservient, domesticated animals for the pleasure of others."

"And how did you escape their clutches, exactly?"

"Simple, Jim. I'm not human. They know this. In fact they've heard of me, even…helped me. They granted me a place here with them and I am quite content in my position."

Kirk sighed, the familiar banter and presence alarmingly comfortable. Khan's eyes narrowed. He knew that expression, it was the face of a man with nothing else to lose and everything to beg for. "Look, I know we're not exactly friends or even remotely allies, but I need to ask you a favor."

Some of them want to get used by you…

Khan's head tilted to the side.

Kirk couldn't quite form the right words to say, opening and closing his mouth, swallowing every sentence and reworking it in his head. He didn't even know what he was asking and began contemplating his sanity.

"You, come." A gruff voice commanded in a thick accent around the English words. Kirk was being dragged into one of the smaller rooms. He glanced back at Khan with a frightened look before shaking his head to clear it. "Stay." He was commanded and shoved inside, the door closing behind him.

He was breathing heavily, the panic beginning to rise. Was he really just about to ask Khan…?

"Hey there, beautiful." A silky voice made his head snap up to see the female from before, the one the ambassador referred to as a black widow. His eyes glanced down her form before he had a chance to stop himself, looking for the teeth he was told about.

He didn't trust his voice, so simply nodded to her. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad…

"You are beautiful, especially up close." And close she got, moving in on him to peer at his face. She began walking around him as she continued. "I might have to save you for a long meal over time, assuming you can even last that long. Such a delicious feast you'll make."

The panic was coming back as he understood her intentions. He wondered if she would eat him now and forgo the formalities of buying him.

"I can taste your fear in the air. So sweet." She came back around to look at him. "Hmmm, you might just be worth it." She grinned, showing a set of pearly whites edged and pointed. He briefly wondered if her other set of teeth were the same. "Too scared to speak, beautiful?" she asked after a moment with a little smile.

He was aware of the role reversal, remembering all the times he used that word to pick up chicks in bars, but didn't focus on it for too long. "Just a bit shell-shocked, is all." He eventually replied. "Did you say something about eating me?" he squeaked slightly, unable to hold back.

She laughed, setting his nerves on edge. She took a few steps closer until they were inches apart and licked her lips. Entranced and unable to move, he watched as her mouth hovered over his.

"Time!" the guard shrieked from the doorway, making Kirk jump back, throat clenching around a scream.

She smiled at him again as she left, smoothly walking out of the door and past the guard. He let himself take a deep breath to steady himself before the next one came in. He heard the door open and hoped, unreasonably, for Khan to be there. Instead a large, green-ish, tentacled thing entered.

Some of them want to abuse you…

Kirk gasped and stumbled back, tripping into a chair as the creature moved forward, gurgling something in an unknown language. The tentacles entangled themselves around him instantly, sliding around him, gripping, reaching, the suckers pulling at his skin. He wanted to scream but barely had enough breath, throat clogged with fear. He felt the slick, slimy appendages intrude upon every part of his body, unable to move because of their vice-grip.

He would definitely prefer Teeth over this thing any day. Even Khan would be a better substitute. At least he was handsome.

Kirk's eyes widened at the thought. There was no way he was going to entertain that idea, nor venture down that path. Even with this alien probing him, becoming anyone's slave willingly was preposterous to consider. Even though he had a reputation for his sexual appetite, he was still a Starfleet Captain who had enough respect for himself to reign his instincts in at the proper time and place.

The creature continued to gurgle, perhaps attempting to get a response from him. Kirk shook his head feebly, trying to communicate his bewilderment at the situation. Some of the tentacles disappeared from around his body and he could breathe easier. A small one dug around in the creature's clothing and brought out a device.

"Is this effective means of communication?" a robotic voice asked him after the device was fiddled with for a bit.

Kirk stared, dumbstruck, until eventually nodding his head.

"You appear in proper working order, healthy, able to serve my purposes." The robotic voice added.

Kirk gulped. "Which is…what exactly?"

"I will teach you manners, domesticate you, then use you for my will. Do not speak unless commanded to."

"Wow…look, this is all new to me and—," he didn't get much farther in his speech before tentacles were wrapping around him and squeezing hard.

"Do not speak unless commanded to." The robotic voice repeated.

Kirk was gasping but managed to nod in an approving manner, because soon he was released. Hesitant now, he stared open-mouthed at the thing for more instructions as he gasped for breath. The creature tilted its head and also moved forward close to his face. He nearly fainted at the sight of more tiny tentacles where the mouth should have been wiggling at him.

"Yes, your body can be used in many ways for my entertainment as well as for sufficient labor."

Kirk didn't like the sound of that. Not with those beady eyes staring into his and the lack of emotion behind the words.

"Time!" the guard yelled again. The creature backed up, then turned to leave as well.

Kirk fell back into the chair slowly, eyes wide, face pale as the full weight of his predicament fell on him. He didn't even notice his latest visitor until a pair of black boots entered his vision. Looking up, Khan loomed over him. Kirk's mouth fell open but no words came out just yet.

"Well, considering what's out there, you could get worse than those two." The superior being murmured, eyebrows quirking upward.

"Khan you have to help me!" Kirk burst, the words coming out in a rush, too fast to stop them. "I can't be the slave of that thing, and she said she was gonna eat me! Please Khan, you have to be the one to buy me!" He couldn't believe what he was saying. His mouth snapped shut and he looked away, jaw clenching and knuckles turning white as he gripped the chair. Apparently, Khan didn't believe it either.

"You want me to buy you."

"Look, we can make an agreement. I know you want revenge, and I get it. Beat me up all you want, kill me when you're done, but for the love of god don't let those things touch me." there was a pleading edge to his voice Kirk didn't like. He was too vulnerable to be having this conversation with Khan, emotions too raw and uncontained for him to keep it all together. He knew the other man sensed it, relished in it.

"Oh Captain." The man purred, locking eyes. "You don't want that. I can assure you my intentions are far worse than those others."

Kirk swallowed again, eyes wide as they were held by Khan's. "But at least I know you." He said, voice weak and already sounding defeated.

"Yes, you do, and that's the very reason why becoming my pet should be your last resort, not even an option." He leaned down, getting close. Kirk moved back against the chair, feeling trapped. "Because you have no idea what exactly I'll do to you if given the chance." He growled through clenched teeth.

Kirk was breathing heavily again, heart racing, mind screaming at him. He knew Khan was being truthful, he knew it should be the last thing on his mind, but for some reason he didn't care. A part of him preferred a known enemy, a dangerous and volatile being whose strengths he knew all too well, than the creatures standing right outside the door, waiting to tear him apart. He couldn't stop himself from rationalizing his choice of Khan by appointing him the lesser of evils.

In reality, he knew Khan was the worst possible person to own him, because it would be so easy for him to break under those cold, calculating eyes.

Some of them want to be abused…

Khan's fingers began tracing the marks left by the tentacles as they were wrapped around him, and Kirk twitched at the movement. His skin tingled at the touch, eyes pleading. He could tell it was a sight Khan was happy to see by the way his lips curled upward.

"I admit the offer is tempting…"

"Do this for me, and I'll help you get your crew back."

The proposal hung in the here, weighing him down. Khan observed him, expression serious and almost serpentine. Dangling that like a piece of bait was a bad idea if he had no intention of delivering. "How do you know I don't already have plans for their rescue? What makes you think I don't already have them here with me? I'm working with this species for a reason, surely you can imagine the results."

"Then I won't tell Starfleet about you. I'll pretend I never saw you."

"There's nothing you can give me that I don't already have, Kirk. Starfleet doesn't even know this place exists, let alone that I'm involved behind the scenes. Besides, you won't be able to contact Starfleet ever again."

"If you help me escape I will."

"And why would I help you?" Khan moved closer, voice low and seething.

"Because you want me." Kirk took another breath and swallowed. "Because I'll just walk away when it's over, never bother you again. Just help me." His voice cracked but he didn't look away.

They stared each other down for a few moments, neither flinching as the guard opened the door and called, in a calmer and more respectful tone, the time. Khan remained locked in position, with Kirk refusing to back down, before slowly extracting himself and moving backward to stand. Kirk gripped the armrest and leaned forward, hopeful.

"I'll think about it." He received in reply. Before he could say anything more to convince him, Khan was gone. Kirk was left alone in the room, thinking about what he just did.

He didn't have much time to contemplate his actions before the guard came back in to retrieve him. His mind was blank, stare empty as he was hauled onto a stage area with a few other human slaves. He glanced at each of them, trying to focus on them to dismiss his own anguish. If he could make himself feel selfless, he could find a way out of here. He was a better man when he had other people to worry about. When he only considered his own situation, selfish and greedy for life, he became a monster.

The auctioneer began speaking fast, pointing to the first person lined up on the stage. She was panicking, head swiveling around as she tried to understand what was about to happen to her. An audience gathered, all staring up at them. Kirk's skin crawled with their eyes on him, limbs twitching as he wanted desperately to run. He contemplated fighting his way out, measuring up the guards, but it was made clear no form of escape was tolerated. Some of the guards held objects in their hands which resembled batons, clearly weapons, that at times gave off sparks of electricity. He gulped.

Members of the crowd began calling back to the auctioneer, clearly betting on the poor girl. She shrieked as the energy in the room heightened, the fast-paced action overwhelming. Kirk tried to keep up, knowing his turn would come soon. He barely understood when a new species offered a bet or raised it, unable to read the crowd. Instead he tried to look for Khan, hoping their little heart-to-heart made an impression on him. Kirk kept telling himself he could handle Khan, find a way of escape through him, and would be better off in the superior being's power.

The auction ended with a loud bang and the woman struggled as she was dragged off the stage and to the side, where a large insect-type alien awaited her. He held himself back from trying to bolt, her fear mixing with his own, the tension in the air making it hard to breathe. Adrenaline was pumping through his veins, the fight or flight response activating, but he could do neither, helpless.

One human couldn't contain himself and dashed way, but was surrounded by guards who began beating him to a pulp and jabbing at him with their electric sticks until he was beyond human, flesh seared, bleeding, and torn. They carried his body to the side and entered a room. Kirk refused to look away as he saw gaping jaws open wide, teeth bared as the mouth of a beast was exposed and the rebellious human thrown inside. The crunching sound of flesh and bone being chewed by the jaw was sickening, as well as the blood and drool dripping from the sides of the creature's mouth.

Kirk wanted to puke. He turned back to the audience and his eyes finally found Khan, whose stare bore straight into his soul. They remained that way through the next auction. Kirk imagined a silent conversation passing between him, mostly with him pleading for Khan to save him, to spare him from this monstrosity. He would take a fight between the Vengeance and Enterprise, Khan's seething hatred and rage over his crew in those torpedoes being targeted at him, the brutality he used when maiming and murdering the enemy over this situation any day. Any of that was Heaven compared to this sure Hell.

It was finally his turn and he was pushed slightly forward, close to the auctioneer. They exchanged a look before the alien began his round. His head snapped from left to right as creatures began calling back, trying to focus in order to determine who would eventually win him. Teeth was determined, almost always out betting the others. Tentacles was also adamant, sending her glares from across the audience. His eyes darted to Khan, growing fearful and widening in shock. He wouldn't give up this opportunity, would he? Kirk was practically handing himself over on a silver platter, so why not snap him up?

Eventually Khan uttered a response, which garnered some attention from the crowd. There was a small pause before Tentacles shout out another response. Teeth huffed, glaring at them both, and yelled out again. Others dropped out, shaking their heads and glancing at Khan. Kirk didn't realize how high up in the chain of command Khan was to deserve such deference. The three of them called out a few more times until eventually Teeth gave up, sighing and pouting, looking at Kirk hungrily. Tentacles wouldn't back down, even after Khan turned to look at him (or it, Kirk still was unsure about the proper gender, if that alien species even had one).

After the latest call Khan turned back to look at him. Kirk's eyes bulged, a whimper stuck inside his throat as his body went rigid. A slight movement of his head made the former Captain's knees weak. The auctioneer chattered about something, eliciting an eruption from the crowd, and he was being dragged offstage as well, eyes still locked on Khan, missing the small smile curling his lips. Then he focused on the floor, trying to remember how to breathe. Tentacles approached, appearing smug even though the expression was hard to notice with all the tentacles on his face. Kirk's handcuffs were taken off and replaced with a binding device Tentacles supplied and he was being led away.

Feeling cold, stiff, Kirk finally understood the lesson Khan was trying to teach him all along. He finally knew what it was like to be betrayed by someone you put your whole trust in, a foolish mistake he would never repeat again.

Author's Note: I wanted this to be a one-shot, but it doesn't look possible right now. Don't expect a long piece though. This wasn't even supposed to happen, let alone continue. I blame the wonderful ideas this fandom keeps giving me. For a more crack approach, look out for another Star Trek fic entitled "Make Love Not War" I'm working on. If this song didn't magically appear on Tumblr, this would still be just a sweet dream…