-o-An Augmented Life-o-
Novella Fanfiction by karategirl666
Disclaimer: JJ Abrams world twisted to my liking.
-o-In loving memory and dedicated to Jack-o-
Rewritten 6/9/14
Aria smiled softly as she walked towards the Star Fleet bunker. Her hands were jittery, and her heart was pounding. She was about to embark on one of the greatest adventures of her life, and she couldn't be more pleased, or more terrified. She took a deep breath as she walked up to one of the Star Fleet Officers and handed over her tablet with identification.
"Commander Aria Adne." He said. "Welcome to Star Fleet."
"Thank you." She said taking her tablet back and walking past him into the large bunker. She stopped with a soft expression as she stared out at row after row of shuttles along with nearly finished Star Ships.
"Amazing isn't it?" She turned to see a young woman with short blonde hair.
"Yes, it's stunning." She said as she looked the young woman over.
"Carol Wallace." She said putting her hand out.
"Aria Adne." They shook hands
"Aria Adne…" Carol repeated, the name sounding familiar to her, though she couldn't place it. "Very nice to meet you."
"You as well."
"Where are you headed? What ship I mean?"
"Enterprise." Aria said with an eager look.
"Me as well, shall we walk together?" Carol inquired looking over the fair skinned girl with long ruby red hair and deep Emerald eyes. Both were such an intense color that if one didn't catch her attention in a crowd the second attribute would.
"Sounds perfect… So what position are you called to?" Aria asked as they began to walk.
"I am a weapons specialist, so science position. What about you?"
"Expert in battle tactics, so bridge."
"Exciting." Carol said and Aria smiled softly. They headed to a shuttle and Aria looked around as Carol walked straight up to the Captain with a confident step, one that Aria envied. Aria looked down at her tablet to make sure everything was in place. She didn't want to make a fool out of herself in her first meeting with the Captain.
"And you are?" She quickly looked up at Commander Spock to see he was staring at her with a quirked eyebrow. She instantly felt like hitting herself. Despite her wanting to not make a fool out of herself she had managed to in less than a minute, to the first officer no less.
"Uhm… Aria Adne, Commander Spock." She said stepping forward instantly. "I am your new Battle Tactics expert." She said handing her tablet over to the Captain.
"What happened to Bradshaw who was originally assigned for this mission, and such position?" Captain Kirk inquired as he looked over her credentials.
"I'm afraid he died in the attack at Headquarters sir…" She said.
"You were his student, he was your mentor… Your guardian by law." Spock said reading the tablet Kirk had handed to him.
"That's right…" Aria said and she watched as the Captain looked her over.
"How old are you Miss Adne?" Kirk inquired.
"Please, Aria, and I am 21 years old Captain." She answered with a smile.
"You look younger." He commented.
"I take that as a compliment." She said with a smile.
"Well… You don't look evil, so take a seat Aria." He said.
"Yes sir." She said with a bright smile as she went to walk away. She suddenly backed up and looked him over "And uhm, I won't let you down." Kirk smiled at her eagerness.
"I'm sure you won't Aria." She nodded as she took back her tablet and headed to a seat behind the Captain. She looked to her side to see a jittery tall fellow who was going through a medical kit. She smiled recognizing him instantly.
"Dr. McCoy?" She asked and he looked to her.
"Do I know you?" He asked looking her over she buckled herself in.
"We've never had the pleasure, but I read your thesis on battle related wounds." She said and he smiled. "Inspiring work." He smiled more. "I'm Aria Adne." She put her hand out and he instantly shook it.
"Nice to meet you, Leonard, or Bones."
"Bones?" She asked.
"A cruel nickname the Captain gave me."
"It's not my fault your wife took everything but your bones in the divorce." Kirk said and Aria smiled. She could tell it was going to be a fun crew to work with.
"Can we get back to a bigger issue on hand?" McCoy asked.
"Like?" Kirk inquired.
"Like, the freaking torpedoes you plan on sending into Klingon territory."
"Sir as your chief battle expert I do not recommend such a move." Aria said. "A move like that could cause all out war with the kling-."
"Noted." Kirk stated and she waited before tilting her head.
"And Captain?" She inquired.
"And it's noted." He said with a cheeky smile as he looked over his shoulder at her.
"Right…" She looked off. "Are we at least stopping at the territory line to shoot them in?"
"Yes we are Commander Aria." She relaxed a little.
"Do you have a problem with the fact that this may cause a war as I tried to point out before?"
"Do you have a problem with that Commander Aria?"
"Well usually I'd say yes but the man we're going after killed the one man who ever took a chance on me so… No." Kirk smiled to himself. He had more in common with Aria then he previously thought. "Sir while heading to the Ship, I'd like permission to look over archive footage of John Harrison to study his battle techniques." She said holding out her tablet for him to take.
"Permission granted." He took her tablet and punched in his code before handing it back.
"Thank you Captain." She said as the shuttle raised up into the air.
-o-
When they got to the shuttle bay of the USS Enterprise Aria stepped off and looked around the bay with a smile. She had been aboard many ships since graduating from Star Fleet, and before that with her adoptive father Bradshaw but none of them had ever been quite as impressive as The USS Enterprise. Her eyes then caught an interesting sight. A grouping of Torpedoes getting set gingerly down in front of firing tubes.
"These are far advanced aren't they Carol? I've never seen anything like this in my readings except in future plans for long range weaponry."
"Yes these are far advanced indeed… I too have never set eyes on such weaponry…" She said with a look of awe.
"There's no way these are getting put on my ship!" Aria looked up at a familiar voice.
"Scotty?" He turned and suddenly smiled.
"Wee little Lady! Look at you all grown up!" He said and she walked around the Torpedo to him and laughed as he wrapped his arms around her. "Good to see you lass." He said with a laugh.
"And you." She said with a bright smile.
"You two know each other?" Kirk inquired with a raised eyebrow.
"I used to babysit this little bugger before she was a hotshot in battle tactics." He said his arm going around her as she laughed. "Aye your father would be proud." He said looking her over.
"Bradshaw, that's right you said he was your guardian." Kirk said finding his mind more than jumbled these days. He couldn't seem to hold onto his short term memory. Not since the fire fight.
"She was knee high to a duck when he took her in she was. I feel much safer with you aboard lass." He said and she smiled. "You'll find no one better in battle sir." He said to Kirk. "Wee scary lass she is." He pinched her cheek and she swatted his hand away.
"Speaking of which I think I should head up onto the bridge." She said with a smile.
"First back me in saying these torpedoes shouldn't be upon this ship." Scotty said holding her in place with his arm around her shoulders.
"Sorry tactically speaking we need them." She said before walking off after Spock who had been ordered to the bridge by an annoyed Kirk.
"Oi you're supposed to be on my side girly!" Scotty yelled. "Oi Lass!"
"Sorry Scotty I'm on the side of battle tactics!" She called as she stepped onto the turbo lift. As she did she brought up the footage of the terrorist John Harrison on her tablet.
"Commander Adne if I may?" Spock asked.
"Feel free to call me Aria everyone else does." She said with a smile.
"You don't care for rank?" he asked looking down for her.
"I find it makes people more comfortable to call me by my first name then to refer to me by rank and then my name. Because of my age."
"You don't mind."
"I do my work, that's all that matters to me, Rank or not I get things done and that's what is important if you really think about it." He nodded understanding her logic.
"I just wanted to say that I worked with your adoptive Father Harold Bradshaw on the Kobayashi Maru project… He helped me bring my test to life, and I learned much for him." She smiled softly trying to hide the pain in her expression. "He was a good man."
"Thank you very much for saying so… He spoke very highly of you." He merely nodded before watching her turn back to her tablet in hand. She was a hard worker she got that from her father. In truth, Spock was glad they had her aboard. She had made leaps and bounds when it came to defensive tactics in Ariel battle.
Aria looked over the screen with a tilted head. She had to admit, there wasn't much when it came to battle tactics with the terrorist John Harrison. There was no footage of him physically fighting. It seemed when it came to battle he preferred to use his mind over technology. Using both was a deadly combination. Still, he was quite impressive and she only wished her mentor was still alive to see it.
"Commander Spock, and Commander Aria on the bridge." A heavy foreign accent said. She walked inside and headed over to her area which had full control over weapons and shields. It was one of the most powerful posts to have on the bridge. She slowly sat down and checked herself in before continuing to examine all archive footage on John Harrison.
She paused a scene of him flying in the aircraft which had nearly killed her new Captain. She stared at the man inside for a long moment. He was staring off into the distance with a sure look and his mouth set in a firm line. There was no feeling in his expression none at all. She pulled up other stills and tilted her head seeing the same expression. She had to wonder if the man knew the pain he was causing by killing so many. Her eyes narrowed on Harrison as her jaw clenched.
"Aria my girl what would you say to a lovely meal with an old man?" Aria laughed as her mentor leant his arm for her to take.
"Well first I'd say you're only mildly old…" He laughed. "And second I'd say, why eat when we could just go out and drink?"
"You make an amazing point." He said and she smiled as she looked him over.
"Maybe we can get free stuff with our uniforms."
"Doesn't hurt to try." A loud bang sounded and Aria jumped.
"What the hell was that?"
"Aria move!" She was propelled towards the ground, her cheek smacking against the pavement as she landed. She turned and looked over her shoulder to look at Bradshaw and watched in horror as shards of glass and slabs of stone fell upon him. "Bradshaw!"
Just like that he was gone. The one man who had ever taken a chance on her. The one person who had ever truly believed in her. The one person who had ever cared about her in an instant was dead. She bowed her head for a moment as she brought up a photo of Bradshaw. He was smiling brightly at her from behind large spectacles, and salt and pepper hair. She looked at it for a long moment as her jaw clenched.
"Checking in on your mentors files?" She turned to see the Captain looking at the photo of Bradshaw.
"Uhm no Captain, I just need a reminder of the shoes I'm to fill." He nodded with a smile as he clapped her on the back.
"You're going to do fine."
"I don't want to do fine… I want to do great sir." He smiled.
"I'm sure you will Aria." With that he walked off and she smiled softly. She watched him walk over to the navigator. She turned back to the archive footage and started looking over the weaponry the ship held. It was all standard, until she spotted the torpedoes, weapons she had just become acquainted with. She sighed heavily as she looked over the Torpedoes. They were definitely going to start a war, all because of this John Harrison. He was becoming more and more of a pain in her neck as time went on. After all if a war started the first people sent to the front lines would be people like her. She loved the thrill of Battle but in no way was she ready for a war.
"Sulu?" Kirk inquired.
"Yes sir?"
"Punch it."
"Aye sir."
-o-
Khan slowly looked around his eyes scanning the desolate home world of Kronos. It was the perfect place to hide, at least in the beginning. Star Fleet wouldn't dare follow him to enemy space. Though now he had a feeling that nothing would stop Admiral Marcus from coming after him. He had to wonder if he would come himself in the Dreadnaught class starship Vengeance, which he had to admit was aptly named. Or if the Admiral would send a cousin ship after him. Possibly a NCC-1701 class.
"Let them come…" He muttered to himself. "Let them try and catch me… There will only be more death… More vengeance…"
He couldn't believe the Admiral had tried to use his crew against him. To try and blackmail him into designing weapons and starships for his use. Little did the Admiral know that all that planning all that designing had been working up to the inventible fall of Star Fleet. Still, he did miss his crew, and had to admit his devastation at their destruction when he fled.
"I vow now to never flee again…" Khan said his eyes narrowing at the desolate planetoid. As he stared out at the planet he couldn't help but think back on those he had lost. His jaw clenched as he felt his agony at their loss fuel the anger that was slowly beginning to consume is every single thought.
-o-
Aria walked alongside the Captain as they moved through the ship. There had been a slight change of plans, and she wasn't sure she completely agreed with it. Instead of firing torpedoes at John Harrisons location and killing him per Star Fleet command, they were going to go hunt down John Harrison and bring him into custody and take him to earth to stand trial for his crimes.
"You don't seem pleased Aria." She looked to the Captain who was eyeing her out of the corner of his eye.
"You are the Captain I defer to you on all things…" She said her jaw jutting out slightly.
"Still I can tell you're not happy. Permission to speak freely Aria."
"I didn't ask for permission sir." She said looking to him with a raised eyebrow.
"Then speak freely that's an order." Her jaw clenched before nodding.
"I want to see that man bloody and dead." She said stopping and making Kirk do the same as he looked to her.
"I do too." He said.
"Then why don't we fire upon him? Lord knows he deserves it Captain."
"Because, Christopher Pike and Harold Bradshaw deserve justice." He said.
"John Harrison dead and bloody isn't justice?" She asked and he smiled.
"On any other day I'd agree with you…" He said clapping her on the shoulder.
"It's not just that I want him dead… It's that what we're doing is so much more dangerous…"
"Which is why you're going with me." He said. "Who better to get us through this then our chief battle expert?"
"Right." She said looking off.
"Are you up for this?" She looked to him.
"I have been in worse battles then this Captain…"
"That's not what I meant…"
"Then what was your meaning Captain?" She inquired.
"Can you be objective Aria?"
"Sir?"
"Will you kill John Harrison the first chance you get, or will you do as ordered and take him into custody?" Before she could answer he stepped closer to her. "I've read your file, not only a battle expert but a martial arts expert as well… Your hands are registered as weapons." He said with a smile. "So will you kill him right away or-."
"As long as he doesn't try to kill me or anyone else on our away team he's as safe as a house."
"Didn't you burn a house down?" He inquired and she shifted on her feet.
"That… Was a uhm…" She cleared her throat. "Accident…" Kirk smiled as he clapped her on the back.
"Right, now get changed." He said with a smile.
"Changed sir?" She asked.
"We can't go into enemy territory looking like members of the Federation. If anything happens it can't be traced back."
"Right sir, I'll get changed straight away sir."
"See you at the shuttle bay."
"Yes Captain." She said before running off towards her living quarters. She quickly got inside and got changed into a pair of black skinny jeans and long sleeved black hoodie. She pulled on a black leather vest and thigh length pea coat letting her hoodie hang out the back. She then put on a pair of black leather boots with studs on the heel and buckles up the side. She checked to make sure she had everything she needed before heading out and running head first into someone. "Oh I am so sorry." She said as she helped a young woman in civilian clothes off the ground. "Officer Uhura?" She asked.
"Uhm yes how did you know?" Uhura asked as she rubbed her shoulder. The girl she had run into had felt like pure rock.
"The civilian clothes you must be coming on the away team with us?"
"You're commander Aria Adne?"
"That I am."
"Good to meet you, sorry I ran head first into you." She said with a smile.
"Sorry I knocked you down." Aria said before they began to run together towards the shuttle bay. "You're fluent in Klingon?" She asked.
"Yes."
"That could come in handy if we're ambushed."
"Think we will be?" Uhura inquired with a wide eyed look.
"It's not so much a matter of if or will, but of when exactly we'll be ambushed on this trip." Aria said and Uhura eyed her for a long moment. "It's alright… Klingons aren't that terrifying."
"You speak from experience?"
"Maybe." Uhura eyed her some more and Aria smiled.
"Either you have or you haven't."
"It's classified." Aria said and Uhura nodded.
"So yes."
"So Maybe." Aria corrected with a small laugh and Uhura smiled.
-o-
"If you test me… You will fail…"
Khan slowly stood his hands clenched tightly at his side. He had heard the threat. For once it was a threat he felt the need to heed. Torpedoes, his torpedoes were pointing at him. The torpedoes which held the frozen slumbering bodies of his crew were pointed at him. The torpedoes not only risked his life but the lives of the only people he held dear in this world.
His jaw clenched so hard he heard it pop in dissatisfaction. The acting Captain said he had many torpedoes, he wanted to know how many there were. A few he might be able to stomach sparing, more than that he didn't see any other choice but to give himself up. He looked to the sky and spotted a small shuttle being surrounded by a grouping of Klingon war ships. For a moment he thought of letting the Klingons blow them away then he remembered his crew and he decided to go for his weapons. He was going to have to save the people who were sent after him in order to save the people stuck in the torpedoes.
-o-
"This isn't good…" Kirk said looking out at the warships. "Well Aria what do you propose we do as lead Battle Expert?"
"We have no battle capability on this ship but the phasers Captain." She replied trying to think of a plan.
"I didn't ask what we had I asked what we should do." He said and she thought about it for a long moment.
"I say we land." She said and he looked to her quickly.
"They call you an expert Aria?" Kirk asked. "Maybe I didn't hear you right."
"I said we should land Sir."
"I guess I did hear you the first time…" his jaw clenched.
"Then what was your meaning Captain?"
"God you're worse than Spock." He said angrily.
"Your meaning Captain?" Spock asked and Uhura smiled.
"Why do you think landing would be good Aria?" Kirk inquired as his jaw clenched.
"Because Uhura can speak Klingon maybe she could explain the situation…" Aria said.
"No." Kirk said.
"Sir she's right I can talk us out of this." Uhura explained. "You brought me here to speak their language now let me speak it." Kirk looked at her for a long moment.
"No." He said and Uhura sighed angrily.
"Seriously?" She inquired.
"I'll go with her…" He looked to Aria. "Keep her safe." She said opening up her pea coat to show her knives which rested in her leather vest.
"You can handle this if it goes bad?" Kirk asked.
"Registered weapons remember?" She inquired putting her hands out for him to look at. "I've never lost a fight yet sir. I've also never lost someone under my protection, and there have been many. If you've read my file you know that to be true." He brought his eyes up to her. "I have never lost a battle... Not once… I don't plan on breaking my winning streak today." He thought about it for a long moment before slowly nodding. "Yes?" she inquired.
"Yes… Yes… Right…" Kirk said nodding. "Alright… We're taking it down…"
"I'll be right at your side." Aria said walking with Uhura to the shuttle door.
"Do you speak any Klingon?"
"Only battle phrases weapons and common threats I'm afraid."
"We may need the threat, when I scratch my ear you threaten." Aria smiled, Uhura was trying to make light of the situation, and she was thankful. Though she wasn't worried of being hurt or killed by a Klingon, she was worried for the away team. She looked to Uhura to see she was looking back at Spock who had a soft expression as he looked her over. They really were in love, and in that moment Aria envied Uhura. If something were to happen to Uhura because of the Klingons Spock would mourn her. If something were to happen to Aria no one was left to mourn her. She doubted anyone would claim the body, after all there was no one left to care about her not since Bradshaw had a building dropped on him by the one John Harrison.
"Be careful you two." Kirk said as the door popped open.
"Ready?" Uhura asked looking to Aria who smiled softly.
"Yep, you do the talking." Aria said and Uhura smiled before laughing softly.
"Here we go…" She said as the door opened. Aria slowly looked around. It was a desolate planetoid. Filled with ash and rubble. The air was thick, almost to the point Aria wished not to breathe as to not have to taste it. She walked slightly behind Uhura as they moved towards the masked Klingons who were descending a bleak stair. Uhura was to take point on this, as she should. She was the one who spoke Klingon after all. As they walked Aria looked around. It seemed the Klingons were sticking to normal pre battle tactics. Facing them head on and not sneaking around to ambush.
They came to a stop and she looked to the largest of the Klingons moving forward as Uhura began to speak. Aria could already tell by how the Klingons were moving that this wasn't going to end well. Any moment the head Klingon would make a move, and then out of nowhere other ships would fly in and begin an air strike.
Khan tilted his head as he walked onto the hill overlooking the shuttle that had been grounded by the Klingons. He tilted his head further seeing two women speaking to a group of Klingons. He shook his head, he wondered whose bright idea it was to land in the first place. It would have been an easier death if they had just tried to run. He watched as the head Klingon made an angry noise and reached for the woman before him. The second woman rushed forward and grabbed the Klingons hand before slamming a knife into its neck.
"Run Uhura!" She yelled.
"Interesting…" He stated with a narrowed gaze before he began to fire upon the group of Klingons.
"Uhura!" Aria tackled her to the ground away from a Klingon that had rushed at her. She threw one of her knives and it slammed into the attackers head.
"Thanks!"
"No problem!" She called over the sounds of battle.
"Who the hell is that!?" Kirk yelled rushing to them as he spotted a man up on a ridge firing away at any enemy that moved.
"That would be Harrison I should think, shall I retrieve him Captain?!" Aria yelled over the sound of battle as he handed her a phaser.
"We'll all try, now move!" He ordered and they all advanced forward instantly getting separated in the maze that was the Kronos ridges and trenches. Aria set her eyes on the man that was taking out Klingon after Klingon. She had to admit he was like a machine in his fighting and it was impressive. Still his skill would grant him no mercy. A Klingon jumped before her and she slid between its legs before spinning up onto her feet and stabbing one of her knifes through the back of its neck. She turned and rushed towards the high ridge Harrison stood upon. She kicked up the ridge easily and tackled Harrison to the ground. She punched him across the face before standing up and slamming her foot down onto his chest.
"John Harrison!" She yelled over the sounds of battle. He stared up at her wide eyed, then again it was all she could see through his masked hood. "You are hereby put under arrest for the ruthless act of terrorism!" Khan knocked her foot off his chest before he flipped up onto his feet and went to punch her but she easily caught his hand before kicking him across the face and knocking him back down to the ground.
Khan knelt for a moment, his head reeling. In all his time he had never felt such pain in his life. He looked down to see blood slowly dripping from his mouth. He slowly looked up to the young woman standing before him her long ruby hair flaring around her as she stared down at him in pure hatred. He went to get up and she spun kicking him across the face and back down to the ground.
"Stay down." She ordered as a Klingon rushed at her from the side. She threw her knife and it slammed into the middle of its face and out the back of its skull. Khan slowly stood and she slammed him back down to the ground. "I said stay down!" She yelled having no cuffs to put him in. He went to stand and she went to hit him again but he caught her hand gripping onto it as he stood up straight. She tried to pull her hand away and panicked internally when she was unable to. She stared down at the gripping hand for a long moment before slowly looking up at the man who loomed over her. His eyes piercing hers as he tilted his head.
"This is interesting…" He said, his voice deep and rugged.
"How-." A bang sounded and she was cut off as a great power source slammed into her and knocked her off the ridge and onto the harsh ground below.
"No!" Khan yelled as he turned and eradicated the Klingon warship that had fired upon them. He looked back to the young woman in question and tilted his head seeing the other woman from before rushing over to her.
"Aria!" Uhura slid to her side and slowly flipped her over.
"I'm fine! It didn't hit me! It just blew past me knocking me off the ridge!" She yelled as she slowly sat up the pain already gone.
"I thought they had gotten you!" She yelled pulling her to shelter.
"I'm fine…" She said. "My phaser is not though I'm afraid…" She said looking down at the fried piece of machinery. They slowly stood up straight and Aria's eyes widened as she saw Kirk get jumped by two Klingons. "Wait here!" She yelled to Uhura as she rushed forward. Khan watched as the girl took out five Klingons easily before flipping one of their plasma rays into her hands and shooting two down that threatened to kill a young man he had seen before.
"Captain!" She yelled pulling him to safety as a Klingon aimed its ray at her. Khan shot it down before it could shoot her.
"We're surrounded!" Uhura yelled taking Kirk from Aria.
"I got this!" Aria said standing. She froze as she watched Harrison jump a far distance from the ridge and take out six Klingons. She thought this man's only skill was his intelligence and use of technology in battle. It turned out his true skill was hand to hand combat. She slowly looked down at her arm which still ached from his grasp. He rushed towards them as he ripped his mask off. Khan went to rush at Kirk only to have Aria pull a knife and stick it to his throat instantly halting his movements.
"Drop your weapon!" Spock ordered aiming a gun at Harrison.
"How many Torpedoes?" He asked.
"Drop your weapon!" Spock ordered again only to have the gun shot out of his hand by the terrorist.
"The Torpedoes you mentioned in your threat how many are there?" Harrison bellowed his eyes locked on a seething Kirk. "How many are there?!"
"72." Aria said and he looked down at her for a long moment. She tilted her head seeing a small flash of fear in his eyes. He threw down his weapon as Kirk and Uhura stood.
"I surrender." He said and Aria tilted her head further.
"Sir orders?" Aria asked unsure if she should drop her knife or not. Khan tilted his head as he looked over the young woman before him. She was taking orders from the likes of Captain James T. Kirk? He had to wonder how this had happened. He had to wonder how she was even in existence. "Captain your orders please?" She asked her jaw clenching. Khan quirked an eyebrow, she was staring at him with pure undiluted hatred in her emerald eyes. He had to wonder how she was controlling herself, when he knew all she wanted to do was slit his throat.
"John Harrison, I hereby, in honor of Christopher Pike, my friend, accept your surrender… Aria weapon down." Her jaw clenched as the hatred within her eyes intensified and she bared her teeth slightly. Every fiber in her being wanted nothing more than to slit his throat and watch the warm blood let off steam into the cold Kronos air. "Lower your weapon Aria…" Her eyes narrowed further and Khan was becoming increasingly aware of her wanting to kill him. "Commander Aria Adne drop your weapon…" He had a warning tone and in turn she slowly lowered her knife as Kirk moved passed her. Aria jumped when he slammed his fist against John Harrisons face. Aria tilted her head when she saw that John Harrison did not budge from the immense impact. She had to wonder how strong her Captain was, she had after all more than easily knocked Harrison off his feet.
"Captain." She said as he continued to feebly hit Harrison over and over again. "Captain." Aria said seeing him peel over. "Captain!" She caught his arm before he could hit Harrison again. Khan tilted his head as he looked the young woman over who looked to her Captain with genuine care. "You've been injured…" She whispered. "Please do not exhort yourself further." He pushed her away and she stumbled back. Khan went to take a step towards her but stopped seeing she had more than adequately regained ground herself. He looked back to Kirk who went to hit him again and Aria caught his arm once more. "Sir…" She said softly and he slowly looked to her as did Harrison. "Please… Stop now…" His jaw clenched and she slowly relinquished his hand which dropped. She watched as Kirk stared at Harrison for a long moment with such darkness it made Arias stomach give a nervous turn.
"Aria?" Kirk inquired.
"Yes sir?" She asked.
"Cuff him."
"Yes sir."
"If he gives you any trouble..." Kirk said as Spock gave her the cuffs.
"Captain?" She inquired looking to him.
"Kill him."
"Aye Captain." She said moving forward to Harrison. "Please…" She whispered and he looked down at her. "Make a fuss… Come on." She locked eyes with him. "I'm just dying for a reason to end this now…" He put his hands out slowly and her jaw clenched realizing he wasn't going to give her a reason to kill him.
"Think you could?" Khan asked as she cuffed his hands. "End it I mean?" She looked at him for a long moment before she bowed her head forward suddenly and slammed her forehead into his nose knocking him back to the ground.
"Commander Aria!" Spock scolded.
"Oh how clumsy of me… I tripped…" She said before grabbing onto the back of Harrisons jacket and pulling him to his feet while he smiled as two of the guards rushed forward and grabbed him and wheeled him away. They got onto the shuttle and he was instantly strapped in.
"Is everyone aboard?" Kirk asked as everyone strapped in.
"Not yet." Uhura said as Aria walked on.
"I'm aboard head up." Aria said. Just as the door went to close a Klingon rushed in and tackled Aria to the ground.
"Mother fucker!" She yelled in surprise as she kicked him back.
"Sir Enemy aboard!" Uhura yelled her eyes wide.
"I've got this! Keep going we can't land again!" Aria yelled as she kicked the Klingon off.
"You heard her keep going!" Kirk yelled.
"Sir orders!?" Aria asked as she parried two punches away.
"You don't need orders to kill a Klingon Aria!" Kirk said as she was kicked down onto the ground.
Aria flipped up onto her feet and dodged three swings by the Klingon before grabbing onto its arm spinning and slamming it down over her shoulder. Uhura made a horrified noise as the arm gave a sick snap and the Klingon yelled in pain. Aria spun and landed a back fist across its face as it pulled a dagger and stabbed it at her. She grabbed onto its wrist and snapped it easily as it screamed in pain once more. She slammed her fist across the Klingons face twice before it moved forward and slammed her up against the wall of the shuttle threatening to stab her. She held onto the knife wielding hand for a long moment as she locked eyes with the Klingon with a small smile.
"I like this part…" Aria said in Klingon.
"What part?" he asked and Khan smiled. This girl was full of surprises.
"Where you realize you don't stand a chance…" She knocked the weapon from the Klingons hand before grabbing its head and slamming it into the wall beside her shoulder before snapping its neck out right. Khan smiled as he watched the Klingon fall to the ground limp and still. "Sir are we in orbit?" Aria asked as she picked up the knife she had taken away from the Klingon to look it over.
"Not yet." He said.
"Good." She pushed a button and the door to the shuttle opened. She kicked the Klingon out and waved goodbye as she closed it.
"Well done Aria!" Uhura said.
"Thank you thank you, I will be here all week." She said as she high fived Uhura.
"Aria hold onto something all the seats are taken." Kirk said.
"Yes Captain." She said.
"You could hold onto me if you like." Khan looked to one of the men that had brought him in. "What do you say Aria?" the man asked.
"I say that you refer to me as Commander Aria, Cupcake."
"Right, sorry Commander."
"No problem." She said before looking out the window. "God let's hope Chekov has everything right as rain."
"Aria."
"Yes sir?" She asked looking to Kirk.
"When we get to the ship you are to take full responsibility of the prisoner."
"Yes sir…" She said and Khan could tell she wasn't pleased. She locked eyes with him and he tilted his head at her. They locked eyes for a long moment and Khan knew if looks could kill he'd be dead twenty times over. She adverted her eyes as she looked over to the knife she had taken from the Klingon.
"You take trophies from those you concur…" She looked to John Harrison who had spoken. "Interesting."
"Captain?" Aria asked.
"Yes Aria?" Kirk inquired.
"The prisoner is talking does that count as giving me trouble?" Kirk smiled.
"Afraid not…" He said as Aria continued to lock eyes with Harrison. As the shuttle flew into the shuttle bay Aria walked over and undid the buckles on her prisoner.
"Come on then." She said and he stood. "Cupcake, Mr. Brent you're with me."
"Yes Commander." They said. They walked off the ship and Khan watched as men surrounded him. The walk was long and he couldn't help but notice the way everyone stared at him as he walked by. He also couldn't help but notice the way the men's eyes went from him right to Aria with a look of admiration and attraction. When they got to the brig Aria walked him into the prison cell. He looked her over for a long moment, he could see it. The inner struggle between doing what she wanted and doing what she was told.
"Hands." She said and he slowly outstretched them. She un did the cuffs and turned to leave. Kahn moved forward and took a hold of her wrist wheeling her around.
"Commander!" The men yelled raising their weapons.
"Don't shoot." She said before they could.
"You shouldn't turn your back on a person like me." Khan said and she tilted her head at him while quirking an eyebrow in what almost seemed like challenge.
"And why is that? Do you think you're dangerous?" She asked before smiling. "Trust me when I say… You can't hurt me." He slowly pushed up her sleeve.
"Is that so?" She slowly looked down at her arm which had ached since he had grabbed it back on Kronos. Her eyes rested on a strange mark upon her skin. Her eyes slowly widened as her mind snapped to realization.
"Bruise?" She asked her voice barely above a whisper.
"You're quite fragile when it comes to me dear…" He said softly and her eyes narrowed as she stared up at him. He slowly let go of her arm and she to his surprise once again turned her back on him and walked away. He walked after her almost drawn to her in a way. Just as he was about to reach for her she turned and sent the barrier up between them. As they locked eyes he smiled softly at her and Aria could still see the dangerous gaze he held as he looked her over.
"Watch him while I change into my uniform, and for god sakes don't talk to him…." She said as she walked away.
"Yes Commander." Aria walked to the changing room off to the side and stopped seeing her uniform hanging. As she took her clothes off her eyes kept going to the bruise on her arm. Never once in her life had she ever had a bruise. And she couldn't understand how Harrison had caused it.
"You're quite fragile when it comes to me dear…"
She wasn't sure why but that sentence had allured her and angered her all at the same time. She pulled on her blue uniform and set her clothes aside before stretching and walking over to the mirror to look herself over. She was unscathed from the battle except for the small bruise on her arm. Her jaw clenched before she straightened out her uniform and walked out of the changing room. She stopped seeing McCoy, Spock and Kirk in front of Harrison who had his arm outstretched.
"There you are." Kirk said as she walked over. "Where were you?"
"Changing into uniform sir." She said. "I tried to hurry…" She looked to see McCoy with a syringe in hand. "What's going on here Captain?" She inquired.
"We want to find out what makes this guy tick." He said as he watched McCoy do his work. "Why he doesn't fall when someone knocks him down things like that."
"I knocked him down." She said and Kahn smiled to himself.
"Yes thanks for that." Kirk said his arms crossing over his chest.
"Sorry sir…" She muttered. Harrison retracted his arm while McCoy sent the barrier breaker over to the side of the cell.
"You're hurt." McCoy said taking her arm in hand.
"I'm fine." She said pulling it away.
"That's a deep tissue bruise, I could take care of it easily."
"I'm really okay." She said.
"Well if you're sure, by the way while I'm here I'm going to need a blood sample." He said taking out another syringe.
"What for?" She asked and for the first time Khan could see a flicker of fear in her eyes. Either she was afraid of needles, or she had something to hide within her blood, something he was very sure he knew for certain.
"You were on a planetoid which we have no knowledge of, I want to make sure you're not sick, everyone has given up blood." He said and she looked him over for a moment. "What is it, hate needles?" McCoy inquired with a smile.
"A bit." She said her jaw clenching. "So just searching for Viruses things like that?" She inquired and he looked her over for a long moment.
"Yeah… Things like that." McCoy said.
"Fine." She put out her arm her jaw clenching as she did. He went to puncture her skin and stopped. He tried again and tilted his head.
"What is it?" Kirk asked.
"Tough hide… Like Harrison…" He muttered changing the needle.
"Bradshaw always said I had tough skin…" She said and Kirk smiled at her. She watched with some dread as McCoy slowly extracted blood from her arm. With every level of the syringe her blood passed she felt her anxiety build and build.
"All done." McCoy said before walking off.
"Why aren't we moving Captain?" Khan asked his eyes locking onto the Captains.
"He talks a lot, it's annoying." Aria said and Kirk smiled once more.
"Maybe we're not moving because there's something wrong… Perhaps with your warp core?" Aria slowly looked to Harrison who had a devious expression. "A malfunction maybe?"
"What the hell did you do?" She asked and his eyes shifted to hers.
"Nothing." He said with a smirk.
"Captain?" She asked.
"Yes."
"Permission to the beat the hell out of the prisoner for information?" Kirk looked up in thought.
"You're not honestly considering it?" Spock asked. "The prime directive-."
"Fine." He said before he could finish his sentence. "Permission denied."
"But…" Aria Shifted on her feet before looking to Kirk. "It'll be fun." She said quietly and Kirk just smiled as he walked off. "Damn…" She muttered with a sigh before looking to Harrison who was staring at her. She shook her head before walking off to the control panel to look things over. "I wasn't going to kill him just make him bleed a bit... Like that's such a big deal…" She muttered to herself.
"If you ignore me you will get every single person on this ship killed!" Khan yelled and Aria turned to look to Kirk who had come to a stop.
"Captain he's clearly trying to rile you up…" Aria said walking to him. "I wouldn't interact with the prisoner further."
"The prisoner has a name."
"Well the Commanding officer guarding you doesn't care." Aria said looking to him and Khan couldn't help but smirk. She turned back to Kirk. "Take the night, rest, if you're anything like me you haven't rested since the attack at headquarters. Tomorrow you can face off with him with a fresh mind."
"Her logic is sound."
"You don't have time to rest Captain." Khan said and Kirk suddenly moved forward.
"Listen here and listen well…" Kirk said rushing towards Khan in the brig. Aria and Spock instantly eyed one another.
"You want to get him or should I?" She asked quietly and Spock just quirked an eyebrow in response. "Yeah let me do it." She walked over to Kirk who was trying his hardest to stare down Khan who to Aria looked as if he was hiding a smirk.
"I think you'd find my insight very valuable… Captain." Aria tilted her head. He way he said captain was almost like an insult.
"I wouldn't engage him Captain. Not if I were you." Aria said with ore respect.
"Aria if I want your opinion I'll ask for it." He said and she nodded instantly. "You are a criminal John Harrison. A murderer. I was authorized to end you and the only reason you are here standing and breathing is because I allow it." Kirk said anger raging in his eyes.
"Oh Captain…" He sighed making Aria shake her head. he really was using the term Captain as an insult. "You're so angry… Maybe you should hit me over and over again until this little girl here holds you back before you completely exhort yourself."
"I'll ask that you not bring me into this." Aria said with a smirk and Khan worked hard not to smile himself.
"Clearly you want to do so again so tell me…" Khan said locking eyes with Kirk. "Why did you let me live?"
"We all make mistakes…" Kirk said with a horrified look to his eyes. With every moment that passed he was realizing just how dangerous the criminal was who he had brought upon his ship.
"No…" He said. "No I don't think that's it… The reason I surrendered to you Captain is because there is a humanity to you."
"So you have an understanding of what Humanity is?" Kirk asked. Aria saw a flash of pain race acros Khans expression.
"You seem to have a conscious… If you did not it would make my job much harder."
"And what is your job John Harrison?" Kirk asked his voice dripping with venom.
"My job is to convince you of the truth…"
"This is getting ridiculous." With that Kirk turned. Khan sighed in exasperation as he looked off.
"23174611." He said calmly making Kirk halt his movements. "Coordinates not far from earth… If you want to know why I did what I did go and take a look."
"Give me one good reason why I should just blindly fly out and check out those coordinates…"
"I can give you 72…" Aria looked to John Harrison to see he had an intense look. "72 reasons that are currently residing in the weapons bay of your ship… I suggest you open one up…" With that Kirk walked off. Khan smiled to himself before looking to Aria who was looking him over.
"I don't know what game you're playing at but however well you play… I can play a hundred times better... If you value your life you'll sit in that little corner quietly." With that she walked off and Khan smiled as she did. He found the young Battle expert extremely interesting.
-o-
So there it is Chapter 1 of my Star Trek fic… I'm very new to this universe but I'm trying my best… I know I have bad grammar but I do have a severe dyslexia… I once had a beta but they stole my work so now I don't… But I try very hard to learn.