For the love of family
Jim shook his head, unable to believe the accusations the prisoner was levelling at Starfleet. He stepped forward with righteous fury.
'No, I watched you open fire on a room of unarmed Starfleet officers. You killed them in cold blood!'
"Marcus took my crew from me." Khan said, turning his back on the brothers.
"You're a murderer!" Jim spat. Spock shot a look of concern at his brother, unused to the hatred coming from his mouth.
"He used my friends to control me." The tall line of Khan's back was tight with tension. "I tried to smuggle them to safety by concealing them in the very weapons I had designed. But I was discovered. I had no choice to escape alone and when I did, I had every reason to suspect that Marcus had killed every single one of the people I hold most dear." The softness left his voice as he turned back to the pair. "So I responded in kind."
Khan's face was open, vulnerable. "My crew is my family, Kirk. Is there anything you would not do for your family?"
This is a placeholder for the sequel to my fic Surrogate. I will update this story with the real first chapter once I write it, so subscribe here to receive updates.