Kirk and Spock marched down the narrow Starfleet hallway, Kirk fuming, Spock quietly bemused.
"I can't believe this," Kirk seethed for the seventh time since leaving the Admiral's office. "They can't do this."
"Technically speaking, they can," Spock corrected. "It's unorthodox but there is precedent."
"Come on, Spock, that's thin and you know it." Kirk gestured angrily. "We're supposed to be traveling, exploring. We're not a prison transport."
"The Enterprise is fully equipped with a brig, several cargo bays, as well as the medical bay. There is more than enough room and security to house one cryogenically-imprisoned man, even one such as Khan."
"That's not the point! We shouldn't even be transporting that lunatic after everything he did to us."
"Our ship is the newest and most advanced of Starfleet's ships. Our crew is made up of the most elite and most brilliant men and women in the galaxy and we have had first-hand experience with Khan's abilities. These factors make us the most logical choice for the transport." Spock said this all rationally and calmly. He knew that Kirk was fully aware of the reasons they were chosen. The Captain might even agree, deep down. However, Kirk being Kirk, he simply couldn't accept reason and remained fixated on his emotional response.
Kirk rolled his eyes and grumbled but didn't respond. Technically speaking, the mission was short, even easy. Deliver one sleeping criminal to a remote prison on the edge of Starfleet territory, sign him off, and done. Easy-peasy. But why did it have to be Khan? Just the idea of having the Augmented mad-man on his ship, even incapacitated, set his teeth on edge.
"I don't like it," Kirk growled.
Spock glanced over at the Captain. "Did I imply that I was happy with the situation, Kirk?"
Kirk was silent, scowling darkly.
"On the bright side, accomplishing this mission will please the Admiralty. They might even take some of your restrictions off."
Kirk brightened visibly at that. Spock knew that he chafed under Starfleet Regulations, and the added restrictions, an after-though punishment from the Admiralty for ignoring the Regulations, practically made him "stir crazy", a term explained to him by Dr. McCoy.
"At least it's something new, not this patrolling nonsense."
Spock smiled quietly in response.
The docking bay of the USS Enterprise was somber that evening. Three times the usual number of security officers in dark red uniforms stood ready at attention, weapons cocked. Technicians waited in tense silence. Kirk and Spock stood by. All eyes were on the large, double doors, waiting.
There was a loud clunk and whirring, then the doors slowly began to open. Every spine stiffened, guns were held tighter. A sharp, keening alarm blared and red lights pulsed, adding to the tension in the room. As the doors opened, a long truck slowly backed into the bay, amid the cacophony of alarms and silent protestations. The truck moved back and the doors closed. The alarms stopped and the following silence weighed oppressively on the group assembled. Ghosts of those killed in the battle against Marcus, Khan, and the USS Vengeance seemed to hover nearby, haunting.
The truck stopped.
There were a few moments of stillness. Then, the driver opened his door, came out of the vehicle and approached the group briskly.
"Captain James Kirk?" He called.
Kirk strode forward, Spock following behind. "I'm the Captain." He gestured at Spock, "This is my first-mate, Commander Spock." Spock simply nodded in acknowledgement.
The driver pulled at a data pad and handed it to Kirk. "I just need your signature at the bottom, stating that the prisoner was delivered and freeing us from liability in the event of his escape, however unlikely."
Kirk took the pad, reading over the warranty quickly. "Alright, let's go get our prisoner."
The driver turned and approached the truck. Sliding open a small panel, he typed in a quick code and stood aside as, with a rush of air, the back of the truck detached and slowly slid to the ground, forming a ramp. Kirk and Spock stepped into the truck cautiously. They approached the long tube, apprehensively. Together, they looked down through the glass at Khan's sharp face.
"Well," Kirk said after a few moments of tense, awkward silence. "It's definitely him."
"Indeed," Spock replied.
Kirk signed the data pad and handed it back to the driver who in turn pocketed it and pressed a button on the side of the cryo chamber. The cocoon whirred with activity and slowly hovered into the air. Two security officers came up and started guiding the sleeping criminal away. Kirk and Spock stood together.
"So, once again, the most dangerous man of the universe is on board my ship," Kirk remarked.
"Hopefully, this will be a smoother trip."
"If we're lucky."
"I don't believe in luck."