Disclaimer: Don't own Star Trek in any of its forms. Also posted this on A03 under ObsidianCrow, just so you know I'm not plagiarizing myself :P haha. Prob gonna update faster over there. Anyway, hope you enjoy!

Chapter 1

"The techniques are still in the revisionary phase, but testing on New Vulcan has promised potential," said Spock, dark brown eyes locked onto Jim's. "This will be an excellent opportunity to test how far the technology can be used to rehabilitate people. If it fails to achieve the desired effect, we can put him to sleep like the rest of his crew."

Jim ran a hand through his hair, eyes narrowing in thought. "Khan's smart, Spock. He's manipulative. Whoever has control over him might just decide he's 'rehabilitated' when he's not."

"You misunderstand the program, Captain. It is used for high-profile criminals, and does not have an end date. He will spend the duration of his life under the program, perhaps with changes as newer technology comes out."

Kirk glanced at the monitor, revealing Khan fuming in his glass prison. Soul-seizing blue eyes were narrowed, the handsome face hiding an underlying maleficence. Kirk sighed. "He's brilliant... If he was working with us, we could accomplish anything." He redirected his gaze to his best friend's. "Promise me he won't be able to cause irreparable harm, or world domination, or wake his crew. Promise me this, Spock. I can't risk any more loved ones just for the sake of having a powerful weapon on our side."

Spock was silent for a long moment. Before speaking, he uncharacteristically placed a hand on Jim's shoulder. He had lost Kirk- he understood the pain and worry perfectly. "You and I are to have joint control over him. So long as this does not change, and the program remains in the hands of New Vulcan, he will only be able to cause harm if we are careless."

"Well..." Jim gazed at the monitor once more. "...alright. But if he hurts a single person, he's going straight into cryonic sleep."

Jim approached the unbreakable glass wall protecting the world from the monster that had ultimately taken his life. The breath rushed from him at the anguished, vengeful stare fixed on him, the man suddenly too close. Not even the cage was enough to leave Jim feeling safe from this man's hateful blue gaze.

"What is it you plan to do with me now, Captain?" he snarled, spitting the last word like a curse. He was on his feet in an instant, close enough to the glass to fog it with his labored breathing. He was radiating hate. "Now that you've captured me... killed my family..."

"...wait, what?" Kirk stared dumbly. "When did I... Oh. No one told you?" No change in expression. Khan daren't hope. He wouldn't let his emotions be played with in such a way. "Khan... they're not dead. Spock took their cryonic chambers out before sending those missiles over to your ship. While we're definitely not going to wake them up, they're not dead."

"Your attempt at manipulation is pathetic and will not work." The lines on Khan's face hardened, Kirk nearly tripping backwards in his instinctual need to flee. "I repeat, what do you plan to do with me?"

Jim quickly regained his footing. If this plan was to work, he couldn't let Khan control him. On the same hand, he wanted to ease the burning hatred in Khan's heart. Khan was already volatile- the loss of his only family would not help. Swiftly, Jim typed away at a monitor device, flipping it around to show Khan. For once, the superhuman was stunned, eyes widened. "This... this is a trick. I'll need to see it myself to believe it."

Jim couldn't help himself. It was beyond inappropriate, but he laughed all the same. "Let you near them? After all that's happened?" He shook his head. "No way. I may not be a genetically-engineered human, but I'm smart enough to know better than that. No, I've got a better idea."

"Oh?" Khan lifted a slender brow, devastatingly beautiful in his near-hopefulness.

Jim had the sudden urge to crumble such hope and watch the man fall apart... Instead, he said, "Vulcans don't lie. I'll have Spock talk to you. He can explain your situation to you, too."

Conversing with the man who had caused Kirk's death (although unintentionally bringing him back, as well) was not something Spock desired. As much as he liked to act otherwise, it had become glaringly obvious to anyone who had seen him after the destruction of his home planet that he did indeed have emotions. Strong emotions. However, he used meditation and the techniques taught to him as a child and adolescent to control them. Jim had a way of breaking Spock's life-learned self control in a matter of instants...

The insufferable Khan, while incapable of getting Spock to reveal his emotions, was greatly capable of evoking them.

"Is it true?" was the first thing out of Khan's mouth. This one thing was Khan's humanity- his attachment to his crew. "Are they alive?"

"In the technical sense," Spock answered. "Your crew is in a state of cryonic sleep, and will be for an indefinite period of time."

Some of the rage faded from the fiery, over-emotional depths. This man was strong... but he was a super human. As 'superior' as he might be, being a member of his species created a weakness in him. "...I heard it was your choice to not blow them up on my ship. If this is so, I express my gratitude. It is a kindness I would never extend to your people, and can't understand why a a member of a species known for logic would do so."

"Captain Kirk has a habit of rubbing off on people. Do you wish to be told of your fate?"

Khan tapped his nails on the barrier separating them, appearing to be in thought. "...yes, I suppose it would be most beneficial to be psychologically prepared. I presume it isn't cryonic sleep, or I'd already be out."

"That is correct," Spock confirmed. "You are to be part of a new program for behavioral modification, with the intention of becoming a useful member of the crew."

Khan's lips quirked. "I know you're inferior, but this is an unexpected level of idiocy."

"That is debatable," said Spock. "You will remain under the program until either your death, the invention of a better program, or until you provide us reason to give up on you and put you into cryonic sleep. Your progress will be monitored by myself and Captain Kirk. In time, you may be allowed on missions with us."

"And if I refuse?"

Spock gazed into the sharp blue depths, analyzing the man before him. "Perhaps a half-asleep stage, with constant experimentation. There are many companies that would jump upon having a human with your healing capabilities... We would take all necessary previsions to eliminate your chance of escape. The choice is yours."

Khan's hands were balled into fists. "It is unwise to even leave me alive." He abruptly turned around, a slight hesitance to his frame. "It is only the illusion of a choice. I have none..."

Spock remained silent, waiting for the past dictator to come to terms with his fate. Khan was, after all, correct. As an emotional and logical human being, he was only left with one option.

"I accept. When does this... program begin? May I know the process?"

Spock replied, "Tomorrow morning, you will be sent to New Vulcan. Naturally, you will be tranquilized the entire time. Upon arrival, you will be equipped with the behavior modification technology. It will be thoroughly tested for bugs, and you will then be sent back to remain under the captain's and my watch."

"And if anything was to happen to the both of you?" asked Khan.

"You would be placed in indefinite Cryonic sleep," Spock answered.

Khan didn't fight as the barely-visible gas began to fill his cage, even as he felt it begin to take effect. However, in what felt like mere moments- as his long cryonic sleep had- he found himself awakening. His head was thick and foggy inside, making coherent thought a challenge. With a great effort, he peeled his lids open. The sudden piercing pain of light caused him to scrunch them shut once more. He raised a lead-filled arm, placing a hand over his face.

"Yeah, it'll probably take you a couple minutes to be functional again, even with your 'superiority'. They practically gave you elephant tranquilizers, to make sure you wouldn't wake up."

Even in his haze he recognized the voice as Kirk's.

It was a few minutes later that he could sit up. His vision swam as he forced his eyes to stay open. Trying to swallow the dryness in his throat away (a failure, as it was caused purely from dehydration), he became aware of the most peculiar feeling around his neck. A still-weak hand raised, pressing at cool metal. It encircled his neck, his fingers feeling no way to undo it.

"I see you've found one of your new accessories," came the young captain's pleased voice. "It's really quite advanced."

Khan was finally capable of taking in his surroundings. He was sitting up (from his own efforts) against a headboard, above the tucked-in bedsheets of a comfortable bed. The room appeared to be someone's private quarters. The captain's, presumably. "I'm sure they could have made the technology smaller and less visible if they so chose. My guess is that the clear visibility serves to label my situation."

Kirk shrugged. "Yeah, pretty much." Then, with a wide smirk, "A collar looks good on you, Khan."

Posture once again impeccable, voice mocking, Khan said, "You flatter me, captain," continuing with a flat, "How does this collar work?"

"Misbehave and find out," Kirk responded, eyes sparkling with glee. "I mean it- go ahead and misbehave. I'd love to try it out on you, you murdering son-of-a-bitch."

Khan was off the bed in an instant, staring eye-to-eye with the reckless human before him. The hitch in breath this got him caused him pause. Jim clearly wasn't afraid, nor was he upset. What had caused such a reaction? Surprise? No, that wouldn't explain the tint of red to pale cheeks. If his guess was correct, he could use this to his advantage. He lifted a hand, which immediately was caught by one of the captain's own.

"What are you doing?" Kirk demanded, voice a bit too breathless for their situation.

Khan smirked, staring straight into those dilated blue orbs. He could feel the racing pulse through where his fingers rested on Kirk's wrist. "If I'm a 'murdering-son-of-a-bitch', what does that make you?" he asked, voice a low purr.

Kirk frowned. "Huh?"

Leaning forward, so his lips were pressed to Jim's ear (who, to Khan's intrigue, allowed it, breathing only becoming further labored), he husked, "You're attracted to me."

Khan let himself be knocked to the ground, landing in a crouch. He was left with nothing but smug satisfaction at the action he had caused, allowing his feelings to show on his face. Kirk's hands were clenched at his side, white-knuckled, as he shook his head. "No. No. That's... that's just sick. I would never- never- ever, be attracted to a thing like you. You hear me Khan? You're disgusting."

Khan dusted himself off, getting to his feet with an easy grace. "Whatever helps you keep from loathing yourself, Captain. You can lie to yourself, but your reactions make the truth apparent."

Kirk's face was fixed into a deep scowl. Khan dodged the grabbing hands, gripping Kirk just right to flip him-

The ex-dictator's limbs spasmed, legs folding beneath him as his entire body weight hit the ground at once. He grunted at the sharp pain of his skull hitting the ground, the world twitching beneath him, the air burning his skin. He resisted the urge to speak, knowing he'd just end up biting off his own tongue. Through swimming vision- as his eyes were spasming as well- he recognized Kirk leaning over him.

"Interesting. I hear it has different punishments." The face left Khan's field of vision. He barely managed to piece together Kirk's next sentence. "I have a meeting to attend. You can stay here like this 'til I'm done."

Through the fog of wrecked senses, Khan could almost hear the sound of a door opening and closing. He gasped for breath as his senses continued to leave him, control crumbling to dust, nerves igniting in fire.