I in no way own any rights to this franchise and do not profit off its use.

Cdr. Marla McGivers entered the cellblock where the criminal Khan was being held and stopped short. She didn't know what she had expected to see, but this was not it. The great and terrifying Khan was half sitting strapped to a gurney with his arms stretched out vein sides up on extensions. Dr, McCoy had permission to take all the blood he needed to save Cdr. Kirk, and strapping Khan down prevented a fight. To keep him quiet a bit, which was what it looked like to her, was forced inside his mouth and was kept in place by a leather strap that circled his head. His only clothing was the sheet that covered his waist. Disheveled and defiant hate burned in his eyes. When he slid his incredible eyes, the palest of blue gray, fury filled them, but the bit kept him quiet, Any attempt to speak stabbed the inside of his mouth and at the corners.

Marla had gotten special permission from Star Fleet to interview the man. As a part of his defense team, she needed to be intimately familiar with him. Approaching the gurney keenly aware of those hard pale eyes on her, she said, "I am Dr. Marla McGivers, I am a psychologist and an attorney. It's my job to keep you live." He glanced away a moment, a look of unmasked contempt on his face, and then back at her.

Getting a chair and placing it beside the gurney, she met his gaze and said, "We are going to take the mouth piece out of your mouth. Any attempt to manipulate me and it will go back in and these sessions are over." She suspected he would behave because according to the report he had not had the bit out in three days. They were feeding him a liquid diet to minimize any contact between him and those who were handling him.

An aide unsnapped the straps at the back of his head and like a horse freeing itself from a bit, Khan spit the mouthpiece out. He looked at McGivers and waited. Marla was a bit surprised that he remained silent even with the horrible device out of his mouth.

"You may speak if you want," she said and took out her recorder.

Khan stared at her without saying anything, and she had the feeling he was studying her with renewed interest. Finally he said, "Thank-you." His voice was perfectly controlled and very masculine could not help but send a shiver up her spine.

It was unexpected and yet expected. Believing it would be a mistake to respond, she began. "I've studied your history, and want to start out by asking you some questions. Is that all right?"

Khan frowned and then asked, "Are we going to tip toe around like dancers on glass?"

She could have said that she didn't know what he meant, but the truth was she knew exactly what he meant. "Very well. Who were your parents?

"I never tried to find out."

"Why?"

"Some things are best left unknown."

"You didn't want to know who they were?"

"They were donors," Khan replied icily, his tone indicating that he did not want to continue this part of the conversation. In spite of his threatening voice, his body was completely relaxed, something Marla had only now noticed. And with a detached eye she allowed herself to view him a little more closely. She expected a man with such a violent past to be scarred, but his skin was flawless.

"You heal without scarring?"

"It appears so," Khan answered, his tone now flat and without emotion. Once more Marla thought he was studying her.

"What do you see?" she asked curiously.

"What do you want me to see?" He stopped a moment, considered it and then said, "I see a woman who wants to pick my brain? Better understand the criminal mind. But I am no ordinary criminal, so how can you apply who I am to the ordinary?"

"All sociopath criminals think they are special," she retorted. He smiled, but it was as close to pure evil as she had ever seen. The smiled never reached his eyes. Deciding he was not going to respond to the taunt, his ego that secure, she said, "I was hired by your defense team to find a way to keep you alive."

He looked amused in earnest now and said, "So many people want me dead, and yet here I am. Why is that?" He glanced down at his strapped arms and said, "Yes, I remember now. I can bring tribbles back from the dead."

"So this is your idea of paradise?" Marla retorted with a touch of sarcasm in her voice. A genuine look of surprise flashed across his face and then vanished into the cold arrogance that was his normal expression.

"Touche, doctor," Khan, remarked almost indifferently, although Marla had seen an honest expression though fleeting.

"I apologize," she corrected herself.

"No, don't. I would rather we speak the truth because this game is boring me."

"The parameters remain, Khan, and attempt to manipulate me will result in you being fully constrained."

"Doctor," Khan replied, clearly bored, "of course I will attempt to persuade you. If all I am to do is answer yes or no, then put that jaw device back in my mouth and go away."

Marla didn't mean to sound huffy, but that was clearly how she sounded even to herself when she sighed. The intensity of his gaze forced her to look away but the moment she dropped her eyes she found herself staring at his chest. It surprised her momentarily. He was as fine a specimen of masculinity as she had seen in a long time.

"It's a control mechanism." Khan remarked coldly.

Meeting his sharp gaze, she answered, "I don't understand."

"Of course you do, doctor. I am confined in as vulnerable a position as possible. It was meant to strip me of my humanity but since I've never considered myself human, it has become an exercise in voyeurism."

"Then perhaps I can get you some clothes," she offered, the topic actually making her uncomfortable. "Since you know I am a part of your defense team, do you have any questions?"

She could see the thoughts flashing across his face and then nothing. "They won't kill me. Doctor. They'll just put me back to sleep until they can find a way to cure or control me. I'm much too valuable to kill."

"Not that valuable."

"You would be surprised …doctor." Changing the subject he asked, "How long do I have your company?"

"An hour today, and then we'll see."

"Don't waste our time then with foolish questions. What do you really want to know?"

When the hour was up Cdr. Marla McGiver gathered her notes and readied to leave, while the senior petty officer moved to attach the mouthpiece that made talking, spitting, yelling, cursing or anything else impossible. It had to be harsh because all of the other gags had been destroyed by the power of his jaws.

While sealing her briefcase she heard the petty officer growl, "Now why the hell did you do that?" She looked up and stared at a trickle of blood oozing from the corner of Khan's mouth and sliding down his chin. He had bitten into the device and cut the inside of his mouth intentionally. Unable to speak now he watched the look of horror grow on her face. He had elicited an emotion from her, a deliberate visceral emotion. He could use that now to win her over and eventually gain his freedom.