And the Stars were Shining Bright


A/N: My usual disclaimers, all copyrights go to those who rightfully own them.

I finally saw Star Trek: Into Darkness and was mesmerized with Benedict Cumberbatch's performance as Khan. He scared, intrigued and fascinated me all at once. I will be very disappointed if he's not nominated for an Oscar for his performance as Khan.

And his performance inspired me to write this little piece as his Khan is very Byronic and also as a personal challenge to write a tragedy was defined by Aristotle; a man brought down by a mistake or tragic flaw. What made Khan the man he is? Hopefully this will give an answer.

So this is dedicated to you, Mr. Cumberbatch. Hopefully it won't prove to be too terrible.


Opening Night

Maddie Talbot counted the beat until she could begin singing Belle's opening song for Beauty and the Beast. Adrenaline was pounding through her and she was sure she was shaking. All of her life, she had wanted to play the role of Belle on a stage. And she was opening the rerun in the West End nonetheless! Somewhere in the audience, she knew her father was watching. He had come all the way from Baltimore to see her. Because the packed auditorium was so dim, she wasn't able to see him. But she could feel his proud green-blue eyes on her.

Everything she had worked so hard for had culminated to this day. But now…she had to focus on her character…the lonely young woman who finds comfort in her books. At least she felt some identity with Belle. While others were born with the ability to become the fastest, the strongest and the best, she had to work far harder than most.

The cast came on, the villagers who didn't understand the young heroine. Maddie focused on the book her character was reading. But it was getting harder to.

Because she was having the feeling that she was being watched. That's silly, she thought to herself, stifling a laugh. There was well over five-hundred people packed into the auditorium. Paul, the director, told the whole cast at the final rally before the overture began to play that the house had been sold out.

But there was one presence in particular. A fascinated and somewhat amused presence. It was coming downstage right, near the orchestra pit. Maybe Dad? No, couldn't be, she thought. It got so intense that she had to know who it was.

Settling herself on the fountain, Maddie allowed a single peek over her book to see who it was.

It was a man in his late twenties, just a few years older than she was. He was dressed in a silver colored jacket over dark pants. Tall. Aristocratic face. Brushed back black hair.

But what got her were those grayish-blue eyes. There was something about them…something that bade her to come closer.

BOOM! There was an explosion. The trance broken, Maddie jumped and saw Kyle, the Gaston, walking forward with a smoking prop blunderbuss. The man in the front row smiled, mocking her reaction. Rolling her eyes, she returned to her book and the play.

Those gray eyes still haunted her though. She could feel him watching her.


Maddie was more than a little relieved when her character had a break between scenes. She had to get that man out of her thoughts.

"Hon, your makeup is beginning to run." Deidre, the makeup lady, rushed forward with her cases of makeup. Maddie sat down on the three legged stool and allowed the plump woman run over her face with a cotton wedge lined with foundation. "Is something wrong? You look far away."

"Oh, yeah, I'm fine." Maddie said. "Just…there's this guy in the audience who won't stop looking at me."

"Is he cute?" Deidre asked, winking.

"Yeah…somewhat…" Maddie said, trying to focus on her part. "It's not bad. I wouldn't mind it if he wasn't over analyzing me though."

"Tell you what, if you get any creepy notes or he follows you, let me know and I'll teach him how to properly treat a lady." Deidre said as she added the final touch of blush.

Maddie laughed, feeling better. "Thanks Deidre."

"Hey, anything for you, darling." Deidre winked.

By the time Maddie returned to the stage, the seat was empty and the man was gone. Oh thank goodness. She thought in relief and prepared to fend off Kyle's pretend advances. Now she can focus.

To her great surprise, she realized that she was going to miss those eyes.


The play went off without a hitch. Maddie thought as Deidre helped her get out of her golden ball gown. She could still hear the applause from the curtain call ringing in her head. Paul was passing out congratulations to the rest of the cast and crew. They were planning on going out to the new Indian restaurant. Maddie and her dad were planning on joining them.

"You looking forward to dinner with your dad?" Deidre asked.

"Umm-hmm." She said, wiping off the rest of her makeup with a moist disposable towel. She hadn't seen her father since she had moved to England with the production of Beauty and the Beast. Ever since her mom left, it had just been the two of them. He was the one who had encouraged her forward despite everyone in her way. Indeed when she and Alan were singing No Matter What, the song between Maurice and Belle, she was thinking of her father.

"Bet you're going to have a blast." Deidre said, finishing braiding Maddie's thick brown hair. "Now then, go out and have fun!" She said.

"Thanks." Maddie said, smoothing out her purple jacket and blue jeans and slathering some white gardenia scented perfume on her hands. But before she could meet her father, first she had to encounter the fans.

That was fine by her. Maddie thought as she stepped out through the stage entrance door to a sea of camera flashes and people cheering. There was something flattering about the attention. A little girl stepped forward, holding out a book and a big smile on her face. It was the silent request for an autograph. There was something touching about it. Maddie complied with a big smile and even offered to take a picture with her.

As she was greeting her fans, she felt the presence again. Those same blue-gray eyes…looking up, she saw him standing in a dark corner of the alleyway, smiling at her with an almost amused glance. She felt herself stepping closer and closer to him, drawn by those eyes.

The crowd soon dispelled, leaving her alone with the man. Once they were left, he spoke. "You're to be congratulated, Ms. Talbot." The man said in a smooth voice. "I especially enjoyed your reaction to Gaston's entrance."

Something sparked in her. "Well, you can blame yourself for that one, as you wouldn't stop looking and me and laughed when I jumped." Maddie said, her upset nature fueled by exhaustion and hunger. "In case you didn't know, the eye roll was for you."

"I didn't laugh but merely smiled so I think you're overreacting. But a very stunning performance nonetheless. You certainly know how to tame the Beast." He said, a twinge of sarcasm in his voice.

Maddie was getting annoyed. He had a touch of arrogance to him. That annoyed her.

"Maddie!" She heard her father shouting from the alleyway entry. "Are you coming or not?"

To her relief, she knew it was time to leave. "I'm glad you enjoyed the show, Mr.…?"

"You may call me Khan." The man said, holding out his hand.

"Call me Maddie, then. Thanks for coming and have a pleasant evening." Maddie said politely as she shook his hand and left.

"Who was that?" Dad asked as Maddie reached him. He was just about her height and was on the portly side. Graying blonde hair stuck to his head, brushing against her cheek as he kissed her lovingly.

"Just a fan. You weren't interrupting anything. Ready to go out?" Maddie asked with a smile. Khan became a distant thought.

"With my daughter the star? You bet!" Dad said, smiling and whisking her away.


Maddie was feeling much better the next afternoon when she arrived, revived by a good night's sleep and food. Full of energy, she bounced through a quick run-through of the Be Our Guest number. As expected, the excitement built as she went into her dressing room to get dressed into the blue peasant's dress.

The scent of roses greeted her when she came in. Inside were two large bouquets. One was from her dad. Another was from her school with the typical typed congrats.

But there was also another scent. White gardenias. Sure enough, she caught a single white gardenia sitting on the vanity. A note was attached. Maddie picked it up and read it.

~My apologies, Ms. Talbot. Next time I'll be seated somewhere where I won't be distracting you. Khan Noonien Singh. ~

"A new love interest?" Deidre asked as she came in with the all too familiar makeup cases.

"Nah," Maddie asked as she undid her braid to prepare for her role. "Just somebody apologizing for last night, that's all."

By the time Paul called everyone to the back for a rally, all thoughts of Khan Noonien Singh had been banished from Maddie's mind.


A/N: Yeah, I know I'm going to get tarred and feathered for this one. I know Khan isn't exactly the vengeful and angry superhuman that he was during Into Darkness. But this is Khan before he becomes that. And I'm also worried about Maddie being too flat.

Thoughts would be great.