As Kirk entered the room, there was silence. Across from them, on the other side of the glass, Khan awaited his execution. He appeared strangely relaxed, strangely calm for a man so close to death as he took his final look around the room and at the faces in front of him, all waiting quietly. He stared, eyes wide open and alert as he was strapped down, looking at no one in particular, until he saw Kirk, the man he had killed, and the man who, thanks to his super-blood, had defied death.
Their eyes met and the anger Kirk had expected from himself was not there. No, not after seeing the way Khan looked at him. He saw something he hadn't expected, something he realized no one else could see. Fear.
Kirk couldn't help but wonder, why was he so afraid? It couldn't be only because he was about to die. No, Kirk thought, no, that's not it. Even after only their short time together, Kirk knew Khan too well to believe he was truly afraid of death. And even if he was, he would never show it, never allow Kirk to see it. He was stronger than that, or at least wanted to appear stronger, superior, unless there was a reason for Kirk to see it. But what could he possibly want from Kirk?
Still looking at him, Khan spoke, but his words could not be heard. He repeated what he had said, slower this time, carefully so that Kirk could see it. Please...Save them.
His family, of course! He wanted Kirk to save his family, protect him now that he could not, now that he had failed. Again he spoke, desperation becoming more visible. His body shook as the drug that would end him was administered through a needle in his arm. There was little time for Kirk to think.
As much as he wanted to remain still and silent, to watch Khan suffer in his final moments, he couldn't. He's dying, getting what he deserves, that's enough, right? Kirk remembered how it felt, to be so powerless to save those he loved. It was more than the pain or fear of dying, far worse. It was something he wished on no one, not even Khan.
"I will," Kirk replied silently, nodding his head and trying to suppress a slight smile. "Don't worry." Khan allowed himself to smile, trying to express to Kirk what he simply couldn't with words. The fear left his eyes and the shaking stopped. Khan laid down and relaxed, allowing the drug to take effect, leaving Kirk to think over what he had just promised.
With each passing second, Khan became weaker, falling deeper into the darkness quickly surrounding him. When his finally head fell back and his eyes closed, Kirk let out a sigh, trying to ignore the sick, spinning feeling that was coming over him. Why do I care? Shouldn't he be relieved, able to finally find peace now that this man was gone?
Nothing he told himself could stop the feeling. Why did he care that a man who had killed hundreds of innocent people was dead? Because where those we love are concerned, we really quite alike. And as much as Kirk hated to admit it, he could almost understand why Khan had reacted the way he had. After all, would he had not stopped at anything protect his family?