The cocktail of drugs that Bones created lasted longer than any other attempt using the far safer, generally medically safer method of using only one at a time. The results were more promising as well, but it was apparent that this wasn't the way to help Jim permanently. It was a quick fix that lasted roughly two hours before it was wearing off with how fast the Captain's body burned through the medications. It was something, however. The fact that it worked at all was a step in the right direction, and it also meant that Khan had been telling him the truth thus far. How long that lasted was going to be the question, as well as how much more information could be gotten out of the augment given he'd already made it clear he would give nothing else until he'd seen his crew. At the current stage Jim wasn't reckless enough to risk letting the augment out. He knew that it wouldn't end well in the slightest. His warning about his crew was what was currently keeping Khan in his cell, but even that was on a fixed time limit as he doubted the super human was going to just wait around for him. They needed a mutual understanding that Khan needed Jim just as much as Jim currently needed Khan's aid. Jim had a plan for that too though it had been in the works for the past months before he'd even realized what was happening to him or that he'd need it in the future as a kind of bargaining chip. One that he was more than well aware would not go over well with some members of his crew, if not all of them. Unfortunately there was little choice at this point, and even though this may have seemed to only be to keep himself alive there was a bigger motive behind it all. As much as Khan had done to them, his people hadn't done anything to deserve a fate to unknowingly be used as hostages time and time again…and Jim was going to continue to push to ensure that it didn't happen later down the line. The methods of doing so were in the works, and Scotty was already working on it after they'd had a long talk which had admitably needed to wait until he'd gotten the Chief Engineer plenty drunk enough to actually listen.
Then there was Spock.
About four days removed from his talk with Khan, the young Captain was seeing to a few matters about the upcoming voyage as well as preparations for it. Namely the preparations that needed to be done without the whole of Starfleet knowing about them. Scotty was good so Jim wasn't worried, but it never hurt to be careful. At least in these circumstances. Given that he needed to have Bones see that he was given doses of their prescribed cocktail fairly regularly, however, he was checking over all of this in the medical ward he seemed to be unable to escape. Bones himself had left a good while ago to deal with personnel problems which translated to the fact he was going to try and see his little girl for the umpteenth time during their stay while the Enterprise was repaired. So far he'd not had any luck as his ex kept denying him for one reason or another, but Jim had been given plenty to last for another attempt and the Captain had urged him to try rather than worry about him. It wasn't long after the CMO had left that Spock appeared.
After everything the two of them had gone through it wasn't that much of a surprise that the two commanding officers would be able to read each other. It wasn't flawless by no means given the differences between them, but while others might see a decently calm Vulcan walking into the room Jim saw Spock stalking in with at tight jaw and overly perfect and ridged posture. Much as Spock tried to retain the cool and logical mindset of other Vulcans there were always a few cracks that were just waiting for something to split that composure wide open. Normally it occurred when Jim was injured or hurt…or dead, as he'd been told. Given that Khan was the source of quite a lot of pain and suffering along with the reason that Jim had died in the first place it was really no wonder that Spock might be more than a touch upset that the Captain had, as it were, let the augment out of his cryotube without consulting him first.
"Captain," Spock greeted coolly, coming to a stop and assuming a parade rest. Oh yes. He was certainly in for it.
"Mr. Spock." Jim returned, setting his PADD aside slowly in favor of giving the other his full attention. The drugs he'd been given kept his condition roughly stabilized, but it wasn't perfect. They kept him from getting too weak and kept his fluctuating body in check well enough for a time to keep anything worse from happening. That didn't mean it was impossible for things to start acting up.
"It has come to my attention that Khan has been released from his cryotube by your request," Spock stated, voice clipped.
"Yes. He's the only one that's going to know what's happening to me." Jim reminded.
"That does not mean that he can be trusted. He is a murderer and terrorist, Captain…Jim…He should be kept contained to prevent further damages."
"He's not going anywhere when he knows his crew is at stake, and it's not like I'm letting him walk around freely."
Spock's eyes narrowed slightly. "You informed him that his crew is alive."
"Of course I did. Do you really think he'd still be in his cell if he hadn't been told?"
"I had suspected as much, but I had hoped to find that you had not taken a reckless course of action. It appears that I was mistaken to believe as much might have been a possibility."
"I have things under control, alright?"
"That is what Admiral Marcus believed before Khan escaped his admitably questionable influence and was murdered violently."
Jim winced. "I'm not treating him like Marcus did."
"It's irrelevant to take into account how Khan is treated as it will nevertheless end the same."
"Look, Spock…I'm keeping him out until I figure out what's happening to me. It's not like I've gone rouge and done this without authorization."
"With all due respect, Captain, your capacity for judgment may very well be compromised due to your current condition –a condition that is highly likely to be caused by Khan's blood. I strongly recommend we ensure that Khan is placed back into his cryotube and that myself and Doctor McCoy work to the best of our combined abilities to help you instead." Spock spoke as if the decision was final and that it was up to him. While Jim could obviously see where the other was coming from with all of his points there also wasn't much choice they had in his honest opinion. There was always dying, but before that stage hit there was the problem with uncontrolled rage and the strength that could end with severe injuries if not kept under control. Whatever the reason to not involve Khan it didn't necessarily matter as the result of it all would be the same; he'd hurt someone else like he had his assailant outside of Starfleet Headquarters. It would be inevitable, and Jim didn't want that. If Spock hadn't been there he'd have killed the kid in public and in broad daylight without the ability to stop himself. At the time he hadn't felt anything but the need to draw blood and had seen nothing wrong with it due to how blinded he'd been by rage.
"Will you please just trust that I know what I'm doing?" Jim asked, sighing in frustration. How could Spock not see that he was doing what he could to be careful? He was giving out the information necessary, and he had a plan for once in his life all mapped out which should work in his favor because if he was completely honest with himself freeing Khan wasn't a completely selfish gesture. He'd been planning something for the past months that could get him in very, very serious trouble if he didn't play his cards right. Naturally he was very much hoping that he was playing them exactly right, but it wouldn't work if he died in the process because of his condition or if Khan was frozen again. Red started appearing around the corners of his vision.
Whether it was because Spock saw a change in Jim or it was the Captain's words actually swaying him, the Commander finally nodded. "Very well, Jim…However I believe that it would be best if you and I were to speak with Khan together so that I may judge if his blood is causing a lapse in judgment as I've hypothesized."
The red grew just a touch more pronounced in his vision. That uncontrolled, illogical rage beginning with the smallest trigger. What normally might have been a mild irritation or annoyance that Jim would have taken in stride was now becoming just that more pronounced and setting off a chain reaction of overwhelming emotion. "Fine. We can go now."
Unsurprisingly Khan was exactly how Jim had left him four days prior. The augment was in fresh clothes –black and similar to the style which he'd had before –as the Starfleet Captain had ensured that he'd be well kept, prisoner or no. There was no need to be barbaric about this. As Jim and Spock approached the white paneled cell the single occupant watched them with a raised brow. When the two came to a rest before the clear barrier keeping them apart Spock assumed parade rest and Jim stood with arms crossed over his chest. The two of them could not have possibly looked more opposite from each other.
"To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit, Captain?" Khan asked as his cool gaze moved to Spock. The sudden tension between them was palpable, but it wasn't a surprise. While Jim was experiencing rage issues the occasional outbreak of emotion from Spock could be awful as well. He'd not been able to witness it, but he'd been told just how Spock had reacted to his death.
"And what of you, Mr. Spock? I would question if you intended to use me for an experiment or study, but I know that you are far too bound in your own code to do much more than stand and wish you had a reason to attack me again."
"My only purpose is to be an observer in this conversation," Spock replied, equally cool as the Vulcan retained a largely emotionless mask. If there was any time where Jim envied the other's control, then now would certainly be one of those times as the red hadn't faded from his vision but grown steadily more pronounced. Little things were making it worse, and while Jim looked outwardly alright if not a bit tensed nothing indicated what was building inside him. At least nothing indicated a thing to the unknowing observer as Spock had seemed to become a bit more cautious in how he phrased certain things.
"Spock here thinks that your blood is leaving my judgmental capacity compromised." Jim explained when Khan's gaze moved back to him. The augment appeared amused by the fact.
"Something which you clearly believe to be false. I do wonder how you can be so sure of the fact."
"Are you implying that the Captain is indeed being affected by the blood in a way which would best service you?" Spock questioned, jumping right in on the other's words even as his tone remained the same smooth inquisitive one. At the given moment and given the current circumstances Jim saw it as Spock leaping at every opportunity to prove that he was not fit for active command…as Spock trying to usurp him and take his ability to make his own calls away. The red thickened like blood around the edges of his vision and his jaw tightened subtly.
"You are very eager to find a reason to believe that your Captain's decisions can be justified as being anything outside his own wants." Khan mused with a low chuckle, cold gaze gleaming. "Do you truly trust his judgment so little." It didn't help that the augment was practically voicing Jim's exact thoughts and assessment of the situation which only seemed to speed the process along.
"I am merely open to all possibilities in light of recent events," Spock said. The augment was still unaware of the rest of the effects that his blood had on Jim. The Captain hadn't told everything all at once for a reason as despite what he'd been planning he didn't trust Khan in the slightest. The only thing which he trusted was the other's desire to keep his family alive. It would not surprise him if the knowledge that Jim was practically a ticking time bomb ready to be set off would be more than useful to Khan to use against them. The plan had been that he'd introduce information about what was happening to him as slowly as he could manage without things getting too out of hand. Given that Jim's mental state was degrading the initial plan was going to have to be changed around quite a lot.
The conversation –if it could be called one –between Spock and Khan continued though Jim had stopped paying attention in favor of trying to calm himself while he still could. He wasn't too far gone yet, but it was so hard to retain a logical and rational mind when the haze of anger and red blood seemed to overpower everything else. If the other two men noticed the internal dilemma going on while they continued their verbal spar of accusations and sarcastic remarks, then they certainly didn't seem bothered by it. Frankly that meant that each had become absorbed in their 'conversation'. Spock still seemed wary of Jim, but Khan who didn't know the Captain as well wouldn't know signs that the Vulcan would. Jim was only half paying attention at this point to what the others were doing. It was more paying attention to know if he was spoken to which he wasn't, but if he focused too much on the conversation and less on staying calm he'd likely snap at a small thing said. His body wasn't the only thing in a state of flux.
The haze had begun to dissipate when footsteps could be heard approaching. Jim looked up with a furrowed brow as he could tell that the steps were heading towards the cell block. He glanced to Spock, but the Vulcan hadn't seemed to have heard though the verbal sparring had paused as Khan seemed to have not responded to the last thing said. Jim could tell it was because Khan heard the approaching footsteps too, and before long so did Spock.
"Have you extended the invitation to speak with me to everyone, Kirk?" Khan questioned grimly.
"No, I haven't." Jim replied, but he felt that the comment was unnecessary. Red that had begun to dissipate was slowly coming back with unease as he got a sudden feeling in his gut that this wasn't going to end well. While not always right his gut was accurate more often than not, and Jim had an awful feeling for one reason or another.
"It was my understanding that information regarding his removal from cryosleep was classified." Spock stated.
"It was." The cell block was still devoid of other prisoners save for Khan, and since it was reserved for more dangerous ones the layout of the room was circular with only five cells in total. The cells themselves were advanced to contain highly intelligent and strong prisoners, but outside of the cells the layout was open with little area to provide cover if none at all. All of this occurred to Jim as the doors opened and three men walked in. They were dressed like doctors.
"Hello, Captain." One said, tall and blonde with a false smile and dark gaze. "You sent for medical officers to check on Mr. Singh?" Before Jim or Spock could reply the other two men drew phasers and shot them. The weapons were set to stun, thankfully. It was something that Jim could tell after his fair share of experiences being on the receiving end of phaser fire. What was different, however, was that even as he fell it was more from the instinct that he should be. He knew almost instantly something was wrong however. The blast had stung like being electrocuted, but it had been brief and he'd not been rendered unconscious unlike Spock who lay motionless beside him. The realization that Spock was down had red rushing into his vision quickly. If there was one thing that would always get to him it was someone trying to hurt his own family, but seeing the tactical advantage in playing possum he remained still and did just that despite the sudden and overwhelming urge he had to end the lives of the men who had dared attack them.
"Jenette, check on them. Make sure the Vulcan's out." A voice he recognized at the blonde ordered. A quick 'yes sir' came from one of the two men who had shot them before he heard what he presumed to be the same man move forward to check on Spock. Obviously they were disregarding Jim as a potential threat given that the Captain was human. Technically he should have been out cold rather than lying in wait patiently as the unhinged urge to draw blood settled deep in his core and wiped away everything else.
"So Marcus's dogs come out of hiding at last." Khan said coolly.
"The Vulcan's down, sir. Phasers were set to full capacity so they won't be getting up for awhile."
"Very good." The blonde again. "Hello freak."
"Eloquent as ever. Though I suppose I am dealing with the cowards left alive from running." It was Khan again, and Jim risked opening his eyes just enough to see if anyone was paying attention to him. No one was, and that was perfect.
"You're the coward that worked through bombs." Always the blonde talking, it seemed.
"Yet you stand behind a barrier to prevent me from reaching you. You kept my family as an incentive to not kill all of you sooner."
"It's not cowardice it's intelligence –"
"Something which you lack."
"—and you are a freak of nature that was designed to be a tool and weapon. We were carrying out your purpose."
"My purpose was not to allow you and others to torture me and experiment on me when I was not working to build your weapons." Khan's voice was cold as he spoke, and by now Jim had caught on to the fact that these people were remnants of Section 31. After the facility in London had been destroyed many members had died, others had scattered at the order of Marcus. Once Marcus had been killed, however, those who Khan had not already killed went into hiding now that Starfleet was looking for them as well. Jim had been aware that all of the members, all of the sleeper agents or scientists couldn't have been tracked down and caught. He hadn't expected them to come after Khan, and certainly not like this. Nevertheless none of that truly mattered to Jim at the given moment. All he cared about was the Vulcan lying beside him on the ground. A member of his crew, his family, unconscious because of the actions of the three who had entered the cellblock.
Opening his eyes fully Jim took in his surroundings. The three were in front of Khan's cell, the blonde out front speaking while the two that had stunned (or tried to) both himself and Spock stood a few steps behind the ringleader on either side. Slowly and silently the young Captain pushed himself up to his feet as if he hadn't been hit with the phaser. He looked none the worse for wear in the slightest, and he moved forward with a cold and ruthlessly calculating expression which did not belong on his face. Khan, the only one actually facing him, had obviously seen the movement as Jim picked up on the tells. The Captain had no qualms with him at the moment, however, so he was not given his attention as the focus of his rage was on the three members of Section 31.
"— needs to come at any cost. The Klingons won't wait for us to be prepared." The blonde had continued on unaware of the danger lurking behind. Rather than respond Khan verbally, Jim saw that the augment only smirked while his icy gaze gleamed.
"What in the hell are you so smug ab—"
Jim struck. While death was something that couldn't always be avoided he'd prided himself in the past on being able to do his best to ensure all other alternatives could be taken to outright murder. Self-defense could be tricky like that as there were times there wasn't a choice, but he tried. There was no ounce of remorse or care when Jim snapped the neck of the man on the left which had been closest to him when he'd approached. The resounding snap of vertebra had the other two survivors including the blonde to turning to face Jim with varying looks of surprise. A phaser blast on stun setting hits him square in the chest and Jim pauses as his body is impacted. The moment passes quickly and his eyes narrow dangerously. He does not fall as he should have, and a curse comes from the blonde even as Jim takes advantage of his apparent immunity to being stunned to easily throw a punch that had the man dropping from lack of reacting in time. The last man leapt at him, attacking and hitting him and landing in a few blows in quick succession though as a fist comes round to slug him Jim's forearm come up to block. He barely feels the impact of stopping the blow from connecting as he shifts one of his legs to snake behind and around the other man's. A half-second later Jim is smashing a palm into the man's chest and he's falling back from the unnatural force of it as well as the compromised balance. In the struggle he'd grabbed the man's phaser and shot him with it. The blast was no longer on stun. He turned again to the last man alive. The blonde. The man had stumbled up and was attempting to fight him, but Jim easily grabbed the fist which had been meant to return the punch to the jaw before he squeezed and crushed the hand. A scream escaped from the other before Jim had the same arm of the crushed hand twisted up to the small of his back as he slammed the blonde into the clear barrier of Khan's cell. Jim's free hand was curled around the back of the man's neck and his legs and lower body kept the other's pinned.
"So, Captain, this is what you hide from me." Khan mused, the first he'd spoken since Jim had stood. He looked up from the man he had pinned to the augment. Khan was situated in front of them with hands clasped behind his back and an amused and interested gleam in his eyes and a smirk curling his lips.
"K-Kirk," the pinned man gasped out. "I c-can make it—" A scream cut off the rest of the offer about to be made as Jim squeezed the hand he'd crushed.
"You harmed my family," Jim hissed in response, and he saw Khan's gaze move behind him to what he presumed to be Spock. The Vulcan would still be unconscious most likely, and the reminder only had the red haze thicken and threaten to consumed more of him as his lips twist in a snarl.
"I-I d-didn't. It was Adams and J-Jenette." The blonde stuttered, and Jim scoffed in disgust and displeasure.
"A coward, as I said." Khan stated, and Jim's gaze flicked back up to Khan completely for several moments. When the blonde tried to use the distraction as an opportunity to attack Jim twisted the arm until a crack could be audibly heard before the scream was ripped from the other's throat. He'd broken the arm.
"D-Damn you." Jim twisted to break the arm in a different place and the struggling stopped though pained whimpers and whines sounded. Unimpressed he pursed his lips before going to snap the neck.
Khan's cool voice gave him pause. "James Tiberius Kirk. The man who you wish to kill is not worth wasting the effort to kill when there is information to be had. You say he harmed your family. You have killed two who were most directly involved. Leave the man who used and threatened mine to me." Jim didn't want to, but Khan's words were cool and soothed the burn of rage and the need for revenge. He'd killed the two who had actually fired on them, yet. That was more than enough…in fact it was too much. With several moments of Jim relaxing slowly with the occasional word or two from Khan he calmed down again as the red left his vision and he came back to himself. It left him feeling weak in comparison, but then he was actually getting weaker. He backed off of the man whom he'd injured who dropped to the ground with a pathetic whimper.
"Freaks," the blonde snarled, and his jaw jerked as if he'd chomped down on something.
"No—" It was too late, and Jim sighed softly as he watched the man begin to froth at the corners of his mouth before slumping. The young Captain looked around at what he'd done, suddenly feeling sick along with his disorientation. His gaze landed on Spock and he made to move towards the other.
"There is nothing to do for your Commander." Khan said, and Jim's attention reluctantly is placed back onto the augment. "I imagine this is another reason as to why you were so desperate as to wake me to aid your condition."
"What is happening to me?" Jim asked, tired and feeling sick with himself.
"You see red, don't you Captain? A haze which brings with it anger, hate…the need to shed blood. Have you been having nightmares as well?"
"…"
"Yes, then. Tell me this, Kirk, what do you feel when this takes over your body? When you lose yourself and your control what do you feel as the rage consumes you?"
"I'm…strong. Stronger and faster than I've ever been before, but I shouldn't be able to do what I have. I can't crush bones or withstand phasers. I'm human not…"
"You mean to say that you are better, Captain." Khan said. "At everything."
Hello! I'm sorry this took awhile, but again I warn you that I can't promise I'll update quickly. I'm doing my best, though, and I really appreciate the reviews I've gotten so thank you so those who have left them and thank you to anyone else reading this. Also, I look forward to more reviews and your thoughts on what's happened so far.
Have a good day
Reaperess ^-^
