A/N: Version 1.1 - Beta-Read by AlessNox (answers to questions at the end)

It was a few hours after the arrival of the Reliant, when Malek sent someone to inform Khan that the interrogation was about to begin. Looking at his two shadows, he slowly rose from his crouching position near one of the panels in the engine room. After having spent the time instructing the technicians about the transfer procedure and deciding which components were usable, some distraction was welcome.

The Cardassians were efficient and able to keep up with his strict schedule. They did not complain about being pushed. That did not mean Khan enjoyed having to micromanage the progress. Revenge was all there was left, but he often felt tired; not physically as the virus did not affect him that much at this point. Mundane tasks, tiresome discussions and waiting was fuelling his anger and at the same time it was just testimony to the horrible reality of his situation. It would have certainly been better for him and everyone else involved if he had not been awakened again.

"It took Malek long enough", he told the messenger.

"He is expecting you."

Khan gave an annoyed look at the Cardassian, who stepped back despite being well out of reach.

There were some loose ends to tie up. He left some more instructions for the technicians. Upgrading the timetable which was now at least advanced by two weeks. His own secret plans were already further along. He thought about the device on the Cardassian ship. Later tonight he would have to see how successful that had turned out.

Hidden parts salvaged from the modules and consoles were in his sleeve and pockets. He needed to do something about that before he could indulge in some distraction. Unlike the soldiers the messenger followed him closely. Having the audacity to point out that Malek would not like waiting. He went even so far as stepping in his way as he headed down to his quarters.

"That would be down that corridor", the messenger said.

"This would be the moment for you to go and tell Malek, I be there shortly."

Usually, Malek's lackeys were smart enough to back off when his annoyance was that transparent in his voice.

"I have orders to accompany you", he said still standing in his way.

Resorting to a language the other probably understood better, Khan grabbed his head and smashed it against the wall. The blow was powerful enough to crack a human skull, he might survive it or not. Malek would not care. Two guards certainly did not, they knew better than to bother him without a direct order. The urge to go up against Malek and his lackeys with their not so subtle attempts at ordering him around was always strong. Most of the time he did not push back. As long as he played their game, it gave him enough freedom to work on his back up plan.

This time he needed to push back. He had to hide the chip-set and the connectors he had filched from various consoles. Especially before seeing Malek, he was bound to notice them. Being that annoying, the messenger might have dared to follow him in his quarters - now he could enter undisturbed with his guards taking position outside.

For what was essentially a prison cell, it was not a bad accommodation. More spacious than the one given to him by Section 31 but with the added annoyance that almost every corner was under constant camera surveillance. Rigging a device, it had not been difficult for him to access the security system. Afterwards he had figured out which were the dead areas not caught on camera. This way Khan was able to work on his special projects in plain sight. In case he really needed to hide anything, he had also found a solution.

The main room was dominated by a desk. The design was that of two broad crescent shaped halves attached a bit offset against each others. One side was where he did assemble smaller parts for his construction. On the other side he had placed a pad which he used to list mundane details about the mission as well as some of his medical data. It was not that he needed to note down details, his memory was quite excellent. It was a smoke screen. He had made various short recordings of him entering and reviewing data.

Whenever he needed a few unobserved minutes, he took a certain position leaning over the pad. For this scenario it was beneficial that the Cardassian had provided him with an identical set of clothing. For him it was easy to recall the exact position. He took thirty seconds to enter some data, then he started the recording at the right moment.

Now he had almost two minutes to store the parts into his hiding place. He couldn't risk having them at his work place when he was blocking them from the cameras but for now he needed to store them out of sight. Otherwise someone reviewing the tapes might notice them. Khan was sure that Malek had his own engineers assessing Khan's work.

It took him exactly eighty seconds, then he was back entering notes into the pad. It worked perfectly, even if the footage was observed carefully, the change would be flawless. No one would notice the transition. His hiding place had withstood several inspections that had been performed in his absence. Malek seemed to be content with what Khan had left for him to find in other places.

Once the cameras were back to filming, he waited a bit before abandoning the pad. To make up another reason for his need to come here first, he decided on a change of clothes. Pulling off his shirt he walked over to the bedroom, which was not an entirely independent room. An empty shelf functioned as a divider from most of the main room. As he passed the bed, he threw the shirt on it and went into the bathroom.

After freshening up a bit, he took another fresh shirt from his supply of identical black clothes. Khan left his quarters, strolling past the body of the messenger to finally see what Malek was boasting about all this time.

And now to answer a few questions:

Lexicon / He is hard to kill that is for sure, but I don't wont to spoil anything - but he is my POV character and I am just starting out with this story.

InsideYourDreams / I assume returning characters from the movies/tv shows? Yes, there will be - but not in the next dozen chapters, unless you consider Tyrell from WOK one ;)

LadyHorror92 / I am afraid you to wonder about that a bit longer ...

everyone else / Thanks for your comments ;)

Next chapter is almost ready so hopefully the wait won't be as long.