Culture Shock

Nights in White Satin

Khan. Khan was his real name. Not Harrison, and not John. It seemed fitting, like Ghangis Khan, the great conqueror. I smiled, trying to compare the Mongol with Khan. Hopefully Khan wasn't a rapist like his name sake. That would just make things awkward. He was from 1996, the near future for me. Augment…

That name sounded so familiar…

You know that buzzing feeling your brain get's when a memory or name is close to the surface, and yet too far away for you to remember? That's what it felt like in my head.

I sighed, things were harder to remember ever since those fuck-tards stuck their finger's in my brain.

"You said you were genetically engineered? That's fucked up." I said, looking Khan's pale face masked in the dull shadow. I was trying to distract myself from that name, that name that was so familiar…

"We were the solution to man kind's violence and sin." He said, and I felt my bullshit meter go off. I sighed, and looked away and he stopped.

"Whatever. I'm taking a nap anyways." I said, tilting my head back against the smooth wall and shutting my eyes. Sleep numbed my mind, and again I was back in cold Soviet Russia.

I didn't have shoes on, I was just in that thin white hospital gown they gave me. The snow was starting to burn, but luckily I hadn't gotten frost bitten. It was a bit strange, because I had walked at least a mile in the freeing snow, but I wasn't going to question my luck. It was hell frozen over, literally. My body was shaking horribly, and it hurt every time my heart beat.

I blinked, slowly seeing a house in the snow. I smiled slowly, and ran for it, my movements jerking and inconsistent. I got in the house, shut and locked the door. There was firewood and matches on a nearby table. With shaking hands I managed to light a fire, and as soon as the heat hit me, so did the exhaustion. I curled up on the cold hard floor and felt my mind numb.

Jack…

Jack.

That pulled me out of my semi-dreaming state.

Jack betrayed me. Jack let me die, then made those scientists bring me back. I felt anger, hate and hurt pool around me. How could you, how could you Jack? It was a question I'd asked myself for two years. Now, Jack's bones are long gone. Dust.

I felt that anger pour in. I sighed and rubbed my face trying to will away the feeling. I took deep breaths but nothing changed, nothing at all. That deep anger was still there, but I couldn't tell you why. There was a bitterness carved into the marrow on my bones that refused to heal. It was the scar on my face, the ghost of Jack, the blood that stained my hands.

I didn't know why I was so angry anymore. It was only getting worse; like the world crashing down on my shoulders.

My eyes fluttered shut, squeezing together tightly. Khan wasn't here, wherever here was. I was alone again, not that I minded. I needed to be alone now, to try and force that anger back. I'd spent too long being angry, being bitter, I was starting to forget why I was angry.

I forced myself to let it go, and I took in our surroundings. I was getting really fucking curious as to where we were; nothing seemed familiar. Nothing seemed even remotely human. Not to mention I didn't like being dumped unfamiliar places with a genetically engineered assholes.

I stood, propping my weapon up on my shoulder and walking towards the exit. The sand storm had died down and the grey dark world took a crude shape. It was a harsh landscape, like nothing I've ever seen.

I didn't even glance back before I left, leaving nothing. Thankfully the pull on my bones was gone and walking around was much easier. I walked around until I saw a dark haired figure beyond me, alone. The figure was shorter and more bulky than Khan, and in much different clothing. I ducked into a shadow, pressing myself up against a wall until the figure turned, and I saw a face made up of crude lines and sharp angles in a dark face. Their forehead was wrinkled and pierced, not at all human.

An alien? Are you shitting me?!

Thanks for the warning Khan.

I slunk away, my steps careful and my eyes sharp. I looked all around, walking at least an hour or two before I was back at that strange structure. The dark world outside grew darker, and I supposed that it was night. If this place had night. I was busy looking out at the strange landscape when Khan spoke.

"Where were you?" He asked from the darkness behind my back. I could see him in my mind, as still and stiff as the stone, but infinitely more regal. Pale face composed and sharp.

"Not here." I answered flatly keeping all emotion from my face. I could practically see the frown on his face. He was standing almost directly behind me, and it must've really pissed him off to know that I wouldn't even turn around to talk to him. His ego was probably burning right now.

The thought of it made me smile.

"Where are we?" I asked, turning to face him. Khan's face was emotionless, anger and cruelness hiding behind his beautiful electric eyes. My smile widened when I noticed his anger. He walked up next to me, staring out at the dark world.

"On a Klingon planet, we're in an abandoned area. You'd have to walk for miles to find anyone." He answered flatly, glancing at me suspiciously. "I wouldn't suggest exploring anymore. They are a violent species, and won't hesitate to kill or torture you."

My smile was gone in a flash, and I stared out at the world solemnly. "I died once. It wasn't so bad." I said, the lost feeling creeping into my voice. I turned on my heel and walked away from Khan. I could feel his eyes track me, but I pointedly ignored it.

"What are we even doing here?" I went on, sitting down with my back against a wall. I needed something to occupy my thoughts before I went insane.

"We are waiting." He said, slowly and with purpose. Khan's eyes pinned me down, digging into my own.

I took a deep breath, and rubbed the bridge of my nose tiredly. "You can be a real smartass, you know that?" I muttered, before looking him in the face. "So, what are we waiting for? Marcus to track us down?"

Khan smiled that wonderfully horrible smile, and my stomach sank while my eyes sharpened. I watched him carefully as he answered. "Yes, we are."

I was on my feet instantly, rage crackling through my nerves. "You mean, I left with you, gave you my word that I would help you, and you just want to get captured by Marcus again? What the hell is wrong with you?! You're fucking crazy!" I snapped, my voice a crescendo that tore through the darkness. My blood pounded through my veins and my hands clenched by my side.

I was in the process of dramatically storming off when something iron clamped on my arms, spinning me around. My response was immediate, and my fist crashed into his face.

He stared back, the red spot on his face fading almost instantly and my eyes widened. Fear quickened my pulse, and I tried in vain to yank myself back. Of course he regenerates, he's fucking genetically engineered. His grip tightened painfully, and his eyes narrowed dangerously. My eyes narrowed in return, smoldering dangerously.

"You. Are. Not. Going. Outside." Khan said; frigidly announcing each word while his eyes pushed the command.

"I'm going to do what I want schizo." I said, spitting out every word. His eyes were practically glowing, burning out of his handsome face. A strange lilt over took his features, and if I hadn't known better, I might've thought he really didn't want me to leave out of fear; fear that I might injure myself or something.

But I did know better. Khan wasn't concerned at all about me, about my feelings or well being. He didn't care if I got hurt at all, in fact, I'm pretty sure he'd smile if something did happen. Khan was that kind of devoid human-being, no matter how genetically enhanced he was. He's a walking, emotionless time bomb encased in beautiful ice.

A bomb I was about to get the fuck away from.

My entire face darkened in that instant, right as the last word left my lips. I didn't have time to draw a breath before I acted. Because in this moment; he was the enemy and he had to be eliminated.

My leg shot up between us, my foot planting itself firmly under his rib cage and pushing him off me with as much force as I could muster. He stumbled back, surprise gracing his features but not touching his eyes. Those cold and beautiful eyes that almost anchored my rage and bitterness. If only, if only.

Before I could even spin on my heel to make for the exit, he smashed his fist into my face; hard. I literally felt my jaw bone crunch, piercing through my gums and scraping my teeth before the pain even hit. And the pain, the excruciating pain exploded me right as I was flying back into a wall. My back slammed into it, the wall cracking as my head bounced against it. Blood poured down my face as I struggled to stand through the pain. My senses were flooded with pain, warm blood, and Khan.

Even through the pain, fading now from adrenaline, I was furious. My hair was growing damp from blood and soon enough, I couldn't feel my injuries at all. Khan was staring back, a hard stubbornness in his eyes that commanded me to back down. I snarled, somehow able to move my jaw, right back. It was like I said earlier. He wasn't my fucking mother. He couldn't tell me to do jack shit.

"You are not stupid, Ranger. You will get injured and discovered if you go out. So you will stay here, even if I have to break your bones." Khan said, calmly without blinking.

OH, it was on asshole. You think I'm not stupid? Then why the hell do you think I'd be in the same room, for any extended period of time, with YOU asshole?! Riddle me that you bitch!

"You've already broken my jaw jackass!" I yelled.

His eyes coldly surveyed my face, before he smiled. "It seems I have. Tell me, how much does it hurt?"

I reared back, giving him a hateful look before I answered. "It stung like a bitch asshole, you fucking broke it! I'm fucking bleeding! Or are you blind as well as fucking insane?!"

I aimed another punch at his face, and he back handed me in return, whipping my head to the side. I turned it back, my neck cracking to relieve some of the pain. I felt my bandanna shift, but I was past the point of caring. I lunged towards him, upper cutting him hard under the ribs before sucker punching him in the throat. The uppercut knocked the breath out of Khan, but other than that, he looked untouched and pissed.

Faster than my eyes could track, his hand snapped out and grabbed my throat, throwing me back. I spun, aiming myself towards the ground so I wouldn't crack my head open.

I tumbled, rolling to a stop on the ground before I leapt up, smashing my fist into Khan's face. I heard the bone crunch under my hand, piercing through the skin. Maybe, had I not been so angry, I would have questioned the amount of strength I had. I might have wondered why my face and head no longer hurt. But I was furious, and logic wasn't working. Khan had fallen to the ground gripping his nose while my fist clutched his collar; holding him still.

My arm reared back, poised to hit him again when his eyes slid up to my forehead. I froze, chest heaving with each breath. Khan smiled that horrible, gloating smile; staring at my forehead. Blood had dripped down his face, but his nose was no longer broken so all that was left was the dark stain against his beautiful skin. I felt disgusted.

Anger left me, leaving me feeling hollow and exposed. I let Khan go, and turned to put on my bandanna, making sure it covered my scar. I wiped the blood off of my face, and checked the back of my head for injuries. I didn't want to speak.

"Where did you get that scar?" Khan asked, almost lazily, like he already knew the answer. He probably did know, or at least guessed how I got it. He only wanted to know how I reacted to the question.

"I don't think it's any of your business Psycho." I replied, my words still bitter from the left over anger. Khan smiled; it was the picture of satisfaction and gloating, and it made me sick. I hated it when he smiled, it was so sickening.

"I'm just curious, as to who did that to you, and why, when all your other wounds have healed without scaring; that one hasn't. Don't you find it curious?" He said with purpose.

"We are not friends. You are a batshit crazy stranger; and hell. You don't know anything about me!" I snapped, sitting down and working the clumps of blood out of my hair. I didn't want to look at him, he was pissing me off so much.

"I know more about you than you do."

I snorted. "Yeah, sure you do stranger. In fact, I'm sure you could tell me my whole life story, right now." I said, not bothering to hide my sarcasm.

He chuckled. "I know many things, whether or not you choose to listen is optional."

My eyes burned into his. "You don't know shit." I reiterated, my voice bordering on rude. His eyes glowed intensely.

"I know things about you that you wouldn't believe, Ranger. I know that you feel alone, that you're family has left you. I know who you are, and who you were. I even know who you will be. You gave me your word, a solid for a solid. You will stand by me until I say otherwise, and you will not question or betray me. Do you understand?" Khan said seriously, his blue eyes boring into mine.

I stared back defiantly before I had to look away. I glared at the ground instead. I may be a coward, selfish at times, and other times a complete idiot, but I would never turn back on my word. I turned back to look at him, and I raised my fist towards him peacefully.

"I'll follow through with my word, but you won't order me around. You want loyalty? Buy a fucking dog." I said darkly, pushing back my thick red hair. Ugh, I wanted a cigarette. Bet you they didn't have any drugs here. At least not human ones. Heh, by this time, cigarettes are probably illegal anyway.

I rubbed my face as Khan turned to stare outside. What had I gotten myself into? Khan was no saint, that I could see when he busted that poor red-shirts head open. Hell, he fucking busted my jaw open and threw me at a damn wall!

Strangely, my jaw didn't hurt at all. In fact, I no longer felt the bone scraping my teeth. My eyes flashed to Khan suspiciously before my hand crept towards my injury. I tenderly touched it, feeling no pain. I pressed a little harder, not even feeling a break in the bone. I looked over at Khan. He must've had something to do with it, after all it wasn't possible…

I-I couldn't have healed that fast. Khan must've done something. After all, the technology they have in this time is so advanced, something like that probably happened.

Yes. That had to be it.

I closed my eyes, and sighed. Why did that asshole have to be right about everything? I was lonely, but who wouldn't be?

Even with my eyes closed, his electric eyes pierced me, and again I found myself wondering why the word Augment was so familiar…

My head tilted back against the wall, and I pulled my knee's up to my chest. I had lost bits of my memory. Like my mother's hair color, Jack's last name, what state we lived in.

I rubbed my face, thinking about Khan. He was beyond dangerous, he could've killed me easily. Why he wanted me around, or was even pretending to care, was beyond me. It went completely against his character. After all, I'm not as strong, fast, smart or indestructible as he was.

After all, the man went as far as to heal my wounds!

I was practically dead weight for him to carry around, and the only weapon I had was some make-shift piece of junk that didn't even do lethal damage. In fact, I couldn't kill anyone! Why the hell would a murderer want someone around who wouldn't kill anyone or anything?!

Fear not Kirk/Ranger voters! Kirk will (hopefully) appear in the next chapter. I hope you liked it, and please vote on either Khan or Kirk, or give me any suggestions. I'm so indecisive, it's unbelievable. Thanks to all people who have either voted or reviewed so far. You all rock.