Fifteen Months Later

Fifteen months have changed so much. Maddie thought with a sad sigh as she waited for Admiral Richardson to come in. After the bombing at Shatner Theater, the UK got pulled into the Eugenic Wars. The States, the last refuge for Naturals, eventually joined as the UK fell under the sway of the Eugenics. Both broke and fell. Maddie still remembered the day when the Eugenic soldiers invaded and began taking prisoners.

Dad was one of them…Dad…Maddie bowed her head. Desperate to save her father's life, she appealed to Admiral Richardson, the Eugenic in charge of prisoners.

He agreed to free her father. But on one condition. One night in his quarters in New York.

In the past, she would've refused. Maybe even given him a good slap across the face. But the horrors of war had broken her spirit. She barely recognized herself in the mirror. Exhaustion and hunger was clear in her hollow and ashy face. Dark rings surrounded her eyes, proof of how tired she was.

You're doing it to save your dad's life, she argued to herself. After all…dignity could be regained…life could not.

Yet, she would give anything to not be in this situation.

The door opens. Richardson entered, the lamp light reflecting off of his strawberry blonde hair. His blue eyes looked her over. While she wasn't naked, she might as well have been. The sheer yellow material of her robe certainly didn't leave much to the imagination. Her long brown hair hung down her back and sides, curling in the muggy July air. It was something he insisted she wear.

The tape recorder…Maddie pressed the recorder button hiding in the folds of her robe to capture his words, just in case he'd try pulling a fast one.

"Very impressive." Richardson chuckled. "Although…you look like you could do with some food. I can send up for some food, if you desire." He touched the phone on the desk.

"No, thank you." Maddie said. The thought of eating made her ill. Ever since he made the proposition the day before, she hadn't been able to eat. She was pretty sure that if she did eat, she'd get sick. "Let's just get it over with."

"Oh no, you're not here for me." Richardson said.

"Oh." Maddie said, partially relieved. But then… "So you brought me here so you can stare at me without my clothes on?" She said, embittered.

Richardson laughed, the sound was chilling. "You've got a sense of humor, Ms. Talbot. But no. You are going to service the Commander."

"The Commander…?" Maddie's voice squeaked. The Commander was the leader of the Eugenics. Calculating. Manipulative. Arrogant. Ruthless…his reputation was spoken in fearful and awestruck whispers.

"Yes." He said and took out an ornamental dagger. "You're going to kill him when he comes in."

Khan sighed as he walked down the hallway. It was late and he was walking into a trap. He knew Richardson was out to kill him. So he was going to spring the trap…with Richardson in it.

Joachim, his assistant, walked beside him. "Are you sure this is wise, sir?" The man asked, rubbing his tired blue eyes. The fluorescent light in the hallway showed his graying blonde hair in a very unflattering way.

"Yes. I'll be fine." Khan said, priming the firearm he always carried with him. "Richardson might be ambitious, but he's not bright."

Richardson stepped out from the room. "She's waiting for you." Khan nodded and stepped inside. Of course he wasn't going to do anything to the woman waiting. While he tried putting on the air that he got whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted, it was really a bluff. A smokescreen to sniff out enemies who would try using it against him. He had no taste for affection.

Naturals did. Indeed, they needed it to survive.

Eugenics didn't see the need to. They were better at everything. They were faster. Stronger. Smarter. Everything that made humanity frail had been removed.

The most he would do is send her on her way.

Ok, Maddie decided when the door opened. She was going to throw herself on the mercy of the Commander. Maybe he'd release Dad in gratitude for saving his life. But it was a long shot. She knew of his dislike of Naturals.

Her sweaty hands gripped the knife. Keeping her head down, she tried to look as meek and demure as she could. Everything counted on him not seeing her as a threat.

But her words caught in her throat. Maybe she should've taken Richardson up on his offer for food. Already her legs felt like they were going to give way. Stay strong. For Dad…she repeated to herself over and over again. But her vision began to grow fuzzy.

The boots stepped closer until she could see them mere inches from her bare feet.

The young woman…she seemed so familiar…Khan cupped her chin and tilted it up. Her blue eyes looked at him.

Maddie…Magdalena Talbot…

Maddie shook as she recognized the bony face and dark eyes.

Khan…he was the Commander…the man she was supposed to kill. The man who sent her away all of those months ago.

Her legs, weak from exhaustion and hunger, gave way and she fell in a dead faint.

Khan caught Maddie as she fell. The knife clattered out of her hands and to the floor. Joachim ran in, his firearm drawn. He looked at Khan in surprise.

"Joachim, fetch a doctor immediately." Khan ordered. Joachim scrambled away and Khan scooped Maddie up. She seemed so tiny in his arms as he carried her to the bed. The war had caused her to lose weight. He could feel every bone as he put her down. Sweat beaded on her forehead and the sheer material of her robe pressed against her body.

The faint motes of gardenias and baby oil still clung to her skin and limp hair. "It's going to be ok, Maddie." He whispered, rubbing her hand. He was so...concerned...that he didn't realize that he called her by her name.

"Dad…Richardson…tape recorder…" she muttered. Maddie's hand reached for her robe pocket. Khan tucked his hand inside the pocket and uncovered the small tape recorder. The blinking red light showed that it was still recording.

"You're far more clever than I remembered. Maybe the war was a good thing for you, Ms. Talbot." Khan chuckled as he pocketed it. There was probably all the evidence he needed to take care of Richardson once and for all. Joachim returned with the doctor. As the doctor began his preliminary exam of a now unconscious Maddie, Khan showed Joachim the tape recorder. "Get some MP's and arrest Richardson for solicitation to commit murder."

"What about the girl?" Joachim asked.

Khan looked back at Maddie, still out cold on the bed. The feelings he had buried away for well over a year came up to the surface. Of course it helped that he kept himself so busy, too exhausted at the end of every day to even dream of her.

She needed to be destroyed…now that he was thinking of her, the emotions were threatening to consume him.

No…not so quickly… the death of a popular actress would definitely tarnish his reputation and that was the last thing he needed. He had vowed to only destroy anything of any military value. She wasn't clever enough to think up such a convoluted plot.

Then he remembered her weakness. Her delicate nature. Oh, she could be bent to his will all right. A mouthpiece to be sure…

"She's suffering from dehydration and exhaustion, maybe a lack of food as well." The doctor said as he finished his exam. "Nothing that rest and fluids will heal. I'll take her to the med bay, it's the best place for her."

"No." Khan said, shaking his head. Joachim looked at him in surprise. "She'll be going with us to the Cliff." He said, thinking of his stronghold in England. It was isolated enough to keep her away from any outside influences…

A/N: Ok, just so you readers know, this isn't going to turn into a Stockholm Syndrome. That's been overdone and frankly drives me insane. Also, Maddie isn't going to get tamed that easily...