She Was Meant For Me
A/N: Time for Ari to reawaken from her momentary death and rejoin the universe. This chapter will also go into Khan's trial and the aftermath of certain revelations. The infamous Stubborn Kirk Temper will come into play as well.
Chapter 6
Spock and Scotty had managed to delay the docking of the Enterprise by informing Starfleet that the warp core needed the most immediate repairs before the docking area could be fixed. This gave them extra time to wait for their Captain to come back, and come back she did. Ari woke rapidly with a string of colorful multi-lingual curses flowing out of her mouth. Her entire body ached all over and she felt like she'd been hit by a starship. She felt a hand squeeze her own gently and opened her eyes to see Khan at her side.
"How long?"
"Nearly 2 weeks Anna."
Bones heard the nickname and turned in time to see Ari's soft smile, making him huff as he shuffled over to give her a new scan now that she was awake.
"How do you feel Ari? Any homicidal tendencies?"
"No more than usual Bones…I feel like I got hit by my own ship though."
She groaned and tried to sit up only to have Khan gently hold her down with only one hand. Bones chuckled at her frustration.
"You stay put. Your body is still healing from the radiation poisoning, regardless of the transfusion which also took a bit of a toll on your body."
"Transfusion?"
"My blood was needed in order to bring you back to us…and I believe there is a small group of anxious young people desperately awaiting your attention."
Ari gave him a confused look until she turned her head and saw her little ones waiting anxiously on the other side of the room. She held her arms open and they all rushed over to hug her.
"I'm alright little ones. I'm alright now. I know I scared you all pretty badly but its ok now."
Khan and Bones wore nearly identical scowls and she smiled softly at them.
"So why are we still on the ship and not on Earth yet?"
The pointy…I mean Spock, and Scotty managed to convince Starfleet that the warp core needed immediate repairs to avoid a meltdown and that those repairs meant that repairing the docking section would have to wait."
Ari laughed happily and grinned widely.
"I knew Spock could be devious when he wanted to be. Is the ship really in danger?"
"No Anna. The ship is out of danger. Spock was merely stalling so you would be awake and able to walk off of the ship."
She gave Khan another soft smile and heard the giggling of the younger ones.
"Alright you…back to your posts little ones."
They all saluted and ran out the doors, shoving and poking each other as they went.
"And here I'd thought they might have matured a bit."
Ari's merry laughter echoed through the Medical Bay, and the bridge since Bones had just called them.
"As you can all hear our Captain is awake and recovering nicely. She's still very sore and likely a bit weak, but she should be able to walk by tomorrow night."
"Everyone is relieved to hear this news Doctor. We should be able to dock by that time according to Mr. Scott. Captain? The bridge crew requests that I inform you they are not happy with you for getting yourself killed, but that they are pleased you came back."
Ari laughed lightly in the background, nudging her head into Khan's hand as it stroked her hair gently.
"Duly noted everyone, and I'm sorry I scared you all. I couldn't let everyone be killed and do nothing."
The words 'not again' were left unsaid but everyone heard them none the less. Bones ended the call and returned to Ari's side, giving her a hypo to ease her pain.
"There, you should be able to leave here by morning and check on the ship yourself, though I'd feel better if you at least kept Khan nearby in case your body decides to give out."
Ari gave Bones a surprised look at his words.
"Do you actually trust him with my safety Mr. overprotective?"
"Hush you. I can easily give you more hypos."
Ari giggled lightly and leaned more into Khan's hand when it stopped moving, urging him to start again while his deep chuckle washed over her and lulled her back into sleep.
The next morning Bones was true to his word and let her leave the Medical Bay, with Khan hovering at her side. Her first stop was engineering where she apologized to Scotty for punching him and they hugged before he updated her on the warp core.
"She's stable right now but will need extensive repairs Cap'n. Once we dock Starfleet'll be sending a team in for just the warp core. I will of course be overseeing them as much as possible."
"Of course you will Scotty, I'd entrust our girl to no one else."
Her second stop was the Bridge where she was met by a round of fierce hugs and threats to 'never do something like that again'. Spock surprised the hell out of her when he pulled her into a hug before his emotionless mask slid back into place and he reprimanded her. Her smile was permanent though and she knew the reprimand was his way of saying he'd been afraid of losing her.
"I'm still a bit shaky, and my body isn't too happy with me moving, but I should be ok by tonight if I rest a bit. What have you told Starfleet about why I wasn't able to talk to them?"
"I informed Starfleet that you were assisting Commander Scott with the emergency repairs to the warp core in order to facilitate a speedier arrival at star base 1."
Ari shook her head and chuckled slightly.
"So you lied."
"I did no such thing Captain. They implied that you were performing such actions and I merely allowed them to continue in their assumptions."
Her merry laughter flowed around the room and made everyone smile, happy to have their ray of sunshine back. She reclaimed her command chair and simply sat there for a time, as if to reassure everyone that she truly was back, and Khan never once left her side.
Later that night the Enterprise managed to dock and the crew began emptying out on the shuttles. Ari, Khan, her little ones, and her command crew were all on the very last shuttle. She refused to let go of Khan's hand until they landed, once she saw the number of media and security outside her face turned into a fierce scowl and Bones winced.
"Here comes Hurricane Kirk."
The rest of the crew gave him an odd look but her little ones nodded in understanding. Ari stood up and squared her shoulders, looking as though she were preparing for battle. She told Khan and her little ones to stay inside for a little longer while she handled things. As soon as she stepped outside the cameras began flashing like crazy and a storm of questions started. She held up a single hand and everyone fell silent, except for the head of the security team who stepped forward and tried to push his way past her. Spock stepped into the man's personal space and stared him down.
"I suggest you back away from my Captain before I am forced to to restrain you in order to protect her from harm."
The man backed up a few steps and turned to address Ari.
"Captain Kirk, if you would move aside we'd like to arrest the terrorist now."
When Ari spoke her voice was soft, but the icy tone it held kept everyone silent and Khan found himself impressed yet again by this small woman who had such a large presence.
"I will not step aside until I am good and ready to and you will watch your tone of voice when speaking to someone of a higher station than you Lieutenant. I have earned my title and the respect that comes with it and I will thank you show that respect when addressing me. As for the one you have labeled a terrorist let me clear that misconceived notion up right now. John Harrison is not a terrorist. Admiral Marcus was the terrorist. Admiral Marcus held Harrison's former crew, whom he viewed as his family, hostage and used them to force Harrison to do terrible things for him. Admiral Marcus forced Harrison to design warships and weapons in the hope of starting a war with the Klingons. Harrison attempted to smuggle is frozen crew into the torpedoes he'd designed for Marcus but had to escape alone when he was discovered. He believed Marcus had killed his family and so he destroyed the secret base under the memorial archive that Marcus had built to carry out his little plan. When Harrison attacked the meeting of Captains it was with the intention of taking out Marcus to avenge his crew. Marcus sent myself and my crew to the planet Harrison was hiding on with orders to use the torpedoes to kill him from a distance."
She paused here to let what she had said so far sink in. The media was eating it up and she knew that by doing this that Starfleet would not be able to cover it up like they tried to do with Tarsus. She wasn't about to let another miscarriage of justice happen under her watch.
"When I chose instead to capture Harrison, and had my Communications officer send a message to Starfleet stating exactly that, Marcus got nervous and came after us. He attempted to destroy my ship and everyone onboard to keep his secrets. We got lucky as one of my crewmembers had snuck onto the warship and disabled the weapons. Harrison and I space jumped across to the warship and together we stunned and restrained the handful of crew members. Unfortunately Admiral Marcus had started the self destruct sequence of the ship and we barely managed to escape before tit exploded, taking Marcus and his crew with it. I have several copies of the conversation I had with the Admiral about his plans and what he did to Harrison…plus my entire crew heard all of it as well. Harrison has agreed to stand trial, however, I will only allow this to happen if the Admirals can guarantee me that he will receive a fair trial and anyone in my crew can speak on his behalf if they so choose…as I know I will. Harrison saved my life, and those of my several of my crew, several times over. He could have let us die, could have killed us himself, could have taken over my ship…he did none of these things and instead helped us survive and return to Earth. Does that sound like a merciless cold-hearted terrorist to you?"
A single set of hands clapped loudly in the silence and Ari turned to see Pike walking over to her, leaning heavily on his cane but walking just the same.
"Well said Arianna. I couldn't have worded it better myself. As an Admiral I can promise you I will ensure a fair trial for Mr. Harrison. Also, gentlemen, if any harm comes to him while he is in custody I will personally demote all of your back to Cadets. Am I understood?"
Ari beamed at her surrogate father and gave him a tight hug as Spock brought Khan out of the shuttle. Khan gave her a soft smile and nodded sharply at Pike's raised eyebrow. Ari leaned up to whisper in Pike's ear and the older man's eyes went wide in shock before she skipped off to join her crew. Bones gave her an amused look.
"What the heck did you say to Pike?"
"I merely informed him that I intend to pursue a relationship with Khan once he is given his freedom. I intend to have Khan and his crew join mine as well."
"That explains the shocked look then. He's used to you violently avoiding anything remotely resembling a relationship."
Ari giggled and sauntered off, though with a bit less grace than usual do to some residual pain.
A few days later and they were all present in Starfleet's main courtroom for what the media had dubbed the trial of the ages. Ari thought that was a bit overly dramatic but she couldn't really stop them. Her entire command crew spoke on Khan's behalf, as did her little ones which made her proud of them. When it was her turn she was asked if she had been aware of Khan's true identity, so she told the truth.
"I was unaware of his identity until Marcus targeted my ship and Khan informed me of his real name. I am aware he was a dictator in the past; however, I am also aware that under his rule the people thrived and prospered until the rest of the world rebelled against the harsher Augments. Khan is not an evil man, nor is he needlessly violent. The reactions he has shown recently were in response to the threat of Admiral Marcus, and I for one cannot begrudge him the need to protect his family. Especially not after I lost most of my own family in a tragedy as a young teenager, and then lost several surrogate family members in the Narada incident. If any of you can stand here, look me in the eyes, and tell me you would not kill to protect the people you love then I would like to know now."
When they all looked away she nodded sharply, her point had been made.
"Good, because if any of you had done so I would have immediately left the fleet. I would not wish to serve under anyone who could say they would not defend their loved ones by any means necessary."
She left the witness stand and, instead of returning to her seat, moved to stand next to Khan as a way of showing she was on his side no matter what was decided. The Admirals looked at her and Pike was clearly fighting a smile. In his mind she was channeling her dad's stubborn streak that he'd seen many times in their friendship. He was the first to cast his vote.
"I vote…that Khan Noonien Singh should be cleared of all charges on the grounds of manipulation by a higher authority."
The rest of the Admirals, all save one, echoed that vote. The one negative being Admiral Archer who still had it in for Scotty on account of his prized beagle, and he took it out on Ari for defending Scotty constantly. Ari gave Khan a bright radiant smile and hugged him tightly.
"Now you are truly free Khan."
She pulled back and faced the Admirals once more.
"I would like to offer Khan and his entire crew places on the Enterprise. My crew and I are not only willing, but quite happy to have them and help them all to integrate into the modern world. We would teach them the history they have missed, the technology, the various worlds and races, and everything else they need to know to survive in this time period. In return they would help us to keep the ship in one piece this time…hopefully."
The last part was said with a slightly sheepish grin that had several of the older men chuckling a bit.
"I for one think that's an excellent idea Captain Kirk…if Mr. Singh is agreeable to this arrangement?"
Khan nodded sharply and smiled softly at Ari, a look he reserved only for her and those she called her 'little ones'.
"I am more than agreeable. Admiral Barnett."
Excellent. As Grand Admiral I give my permission for Khan and his crew to join the Enterprise for her five year mission…which will sadly have to wait until the ship is able to fly again."
His pointed look made Ari wince slightly.
"Not really my fault sir."
"I know Kirk. Now…all of you clear out. Kirk, Khan will be staying with you until the Enterprise heads out, and his crew will be awoken onboard where they will be able to recover undisturbed by the media."
Khan and Ari both nodded before she started dragging the unresisting male behind her. She and her crew, plus the little ones, took Khan to her home to settle in. She had been able to buy a large piece of land with an enormous house so she could keep her entire family close when they were on Earth. Each of her little ones had permanent rooms there, as did each member of her command crew. She had a few extras in case a crew member had a problem and needed a place to stay for awhile, and Khan was given the one that shared a door with her own room. Her room was done in shades of silver and gold, making Khan smirk in amusement at her.
"They're my favorite colors, always have been."
Khan made note of that as he moved into his own room, freezing when he realized the room was done in black leather and soft red silk. He turned to Ari and opened his mouth to ask her how she figured it out but a single soft finger over his lips silenced him.
"You were talking to me while I was unable to wake-up…but I heard everything Khan. Just so you know…I think I'm starting to fall for you also, but only time will truly tell."
His eyes gave her a wicked look as he dragged her body against his own, his arms curling protectively around her.
"You realize that I will not be willing to allow you out of my sight for very long Anna? I nearly lost you when you decided to play the reckless heroine. I never want to feel that kind of fear again. I will do everything in my power to keep you safe Anna."
"I know Khan. Just try not to go overboard or I will not hesitate to hit you again."
She stood on the tips of her toes so she could kiss him and he responded with a hungry fire that left her toes curled and her breath coming in harsh pants. She knew that what she felt with him was like nothing she'd ever experienced before, and she looked forward to spending at least the next five years exploring the galaxy with him. Who knows, maybe he'd decide to stick around for the long haul and become a permanent fixture in her chaotic life. She certainly hoped so, and the rest of her surrogate family couldn't help but echo that hope because Khan made her smile brighter than any of them had ever seen. He made her happy and that meant more to them than anything else, and as long as he never tried to hurt her they could deal with his temper on top of hers…or so they hoped.
A/N: And there you have it folks, the end of this story. I chose to leave the ending more open so you can think up your own continuation. I may eventually write a sequel…we shall see how the future goes.