Thankfully the next few months went off without a hitch: Kirk was recovering wonderfully as was the rest of the crew. Starfeelt concluded their investigation, having definitive evidence thanks to Nyota; along with Markus's ship and Khan himself. Khan was behaving like a civilized human being (After Starfleet had stop trying to torture information out of him) and had even agreed to having blood drawn every other day for to synthesize into a serum for medical use. He however had a price: a room with a view, access to his crew (He liked to walkabout and see their faces every day) and quality time with Mira. Seeker had happily granted it all for his help.

Starfleet was after all his section 31 work, which they couldn't seem to find, as well as information on the experiments on Khan and his people. He refused to open up to anyone by Mira. Why, no one could figure out, but Admiral Seeker planned to exploit the fact as much as he could much to Mira's chagrin.

"I cannot believe I have to do this," Mira said for the umpteenth time, currently adjusting her thigh holster, not for a gun but for a slim knife.

"Mira your to be unarmed," Leonard chastised but added. "I don't like you dressing up for him."

The Chief finally fixed her holster and stood up, smoothing out the sleek sapphire gown. She walked over to her disgruntled boyfriend, making sure the high slit flashed as much of her leg as possible, who was lounging in an arm chair and sat in his lap, leaning down and kissing him passionately. The couple embraced for several minutes before Mira reluctantly pulled away.

"I'm not dressing up for him," she protested. "Think of it as battle armor. Oh, makeup time." She slide off his lap and walked into the bathroom.

Leonard stayed in the chair, watching his lover's exposed back. She was toned, her muscles moved slickly under her soft skin. The dark dress, despite the colorful and nebulas pattern of crystals, made her more pale then the moon.

"You look exquisite," he told her as he stood, walking over to the bathroom door and leaning in the frame.

"Because you picked out the dress," Mira had worn this on their first date. She found it in her quarters, with a note telling her where to be and when. It had been sweet and the best first date she'd ever had. "I'm sorry, that it's this dress. Its the nicest I have." she explained before applying her mascara to finish off the smoky eyes. Last was red lipstick. Her naturally curly hair was down, pinned back from her face.

"Good thing I don't have to move to defend myself." She said,eyes following the close cut of the dress, hand touching the knife holster.

"You should take that off."

"It makes me feel better. If he got his hands on me, he'd kill before I could even think to use my powers. You've seen him on the training course. If we came to blows, I'd lose."

"It won't come to that. All you have to do is keep him in his chair. No one watching will know," he assured her, warping arms around her waist and kissing her bare shoulder. "At least its somewhat modest in the front." he muttered, eyes looking down.

She chuckled before speaking, "Leonard, Khan's a slave to his emotions. Their heightened and are the only variable in the equation. If I can get him in an emotionally compromised state, maybe I can get information out of him easier," she explained again, knowing he knew the working theories.

"Men don't talk when their horny," he countered bluntly, frowning.

"Khan is pretty chatty. Who said anything about horny?" Before McCoy could reply Mira' s communicator beeped. "It's time I go. Where's my fur?"

Leonard slipped away from the door turning to grab her fur. By the time he found it she was waiting by the fount door, a another knife in hand.

"Where's that one going?" he asked, handing her the pelt.

Smiling she slipped in to a hidden pocket before warping the fur around her shoulders and hooking it together.

"Mira..."

"I told you, it makes me feel better...Leonard..." she started, but stopped.

"What is it?" he asked taking her hand.

"They are going to be watching. What if they notice?" She asked. Seeker and his cabinet was who she meant. Exposure was the thing she feared most. Luckily she was able to bury her past, destroy every document and create a new identity for herself. Now she felt it all at risk. As the thoughts flew through her mind her body became tight with tension and worry.

"Hey, hey. They won't. They'll be too focused on Khan. I don't think he's going to try anything, not with this streak his been on. Your safe, Mira." McCoy hugged his love, kissing her forehead. "I'll be here for you, when its done." He reminded her.

"Can we snuggle?" she asked, knowing after dinner she'd need to. Something about his arm's felt safe and reassuring.

He chuckled, "Anything you want."

Lifting her head, he could see her face had brighten, her smiling making his heart skip a beat. "Wish me luck," she requested.

"He won't know what hit him. Best of luck," he gave her one finale kiss on the cheek before she, reluctantly, left the apartment.

Mira found Khan waiting in a private room of one of the finest restaurants San Francisco had to offer. It had a fancy french name Mira couldn't pronouce. The private back room was large, their table set in the center. Khan stood as she entered and his face lit up with surprise, his mouth falling open. Mira couldn't help but admire him as well, he cleaned up marvelously and looked very sharp in the tux. If he wasn't a war criminal, she told herself, I'd totally sleep with him.

"Let me," he offered walking over to her in sure, long stride's and unclasping the fur. It was off and in his hands before she could protest. It only took him a spilt second to find the knife. His body remained relaxed, he smiled just a bit. "I figured you'd try and hide something." He murmured, his icy blue eyes boring into hers. Mira held her ground, standing tall and keeping her face neutral.

"I can't just give you the upper hand," she responded. "It would be rude." Being this close to him made her skin crawl and her stomach knot. Every time she say him, Isabelle's words drifted though her mind.

"Now, now, I promise, no harm will befall you by my hand," Khan feebly assured her as he took her hand to lead her to the table. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed something, after a few more steps he was sure of what he was seeing. Surprisingly he wasn't annoyed, simply amused.

As the reached the table, Khan stepped in frount of Mira, grabbing her waist as if to dance. Tightening his grip just a bit, he spun her around knocking her against the table. She was shorter then he, and at just the right hight that she was just about sitting on the table. Her surprised gasped did not deter him from pinning her right leg down and reaching his hand up the slit in her dress to grab to knife she had hidden on her left thigh. A bit quicker then he expected she grabbed his wrist with her hand, but putting pressure on with her mind. Their eyes found each others, her's a mix of surprise and anger, his bemused.

"Unarmed, my lady," he reminded voice soft, thumb flicking open the snap as he leaned in close to her.

Mira held her ground, not that she hand anywhere to go. "Take your hand off of me, Khan," she ordered, voice as firm as she could manage. She would never admit it out loud, but Mira was scared. With Seeker and his watching, she couldn't fight back. Powerless was something she never wanted to feel again.

"Allow me to disarm you, as was agreed," his firm and final sounding tone told her he wasn't asking.

Hesitantly, Mira removed her hand, the pressure of her mind, and planted both hands on the table. Anger now replaced all else in her eyes. Mira was fighting to keep her breath steady, her body as relaxed as possible. Of all things, she hand't expect tonight to be a pissing contest. She came ill prepared as was starting several chips down.

Khan's little smirk stayed on his face as he slowly drew the knife out of its sheath, eyes holding the women's below him. He lightly drug the blade along the tender skin of her inner thigh, enjoying the shiver that ran threw her body. Not feeling he had quite made his point, Khan drove the knife into the table, a mere quarter inch from her healed right hand.

Mira couldn't help but jump, she had barely seen the movement, and for a moment thought he drove it though her hand. She didn't dare look away, hoping that the lack of blood from the corner of her eye meant she was currently in once piece.

"Now you won't be needing this," Khan stated matter of faculty, as he took his hand off her right leg and slipped both hands up her thigh to undo the hostler. Mira's body tensed, despite her effort to keep herself relaxed. It was even harder not to throw the bastard across the room. "Watch yourself," She hissed

HIs hands worked slowly, but were sure of there work. Finally he slide the holster down her thigh and let it fall to the ground.

Holding her eyes for a moment more, Khan's smirk widened. "Much better. Now." taking her hand he pulled her away from the table and sat her down, as any proper gentlemen would, before seating himself.

Mira glanced to one of the camera's in the room, and in her lap held up her hand, a signal to keep holding. Silently she thanked whatever god was out there that Leonard was not watching.

"Now, my dear, your Admiral is making some rather grandiose request," Khan started, catching her eyes once more, "All of my research, weapon schematics and all information in existence regarding myself and my crew. Oddly enough, since you'll all been so generous with me, he hasn't offered me anything in return. So tell me, Chief Mira, what do you have to offer in exchange?" Khan asked, taking the glass of wine and taking a slip, careful never to loose her eyes.

Mira's stillness matched that of a statue as the questioned turned in her mind. She had told to offer him nothing, only to get the information and get out. This was a horrid plan, one she knew figured would backfire but not like this.

Back at Starfleet head quarters Admiral Seeker, along with Captains Marshall, Scott, Kirk and Commander Spock, watched the events unfolding on two screens, the two cameras placed above the door and one exactly opposite. Kirk was tense in his seat, eyes glued to Mira, mentally chanting for her to keep clam. Spock noted the tension in his captain and finally asked, "Captain is something-"

"Not now, Spock," his first officer would be the last person he would ever tell about Mira. He wouldn't be able to keep the secret.

"I can't blame for her arming herself," Seeker commented. "Lanco, are units standing by?" he asked the security officer in the room.

"Two units sir, waiting for your command, or hers."

"I have a feeling she won't call them even if she needed to," he muttered.

"She can handle him," Kirk spoke up. "If you didn't believe that you wouldn't have sent her in there." he pointed out.

"I shouldn't have had to set this up. Khan should have talked by now."

"Khan will have everything on his terms now that he know's you'll allow it." Spock observed before he could think better of it.

Seeker looked back at the commander, eyes narrowed.

"Spock, why don't you wait outside," Kirk suggested.

"Yes, Captain," Spock responded automatically, looking curiously at Seeker before leaving.

"Vulcans," Kirk chuckled, hoping to defuse some tension.

Seeker merely grunted before looking back at the screen, frowning.

Kirk's eyes went straight back to Mira, mentally continuing to chant, and also taking a mental note to kick Khan's ass. Or try to.

—

Mira thought a moment, but as she opened her mouth Khan interrupted: "They sent you in here with no cards," he observed.

"I was told to offer you nothing," honesty was now her only weapon, "We have been very generous, allowing you what we have. Wouldn't it just be simpler to cooperate?" she countered quickly, deciding she might as well just go for it.

"Cooperate? My dear, I have been. I could have killed all of your guards and escaped several times over. I have done you a courtesy by allowing myself to remain in your custody," he responded. Setting his glass down, Khan leaned forward resting his chin on laced fingered.

Mira decided she was being too nice, so the chief threw back her head and laughed. "Oh, I'm sorry," She said sarcastically, smiling as she looked at him. "I'm afraid I'm going to have to call your bluff. You may be an Augment, but you're not all powerful." It was Mira's turn to smirk

Anger passed briefly over Khan's face but was replaced with his neutral mask.

"I can take all of your privileges away with one word," Mira continued. "So I suggest you behave and-"

"Oh come now, you know better," he chastised, as if speaking to a child.

"You have something in mind," she stated, watching the gears turn in Khan's head.

"I do."

"Care to share?"

"Not just yet," his eyes were still holding hers, now looking as if waiting.

Mira took a deep breath, "I can offer you another six months of life. Maybe a few call girls to relive your boredom."

Silence filled the room, Khan continued to stare Mira down.

"I cannot wake any of your crew," she said. It was his top request ever since he was informed that they were all alive.

Khan closed his eyes briefly and sighed before looking back at her.

"No," the one word was firm, almost harsh. "Khan they're going to put you back in the cryotube and keep you and yours in a storage facility. That is not negotiable." She did not add the fact that they would be woken one at a time, and kept in an induced coma, every other day to have blood drawn for medical use."You won't be disturbed." she added, tone much softer.

Khans brow's knitted together, anger washing over his face. "I have no guarantee that we will be safe."

"My word, Khan," she offered after a moment.

"Our death sentence set froth by Starfeelt?"

"Non existent."

"You're promising me quite a bit."

"I'd be happy to call Admiral Seeker right now."

"If it is not in your power to give, then I do not want it. I do not trust Starfleet."

"Starfleet is the reason you and yours are safe." As soon as the words left her mouth, she wished se hadn't said them.

Khan could see the thought on her face and reminded silent.

"Why trust me?"

"You know why, Chief."

Mira picked up her glass of wine and took a slip, needing a moment to think.

Khan mimicked her movement, drinking deeply from his glass. "At least the wine is the same." He commented.

Mira slowly stood, gaging Khan's reaction as she moved around to table, grabbing the bottle of wine and refilled his glass. "Are you a lightweight?" she asked, trying to defuse some of the tension, in hopes of getting him to relax. With his defenses up she wouldn't get anywhere.

Khan chuckled, "I cannot become drunk."

"Your regenerative properties," she surmised.

He nodded, watching her as she turned away. Khan however pushed his chair back, grabbed Mira's hand and pulled her down on his lap. "I don't just want any call girl," he whispered, resting his chin on her solider as he looked up at her. One hand went to her knee, the other on her back.

"Your price for all that information couldn't be so small."

"It's a start."

"No," She said firmly moving to stand. Khan slipped a hand around her waist, holding her tightly the other hand grabbing her chin. He closed the gap between them, bringing his lips a mere centimeter from hers.

"There is something only you can do," he told her softly, his lips brushing hers as he spoke.

"No," she said again, her hands moving to his chest, using only physical force to push against him. Using her powers was to much of a risk, everyone watching knew she was physically weaker then Khan.

Kahn chuckled, "The process wouldn't hurt. You'd be so very powerful. You'd be one of us."

Mira pushed with more then physical strength, afraid of what he was suggesting. "I am more powerful than you as I am." She reminded, keeping her words small and soft, trying to keep their lips apart.

"Are you?" he asked, loosening his grip just a bit, letting her pull away an inch. "You cower behind a false presentation, hoping you remain undiscovered. You should not fear anyone," he whispered, his eyes now soft, fingers releasing her cheek and slide up her face to cup her cheek. "I want to give you that freedom." He told her firmly, raising his voice.

Mira caught herself considering his words, found a part of her was thinking of saying yes. His words were something she would think occasionally. Something must have shown on her face, in her eyes because Khan's smirk said he knew that he had her. Was this why Isabelle warned her? Was it this choice? Kill him before he could offer her something that could destroy her life?

"No. Fuck you no." Mira's voice was unsteady as she tried to push herself away. She was now emotionally compromised and knew she couldn't use her powers, it could be so easy to loose control.

While his prey was distracted, Khan's fingers snapped, the door flew open, Khan held Mira in place as the officers raised their guns, two of firing stun rounds at Mira. She instantly collapsed into Khan.

"Thank you boys. Marz?" Khan stayed sitting, holding Mira until the guard came over, gun stowed to take her. Marz turned Mira around to face him and sat down, pulling her hair towards him, bearing her neck. Khan sat down, pulling out the blue crystal from his pocket. "Knife." he commanded, holding up his hand.

"You promised you wouldn't hurt her," Marz protested, pulling Mira closer.

"Just a small cut," Khan answered. Once the knife was in his hand the augment made a small cut at the base of her skull and quickly inserted the crystal, putting pressure on the wound after he did.

"How's that gonna help her?" Marz asked, doubt in his voice.

"The injections," Khan's next command was harsh.

The same officer opened a small case and handed him a syringe. Khan took the needle and placed it inside the wound, injecting the dark red liquid.

"Thirty seconds on the loop, sir."

"Very well." he said standing, handing the officer the empty syringe and then taking Mira.

"Go. We'll convene shortly." Khan commanded as he sat down, setting Mira as she was a few moments ago.

Quickly the soldiers left the room, Marz lingering just a moment before closing the door.

Khan looked up at the unconscious women, enjoying the current softness of her face. A thought popped into his head, this all had to look natural when the loop quite and Starfleet would be getting a live feed. He thought on it for a moment before he leaned the women in closer, holding her tightly for support and pressed his lips into hers.