A/N: Okay, so remember in the first chapter when I said I had this all typed up and ready to go? Well, apparently I lied (to myself even). I guess I thought I had it written out, but maybe I was thinking of my notes for this fict? I don't know. So I was spending my time between writing this chapter, read other ficts (I get sucked into some when they're really good), and catching up on 8 seasons of 'Supernatural' (and I still haven't gotten though it yet).
So anyway, here's the next chapter. Enjoy it! There's probably only 2 more chapters until the end...BTW.
It wasn't until the Vengeance started going into freefall that Lash was knocked out of the chair and unceremoniously dumped onto the floor. She stood up and stumbled over to the controls next to Khan.
"Let me help." She said to him, trying to keep her cool and not end up sobbing on the floor.
Nodding once, Khan continued to move like a man possessed, giving Lash instructions when the need came. The two ran through the bridge (as the ship started to deteriorate around them) so they could get control once more.
Through the wide, glass view screen, the two could watch as they fell towards Earth. As they passed through the atmosphere, a tiny blip could be seen ahead: the Enterprise.
"The Enterprise got its engines back." Lash said, more to herself than Khan, who was still running from computer to computer. She turned her head to look at him; if it was possible, Khan looked even more maniacal than he did when she first came onto the bridge. She'd never seen her husband so angry before...not even during the Eugenics Wars when their lives had been threatened by assassins daily.
Lash watched Khan as he careened towards her. She wrapped her hands around his left bicep to both help keep him balanced and endeavor to calm him. He glanced down at her, a wild look still in his eyes, then looked back out of the view screen.
They watched as they fell past the Enterprise and below the cloud line. Khan shouted orders to the ship's computer system as they were pitched forward. "Set destination! Starfleet Headquarters!"
"Engines compromised. Cannot guarantee destination. Confirm order." The computer replied.
"Confirm." Khan growled.
Lash was surprised, yet not surprised by the order. Take out Starfleet for taking out their crew. It seemed as good a revenge plot as any.
They kept falling towards the Earth at a rapid pace.
Lash turned her body towards Khan and waited for her husband to do the same. She released his arm with her right hand and reached up to run her fingers through his hair, pushing it back at the same time. She stared into his eyes and watched as he slowly and ever-so-slightly relaxed. With her hand on the back of his head, she pulled him towards her and kissed him soundly. Khan responded instantly, wrapping his arms tightly around his wife's frame, keeping her as close to him as he could.
When the need for air became apparent, they broke the kiss, and rested their foreheads together as they leaned against the console to keep their balance.
"I love you." Lash murmured, barely being heard over the ship breaking apart.
"Always love you." Khan answered.
The pair turned their heads to the side to look at how far away they were from Starfleet. Seeing that they were getting closer, Khan released Lash to prepare for the inevitable crash landing. They crouched down behind the console and found solid bits to hold on to. As the Vengeance started taking out buildings in its way, Lash let go of a beam with one hand to reach over and grab onto Khan, whatever she could reach of him. She managed to grab his wrist; if these were her last moments, she wanted to be touching her husband in some way.
The more buildings the Vengeance took out in its descent (and attempt to stop), the more parts of the ship broke and flew through the air. The first to go was the view screen, exploding and sending shards of thick glass in all directions. A chunk hit Lash's leg, knocking her off of her toes, making her lose her grip on Khan, and sending her to the floor on her side. Once the ship hit the ground, Lash and Khan were thrown hard into the support beams of the console. Lash ended up having a beam smack into her lower ribs, knocking the breath from her lungs and possibly damaging the bones. Khan's spine made contact with another beam.
While the ship skidded to a very slow halt, bigger pieces of the ship started to break off. The bodies of Marcus and his crew tumbled out of the now demolished view screen along with broken computer parts and metal pieces that seemed to be breaking off from everywhere. Sparks from broken panels shot from every direction. Khan swung his legs out of the way as a computer screen with attached wires fell towards him. He didn't move out of the way nearly fast enough for the end of the wires, though, and they clipped his cheek on the way out. Through a hiss of short-lived pain, he turned towards Lash, who was curled around the beam at her chest. Her eyes were shut tight (whether from pain or waiting for the ship to stop, Khan didn't know) and she was gripping a beam near her head so tight, her knuckles were turning white as she crushed it. Khan managed to move towards her and curl his body around hers to protect her from any further debris.
When the Vengeance finally stopped moving, Khan unfurled himself from around Lash. Panting, he looked around and quickly assessed the damage. Clearly the ship was beyond help and repair. Good riddance. He thought, leaning his back against the computer console. He reached over to Lash (who had yet to move), and slowly pulled her fingers away from the beam, taking her hands into his own. She opened her eyes and looked up at him.
"Whoa." She wheezed. Yeah, something is definitely broken. She thought, holding her ribs. "We survived."
Khan nodded. "Yes. Now we need to get out of here." He said, helping her sit up.
With a small groan, Lash got into a sitting position as Khan quickly figured out a way for them to get out of the ship.
"We're going to have to jump." He said, looking over his shoulder and out of the view screen.
"Fine. I'm with you." Lash replied, looking as well.
Nodding, Khan crawled to the end of the console and slid down to the broken view screen. Moments later, Lash followed him, sliding into his arms. The two stood and looked out over San Francisco. They could hear emergency vehicles on their way. They needed to move. Fast.
"When we reach the street, run back to your apartment." Khan instructed, already planning his route away. "Lock yourself in and do not open the door for anyone. I know the Enterprise is still watching us. I'll lead them away, they want me anyway, then I'll come to you when it's safe."
Lash didn't like the idea of splitting up, but realized the logic in his plan. With a reluctant nod, she took a breath and released it as a sigh. "Okay. Just...be careful." She said.
Khan reached over and cupped her face in his large, slim hands. Leaning forward he gave her a kiss. "I'll be fine, love." He said after pulling away. "We'll be okay...eventually."
Lash could see the sorrow of their lost crew in his features briefly before he shut the feelings away and concentrated on getting them the hell out of there. She nodded again as she took his left hand in her right and they faced out again, looking to where they had to go.
"Ready to jump?" Khan asked.
"As I'll ever be." Lash replied, squeezing his hand.
"On three, then." Khan instructed. "One...two...three."
They jumped. A thirty meter jump that had Lash's heart in her throat and jarred her healing broken ribs on landing, setting her back another hour or so in healing.
The couple continued to slide down the ship until they stumbled onto the street level. Their feet hit the ground at the same time. With one last long look at each other, each trying to express everything in that look, they ran in opposite directions: Lash towards Starfleet and her apartment and Khan towards the center of the city.
Lash ran as fast as she could, weaving between gawking people and buildings. She looked behind every once in a while to make sure she wasn't being followed. When she approached the building to her apartment, she saw two Starfleet security Officers guarding the doors. Wondering if they'd already been told that she was working with Khan and to keep an eye out for her, Lash turned her run into a walk as she quickly came up with a plan to get around them and into the building. Walking straight up to the two guards at the front door, Lash put her plan into motion.
"Afternoon, Officers." She said with a smile as she reached for the door.
"Ma'am." The Officer to her right responded with a nod.
Laughing inwardly, Lash opened the door and walked into the building. Once the door shut, she ran over to the turbo lift.
Once in the lift, she let out a sigh after she hit the button for her floor. She leaned back against the wall as she watched the numbers climb steadily higher. When the doors opened on her floor, Lash stepped out carefully, looking each way down the hallway. Seeing no one, she ran down the hall to her rooms and opened the door. Shutting it behind her, she immediately went over to her desk of monitors and hacked into the Enterprise's communications, listening for any word on Khan…hoping to hear none. She set another monitor up to ping if any word came from the higher ups at Starfleet, focusing it on her name, Khan, and John Harrison as keywords.
Shortly after setting up, the monitor for the Enterprise pinged. Lash leaned over and read the transcript.
Commander Spock: Enterprise. We have Khan in custody. Inform Doctor McCoy.
Why would McCoy need to be informed? Lash thought. He was a doctor and wouldn't be left in command. What happened?
With a sigh, Lash leaned back in her chair. She had to come up with yet another plan to get to Khan.
The monitor for the Enterprise pinged again, followed seconds later by the pinging of the Starfleet monitor. She read the transcript from the Enterprise first.
Commander Spock: Starfleet. This is Commander Spock of the USS Enterprise. We have the criminal Khan, alias John Harrison, in custody. We will be landing momentarily. Have a medical team standing by. Captain Kirk needs immediate medical attention.
Lash raised her eyebrows as in shock as she turned her attention to the Starfleet monitor.
Starfleet: A medical team has been dispatched to your location. Security as well.
Quickly setting up another monitor, Lash found the Enterprise's location and its course. When she had all she needed to know, she rose from her chair, and walked over to her closet to grab a jacket and a cap in an attempt to hide her identity for a little longer.
A monitor pinged again. After throwing on her jacket, she went over to the desk to see which one it was. It was from Starfleet; a message sent to all Starfleet security located in the San Francisco area.
Starfleet: The war criminal Khan Noonien Singh, AKA John Harrison, is in Starfleet custody. When he was released from his cryosleep, another was awoken as well. Lash Singh, wife to Khan. She is a supposed member of Starfleet. She is to be brought into custody for aiding and abetting. This needs immediate action.
A file photo of Lash followed.
"Shit." She muttered.
Wondering how much time she had before the security Officers at the front of the building made their way up, she grabbed her cap and tucked her hair up underneath it. She was about to reach for the door, when an insistent knocking came from the other side.
"Lash Singh. Starfleet Officers. Open the door."
Crap. Thought Lash, taking a step back. They're quicker than I thought.
Thinking quick, Lash slowly walked back towards the door and opened it.
"Something I can help you with, Officers?" She asked politely, feigning ignorance.
"Ms. Singh, you're under arrest. Please come with us quietly and without trouble." The Officer to her right said. Both held their weapons at the ready.
As polite as he was, Lash wasn't about to go down without a fight. (Khan wouldn't be too proud of that.) She had told Kirk that she didn't know how to fight. That was just a ploy to get on his good side...though she really wouldn't use any of her hand to hand skills on the Captain (or anyone) unless it was absolutely necessary. A plan formulated as she replied.
"Oh, 'Lash' will be fine." She smiled innocently.
Then, with all the speed she possessed, Lash struck out with her right fist towards the Officer on her left. She hit his nose, breaking it, and making it bleed. He dropped his weapon and grabbed his nose. As soon as she hit the first Officer, she swung with her left fist and connected with the second Officer's temple. He also dropped his weapon and held his hand to his head. Seeing that the second Officer would give her more trouble, Lash's fists flew at his face a few times before she hooked her toe into the strap on his discarded weapon and kicked it up into her hands. She swung at the Officer's head, hitting him in the right spot to knock him unconscious. As he fell to the ground, she turned her attention back to the first Officer. She switched the position of her hands on the weapon, then swung at his head. He dropped his hands from his face as he also fell to the ground.
Lash lowered the weapon and looked around, wondering if anyone would come see what all of the noise was. Hearing no movement, she swiftly gathered the Officers' weapons and turned to her door. Not wanting to leave evidence so obviously, Lash dragged them inside, checking their pulses. She then grabbed their weapons and broke them, leaving them in a pile of metal next to the men.
Taking one more look at the unconscious men, then outside of her door, Lash closed the door and walked towards the turbo lift. She waited impatiently for the lift doors to open. When they did, she stepped in and rode it to the ground floor, fixing her hair under her cap as she watched the progress of the lift. After the doors opened, she stepped out and, as casually as possible, swiftly started her trek to where the Enterprise landed, hoping to find out where they'd taken Khan without getting caught.
It took her a solid hour to get to the building nearest the Enterprise. She had to divert her course quite a few times to avoid being seen and caught by security Officers. She was able to sneak past the Officers standing guard outside of the building easily enough. Inside, though, was bit more of a challenge, but by keeping her head lowered and her jacket zipped up, she was able to bypass a lot of security. Now that Lash was in the correct building, she didn't know where to go. Planting herself in a dark corner, she listened.
Ten minutes later, two doctors stopped near her hiding place. They were speaking in hushed voices about Kirk. From what she could gather, he was radioactively poisoned from the warp core of the Enterprise. She felt a twinge of guilt and sadness, but that immediately went out the window when they started discussing Khan. He was apparently out cold in a secured area of the medical facilities. Listening carefully, she heard what floor he was being held on, then stealthily moved from her position to the nearest lift.
Once she stepped out of the lift, she walked down the hallway, then turned left at the end of it. She came face to face with a security Officer standing outside of Khan's room.
"This is a secured area, ma'am. You'll have to leave." He said sternly.
"Yes, I'm aware of that, sir. It's why I'm here." She replied.
"What?" He asked, looking confused. Obviously, he didn't get the memo for her arrest yet.
She sighed. "That's my husband. I'd like to be with him." She said, glaring up at the Officer.
The confusion cleared and he pointed his weapon at her. "Lash Singh." He said, wanting her to confirm his suspicion.
"Yes. Go ahead and arrest me, but I WILL be staying by Khan's side until he wakes up." She said, holding her wrists out. He looked skeptical, like he was trying to find an ulterior motive, so Lash sighed and continued. "I won't fight you and I'll stay in the room in plain sight."
The Officer was about to speak when a man walked around the corner, looking down at a PADD. Lash sighed in slight relief as Doctor McCoy made his way towards them.
"Doctor McCoy." Lash said. "Will you kindly tell this Officer to cuff me, then let me in to watch over Khan?"
McCoy stopped and looked up, glancing between the Officer and Lash. He frowned. "How did you know he was here? In fact, how did you get here?" He asked her.
"I listen, Doctor." She said cryptically.
There was a moment's silence while the Officer looked between the Doctor and Lash as they stared at each other. McCoy sighed.
"Cuff her and let her in, but get another guard up here to sic on her at all times." McCoy instructed the Officer. "I need your blood, anyway." He said to Lash, who nodded.
The Officer looked hesitantly at McCoy.
"That's an order." McCoy reiterated.
The Officer nodded, lowering his weapon. He pulled out a pair of handcuffs and put them on Lash's wrists. He then stepped to the side to let both Lash and McCoy through into the room.
A/N: I know. Not my best chapter, but I'm trying to fill in time jumps that were in the movie (from memory at that because I can't remember where I found the pirated version online).
And I've loved McCoy since I started watching Trek many, many years ago, so I wanted him to have a bigger part in my fict...sue me...but not really because that would be dumb and you'd probably lose or they would throw out the case.
Like I said at the top, I'm looking at 2 maybe (and that's a big maybe) 3 more chapters before this story's complete.
Big thanks to all who have read, alerted, favored, and reviewed!
