Stardate 2260.9.4 Io Station, Khan and April's Quarters

April awoke with a jolt around 0400 as she sat up in bed and pulled the phaser pistol out from under her pillow. Realizing there was no noise coming from her room in particular she threw the blanket off and got out of bed. Rushing towards the door she disengaged the security protocol and flit through it and down the hallway. Coming to the living area she heard scuffling and flipping on the light she saw Khan had a familiar blond haired man firmly up against the wall his hand to his throat.

"Commander! Stop!" she yelled as she rushed forward and tried to pry his hands off. She then looked at Khan's face. "Stop it, please. He's a friend."

With that Khan's fingers released as he let go of Corporal Mackenzie and he fell to the floor in an unceremonious heap. He began to cough, holding his neck and rubbing it. April knelt down settling the pistol beside her as she rubbed Brian's back and checked his throat.

"Corporal are you alright?" April asked and he nodded as he looked up at her and gave her a little grin.

"I mean not quite the welcoming party I was expecting." he said his throat hoarse. "I've had worse."

April helped him stand to his feet and Brian straightened out his uniform.

"It is quite early in the morning. What the hell are you doing here?"

"Didn't you hear?"

"Hear what?"

"Eight transfers from Lunar. I was one of them. I thought you got my transmission."

"No I haven't received anything since I've been here actually. Eight Tactical officers though? Why?"

"Beats me, I just follow orders. I asked Commander Escobar where your quarters was. I wanted to see ya."

"Corporal-"

"It's actually Sargent now." he grinned.

"As much as my heart is bleeding at your reunion, Major, but perhaps you can take this elsewhere." Khan interjected quickly. April looked over at him noticing now he was in nothing more than sleeping pants, his pale skin and chest presented for anyone to see. His hair was messy as well and fell forward. It took her a moment to nod in response as she grabbed Brian's arm.

"I apologize Commander, we will get out of the way."

"See that you do." he hissed as he glared at Brian before retreating back into his room.

"He isn't a real nice fellow is he?"

"You are trespassing rather early in the morning, you're lucky he didn't kill you or I didn't shoot you." scooping up her phaser she then steered Brian towards her room. Once inside and the door closed she settled said pistol down on the dresser next to the door and looked to Brian. Nothing seemed to have changed about him. He still was tall, broad shouldered and wide eyed. He always seemed to be so excited about everything and still kind as ever.

"I didn't realize you were sharing a quarters with a commanding officer." Brian stated casually as he turned to her. He took a pace back and sat down on the end of her bed and she stood there and folded her arms.

"I was having trouble sleeping."

"Missed me that much?" he grinned but then let out a small cough and rubbed his throat again. "That guy has some grip on him."

"You have no idea." April sighed as she walked over and sat next to him. "I just don't know why eight Agents from Lunar are here. It's so odd. Who ordered this?"

"Admiral Marcus. It's actually three Agents and the rest are MACO's. It's me, Ramirez and Sloan."

"I thought Ramirez was stationed on Andoria?"

"Was. She was called back. All of us got some pretty promotions after you left too. Almost like when you left there was room in the ranks and you weren't going to be returning back to base anytime soon."

That notion terrified her a bit. The Admiral did threaten her and with the appearance of Section Agents it bid the question of how relevant she would stay. It wasn't hard to put the pieces together however. Marcus sent Section Agents to step in, in case she was unable to complete her mission. That if she became compromised that there was a security measure in place. She just never would have guessed that security measure would be Brian Mackenzie.

"So Sargent now huh?" she asked trying to lighten the conversation and her train of thought.

"Yeah, not far off from you now. Making my way up." he said proudly.

"You got a while to go before you make it to my rank Sargent."

"Still feels damn good hearing you say my new rank though." he nudged her a bit and it got April to crack the smallest of smiles.

Regardless of why he was here she had to admit she did miss him. He had been her bunk mate for a year, her training partner for longer than that and overall she would guess her only friend.2 -

"So back to you living with Commander Harrison?" Brian's brow raised a bit and April rolled her eyes. "You two fuckin?"

April almost blanched but she made a face contemplating her answer. She could tell him the whole reason why she was here, but then potentially Brian could let slip to others that she and Khan were in fact, not intimate. It pained her, and made her stomach turn in knots but she merely nodded.

"Wow." Brian said surprised.

"It wasn't intentional. Believe me."

"But you guys have separate rooms?"

"It's convenient. I don't always sleep in here you know." another lie but a necessary one. "He so happened to get back from the lab later than I did. I didn't want to bother him. As you can see, he's rather hostile sometimes."

"Then why you with him?"

"Why does it matter?" she retorted and he stood as he looked around her room again and then to her.

"Just concerned for my partner is all. When you left I didn't hear from you and I got worried. I asked Morrow to inquire about you but all she told me was that you were gone and that was that. I tried sending you encrypted transmissions but also I guess those didn't go through. So when they were picking people to come here I actually volunteered. Marcus asked me why, I told him simply I wanted to look out for a fellow Agent. Then he promoted me."

"Just seems strange. Everything has been going well here. No trouble."

"Yeah, you're telling me. I don't even know why I'm really here just like I said following orders." that statement she knew was far from the truth. You don't just go somewhere without knowing exactly what you're getting into. The timing of Brian's transfer was far too convenient. Far too transparent. His eyes told her everything as he looked at her.

"And you couldn't wait to come see me?" she chuckled and he shrugged with a grin.

"Yeah well, missed my bud."

"We aren't buds."

"You're like my best friend forever." he said making his voice more high pitched. April gave him a rather unbelieving look and shook her head before she stood up.

"Let me walk you to your quarters Sargent. You've overstayed your welcome."


1324, Primary Engineering Lab

Later in the day once April had successfully ditched Brian at his quarters she proceeded to engineering lab and walked in to see it was blissfully empty save for Khan. He had his back to her as he usually did when she arrived. However, today he did not turn to greet her as he usually did as of late. She walked down the isles of machinery and up to him as she stood next to him to see what he was working on.

"So, finally cared to join me." he said rather poignant.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Your little rendezvous with your old colleague."

"I'm sorry he burst into our quarters like that. He didn't mean anything by it other than to surprise me. He didn't know."

"Well now he does. I have been informed that Marcus sent over eight officers from Lunar to up the security while we start with manufacturing. Convenient isn't it after he learned of our so called tryst."

"You're blaming me." her eyes narrowed at him and he settled down the tool he was working with to turn and glare back. He lent forward as he got dangerously close to her face. She could see every feature on his face up close and personal and it made her heart start to beat a little faster. She wasn't going to back down however.

"Perhaps your little puppy dog with the blond hair was sent to watch us and report back any unusual discrepancies in our story. You came here to watch me, and now you're the one being watched. I guess Marcus' trust is waning with you."

"What would you have me do?"

"Get rid of him."

"I suppose you want me to get rid of Ramirez and Sloan too?"

"I have no idea who they are, but I am assuming they will be just as obnoxious as that imbecile from this morning."

"He has a name." she hissed and he smirked at her.

"Oh, does April have feelings for this boy? I suppose weaklings tickle your fancy then after all."

"He's as worthless to me as you are. What you want me to kill them? Dump their bodies down the trash chute? That'll go over real well and then Marcus will send a whole cavalry to come deal with you. Me? I'll be down that trash chute with them not soon after."

"You're so incredibly daft sometimes." he sighed as he took a step back and looked at her with a regarding if yet disappointed look. "I implied nothing of the sort. If you give them nothing to relay then they will simply leave."

"You want us to act together all the time?" her eyes widened and he quirked a brow.

"Outside our room, we could be a little more...affectionate." the words almost came out in disgust but he held it back as his eyes flit over her shoulder for a moment then back to her. "And here's our chance. Don't look, just keep looking at me darling."

April's brow furrowed as he reached out and touched her cheek with his hand, much like he had done before. The touch sent a shrill down her spine as he bent down and gently pressed his lips to her forehead. He lingered for a moment and pulled back as he took her in gently by the waist. April's hands came up and they fell to his chest as she swallowed hard. Khan held an amusing glint in his blue eyes as he stared at her.

"What are you doing?" she whispered and he chuckled a bit.

"Giving your lap dog a show." he said back as he turned them and pressed her up against the table allowing her to see out the windows to the hall. She saw Brian talking to Commander Escobar. It wasn't a coincidence they were there but not entering the lab. She grabbed onto Khan's bicep a bit and her eyes looked back to him.

"Are you uncomfortable?" he mused.

"Very." she bit back.

He smirked as his hand fell from her waist and he went back to work but stayed very close to her. April swallowed hard again as Brian looked into the room at them. He didn't wear his usual smile but looked back to Escobar and nodded before he entered the lab. Brian looked around a bit and then put on that usual beaming grin as he strode towards them.

"There you are." he said coming to a stop a few feet away. "Had to have Escobar show me here. Told me this is where you work and I wanted to see it for myself."

"Well here it is." she said emotionless. April was trying so hard not to give anything away so she had to revert back to her usual way which was any and all emotion was thrown out the window and buried six feet under. It wouldn't have been so hard if Khan wasn't still incredibly close to her or moments before had held her against him.

"Commander Harrison?" Brain asked and April looked to him as he looked up for a moment from his work and his eyes glanced to her. April's silent plea was for him to be nice to Brian. At least be cordial and civil. Khan turned and looked at Brian with indifference as if he were an annoying fly in his ointment.

"Sargent Mackenzie." he drawled.

"I want to apologize for this morning. I didn't mean to startle you."

"I wouldn't quite call it being startled." he said. Brian was incredibly short compared to Khan even his shoulders weren't quite as broad. "More of a nuisance really."

"All in all I still would like to apologize. I thought it was just the Major's quarters."

"Well it is our quarters. I would appreciate it in the future if you announced your arrival or at the very least been invited before you step foot into it again. I am very busy so if you'll excuse me." Khan then looked to April as he then changed demeanor. His look became softer. "I'll see you later for dinner dear."

"Y-yes." April nodded quickly.

Khan gave Brian one last scathing look before gathering up his own PADD and effectively striding across the room and out. Once again this left Brian and April alone and he rubbed the back of his neck before looking back at April.

"Wow. He's a jerk."

"Take care what you say Sargent, he's still your superior."

"And yours as well." he sighed.

"If you're worried, don't be." she said and he nodded though looked unsure.

"I've known you for three years April, I just don't want to see you get hurt."

April had to snort at that as she folded her arms and stared him down.

"Count on your hand how many times I've been hurt by anything. I don't need your concern Sargent."

"Noted. Look let's have lunch or something I'm hungry and I just want to catch up more with you." he looked so hopeful. April was never the one to confide in anyone but Brian had always had this way of being there for her even when she couldn't say it. She didn't trust him but he could be relied on. She never imagined that it would come to this. Opposing each other even though they were technically still on the same side.

"I have things I need to do today. I have a lot of projects to oversee and paperwork."

"Ramirez and Sloan would be ecstatic to see you too. Come on."

"No. Another time maybe if I can spare it. Look, I gotta go." April said as she too gathered up her PADD and she walked out brushing by him. Brian then turned and grabbed her upper arm and she turned and looked down at his hand which was unwelcome on her being. "Take your hand off me Sargent."

"Look, I can't lie to you. And I want to talk to you about it. Just hear me out."

"What." she bit and he clenched his jaw.

"Marcus asked me to watch you."

"I'm aware. I'm not stupid."

"Then don't be stupid. Whatever it is you think you're doing with Harrison you need to tread lightly. I was given orders so you can't expect me to not abide by them. For your sake, April, please abide by yours as well."

"You don't know anything about what's going on." she said as she ripped her arm away and took a step back.

"I know more than I would like." his eyes became cold in that moment as he stared at her. The usual carefree boy was gone and replaced with the Section 31 Agent that he was. Just like she was Agent 27 he was right there with her as Agent 28. Always a step behind her. April couldn't forget that. He was all fun and games until he needed to be serious and serious he was in this moment. "Please just do as I ask."

"Or what?" she challenged and his eyes softened just slightly.

"You know what." he said and she all but wanted to lunge out and take him down to the floor and beat him out of existence. Her wild and savage nature as Khan would call it was rearing it's ugly head. She was like a dog with it's tail between her legs and right now she was being surrounded by more members of the pack. Brian, Ramirez, Sloan and the MACO's. Not to mention Escobar and quite possibly Lorrain as well.

"April, right now you are not acting like the person I know. Just from seeing you for the first time in months I can see somethings changed. I'm scared for you."

"Be scared for the position you're in. The minute you fail, Marcus will have your head too. If you go reporting to him then all you're doing is adding fuel to this fire and trust me you don't want to be caught in the crossfire. You were my partner, so if you have any honor in that please...back off. Let me do my job without interference. I have everything under control. I don't fail, it's not in my nature. And you will be reminded Sargent if you get in my way what my nature is really like."

With that April turned and marched out of the lab. Avoiding Brian was going to be much harder than she thought. So it was true, he was sent there to watch her.
At least he had the decency to tell her. Perhaps he didn't agree with his orders but she knew he would follow them to the letter. She had trained him and with him enough to know that he was by the book. He was a good infiltrator and now this whole ordeal was just infinitely more complicated.

So complicated that she didn't see any viable options out of it. So she ran to the only person she knew who would shield her. She didn't know when Khan had become this source of safety but he seemed to be the only one on her side right at this moment.


A/N: Holy jeebus. First curveball has been thrown. I don't know I just thought about it and I was like "yeah, Sargent Mackenzie would be the perfect first wrench in all of this" I just hope I wrote it out okay. I sat on half of it written for a while and I'm hoping that all of this flows well? I'm unsure...I can always rewrite it but I needed to get this part out. Make sure you shmash that fav button and you shmash that follow button. Also smash those keys and leave me a review if possible!