A/N: Character death warning

When Kirk and the crew of the USS Enterprise returned to Earth, they stood trial in the face of Starfleet Command. While their efforts to capture and neutralize the threat know as Khan was against their contract, their bravery did not go unnoticed. The crew was placed on supervised probation for five months, a very lenient punishment in the face of all that they put at risk.

However, those of Starfleet were still unaware of the power Khan now possessed. But a new threat seemed to be of more importance…

"Dr. McCoy. Do you know why I called you here today?"

"Not one bloody clue sir, I've been on tight supervision. I can't even brush my teeth without your goons peering in on me like I'm some lab rat…," Bones said in his usual grumpy tone.

"Well you have slipped through our fingers before."

"I had help," he mumbled, "I don't see them here now. What's this about?"

"You were one of the Starfleet doctors that were involved in Project Restore correct?"

"Yes…"

"In which you and a large team of highly trained officers were in charge of reconstructing the behaviors of seventy-two life forms to be placed on planet Genesis, correct?"

"Yes, yes alright so we made a minor mistake," he grumbled. "We figured their happy memories would make them more, I don't know, nicer."

"No…that's not it Dr. McCoy. You see, we have video footage of you accessing a vault last night that contains very dangerous information and samples from Project Restore."

"Like hell you do! I was in my room, asleep last night; your bloody henchmen could have told you that. I have allies! How could I be in two places at once?"

"You tell me, Dr. McCoy…," the higher officer switched on the video surveillance recording. A clear image of Dr. McCoy completing a retina scan flashed on screen.

"…Impossible. S-sir I guarantee you with my life that that is not me I-…what did they take?"

"DNA samples…of all seventy-two super beings. And their original creation plans."

Since Kirk had so much free time again, he returned to his old habit of bar hopping. Spock was good company when he wasn't too busy engulfed in rigorous study. And Bones had more important things to do tonight. Everyone else in his crew was either busy or boring…so off to the third bar he went.

Two or three stools down from him, he made eye contact with a sweet looking blonde. Way to pretty to be hitting up a joint like this. Her eyes were an alluring green, and she smiled in the most seductive way.

"…Fuck it," Kirk thought as he knocked back his last shot and slid off of his stool.

"Okay, okay…you win," said the cocky Captain as he leaned on the counter next to the blonde. "Not many stunning ladies can pull me away from drink, but you…well. I've travelled space and have seen bajillions of starry galaxies. But none of them compare to the beauty you posses." "You're so stupid Kirk…"

The little blonde giggled at Kirk's desperate attempt and slid her untouched drink over to him. He grinned his usual toothy smile and shot it back.

"So…your place or-," Kirk swallowed hard and straightened his posture. His eyes had a vacant stare to them that looked right through the blonde.

The woman chuckled. "Mine," she said, taking Kirk by the hand and leading him out the door.

Spock sat alone in his quarters and pondered with himself over a game of Vulcan chess. As he was reaching to make his next move, he heard a knock on the door.

"Come in…ah, Captain," Spock stood and extended his hand for Kirk. "…I mean, Jim. Hello Jim."

Kirk stared blankly at Spock for a second. In the next, he grabbed his hand and twisted Spock around in one fluid motion. Kirk's other hand pulled a syringe from his pocket and he thrust it into Spock's neck, injecting the blue fluid into his veins. After the Vulcan-human stopped struggling, Kirk released his grasp and let Spock fall to the floor. He writhed for a moment and then laid still. The choppy blonde knelt beside him and checked for a pulse.

"He's dead sir."

"Unfortunate," a voice came from the walls. Seconds later, Loki materialized in his magical form inside of the room. "Then his body rejected it."

"He was only half human sir. Perhaps his Vulcan lineage was too strong to accept the virus."

"Pity. He would have been useful."

"I know so sir," Kirk said passively and without feeling. On command, he took up Spock's body and slung it over his shoulder. "Who's our next target?"

"…Those of S.H.I.E.L.D.," Loki replied after some thought. "At least, a few of them. Their skill and wit will work nicely for me."

Loki placed his hand on Kirk's other shoulder and the two vanished from the room.

With Spock's body disposed of, Kirk and Loki returned to Khan's frozen tundra lab. It was the best place for Loki to store and test different strings of a virus he had crafted from the stolen super being cells.

"Sir," Kirk said with warning, "there's something happening outside." Loki and Kirk stepped outside of the underground lab. Not too far from them, they saw a powerful stream of light make contact with the ground, and a thunderous boom could be heard.

Before the dust settled, Loki could recognize the silhouette of a very familiar being. "You aren't who I was expecting. Did the All-father have better things to do for him then?"

"…No Loki. Odin in long dead," the dust cleared and there, standing on the rune, was lady Sif. "Thor is king of Asgard now. And he said it's time to take you home."

A deeply serious and angry look passed over Loki's features before he straitened and began to chuckle. "Oh dear, lady Sif," he said, crossing his hands behind him and walking towards her. "Did Thor gain so much confidence in you that he actually sent you here alone, to fetch me? Was it that he courted you? Or did you court him dear Sif?"

"I bested him in a hand to hand spar, twice…," she sneered, clutching the handle of her blade tighter. "And I do not plan on fighting you to come home. Asgard is in trouble. We…need your help."

Loki looked at her for a moment. "Why should I care?" he breathed. "As king I tried to nurse Asgard to what she needed to be but I was rejected on the throne. Thor is king now! I am quite confident he can deal with his own problems. Here, on Midgard," he spread his arms and looked about the empty tundra, "there is so much more potential for me. Perhaps when I rule this world I will aide yours again."

"Asgard is your home too!"

"It is not!" Sif charged towards Loki and swung her sword at him, but he caught it by the blade and blocked her shield with his other arm. "Unlike my poor, sentiment-filled brother I will not let you best me Sif."