When Lucille regained consciousness she at first felt the vibrations which suggested she was travelling on a ship – at warp, she deducted, although how she knew this was beyond her – before her eyes opened to confirm it. There was no window, but the size of the room and the style told her no alternative.

She recalled what had happened in the lab, leading her to conclude that Khan had decided to kidnap her without much choice from her. The girl didn't know whether this was a good thing or a bad thing. On the one had he was still the man who had taken her father from her, no matter his reasons, and going with him willingly made no sense to her. On the other hand, at least she was away from Dr. Korby, especially after what he had done to her mother…

Tears formed in her eyes, which she blinked away, but she surprised herself by not breaking down completely. She supposed it could be the blood… When she felt the rage beginning to burn, she concluded that it was, and took in several deep breaths in order to calm herself. Getting angry wouldn't help matters; the worst she could inflict was mess up her room a bit, for she knew that Khan and his mysterious crew were like her, and would not be affected by her attacks.

Suddenly the bed she was laying in dipped, and Lucille turned to see that Sonny had leapt up onto said bed with her, like he always used to do before she became ill. The girl smiled and stroked the top of his head; at least she had a familiar face with her.

Refusing to stay cooped up in her room, Lucille climbed out of the bed and walked over to the door, her dog following. It didn't open straight away; it was locked, so Lucille tried the pad next to it. She sighed when it said a code was required.

She tried three combinations. All of them were rejected. "What's the point of having super intelligence if I can't figure out a password?" she said aloud. Since the pad couldn't accept any more attempts, she chose to punch it instead, sending sparks flying. The door still refused to open.

With a roll of her eyes, Lucille grabbed the door and yanked it open; it took all her strength, but she at least got it a little way open, enough for her and Sonny to slip through.

Unfortunately she realized her attempts to get out had been detected, for the moment she stepped out she turned and saw a man walking towards her. He was short, but built like a fridge, with blue eyes and hair which appeared to be a mix of sandy blonde and light brown. He quickened his strides, and Lucille turned to run.

She barely got five steps before he caught her, grabbing her arm and making sure she couldn't injure herself. Lucille kicked at him. "Let go!" Sonny barked loudly, but didn't leap.

More footsteps approached before a woman appeared, and Lucille recognized her as the same woman who had been with Khan. "Wash, let her go."

"But she's-"

"I said let her go."

The man regarded her for a few moments before he did as ordered. Lucille shoved him away, but knew better than to run; the ship, for all she knew, could have been filled with men like him, who may not be so kind.

"Why am I here?" the girl demanded.

The woman sent her a reassuring smile. "Because there was nothing left for you on Earth with all those inferiors. You didn't have a choice but to leave with us."

"That's because you didn't give me a choice." Lucille's arms crossed over her chest.

"We're only doing what's best for you," said the woman. "You're one of us now; you killed a man back on Earth, and you parents are dead. If we let you go back, what would happen to you?"

Lucille knew she had a point there. It was like Khan had said before; it wouldn't take investigators long to figure out that she had been responsible for Korby's demise, and with no other witness to back up her word that he had killed her mother, things would not end well. She would be locked up like some animal they couldn't control. There was also the risk of Captain Kirk being locked up as well out of fear that he would end up doing the same.

Her still undeveloped and yet intellectual mind came to the conclusion that while she didn't like it, remaining with the augments was the best thing for everyone.

The woman seemed to take her silence as a sign that Lucille understood, for she approached and placed a gentle hand upon her shoulder. "My name is Victoria Kati Ahart. And that wall of meat is my half-brother, Washington Joaquin Wess."

"Wall of meat?" the man questioned. "If it wasn't for me, we wouldn't have lived this long in our cryo-tubes. And we wouldn't even be on this ship. If anyone here is a wall of meat, it's Caesar."

Victoria only rolled her eyes. "Come on, little one. I'll introduce you to the rest of the crew." She held out her hand, expecting her to take it.

But Lucille just gave her a long look before walking past her without a word, Sonny following without fuss. Her hearing picked up Washington saying to his half-sister, "Just give her more time," before the two caught up in a few short strides.

The girl couldn't keep silent for long. "Are all of you named after Earth's great leaders?" she asked. She had already picked up on the name Khan', and the names of the siblings confirmed what she had suspected, along with mention of a 'Caesar'.

"Yes," said Victoria with a smile. "A very good observation. I was simply known as Kati Ahart when I was a child; we all had simple names back then. But when we realized our superiority, we decided that we would need superior names as well. Khan and I were going to name our…daughter 'Elizabeth', after the great Queen Elizabeth who successfully opposed us during our reign."

"There was also a Queen Elizabeth who ruled Britain in their Golden Age," said Lucille. She then blinked in surprise. "I don't know how I knew that. I think I heard it mentioned somewhere."

"Your memory gets better as well," said Victoria. "And yes, we knew about the first Elizabeth; that's why we chose the name, for she would have been named after two great leaders." She then looked down sadly.

Washington placed a hand upon her shoulder. "We're starting anew, Vic." He then turned to Lucille. "And since we are, maybe you should consider picking a name for yourself."

Lucille wasn't sure about that; her name had been the name of her father's mother. Replacing it with another – or rather leaving it as only a middle name, as the others appeared to have done – felt wrong, especially after losing him.

They arrived on the bridge of the ship. It was small, meaning that the ship itself was small, and there were very few people operating; two men and a woman. They looked in her direction, more curious than surprised, but a warning look from Victoria had them turning back to their jobs. Washington walked over to the woman and greeted her with a kiss.

"Are they the only ones?" asked Lucille.

The expression which crossed Victoria's face was one of sorrow and anger, but she concealed it quickly. "Yes. As you were told before, Korby killed the rest. Sixty-seven people, dead. I knew each of their names, what they were like… They were family."

Washington saw how distressed his sister looked, so walked back over to her with the woman he had greeted. "You want to introduce everyone? Or can I have the pleasure of the first?"

It cheered her up, for Victoria smiled with both humour and gratitude. "Go ahead, Wash."

"This," said Washington, gesturing to the woman, "is Cleopatra Suzette Ling. When it comes to any form of science – any at all – then she's our expert."

Cleopatra gave him a friendly punch. "You're too kind."

"You deserve my praise," said Washington. "As much praise as a ship's engine needs the power of dilithium."

"OK, let's move you along before those two gross you out with their geeky turn-ons." Victoria gently led Lucille away towards the two men.

Behind her Washington heckled, "Like you and Khan don't gross us out!" Victoria only rolled her eyes.

She and Lucille paused next to an African man, who was sat at the helm. "This is Muhammad Mufasa Rodnguez; he was the best pilot in the world back in the 20th century."

"This ship is nothing like the ones back in my day," he said. "But she purrs like a tiger ready to pounce."

Victoria raised an eyebrow. "You've been waiting years to say that, haven't you, Ham?" His laugh was enough of an answer for her. She only smiled before turning to the other, larger man, who was silently looking over the controls. Washington was nothing compared to this guy. "And this is Caesar Otto Attikin. He doesn't speak much, so don't try talking to him unless he says something to you. And don't try to push past him, either; you'll just bounce back. Isn't that right, C?"

Caesar only looked up to give a nod of acknowledgement before getting back to his work.

Lucille looked at each of the augments again – Victoria, Washington, Cleopatra, Muhammad and Caesar – more carefully, rather surprised by her introduction to them all. They all seemed like…nice, normal people. In the company of only themselves, they didn't even look like super-humans who had once taken over most of the world; they laughed with each other, made jokes, and basically functioned like a family unit. It made Lucille wonder if Khan was the same.

Which made her realize… Where was Khan?

As if the universe had heard her question, it answered by presenting her with the man himself; he entered the bridge and immediately asked, "Status update."

"The ship is not going as fast as a Starship – at Warp 2 or 3, I think, whatever that means – but it's as fast as she can go," replied Muhammad.

"That's because the small warp-core can only take that speed," said Washington. "I estimate we'll arrive at our destination in about two or three days. Give or take."

Khan nodded. "Very good." Only then did he turn and notice Lucille standing there. Her hand subconsciously grabbed Sonny's collar for comfort, for she was unsure what his reaction would be.

Victoria appeared to pick up on her uncertainty for she stepped forwards. "I thought she should meet the rest of the crew. Get to know the family."

Khan glanced at Victoria before he returned his attention to Lucille. "Yes." And then he turned away, looking over the controls of the ship.

Lucille let out a subtle sigh of relief. Victoria, on the other hand, just stared. "That's it? You're not going to say anything to her? Ask her if she's OK after you stuck a needle in her arm? And it was your idea to accept her in the first place!"

"It's alright," Lucille tried to tell the woman.

But Victoria wasn't listening; her attention was still on Khan. "You said so yourself, Khan; she belongs with us. At least make her feel welcome!"

"I would rather give myself some time before I do," he said in return. "You may be ready to be a mother for the first child you find, but my feelings are not so fragile."

The expression that crossed Victoria's face was one of both shock and hurt. Washington looked the same, but didn't dare to make a move to comfort his sister, while the other three just stared. They all knew it wasn't a good idea to speak out against Khan.

Lucille, however, didn't know this.

"That's a mean thing to say!"

Khan paused before he turned slowly to face the little girl. "What?"

She swallowed, trying not to let her fear show, for she knew this was the right thing to do. "That's not something you say to people, especially to family. It doesn't matter whether she's ready or whether you're not; she's obviously still really sad about losing her baby, and you should be too. After what you told me in the lab, I thought maybe you were OK under that badness – but you're just…mean, mean, mean all over!"

She turned on her heel and stormed off the bridge, Sonny trotting after her.

The entire bridge was quiet once Lucille was gone – for a few moments, at least.

"Khan, I could strangle you," Victoria snapped.

"All that would achieve is turning me on."

Washington almost laughed, but glares from both his sister and his lover stopped him in time.

"You're unbelievable. Un-flipping-believable!" Victoria gave Khan a shove, causing him to stumble backwards.

Washington, ever the heckler, spoke out. "Uh oh. They're having a domestic. Everyone clear the room."

While Cleopatra sent him another glare, Victoria did not. She was still staring at Khan, waiting for him to respond. When he didn't she gave an angry, "UHG!" before storming off the bridge, very much in the same manner Lucille had done.

Only when she was gone did Khan hurry after her. "Victoria, wait!" He only caught up with her just as she was entering her room, but the door shut and she locked it before he could follow her further. He thought about forcing it open, but he knew that would just make her angrier than she already was. "Victoria!"

"Go throw yourself out the airlock!"

He rolled his eyes at her comment, but still understood that she was upset; he leaned against the wall, eyes closed, and sighed. He would usually brush off her behaviour as having one of her moods, but this time was different and he knew it.

"Vic, I need to tell you something," he said. "Something I never mentioned before, because I was uncertain how you would react."

"And you're telling me this now while I'm angry at you?"

"I suppose I should get it all out of the way in one go." He shrugged. "Marcus not only hired Dr. Korby to study me; he also hired a historian named Marla McGivers. Young thing; all wide-eyed, thinking men can change by showing him good. She developed an attachment to me, so to speak."

He waited for her to respond. "I can see why you would be uncertain about my reaction," she said finally.

"The attachment wasn't mutual," Khan assured her. "I noticed this attachment and decided to use it; she agreed to help me with the torpedoes so we could smuggle you and the rest of the crew to safety. When the plan was discovered, Marcus thought she had only been acting alone. I didn't speak up, and she was killed. I was discovered not long after."

He waited again for Victoria to speak. "Why are you telling me this?"

"Because while I did not show it at the time, her death…affected me more than it should have," he explained. "I fear that my emotions are clouding my superior judgement. The one rule I gave myself and gave to all of you was to not allow your emotions to get the better of you; to not let them control your aggression. I am ashamed to have broken that rule. It was my desperation to have you all back with me which tripped me up; when I asked that Vulcan for the torpedoes, I never once thought that they could be used against me. I almost lost you all. And then when I discovered that we had lost Elizabeth… Keeping my emotions in check at all times, like that Vulcan does, seemed to be my only option."

The door opened and there she was, no longer angry at him and her eyes almost filled with tears. "So you care?"

"I have always cared, and that will never change," said Khan. "I suppose what you meant to say was 'are my feelings as fragile as yours?' Yes. They are. And while I may still be grieving the loss of our child and of the rest of the crew, I realize now that I am ready to step in for the child among us."

Victoria smiled before placing her hands upon either side of Khan's face and pressing her lips slowly onto his.

A slight noise caught both their attentions, and they turned to find Lucille at the end of the hallway, watching them. She gasped and ran. They watched the empty space for a moment before turning back to each other. "You want to talk to her now?" asked Victoria.

"I'll give her time," he said. "After all, it's been a while since we've had some time for…certain things."

His lover gave him a mischievous smirk.