Mira was glad for the dismissal and promptly left the room. As she closed to door she saw her captain begin to argue with the admiral. It was just the distraction she needed. Swiftly she made her way to the elevators and up to the medical floor, calling Mikker on her com to come and meet her. If there was anyone she could trust, it would be him. Maybe Marz as well, but he would have to wait. It took the chief a few minutes to find an unoccupied room with the equipment she needed. Mikker was by her side within five minutes, his blocky face etched with lines of confusion.
"Chief? What's going on?"
"You are to tell no one about this, do you understand?" She ordered, needing to hear verbal compliance before things could move on.
"Yes, Chief. This goes nowhere..."
"Good. Now," she said, taking off her uniform jacket. "I need you to operate this." she instructed, grabbing the arm of an x-ray and moving it behind her. "The screen is there, I want several shots of the top of the spinal column." The chief pulled up her hair and waited to Mikker to do as instructed. He was quick to follow her orders, and within minutes the X-rays were blown up on the wall screen. Mira and Mikker both stared at the shots.
"Chief? What are we looking for?"
"Khan injected me with something. Some sort of implant, he said it connects to the brain stem. I do not see anything. Maybe a different angle?"
Mikker stilled, watching his Chief with shocked eyes. "he...what?"
"I thought he was lying but trust me he is not . I need this thing out. We need blood samples as...oh" Mira's hands went to her head, the dull ache of blood deprivation was starting. "What time is it?"
"its 0930. Chief whats wrong?"
"Get me back to my flat. Now!"
Mikker grabbed his chief by the arm arm and began to walk her out of the room. Halfway to the door, it opened and four guards entered, guns raised. They were dressed in battle gear, complete with black face shields. Mikker was shot first.
"Stop! What the hell do you think your doing?"
"We're to escort you to Khan's quarters. Alone," one of them answered, his mask raised just enough to clear his mouth.
" The hell-" Mira's angry words were interrupted by her com beeping. Worried it might be Seeker she answered it, but kept her eyes on the guards. "Yes?"
"Mira, Seeker's just sent guards to find you. Why weren't you picking up your com?" Jim's voice was tried, the anger ringing in its sharp edge of his words.
"It just rang. The guards found me a moment ago."
"I couldn't get you off this assignment. Seeker will brief you and then your going in."
"So soon? Captain-"
"Mira, just get your ass down here." The captain hung up.
Mira pocketed her com, "Now you four-"
"Come with us, Chief. You wont last long without your next dose."
The words shocked her body into stillness. "You're all his..."
Two guards made their way across the room, planting themselves behind the chief.
Mira saw no reason to resist, she needed to be where they were taking her. In silence she complied, glancing back at Mikker as she left the dull ache was slower to spread then she expected, but was very apparent by the time she had made it five floors up to the above ground containment level. Seeker was waiting for her in the lobby.
"Mira, is everything alright?"
"Yes, Admiral. I just needed a moment. Do you really expect me to go in there? I am not sure it is possible to catch this man off guard."
"He won't expect to see you again so soon. Now, your goal is to interrogate, I want as much information as you can get out of him. Feel free to use whatever methods you deem necessary."
"Admiral, he isn't going to respond to anything expect power and deals. He wants more access to his crew, to wake them and to insure his and their safety. Nothing else-"
"He seemed to respond to you last night."
"Admiral I will not indulge his sexual appetite. You should not even be considering that. "
"I will not make him anymore comfortable then I already have. If it weren't for the medical properties in their blood, I'd slaughter them all, Chief. You will use whatever means necessary to obtain the information I want, but you are not to offer him anything."
"Admiral this-"
"Mira your Captains innsoance is rubbing off on you. You have your orders. I'll be waiting right here for your report. Go."
"This is not by the book!" Mira's voiced raised in protest. " I am unarmed and not dressed for combat. Your compromising my safety."
"Ah, yes. There is a change of cloth for you there. As well as some of your weapons. Leonard was more then happy to bring them here. Mira, your Captain's rambling did convince me that playing by the book will get us no where. Our criminal doesn't bother, so neither should you."
The chief stood there for moment in stunned silence before grabbling the clothes and knifes and ducking into the community bathroom. Seeker changed his tune far to quickly for Mira's liking. First, it was by the book, now it was whatever means necessary. It only took a few moments to change into the sapphire leggings and thin, short sleeved black shirt. Leonard had also provided her with three knifes and their holsters, one on each thigh and on of her left wrist. She strapped them on in haste, the dull ache spreading to her limbs.
"The guards will be in the room with you." Seeker added as she emerged.
"I am still against this entire plan. Sir you are being far to rash." She protested. She didn't want to go in their, outnumbered, alone, desperate for blood.
Her words were meet with silence as one of the lab techs finished setting up the monitors for Seeker to watch.
"Go. Take all the time you need. We'll be here with back up."
One of the guards gingerly touched her arm. Mira turned away from Seeker walked quickly down the hall anger fueling her footsteps. As one of the guards went to open the door, Mira stopped him.
"You four wait out here," She ordered as she opened the door and waltz in, slamming it behind her.
Khan, who was sitting on the couch, made no physical reaction to the sound. "Good morning, Mira." he called calmly, "Have a seat."
Mira wanted to protest but her feet had another plan: they took her to the couch and planted her next to Khan. The war criminal was clad only in dark lounge pants, hands folded neatly in his lap, eyes watching the city before him.
After a few moments of silence he looked over at his guest, "Oh my, you look pale. When was your last injection?"
"Just before six."
"How unlucky, I do not have any injections ready for you," He informed her, a smile tugging at the edges of his sharp was something in his stormy eyes, aside from the amusement that always seemed to be present.
"You must have something," she suggested, suddenly finding it hard to keep her voice steady. The ache was growing sharp, painful, casing her breath to shorten and quicken.
"I am afraid I have no medical supplies at the moment. I've sent one of my boys to slip a new case into your flat." Khan turned his body to face his guest, smirking.
"You have something up your sleeve," Mira couldn't keep her rigid posture and relaxed into the couch as she fought to keep her breathing somewhat steady. Her mouth was feeling dry, and the pain was sharpening. Grandstanding would do her no good. "I need your blood. Now."
"Now was that so hard?" He chuckled as he reached for her and in one swift motion had her straddling him as he moved his body to face the window once more. HIs strong arms where quick in all their motion. Something moved over her head and suddenly she was cold. A glance downward told her that her top had gone missing.
Khan secured an arm around her waist, pinning her against him. Her small frame put the top of her head just over his shoulder. Mira had to look up to meet his eyes, not trusting her voice to ask the question. She barely noticed the knife that he pulled from her wrist, or the cut Khan made across his upper chest until he tilled her head downward. The blood caused her pause and confusion.
"No...No I will not…" Her words were weak, as were her attempts to push him away. The sharp pain caused by the implant stole any reservations she had, as her survival instincts took over. Quickly her mouth found the cut, tongue working the wound.
"Good girl," Khan muttered, wrapping his other arm around her as he laid his head back, enjoying the sensation. The morning as going over much better then he had anticipated. The sudden sharpness of her teeth brought his head back up. "Mira?"
The Chief pulled away and looked up at him, her lips red matching eyes a bit dazed. "More," she demanded, her voice soft and not quite her own. The wound had healed already, depriving the girl of her medicine.
"Oh I don't think you've been good enough for more," he teased, wanting to make the most of this.
"Please?" She asked. The headache was still there as was the dull ache though her body, the pain was not as sharp however.
"Convince me you need it," he ordered.
"You know i'll die without it," She countered, lifting herself up as her hands found his sholders. Mira kept her body pressed to him, digging her nails into his flesh, her lips almost touching his "Please."
Khan retrieved the knife, holding it up and twirling it in his fingers, waiting for a more satisfying answer.
Her short gasping breaths sounded deafening in the silence of the room, "I want it," She said. "Please, let me have it," she begged, voice breathy and soft. This was no time to hold onto her pride, though the words stung as they fell from her lips.
As much as he was enjoying hearing his pet beg, he know depriving her for too long with the implant so new could cause some damage. The Augment made several cuts on his shoulder, all close together for her. Her mouth found the offering instantly, arms wrapping around Khan's side, one hand on his neck as her teeth and tongue worked to keep the wounds open and bleeding.
Khan watched her for several moments before pulling an injector out of one of the cushions and planting it in her thigh. The poor thing would never get enough by drinking alone, however she did not even seem to notice the action. Her mouth was working away vigorously.
The relief came quickly, the ache retreating form her body and head. Her senses, however took a few more moments. Her mouth was still working at the wound when she came back to herself. Slowly she stopped, even though a part of her wanted to keep going. The taste in her mouth wasn't coppery, as she expected, it was rich, but as her wits came back to her the thoughts changed. Every bone in her body screamed at her to push away, to grab the knife and plunge it into his heart, or cut his throat, to cruse him. Unsure of what she would do Mira held still, lips still hovering just over the wound, eyes closed as she concentrated on her breath.
"This isn't helping her, you lied," A voice came, shaking with anger.
Mira knew that voice. She could feel Khan's body tense underneath her, the arm around her grew tighter.
Finally she lifted her head, having to raise herself up just a bit more to see the guards standing on the other side of the room. Khan's grip loosened for only a moment to allow the moment before clamping back down.
"I do not have time for you right now, boy," Khan's voice had turned cold as he turned to look at the boy, keeping Mira pinned to him.
"Let her go. I-"
"Marz, its alright," Mira told him, keeping her voice steady and soft. Khan would not hesitate to kill him over this. At the moment, his life was more important than his betrayal. "He is helping me." She lied.
"By making you his slave? Chief you have to have this blood. This can't-"
"Marz!" Mira had to don her commanding voice. "Khan and I have an understanding. He did not lie to you. Trust me, Marz. It is all ok." Khan's body was still tense, Mira could almost feel the contemplation though his muscles, he was deciding whether Marz was worth the trouble or not.
Mira's hands stayed at Khan's shoulder's and began to massage, in hopes of distracting him. HIs eyes went straight to her.
Marz was still clearly distressed. "Marz, why don't you go tell Seeker that I'm going to be a few hours, hum?"
The solider had confusion all over his young face, as well as sorrow. Though his weapon was down, the other three guards still held their formation, weapons at the ready.
"A valiant effort my dear," Khan spoke up. "However I think our boy has outlived his usefulness."
"Marz has a tendency to get nervous, nothing more. Khan he is young."
The man beneath her chuckled and grabbed one of her wrist, finding the pulse under her pale flesh with his lips.
"Chief?" Marz's voice was quite as he asked for orders.
Mira held up her hand for his silence. "Reprimand him, if you must, but disposing of him will not fall in your favor."
"Dose he mean so much to you?"
"Dose your crew mean so little to you?" She countered.
The pair held their gazes for several moments.
"Marz," Khan called, "Do go deliver Mira's message. And stay out, if you do not collect yourself, your dear Chief won't be able to negotiate your life again."
Marz hesitated for a moment but did as he was bid and quickly left the flat.
"I suggest you send the other three away as well," Mira told Khan, looking at him.
"Oh my, do they make you nervous?"
Mira's response was to extend her arm in their direction and flick her wrist. All three men flew back, now finding themselves pinned to the wall, weapons on the floor.
"I could kill all three in one fell swoop. Unless, of course, you need the back up."
Khan laughed, "Using your power in the open? Brave girl today."
"You wouldn't have made me..." she couldn't bring herself to say it, "If the camera's were showing what was really happening.
"Very well. Boys? Give us the room. Make sure everything is going smoothing on the outside."
Mira dropped them instantly and opened the door for them. She was silent until the door was closed again.
"How may tech's have you swayed? What on earth could you be offering?" She asked, as her hands slide down to his chest, trying to push away. Khan held her tighter the more she pushed. Mira stopped resisting.
"Augmentation," came the blunt answer.
Mira's stomach dropped. The thought of maybe a dozen or more Augments under Khan's command running around freely was terrifying. Even with her advantage, she wasn't sure she could take that many.
"Your lying. You can't access..." Her words trailed off, the look on Khan's face telling her how wrong she was. He had had free reign for months now, there was no telling how much damage he had done. "You've had your fun, let me go."
For a moment his grip remained firm, but then he relaxed, allowing her to slip out of his arms. The urge to put on her shirt was strong, as she was very cold now that she was away from him. Mira did not minding being topless, or nude really. It was also showing Khan that he couldn't make her uncomfortable simply by stripping off her clothes.
"You'll be a few hours?" He prompted, keeping his eyes locked on hers, his body moving to mirror hers.
"You know I need information, and I know you wont give it up easily. You were obviously prepared for me." The thought had honestly just struck her. Who could be in his pocket, that could give him such information? "How did you know?"
"You will never know who my informants are, my dear. Now, what does Seeker expect out of me today?"
"All the passwords for your files," she answered. "It would be lovely if I could just have them."
"The second you have them all, under I go, and so do you."
Mira paused a moment before asking, "I'll need it forever?"
"Yes," Khan's hand absently went to the healed cuts. "However it seems as though you're alright with that." That smart ass smirk was back.
Mira's thoughts moved back to her mouth, the taste. She stood and bolted into the bathroom, closing the door behind her. Quickly she turned on the water and washed her face, and rinsed out her mouth. It didn't taste like blood. It tasted like fine wine.
Looking into the mirror she saw her mouth was still red. A second round of washing and she knew she couldn't stay in here much longer. He'd brake the door down if needed. After patting her face dry Mira hesitated, hand outstretched to open the door. How she wanted to hide in here, and never have to come out.
Finally she opened the door. When she stepped out Khan was no where in sight. The chief went straight for her shirt and had it on in seconds. Her next task was to find her knife that Khan had taken. It was no where to be found.
"Mira, come." Khan called from somewhere.
Her feet followed the voice and found the half naked man in the kitchen, setting the table. "Sit," was the next command, which she followed. "And take off your shoes."
Mira did as she was bid, keeping her eyes on the strong, wide back of the criminal. He was silent as he worked, it took Mira a moment before she could smell eggs and sausage. He was cooking.
The chief fought the urge to giggle, now finding the few rather comical.
"You cook?" She couldn't help herself.
"Your Admiral has denied me the pleasures of room service. I have to do everything myself." At one time, Mira was sure the words would have been bitter, however they were simply matter of fact.
When he finished, Khan sat down a plate of egg and sausage scramble and fruit. For several moments they were silent.
"How strange this much look to the Admiral," Mira remarked. "If he is even seeing this."
Khan chuckled, "And it's only ten in the morning."