I do not own Star Trek.
I'm sorry this chapter took longer than usual, and that it's very short, it's a delicate subject, made even more so by Kati being a total bitch. Warnings for... well... unpleasantness... It's a very not good chapter... But then it's always darkest before the dawn and all that...
The little witch had clearly done something to interest Khan... and the purple spreading across her cheeks was not nearly enough to satisfy Kati. But then she knew something Khan didn't about the runt. If he cared so much for her he'd never have asked her to wake Aldur alone. With a scathing smirk she read through the instructions on some of the food packets, trying to decide what would be the easiest without seeming like she was shirking.
In the end Kati put several of the sachets of stew into a large pot and heated it, managing to only burn a tiny bit near the bottom of the pan. She was quite proud of herself. Now to find Khan... Kati was strolling toward the cargo bay, wondering if he'd be back in there with the runt when she heard voices.
"It will be better if you try and rest." The runt's voice.
"I've spent far too long resting. I'm sure you know something that'll warm me up faster than that wretched stuff." Aldur, Kati smirked, right in character.
"Let go." Mahalia's voice was frightened, but then she knew what would be coming. They all knew to avoid Aldur when he was in one of these moods, generally he wouldn't try anything with the higher ranking women, but poor little Mia didn't have the protection of status. Kati's smile dropped off her face as Khan entered the hallway, what was it with his timing?
"Khan, I was looking for you, the food is ready." She tried to guide him back towards the turbolift, between him and the cargo bay. There was a high pitched gasp, that would be the runt.
"Go on and fight little Mia, I love it when you struggle." Aldur's deep tone could almost creep even Kati out at times.
"What's going on?" His eyes were fierce as he glared at her, as if it were her fault that he'd never bothered to find out that Aldur was a notorious letch.
"Just a disagreement between Aldur and Mia, best to let them sort it out themselves." Unfortunately that was the moment that the cargo bay doors opened, only Mahalia's hand made it out thumping against the floor as she was brought down and dragged back inside with a shriek. Khan pushed Kati aside, moving towards the door. As it slid open there was a slurred voice, Aldur's.
"What was..." A heavy thump sounded as Kati moved up behind Khan to peer into the cargo bay. Surprisingly it was Aldur that was in a rumpled heap on the floor, not the runt. She gripped something tightly in her hands, knuckled white from the pressure, as she muttered something repetitively to herself. It was almost like a mantra, convincing herself of the truth of something. It wasn't until Khan stepped into the room and Kati followed him that she heard what it was.
"I love my family. I love my family." The words ran together making it hard to separate them but eventually she worked them out.
"Mahalia... what happened?" Khan asked, his voice softer than she had ever heard it, cautious as if she might spook. Indeed she did jump. It was pathetic, her eyes wide and frightened and she seemed on the verge of tears. "Maya." Softer still as he edged closer to her, but her rambling had stopped at least.
"I uh... I had to sedate him... may I... may I be relieved..." It took her several breaths, starting and stopping to get the sentence out, almost as if she was fighting hiccups. It was odd.
"Yes... of course." Khan responded and Mahalia fled the room, pushing Kati out of the way as she did so, which was not the best of ideas usually, but she was gone before Kati had the chance to respond. "A disagreement?" Khan glared as he span to face Kati, though what he expected her to have done about it was anyone's guess.
"It was just Aldur being Aldur, he gets a bit enthusiastic. He knows better than to try with anyone important or we'd have put a stop to it." Kati commented calmly, she wouldn't let him fluster her with his anger.
"You knew. You knew he might do this and did nothing to stop it?" He clenched his fists and Kati frowned.
"It's only Mia. She's nothing."
"She saved your life, all our lives." He shouted, in her face, Kati's eyes widened in surprise. "She could have killed you both a dozen times over in your sleep and nobody would have even known. I have NO idea why she didn't, aside from some sense of loyalty I've yet to see any of us do anything to deserve." He gripped her by the throat painfully, though not enough to do any damage to her. "If you won't show her some respect for that then you will do it because I order you to. If one more thing happens to endanger her and I have the slightest hint of suspicion you might have anything to do with it I will dump you on the nearest moon without a space suit or any supplies." With that he stormed out, leaving Kati standing over an unconscious Aldur with little idea what to do now... It did not seem like an idle threat.